Comparison shots from every single DBZ release

[ArmenianPepsi]

Don't have any comparing all but did make this one against the JPN Dragon Box when I was looking at the Buu era episodes. It is a shame the Dragon Box fell in quality (for me) during most of the Buu episodes. Strong green tint and overblown highlights, where I actually preferred the look of the 30th BD set here funny enough (outside the "remastering" they did): http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/992C1NNU

Yeah, despite all the deserved hell we give the 30th, there are some scenes and frames that do look better than previous releases.

I will admit, the colors in that particular shot look pretty good to my eye

[ArmenianPepsi]

This may be a strange comparison, but i've been rewatching Super and I noticed that when they flashback to past events, they'll just use old footage, be it cropped to fit the 16:9 ratio Super is made it obviously. A certain flashback caught my eye.

In episode 86 when Dende first tells Goku about Oob, and how he's the reincarnation of Majin Buu, they cut away to a flashback showing old footage of Goku killing Buu. But even looking past the light sepia-tone filter they put on top, it actually doesn't look as gross as Kai TFC. By looking at it, the line work seems to look sharper and less smudgy. Take a gander for yourself.

View here if you want --> https://imgur.com/gallery/qu0aLtm

Spoiler:

DBS Flashback Footage


Kai TFC


Dragon Box for a baseline

I have no clue how this specific variation of the footage came in. I doubt Toei would just bust out their actual film print of the episode just to scan a few seconds for a one-time flashback. Perhaps this is the TFC footage Pre-""Remaster""?

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me?

[KBABZ]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me?

They are! Well, not your eyes, but the picture itself. The lines all have ringing artifacts, which are bright halos around edges of high contrast that trick you into thinking the image is sharper than it actually is. The edge halos are the same thing TVs use to artificially sharpen the image beyond what it's intended to be.

I'd provide a comparison I made, but imgur is down atm, so for now I'll just say that you can zoom in on Goku's eyes and see it very obviously.

[Robo4900]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me?

They are! Well, not your eyes, but the picture itself. The lines all have ringing artifacts, which are bright halos around edges of high contrast that trick you into thinking the image is sharper than it actually is. The edge halos are the same thing TVs use to artificially sharpen the image beyond what it's intended to be.

I'd provide a comparison I made, but imgur is down atm, so for now I'll just say that you can zoom in on Goku's eyes and see it very obviously.

Thought so. If you're seeing ringing, likely what's going on here is that Toei used the Blu-ray version of Kai 2.0, which is the Japanese cut, and has horrendous sharpening on top.

[KBABZ]

Thought so. If you're seeing ringing, likely what's going on here is that Toei used the Blu-ray version of Kai 2.0, which is the Japanese cut, and has horrendous sharpening on top.

Might explain the sepia tint too!

[BluezaBladeNZ]

Geez, that DBS Flashback shot. Got a shot from the 30th BD set if anyone was curious about it here:

[ArmenianPepsi]

Geez, that DBS Flashback shot. Got a shot from the 30th BD set if anyone was curious about it here:

Looks so nice to have Goku not look ghostly pale due to blown out colors

[Metalwario64]

Thought so. If you're seeing ringing, likely what's going on here is that Toei used the Blu-ray version of Kai 2.0, which is the Japanese cut, and has horrendous sharpening on top.

Might explain the sepia tint too!

Those colors are clearly intentional. Even Kai 1.0 had some flashbacks with a sepia tint.

But all of that aside, that shot to me looks better in Kai than the Dragon Box, which is just too soft with overly dark colors comparatively. Of course TFC has various color issues, but I think it's overall better looking, especially compared to the overly bright, green tinted episodes in the Dragon Box. (but in both those and the Dragon Box shots, I see clear examples of additional DNR and compression, so it's not a good comparison)

[KBABZ]

Thought so. If you're seeing ringing, likely what's going on here is that Toei used the Blu-ray version of Kai 2.0, which is the Japanese cut, and has horrendous sharpening on top.

Might explain the sepia tint too!

