HDTV - shows too dark and murky, inconsistent?

Patrick Sun · 10-20-2003, 02:03 PM

It seems to me that the nicely lit sitcoms are the shows that look the best in HDTV.

Otherwise, shows like:

Alias
Angel
CSI (clean and dark)
Joan of Arcadia
Karen Sisco (in some scenes)

are pretty dark and obscure a lot of the detail otherwise apparent with HD resolution.

Smallville seems too oversaturated.

The Handler is okay in day scenes, somewhat better in the night/dark scenes

Everwood looks a bit overly grainy (as does Alias)

Without a Trace is usually too blue (by choice).

One Tree Hill is a little too bland in color

CSI: Miami is too red/orangish

L.A. Dragnet is too purplish/bluish

WadeB · 10-20-2003, 02:34 PM

I’m fairly new to HD. I don’t watch any sitcoms (except Seinfeld reruns) so I can’t comment on those. Of the first 5 dramas you mention, I only watch 2 of them: Alias and Karen Sisco. I got to watch Alias for the first time in HD last night, and it reminded me a lot of the PQ of the DVD, very grainy and dark for the most part. The daytime overhead city flyovers are really sharp though.

Sisco is quite a bit better by comparison. The thing that really stands out on this show is the sound. I get awesome dynamics and surround on this show. The music really stands out. Overall, these 2 shows are just dark though and that’s part of the mood I guess. Digital and dark just don’t seem to mix. My low light digital camera shots also look grainy and lack detail. Anyhow, Both Carla and Jennifer look great, and I much prefer them in HD over the washed out compressed image from Directv.

I’ve been wanting to try Vegas in HD, and may give it a shot tonite since there is a break in WS action.

The thing that really impresses in HD is of course sports. MNF has a great wow factor, and CBS’ football games are most impressive. In the recent LSU FLA game those purples and oranges were just jumping off the screen. If I wanted to show of my display, that’s what I would use.

Garrett Adams · 10-20-2003, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Smallville seems too oversaturated.

My assumption has been that the bright colors are meant to convey the comic book look. The same was done in the movie Dick Tracy.

Ken Chan · 10-20-2003, 05:41 PM

Isn't a lot of the grainy stuff shot on film (vs. HD video)?

//Ken

Lew Crippen · 10-21-2003, 08:21 AM

Interesting Patrick. While I’ve not watched all of the shows you list in HD (or at all for that matter), I think that some of your observations go to style (I infer that you may suspect that as well).

For example, I’m certain that the color balance in CSI: Miami and Without a Trace are deliberate choices. I expect that to be true of L.A. Dragnet as well. It is pretty clear that CSI is meant to be shot as we see it in HD. In fact, dark as it is, I think that you get more detail in HD than you do in SD. True there is more contrast in HD, but I see more in HD than SD in this show.

I’ve not watched Angel in HD as we have been time-shifting it. I’ll give it a try this week and see if I think that more detail is missing in HD or SD.

**HTF Ads**

Patrick Sun · 10-21-2003, 09:08 AM

CBS usually does a better job on HD shows for now. I paid attention to CSI: Miami last night, and its HD performance/quality is actually pretty solid, with less grain than I remembered of older episodes.

FOX's EDTV broadcasts tend to be oversaturated, but perhaps that's what they think their demographic wants (the bright vivid colors). Skin looked pretty good for EDTV, though some detail is lost in the dark scenes.

Monday Night Football looked pretty good last night (and most nights - except when the Bears and Packers play - their uniform colors are simply ugly with pitted against one another).

MarkHastings · 10-21-2003, 09:46 AM

Jay Leno's show looks pretty damn good. Unfortunately you have to watch Jay Leno in HD (AHHHH!!!), but the colors in the backdrop behind his desk are amazing.

The US Open and Football games also look great, but I assume that's because of the sunlight?

I did notice how some of the HBO movies are pretty dark. "Enough" (J-Lo) has been on quite a bit and it looks dark, as well as that movie "Real Women have Curves" (I think that's the title?)

Maybe a lot has to do with the source material? They broadcast the local news (with the black bars on the sides) and the compression is horrible.

It's better through regular cable.

Michael Hughes · 10-21-2003, 12:44 PM

CSI is really stunning, I make time to watch that one live. I only can get CBS and Fox right now, and fox only broadscasts widescreen so they are still a bit grainy.

Tim K · 10-21-2003, 09:00 PM

Not being a viewer of many of these shows I cannot comment (no CBS-HD). However, I will say that most of the Law and Order shows and Alias are very dark. I think, though, that these shows in general are supposed to be dark. Much like Lew said, I believe that most of that is intentional. CSI Miami is really orange on my regular 27" TV.

As for the clarity/detail...
Someone will surely correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that NONE of them are shot in HD and are all upconverted instead hence the lack of detail. Sports and Jay Leno are the only things I know of that are currently shot with HD cameras.