[pappy97]

I know most people dread the "soap opera effect," but my wife and I love it. We love the hyper-reality of it, like we are watching movies as if we were on set watching them film it. We love it on our (Samsung) television and would love our PJ to have it. Right now we are using our Panny AE1000 for our HT. We are thinking about an upgrade because we want the soap opera effect in our HT.


Here are our needs:


1080p

LCD or LCOS or DLP doesn't matter

Biggest (most pronounced) soap opera effect

Horizontal and Vertical lens shift

Under $3k, ideally under $2k



Our HT is a completely light-controlled room with PJ about 20 feet away from screen. For 16:9, the image is approx 150". For 2.35:1, it is approx 180". (Our screen is a 2.35:1 DIY painted on screen). We just zoom in and out for 2.35:1 or 16:9, we do not use a special lens. The PJ is mounted on a table (really an audio tier that has our other components), NOT ceiling mounted.


I don't care one bit about 3D. If it matters, sources are DirecTV, PS3, Xbox 360 w/ HD-DVD Drive, all connected through Denon AVR-890.


Thanks!

 

[Joesyah]

You could always connect an HTPC to your projector and play your movies using this software http://download.cnet.com/SmoothVideo...-75446994.html . It will make all your movies look like cartoonish live video. It works like a charm, the more powerful the PC the better.

 

[pappy97]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Joesyah /forum/post/20830441


You could always connect an HTPC to your projector and play your movies using this software http://download.cnet.com/SmoothVideo...-75446994.html . It will make all your movies look like cartoonish live video. It works like a charm, the more powerful the PC the better.

Thanks, but that's not exactly what I need. Anyone have any suggestions for a PJ that meets my criteria? Thanks!

 

[Sheridan1952]

Perhaps you should define "soap opera effect" for those of us who no idea what you're talking about. Then, maybe we would be in a better position to help. Because I sure as heck have never heard that term.

 

[pappy97]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheridan1952 /forum/post/20831148


Perhaps you should define "soap opera effect" for those of us who no idea what you're talking about. Then, maybe we would be in a better position to help. Because I sure as heck have never heard that term.

Really? I find that surprising on this board. I'm referring to frame interpolation intended to reduce blur/judder that results in film looking like video [like a "soap opera"], i.e. you watch a movie and it looks like you are on the set watching it being filmed rather than watching a 24fps film. "Soap Opera Effect" is one of the common phrases for this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_interpolation

Quote:
Side effects


A few side effects can be introduced by the use of the technology.


* Visual Artifacts


Motion interpolation on certain brands of HDTVs is sometimes accompanied by visual anomalies in the picture, described by CNET's David Carnoy as a 'little tear or glitch' in the picture, appearing for a fraction of a second. He adds the effect is most noticeable when the technology suddenly kicks in during a fast camera pan.[1]


* Video look


The "video" look is a byproduct of the perceived increased in framerate due to the interpolation and is commonly referred to as the "Soap Opera Effect" after the way those shows looked, having been shot on cheaper 60 Hz video instead of regular broadcast equipment or film.[11] Not everyone likes the effect and some complain that it ruins the cinematic look of home movies. [10] For this reason, almost all manufactuers have built in an option to turn the feature off. [12] This "video look" is created deliberately by the VidFIRE technique to restore archive television programs that only survive as film telerecordings.[13]

I want the "Video look" side effect mentioned above. I know the Panny AE4000 does FI, for example. So do many EPSON PJ's. I just don't know which one is the best for that "side effect" we want. From what I read, I suspect the Panny AE4000's FI is not enough, but I don't know about the Epson's or if there is another one sub $3k that fits the bill. Thanks.

 

[Sheridan1952]

So you find that surprising. I don't read every thread here, so if it's been discussed, I missed it. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Hyper_Eye]

The 8700UB definitely fits the bill and is sitting right around your desired price.

 

[pappy97]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyper_Eye /forum/post/20831489


The 8700UB definitely fits the bill and is sitting right around your desired price.

Thanks! I've been reading about the 8700UB and it does sound like it would meet our needs. Just wanted to make sure I ran FI into the ground and that there wasn't one that was even better in the "soap opera effect" dept than the 8700UB. Thanks again.

 

[Bsims2719]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pappy97 /forum/post/20831102


Thanks, but that's not exactly what I need. Anyone have any suggestions for a PJ that meets my criteria? Thanks!

Actually this is what you need. It's the actual software that your TV is using to produce the same effect. Frame interpolation is frame interpolation. It's software not hardware.

 

[Verge2]

You might be surprised at how well video looks at true 24p.

 

[pappy97]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bsims2719 /forum/post/20832599


It's the actual software that your TV is using to produce the same effect. Frame interpolation is frame interpolation. It's software not hardware.