Those colors are clearly intentional. Even Kai 1.0 had some flashbacks with a sepia tint.

[Metalwario64]

Anyway, here are unaltered screenshots from the Dragon Box and the DVD of Kai TFC:

Dragon Box:


Kai:

[kyppk]

Recently saw that the Level Set 1.1 disk 2 had some Namek and Android saga shots in an interview, so I grabbed some of the Android frames from the interview and found the corresponding 30th.

http://www.framecompare.com/screenshotc ... n/9FCMFNNU

[KPike87]

So I've got my first set of movies on Blu Ray coming in the mail (Super Android 13/Bojack Unbound). I'd love to do comparisons on them because compared to the shows, you barley ever see any comparisons on those releases.

Anyways, in the meantime, let's compare the openings and closings across the various home releases of Dragon Ball Z:
Opening 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BFNNU
Opening 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLWNNX
Closing 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2B1NNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLGNNX
Closing 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BMNNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLPNNX

*I used Ultimate Sacrifice for the UUE, Namek's End and Vegeta's Plea for the single DVD's, seasons 3 and 8 for the Orange Bricks, and volumes 3 and 5 for the Dragon Boxes. Also, while this has nothing to do with image quality, but if you're looking to rip or source the Japanese songs for these openings and closings, the Orange Bricks for every song seem to be a lot more muffled than any other release.

[TheGreatness25]

I used that shot of Goku that was posted earlier. Didn't realize how annoying it would be to use that (had to capture it after Goku's mouth closes the first time after he starts talking, or else there's auras and whatnot).

Anyway, here's one of all of them together:

https://imgur.com/LVGyKsF
https://i.imgur.com/LVGyKsF.jpg (full size)

Never realized Imgur uses jpg... Blah.

[ArmenianPepsi]

So I've got my first set of movies on Blu Ray coming in the mail (Super Android 13/Bojack Unbound). I'd love to do comparisons on them because compared to the shows, you barley ever see any comparisons on those releases.

Anyways, in the meantime, let's compare the openings and closings across the various home releases of Dragon Ball Z:
Opening 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BFNNU
Opening 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLWNNX
Closing 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2B1NNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLGNNX
Closing 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BMNNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLPNNX

*I used Ultimate Sacrifice for the UUE, Namek's End and Vegeta's Plea for the single DVD's, seasons 3 and 8 for the Orange Bricks, and volumes 3 and 5 for the Dragon Boxes. Also, while this has nothing to do with image quality, but if you're looking to rip or source the Japanese songs for these openings and closings, the Orange Bricks for every song seem to be a lot more muffled than any other release.

Is it me or do the UUE and the Level Sets have really similar colors? I like how it looks a little more subdued compared to the Orange Bricks that look like they cranked the contract dial all the way up. Can't really describe the feeling.

[KPike87]

Spoiler:

So I've got my first set of movies on Blu Ray coming in the mail (Super Android 13/Bojack Unbound). I'd love to do comparisons on them because compared to the shows, you barley ever see any comparisons on those releases.

Anyways, in the meantime, let's compare the openings and closings across the various home releases of Dragon Ball Z:
Opening 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BFNNU
Opening 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLWNNX
Closing 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2B1NNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLGNNX
Closing 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BMNNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLPNNX

*I used Ultimate Sacrifice for the UUE, Namek's End and Vegeta's Plea for the single DVD's, seasons 3 and 8 for the Orange Bricks, and volumes 3 and 5 for the Dragon Boxes. Also, while this has nothing to do with image quality, but if you're looking to rip or source the Japanese songs for these openings and closings, the Orange Bricks for every song seem to be a lot more muffled than any other release.

Is it me or do the UUE and the Level Sets have really similar colors? I like how it looks a little more subdued compared to the Orange Bricks that look like they cranked the contract dial all the way up. Can't really describe the feeling.

