What are your Television Options?

My LG TV uses the passive glasses, of which I have a large number (same as the ones used in RealD movie theatres), which I find very comfortable.

I've tried the active glasses at the houses of a couple of friends, and I can see them shimmering - I don't like them at all.

 

The 3D photos sounds like fun, gotta buy a 3D camera? How much? Just finally got a DSLR, so I'm over budget.

 

Not too many choices, but the Fuji W3 is what most enthusiasts use. Fuji has stopped making them, so instead of $300+ you can get them for just under $160 at Amazon. There's also an email list full of helpful users.

One very neat thing with the camera is that its screen is 3D, both when using it as a viewfinder and when displaying photos on the camera. It also shoots HD video in 3D.

 

3D is pretty cool, but a novelty. Really it was just another push at the technology because LCD sales were slumping. Everyone had 1080 sets, how do you get them to buy more? 3D! Now lots of people have 3D, what do they need? 4K HD!

Very few things are shot in 3D. If it gives you a headache, it is probably because it was filmed in 2D and then converted to 3D. It just splits the field based on the black and whites which make things almost appear 3D for full colour. It is really amusing to watch a black and white show like I Love Lucy with the 2D=>3D on. It is like a puppet show of 2D characters kind of. Really weird.

We don't even get 1080 television streams yet. Most are 720 still from all cable companies and satellite providers with a couple true 1080 streams in there. The new push to 4K is silly, but needed for marketing.

My set is 3D and I use it every now and then, but I wouldn't put it on a list of must have features. It just comes for free now adays.

 

...nice tip ftl, might have to get that camera as the price has dropped to "it's a steal" level

 

Not to mention highly compressed and low bitrate. You are exactly right though - it's good for television sales now that there is an expectation that they be replaced every 6-8 years. Full bitrate 1080p could serve us well for a long time to come yet.

 

IMHO, 4K would be a waste of money. Wait till there's actually some usable 4K content (zero now) and the prices come down. FYI, your eyes can't actually see the difference from normal viewing distances anyway, unless you are planning to get an 80 inch set.

 

saw a 75" samsung in the box, almost brought it home.

 

There's a good thread about the UN55F9000 over at AVS Forum...
Samsung 4K Anticipation Thread. UN55F9000, UN65F9000, and UN85S9 Discusion

 

Tony, while you are attracted to the pretty lights and fancy knobs, (me too!) buying a 4K set at this time really would be a complete waste of money. You will see no 4K broadcasts from the major networks for at least 2 years. By then 8K will be the hot ticket, with OLED screens being better than Plasma with no burns.
Save some money, buy a LED 60" or so, you can forget about 3D, and you spend under $1000!
It will take several years before the current TV infrastructure will be up to carrying 4K, much less 8K broadcasts. TV will stay the same for the life of that 60" LCD you will end up buying, by the time it craps out and you will need a new set, 4K, 8K and who knows what's next will be out there! Look how long it took to get the current ATSC system implemented to replace NTSC!