1080i vs. 720p HDTV
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I’ve seen 1080p content displayed on a 1080p HDTV set. Couldn’t tell you if it was any better than 720p or 1080i, but I believe it is better - for tomorrow, not necessarily for today. I’m not just spewing forth random numbers, folks - these are formats, one being progressive lines (720p) on a television screen and the other interlaced (1080i). There’s a new format emerging that blends the best of both worlds: 1080p. Remember that your good ol’ television set in the other room is only capable of displaying 480 lines at a time. In the world of content, more is astoundingly better. I won’t argue the benefits of LCD, plasma, DLP, etc. - that’s for a different discussion altogether. I will tell you, however, that spending more money for a set that’s 1080p-compatible today is a waste of money. Wait until there’s more 1080p content available in a few years; don’t put off HD for too much longer if your pocketbook can handle the hit.
“720p is better than 1080i in HDTV because the highest 1080 line formats (1080i60 and 1080p30) as defined in the ATSC standard, deliver only a few more pixels per second than the highest 720p variant (720p60).” Or so says this article on the Facts and Fiction of 1080p. I can tell you that high definition gaming is definitely here to stay - and will only get better over time. I’m having extreme difficulties playing high-action games on a regular ol’ television set because it doesn’t offer the same depth and detail as an HD display does. I want to watch all my programming on our HDTV screen, and am extremely disappointed when a show doesn’t record (or isn’t available) in high-def. I don’t care if it’s available in 720p or 1080i, because my eyes still can’t see which one is better.
There’s a big difference between progressive and interlaced content, mind you. In a “progressive” mode, the image is assembled and presented one frame at a time. In an “interlaced” scenario, odd lines and even lines are displayed one after another in rapid succession - creating the illusion of a full, single frame. Ultimately, progressive is… progressive. You can’t walk into a video store and pick up a VHS copy of your favorite movie easily these days, can you? Most of us have moved on to DVD. There will come a time when all televisions will be able to handle high definition content with ease. And I still remember having a couple of black and white TVs in our house growing up. How did we ever get along without color? You’ll be asking yourself the same thing in another decade. Only, instead of “color,” you’ll wonder how the world ever got along with HD.
Tags: tv, lcd, television, plasma, hdtv, high definition, progressive scan, dlp, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, interlaced
2 Comments
Angel
February 7th, 2007
at 6:50pm
not suprised about your comment.still remember how bad it was well up to the 1980´s to wacht american programs and trying to ajust the colour,and wondering why the picture was not as sharp,not to talk about the jerky movement especially during camara movement due to the drop of five frames every second (25 is compleatly smooth,dont need more) the European Union developes a 1250i HDsystem been the best,but no we have to wait because U,S,A is talking about a newer digital HD system so Europe stop and cancel it´s system waiting for the American response.so finally the Americans come with a two systems, 720p and 1080i.some country,s like Australia are transmitting 720p,1080i and 625p! they argue why 720p if it,s not that much difference from 625p(most countries in world used the 625i systems 25 o 50 cicle) for most of us 720p is not that much improvement, maybe it is to people that are used to waching 525i transmissions like people from the states and there satelites. i admitt that there´s not that much difference if wacth on small to medium size screens,but there is a big difference when seen on large screens.so i hope the 720p losses the battle and we get on with the real HD format on over 1000 lines.Im glad that blue ray and HD DVD have choosen 1080 p system that will make these large screens more popular,i would hate to wacth a big screen video on 720p because the lines and pixel would be to visible to the eye.If we are getting in HD lets get to it properly and not in a half way .by the way there is a big difference in pixels per line in the 1080 even if it´s interlace.hope the future will be 1080p but of course the American´s are more interested in packing more channels in bandwith rather than improving picture quality,so there trying to sell us the 720p system.
jack
July 30th, 2007
at 10:39am
I don’t know what TV you are watching, but I’ve got 50″GW3 and a Mits DLP1080i (which plays mostly 720p content) throwing a 110″ screen. On the GW, you can only see the pixels/lines or any articafacts for that matter if you are right up on the screen. On the 110″, you can only see the pixels if you are within about 3 -4 feet of it, which is about 3 times closer than you can comfortably watch it from. I’ll add I have 30/40 vision also.
On a friends Sam 1080p 60in, I would say the picture looks better, but not clearer in resolution. I would attribute it to the screen and processing.
In short, if I showed 10 different TVs of varying quality, half of which were playing 720p and the other have 1080p, and you could get 8 out 10 right, I would buy you a 1080p set against $500 of your own dollars.
1080p is nice, but it’s not revolutionary… a quality display with yield almost indistinguishable pictures of 1080p vs 720p unless its a pure side by side nitpick.