The UUE episodes were actually pretty good transfers. A bit saturated in some episodes, but otherwise great. I think the earlier singles had better colors for the opening and show itself, but the closing looks a lot better on UUE. It always bothered me that because how terrible the OB's were but still managed to sell well, that means they could have just used the same scans as the singles and repackaged them in seasons at a higher bitrate and no one would have mined. Hell, that's what they did with the Blue Bricks.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Spoiler:

So I've got my first set of movies on Blu Ray coming in the mail (Super Android 13/Bojack Unbound). I'd love to do comparisons on them because compared to the shows, you barley ever see any comparisons on those releases.

Anyways, in the meantime, let's compare the openings and closings across the various home releases of Dragon Ball Z:
Opening 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BFNNU
Opening 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLWNNX
Closing 1:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2B1NNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLGNNX
Closing 2:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/9E2BMNNU
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compa ... n/7GPLPNNX

*I used Ultimate Sacrifice for the UUE, Namek's End and Vegeta's Plea for the single DVD's, seasons 3 and 8 for the Orange Bricks, and volumes 3 and 5 for the Dragon Boxes. Also, while this has nothing to do with image quality, but if you're looking to rip or source the Japanese songs for these openings and closings, the Orange Bricks for every song seem to be a lot more muffled than any other release.

Is it me or do the UUE and the Level Sets have really similar colors? I like how it looks a little more subdued compared to the Orange Bricks that look like they cranked the contract dial all the way up. Can't really describe the feeling.

The UUE episodes were actually pretty good transfers. A bit saturated in some episodes, but otherwise great. I think the earlier singles had better colors for the opening and show itself, but the closing looks a lot better on UUE. It always bothered me that because how terrible the OB's were but still managed to sell well, that means they could have just used the same scans as the singles and repackaged them in seasons at a higher bitrate and no one would have mined. Hell, that's what they did with the Blue Bricks.

They really should've just done this, i'd have been ok with the Orange Bricks if that had been what was put on them rather than than the cropped oversaturated and smeared mess that was.

[KPike87]

Spoiler:

Is it me or do the UUE and the Level Sets have really similar colors? I like how it looks a little more subdued compared to the Orange Bricks that look like they cranked the contract dial all the way up. Can't really describe the feeling.

The UUE episodes were actually pretty good transfers. A bit saturated in some episodes, but otherwise great. I think the earlier singles had better colors for the opening and show itself, but the closing looks a lot better on UUE. It always bothered me that because how terrible the OB's were but still managed to sell well, that means they could have just used the same scans as the singles and repackaged them in seasons at a higher bitrate and no one would have mined. Hell, that's what they did with the Blue Bricks.

They really should've just done this, i'd have been ok with the Orange Bricks if that had been what was put on them rather than than the cropped oversaturated and smeared mess that was.

I really wish they down the line they fixed the Orange Bricks, after the Blue Bricks were released, do the exact same remaster as that release (the same type of DNR i.e. the one that doesn't remove the outlines, 4:3, no alterations to the color) and have all three shows be consistent across the "Bricks" line. I would have gladly sacrificed Japanese title cards for that, since the OB's had them but not the BB's for some reason. Imagine a world with 4:3 DBZ with great color, all three audio choices, at a great price, with no sharpening artifacts, right down at your local store. Still would have preferred no DNR, but that's a very realistic dream we sadly never got.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

The UUE episodes were actually pretty good transfers. A bit saturated in some episodes, but otherwise great. I think the earlier singles had better colors for the opening and show itself, but the closing looks a lot better on UUE. It always bothered me that because how terrible the OB's were but still managed to sell well, that means they could have just used the same scans as the singles and repackaged them in seasons at a higher bitrate and no one would have mined. Hell, that's what they did with the Blue Bricks.

They really should've just done this, i'd have been ok with the Orange Bricks if that had been what was put on them rather than than the cropped oversaturated and smeared mess that was.

I really wish they down the line they fixed the Orange Bricks, after the Blue Bricks were released, do the exact same remaster as that release (the same type of DNR i.e. the one that doesn't remove the outlines, 4:3, no alterations to the color) and have all three shows be consistent across the "Bricks" line. I would have gladly sacrificed Japanese title cards for that, since the OB's had them but not the BB's for some reason. Imagine a world with 4:3 DBZ with great color, all three audio choices, at a great price, with no sharpening artifacts, right down at your local store. Still would have preferred no DNR, but that's a very realistic dream we sadly never got.

