Anyone got a 3D TV?

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Have just ordered myself a very sexy new 3D LED TV.

I know 3D technology is very new and not perfect yet and that you need a compatible device to play/transmit 3D programme/films but just wondering if anyone else has delved into the world 3D yet and if so what do you think? Have read some online reviews and they seem a mixed bag.

Any recommendations around leads etc to get the best out of my system. Will be connecting it to a 3D Blu Ray a Virgin V+ box and my stereo amplifier.

 

[clippedgull]

If you are already not aware 3D TVs Forum at AVForums.com is a good place to get up to speed.

I am tinkering with the idea of a 3D TV but only bought my Pioneer Plasma 4 years ago and it cost me a bloody fortune!

Edit: Which model did you go for?

 

[Acker79]

I keep getting tempted. Before Alice in wonderland there was a 3d advert for 3d football and it looked pretty amazing.

But a lot of 3D films don't actually benefit, and many are actually dragged down by 3D, so I'm not sure I'm ready to make that outlay.

 

[Superphil]

3D will come of age when the movie makers stop trying to make you shit yourself, spill your drink or duck out of the way of a moving object, and start concentrating on make good films, using the 3D as an enhancement, rather than the 3D being the be all and end all of the movie. Then it will be worth looking into a 3D TV, and they will be a lot cheaper by then.

 

[surrey jim]

Have just ordered myself a very sexy new 3D LED TV.

I know 3D technology is very new and not perfect yet and that you need a compatible device to play/transmit 3D programme/films but just wondering if anyone else has delved into the world 3D yet and if so what do you think? Have read some online reviews and they seem a mixed bag.

Any recommendations around leads etc to get the best out of my system. Will be connecting it to a 3D Blu Ray a Virgin V+ box and my stereo amplifier.

Are you able to get sky 3D/Sky sports 3D via virgin?

 

[clippedgull]

Are you able to get sky 3D/Sky sports 3D via virgin?

No.

 

[Pantani]

3D will come of age when the movie makers stop trying to make you shit yourself, spill your drink or duck out of the way of a moving object, and start concentrating on make good films, using the 3D as an enhancement, rather than the 3D being the be all and end all of the movie. Then it will be worth looking into a 3D TV, and they will be a lot cheaper by then.

I disagree strongly. 3D films are a gimmick that will die out soon imo. The last few films to come out in 3D have had more people see them in 2D than 3D and I have yet to see a film that has genuinely been improved by the third dimension. More importantly the hollywood studios need to stop retro fitting films with 3D because it always looks rubbish when they do this, either film and show the film in 3D or do not bother. Of course I could just be a luddite who is happy with a mere 2 dimensions.

 

[Easy 10]

I watched some of the Ryder Cup coverage in 3D down a pub. It worked very well, with the scene kind of reminiscent of opening a pop-up book, with such a clear definition between foreground, middleground and background.

After the initial "ooh" and "ahhh" novelty value though, I can't say it did anything to genuinely enhance the coverage, and I was quite happy to go back to the usual HD coverage once I'd seen what the 3D was all about.

At the end of the day, you're watching football, golf etc for the enjoyment of the sport and the event itself, not the rather gimmicky nature of 3D effects. I'm certainly a convert to HD these days as I love the crispness and vibrancy of the picture. But 3D ? Meh, I think I can take it or leave it to be honest - and at current prices, I'll CERTAINLY be leaving it for the forseeable.

 

[Superphil]

I disagree strongly. 3D films are a gimmick that will die out soon imo.

Plenty said that about DVD, Bluray and also HD TV. I think that once the gimmick has gone out of it, then we'll get the quality output, and like HD, downloadble movies and even DVD, people will turn to it.

Remember DVD came out in 1995, was expensive, and took a long time to become the defacto system, Bluray is slow too, partly because of the expense, but also due to downloadable movies, but it is growing for sure.

 

[Titanic]

I'm rather less convinced by 3d TV... on a small (OK 42") screen in my lounge... but maybe one day, when my recently purchased Panasonic TX-P42G20B is on it's way out (hopefully quite a few years!), I might be tempted.

I can see the potential for quality documentary/arts and eventually when directors stop using it for effect, and learn how to use it properly... especially for close-ups and analysis rather than open play in football, rugby or cricket.

But that is still a few years away, and technology is changing so fast I can't really justify spending a load more money on it for a few minutes of real benefit a week.

 

[Acker79]

3D will come of age when the movie makers stop trying to make you shit yourself, spill your drink or duck out of the way of a moving object, and start concentrating on make good films, using the 3D as an enhancement, rather than the 3D being the be all and end all of the movie. Then it will be worth looking into a 3D TV, and they will be a lot cheaper by then.

I disagree strongly. 3D films are a gimmick that will die out soon imo. The last few films to come out in 3D have had more people see them in 2D than 3D and I have yet to see a film that has genuinely been improved by the third dimension. More importantly the hollywood studios need to stop retro fitting films with 3D because it always looks rubbish when they do this, either film and show the film in 3D or do not bother. Of course I could just be a luddite who is happy with a mere 2 dimensions.

