Kevin's Watch

I have a new TV - one of these 'smart' 4K thingies with a very clear screen. The problem is that if anything, the screen is too clear. It has the strange effect of making films look .... false? ..... for want of a better word. I seem to be able to see the sets as sets instead of being able to suspend disbelief. In the last couple of super hero films (B vs S and Avengers days of etc) it has severely affected my viewing pleasure because when every price of polystyrene rock and plastic statue is clear to see it becomes difficult to maintain interest.
Has anyone else noticed this with the newer generation of TV's?

I haven't researched TV technology since purchasing my HDTV in 2008, so my knowledge is out of date. However, I remember some LCD TVs had 'smooth motion' feature that made movies look too, well, smooth. It made them all look like CGI (computer generated imagery) instead of film. That's why I went with plasma, because they made movies look like movies.

I don't believe any major manufacturer makes plasma anymore, because too many uninformed people thought the LCDs looked brighter and better in the store showrooms, so they quit buying the vastly superior plasmas. It's a shame. I still love my Panasonic plasma, even all these years later.

Yes Z - I always heard plasma was a superior option visually but more prone to failure. I'm not sure much plasma is out there to buy anymore, Panasonic seem to be brand leaders indeed and the last three TV's I've had (including this one) have been made by them. No doubt I'll get used to this one, but for the time being I'm going to revert to my old one (upstairs in my gaming room) for major films.

I have a plasma downstairs and a 4K upstairs. Plasma is - by no small measure - a better medium. But 4K is simply unbelievable. It's immersive. And it means that you see everything the filmmakers missed.

But the up-conversion is what seals it. I watched Point Blank shortly after I got the set. It was like having Lee Marvin in my living room.

Happens with every upgrade in picture quality, I think. It took me a week or two to get used to the image on my 42 inch LED screen when I got it, and that's not even 4K.

I seem to remember that some people had a similar problem with Jackson's first Hobbit film in the cinemas with the higher frame rate. As you say Murrin, it's probably just a problem with readjustment.