So true, because they had gotten their act together and greatly toned down/improved the noise reduction process by the time the Blue Bricks for OG DB came out as they look much better. It really makes me wish that FUNi had gone back later and done a corrected run that fixed all of these things and undone the fake widescreen because Z is the odd man out as DB and GT were left in the proper 4:3 for their respective season releases, mostly owing to the digibeta tape masters the episodes are sourced from so as a result not nearly as awful looking as the Orange Bricks especially the first few.

Still though, the OB's being repackages of the singles would've been a good alternative for a cheap 4:3 release of DBZ on DVD if the Dragon Boxes hadn't gotten released here.

[KPike87]

Spoiler:

They really should've just done this, i'd have been ok with the Orange Bricks if that had been what was put on them rather than than the cropped oversaturated and smeared mess that was.

I really wish they down the line they fixed the Orange Bricks, after the Blue Bricks were released, do the exact same remaster as that release (the same type of DNR i.e. the one that doesn't remove the outlines, 4:3, no alterations to the color) and have all three shows be consistent across the "Bricks" line. I would have gladly sacrificed Japanese title cards for that, since the OB's had them but not the BB's for some reason. Imagine a world with 4:3 DBZ with great color, all three audio choices, at a great price, with no sharpening artifacts, right down at your local store. Still would have preferred no DNR, but that's a very realistic dream we sadly never got.

So true, because they had gotten their act together and greatly toned down/improved the noise reduction process by the time the Blue Bricks for OG DB came out as they look much better. It really makes me wish that FUNi had gone back later and done a corrected run that fixed all of these things and undone the fake widescreen because Z is the odd man out as DB and GT were left in the proper 4:3 for their respective season releases, mostly owing to the digibeta tape masters the episodes are sourced from so as a result not nearly as awful looking as the Orange Bricks especially the first few.

Still though, the OB's being repackages of the singles would've been a good alternative for a cheap 4:3 release of DBZ on DVD if the Dragon Boxes hadn't gotten released here.

Hell, even if the Dragon Boxes were released here but got to being as expensive as they are now, I'd say the OB's would be the way to go. Then again, the only reason they're all 200+ dollars each is because it's the only reasonable full or close to full release.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Spoiler:

I really wish they down the line they fixed the Orange Bricks, after the Blue Bricks were released, do the exact same remaster as that release (the same type of DNR i.e. the one that doesn't remove the outlines, 4:3, no alterations to the color) and have all three shows be consistent across the "Bricks" line. I would have gladly sacrificed Japanese title cards for that, since the OB's had them but not the BB's for some reason. Imagine a world with 4:3 DBZ with great color, all three audio choices, at a great price, with no sharpening artifacts, right down at your local store. Still would have preferred no DNR, but that's a very realistic dream we sadly never got.

So true, because they had gotten their act together and greatly toned down/improved the noise reduction process by the time the Blue Bricks for OG DB came out as they look much better. It really makes me wish that FUNi had gone back later and done a corrected run that fixed all of these things and undone the fake widescreen because Z is the odd man out as DB and GT were left in the proper 4:3 for their respective season releases, mostly owing to the digibeta tape masters the episodes are sourced from so as a result not nearly as awful looking as the Orange Bricks especially the first few.

Still though, the OB's being repackages of the singles would've been a good alternative for a cheap 4:3 release of DBZ on DVD if the Dragon Boxes hadn't gotten released here.

Hell, even if the Dragon Boxes were released here but got to being as expensive as they are now, I'd say the OB's would be the way to go. Then again, the only reason they're all 200+ dollars each is because it's the only reasonable full or close to full release.

Yes, it's just too bad that the Orange Bricks are as awful as they are between the fake widescreen, oversaturation and smeared to oblivion picture.