Right, but I want the software in my PJ, not my HTPC. I don't use an HTPC in my dedicated HT set up, as I mentioned in my original post. Thanks.

 

[Bsims2719]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pappy97 /forum/post/20833117


Right, but I want the software in my PJ, not my HTPC. I don't use an HTPC in my dedicated HT set up, as I mentioned in my original post. Thanks.

Most current laptops are fast enough to be used as HTPC. If you have a current computer it's worth a try (it's free software). Save you from buying a 2k projector. Or if you just need an excuse to buy another PJ, I completely understand.

 

[Verge2]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bsims2719 /forum/post/20833618


Most current laptops are fast enough to be used as HTPC. If you have a current computer it's worth a try (it's free software). Save you from buying a 2k projector. Or if you just need an excuse to buy another PJ, I completely understand.

What if he wants to FI his directv?

 

[Bsims2719]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Verge2 /forum/post/20833947


What if he wants to FI his directv?

True, didn't think about that. If you had a TV tuner you could capture it as a MPEG 4 and then play it back. However it sound like the OP is in the market for a new projector.


The only reason I think the OP might like experimenting with software is because there is more adjustment of this effect. Once you buy new hardware the software can't change unlike a PC.

 

[ack_bk]

You don't see a thread like this one everyday

 

[pappy97]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bsims2719 /forum/post/20833618


Most current laptops are fast enough to be used as HTPC. If you have a current computer it's worth a try (it's free software). Save you from buying a 2k projector. Or if you just need an excuse to buy another PJ, I completely understand.

I need an excuse to buy another PJ.

In fact I am thinking I might get a 8700UB and keep the AE1000 either as a backup or a different set up elsewhere in the house.


Also, we already have everything else set up in our HT so we just want to simply replace PJ, not introduce HTPC, although that software does sound fun to play with.


Basically in Dec. 09 we finished our dedicated HT and at the time enjoyed that our living room with its Samsung LED TV was the place for the video look with FI (Frame Interpolation, and we have the FI settings on that TV on high), and upstairs in the dedicated HT we got the film look for the classic movie theater experience on the Panny AE1000. Even to this today when we have new guests at our house, both displays, especially the dedicated HT set up, blows away people seeing it for the first time.


BUT for us, both my wife and I, we find ourselves craving the FI for our dedicated HT. Basically we both wish we could get the same picture quality we do from our 46" sammy on our 150" 16:9 screen and 180" 2.35:1. We realize that isn't totally possible because we are talking about the same amount of pixels (or less) covering much more square footage, but we feel one way to get closer to the PQ (At least a similar image) of the Sammy LED in our dedicated HT is with FI. This is especially for the FI hyper-reality pop for HDTV sports and blu-rays. (I enjoy gaming on the Panny AE1000 and don't see the need for change there, more so I see the need for change in watching hockey, football, and blu ray discs)

 

[coderguy]

I've seen some pretty bad FI effects where people start looking like they are floating instead of walking. It literally makes them ghost like in their movement.


More FI, that makes no sense, once you get a certain level of smoothness the side effects are clearly overly visible and distracting. It goes well beyond the soap opera look at some point, it becomes the "look MA I float" look.

 

[Verge2]



Quote:
Originally Posted by coderguy /forum/post/20835793


I've seen some pretty bad FI effects where people start looking like they are floating instead of walking. It literally makes them ghost like in their movement.


More FI, that makes no sense, once you get a certain level of smoothness the side effects are clearly overly visible and distracting. It goes well beyond the soap opera look at some point, it becomes the "look MA I float" look.

I think it goes to the "video artifacts EVERYWHERE" look.

 

[niceguy88]

I remember when I first saw that effect at Best Buy on a Samsung TV playing a Blu Ray version of Pirates of the Caribbean....I was horrified and swore I'd never go Blu Ray if they all looked like that lol. Actually I noticed if I fast forward DVDs at 1.5x, they get that SOE but also with those fun chipmunk talking voices too!

 

[andybosik]

I saw a Samsung 40" LED TV on display at a local supermarket playing the BluRay of "IronMan2" and the images

to me were stunning compared to my Sony 40" LCD TV.

There's a scene in the movie where the characters are in a conference and it looks like

live video feed rather than a movie. If this is what you mean by the "Soap Opera Effect", I like-it!

To my eyes, "FilmLike-Calibrated" video that so many purists prefer,

looks rather dull to me to be honest. To each his own I guess!

I would also love to get this "SoapOpera" effect in a projector but my budget is more around $1k rather than $2k.

I tried setting my Sony to "Vivid Mode"

but it still wasn't as impressive in this regard as the Samsung LED TV.