High Frame Rate 3D

I just listened to episode 63 of your Home Theater Geeks podcast and heard that 3D may be making a move to 48 or 60 frames per second. Am I correct that this is a problem for Blu-ray because it cannot accommodate this higher frame rate? Does this mean we will soon see a new disc format?

Charlie Raskob

You are correct—the current Blu-ray specification cannot accommodate 1080p at 48 or 60fps; in fact, its ability to handle 1080p tops out at 24. It can manage 48 and 60 with a resolution of 720p, though 48 isn't actually in the spec. However, I doubt that many filmmakers and consumers will want 720p when they've enjoyed 1080p for several years now.

If James Cameron shoots Avatar 2 at 48 or 60fps—and I sincerely hope he does—releasing the movie at that frame rate on disc will require an update to Blu-ray or a new format. Just what we need, another format war! Of course, there's always streaming, but few homes have sufficient bandwidth to handle 3D at 48 or 60fps with any sort of reasonable picture quality. Thus, while high-frame rate 3D might become available in commercial theaters at some point, I doubt it will be available in the home any time soon. Perhaps we'll see it about the same time as 4K displays in the home, which I think will be several years at least.

If you have an A/V question, please send it to askscottwilkinson@gmail.com.

Share | |
Comments
uavfunboy's picture

Every 3D scene with fast motion involved seems to fall apart / appear jagged and is the single reason I don't buy a 3DTV right now. Will increased frame rates solve that problem, or is it something else causing that? If so, I will await the 60fps Blu Ray spec no matter how long it takes.

Scott Wilkinson's picture
I expect that higher frame rates will greatly reduce the effect you describe, which I also hate. This is one reason I prefer 3D images that are mostly behind the screen plane.
movie lover's picture

i seen 2 movie's in 3d in past and it was cool but for me 2d i still love.i just keep what i have now of my hdtv's my blu ray player's and my dvd's blu ray movie's in 2d.i love what i have now for movie's,also let's see what happen's with high frame rate.

Site Map / Direct Links