In my experience, the films that work best in 3D are horror movies, exactly because the films make you shit yourself, spill your drink or duck out of the way. Horror movies are about being scared, made to jump etc. they are about the experience, and 3D enhances that. But only when planned beforehand, that is, are not retrofitted.

Beowulf used it to enhance the story. As characters became stronger they became more three dimensional. Nobody noticed.



As for whether it thrives or dies, I think hollywood has started to shoot itself in the foot. By converting films to 3D unnecessarily/for the money, or simply to hide the poor quality of the film, and people have been turned off. They don't think "I rather enjoyed the 3D aspect of clash of titans, although the film wasn't too good". They think "That was shit! I spent £12 for that? Never again"

They need to stop making every film 3D just to make more money (a $2m outlay to convert, double the ticket prices and a film that would have "bombed" at $30m comes in at $60m). Only make it 3D if it adds something, for horror movies this includes making people jump. For others maybe the beowulf thing would be appropriate.


Some directors are opposed to 3D because it darkens the screen, something I only noticed after it was pointed out. This is something that has to be factored in when deciding if you want to go 3D (again, darkness often helps with horror movies).

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Haven't seen a film that has been enhanced by the inclusion of 3D yet. The football adverts beforehand did look good though and I keep meaning to go to a pub showing 3D for a game to really see what's it like. Not something I'm willing to fork out £hundreds for yet though

 

[Easy 10]

Plenty said that about DVD, Bluray and also HD TV. I think that once the gimmick has gone out of it, then we'll get the quality output, and like HD, downloadble movies and even DVD, people will turn to it.

Remember DVD came out in 1995, was expensive, and took a long time to become the defacto system, Bluray is slow too, partly because of the expense, but also due to downloadable movies, but it is growing for sure.

True. But there was a CLEAR advantage in the switch from VHS to DVD, notably the greatly enhanced picture and sound quality coupled with the ease of storage and the convenience (no rewinding ! Wow !).

From DVD to Blu-Ray was bound to take longer, as most people are happy enough with DVD and probably only upgrade to Blu-Ray as and when they replace old equipment, and feel they might as well. It wasn't something I rushed to do, but as my TV is HD and I needed a new player, it was a bit of a no-brainer to go Blu-Ray being as it plays DVDs anyway.

But I don't think 3D is quite such a natural progression though, because although its the "latest thing", its not really an ENCHANCEMENT as such - its just something different. And I dunno about you, but I can quickly tire of someone jabbing things out of the screen in a contrived way so we "get" a 3D effect. Plus the glasses are a bit of a nuisance.

I might be wrong, as it took me a while to come round to wanting HD. But I honestly can't see me ever being overly bothered about wanting 3D tbh.

 

[Acker79]

Not only do you have to pay for the TV, you have to pay for special, battery operated glasses - you can't just use a spare pair from the cinema - and the ones I checked out on Amazon were over £70.

 

[Titanic]

Not only do you have to pay for the TV, you have to pay for special, battery operated glasses - you can't just use a spare pair from the cinema - and the ones I checked out on Amazon were over £70.

That depends if you have an 'active' or 'passive' 3D TV. Passive 3D uses the cheap cinema-style linear polarized specs - as used in pubs for Sky 3D football and golf coverage recently.

 

[FFF]

Not only do you have to pay for the TV, you have to pay for special, battery operated glasses - you can't just use a spare pair from the cinema - and the ones I checked out on Amazon were over £70.

Which is fine, until you invite 10 people over to watch the football!

I've watched 3D football, cricket and boxing down the pub and I think it's brilliant.

 

[Pantani]

Plenty said that about DVD, Bluray and also HD TV. I think that once the gimmick has gone out of it, then we'll get the quality output, and like HD, downloadble movies and even DVD, people will turn to it.

Remember DVD came out in 1995, was expensive, and took a long time to become the defacto system, Bluray is slow too, partly because of the expense, but also due to downloadable movies, but it is growing for sure.

But Bluray and DVD were a clear improvement on what went before. I don't think 3D actually improves the quality of what you are watching.

 

[withdeanwombat]

I bought Betamax.

I'm waiting.

Oh,and a bit short of folding money.

 

[whitelion]

My concern was always about watching 3D through those daft glasses. I remember the experience many years ago watching a film at an alnighter.

Anyway watching without the glasses is the future.

Toshiba shows off glasses-less 3D TVs | The Digital Home - CNET News

 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

If you are already not aware 3D TVs Forum at AVForums.com is a good place to get up to speed.

I am tinkering with the idea of a 3D TV but only bought my Pioneer Plasma 4 years ago and it cost me a bloody fortune!

Edit: Which model did you go for?

I went for the Samsung 40C8000

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UE40C8000XKXXU/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail

My main requirement was to get a top end TV for HD and for and extra couple of hundred quid it seemed sensible to get one with 3D capability in case it takes off rather than need to upgrade again in a few years.