D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

[isu4me]

I was curious on how other users are redeeming their D2D for DVDs. I've got about 400 (ish) movies on DVD, and while some are very worthy of upgrading to HDX, there are many that I deem as just OK. I plan on moving most of these to digital. However the part that I'm trying to decide is to redeem all of them in HDX or just the 'ok' ones in SD. I've done a couple in SD just to get an idea of quality and while its not bad, it's not outstanding either, but watchable. however some SD appears to be horrid (the 1978 Superman movie for instance is really bad quality).
If it was just a matter of a few, I'd just do HDX, but when you're talking a few hundred the 1.50 (currently, 3 after next month) difference between SD and HDX can start adding up very quickly. I was wondering what others were doing, and their thoughts on SD quality here on VUDU.

[Speedaddict81]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

Even with the 50% discount I am still selective about what I upgrade to HDX from DVD.

If I had a 60+ inch screen I might be more inclined to upgrade everything, as some pixelation would probably appear in SD streams, however, on my 40 inch TV the difference in quality is noticeable, but not worth the extra $300 I'd have spent upgrading titles like 'About Schmidt' or 'Billy Madison'. I find for Comedy and Drama I am fine with SD.

Also, I've only got 2 speakers and a subwoofer set up, right now, so I have no need for true 5.1 audio, Prologic stereo is good enough (though sometimes I feel like the sound levels are off in SD without a center speaker, dialogue is a little too subdued). And, again, for comedy and drama I find no need to have superb surround sound, so SD is just fine.

My only hope is that eventually an SD -> HDX upgrade will be available so I can upgrade if I decide to, if that was already available I think it would be an easy choice; spend a buck each now to digitize the whole library, then, as some extra cash is available, make the upgrades.

[tsken02]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I've been selective about upgrades to HDX. So far, VUDU has been for my travel, and not for watching at home. As such, I don't see the need for HDX on everything. I have been getting HDX for my all of Blu-ray titles, even though I've needed to take them to WM.

[jjohns]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

In my case, I either convert it to HDX or not at all. If it's not worth the extra $3 for HDX to me, then it's usually also not worth $2 for an SD copy since I already have a rip of the DVD stored on my local Plex Media Server. Plus, I hate the idea of spending money and not getting the highest quality available.

[lujan]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

In my case, I either convert it to HDX or not at all. ... Plus, I hate the idea of spending money and not getting the highest quality available.

+

[MaxH]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I had decided that, unless and until they have a way to upgrade from SD to HDX, my D2D purchases would be HDX or nothing...and then they started the sale, and I decided to definitely buy every movie I can in HDX by the time it ends. I think it will only be about 150 in my collection that I can convert right now, so until more studios get on board or the existing studios allow more movies to be licensed in this way, I think my spending has a predictable limit. (Dangerous last words, I know...)

[wildside]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I always get the highest quality available. Costs a bit more but ultimately it is a trivial amount if you figure it is extending the watchable life of a movie. My TV cannot display vhs in acceptable quality now. What will SD look like on a 4K set? l bet it won't be good.

I am up to 4,669 movies...most HDX.

[shadow316]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I will say that, when I first started, I was very selective as to what I upgraded to HDX. I also didn't think that something like Billy Madison was HDX worthy, but something like the Michael Keaton Batman movies certainly were. However, there are some that I did not upgrade to HDX before that I wish I had now. Good news is, it would've cost me $5 to do this initially. Now that this 50% off deal is going, if I want to upgrade a title to HDX that I've already converted, it will only cost me $2.50 if I do 10 or more. So, if you think about it, I'm saving .50 per HDX upgrade because I waited. I haven't done this yet, but I do plan on upgrading a few titles (like my TMNT collection.)

Has anyone else had a change of heart and upgraded once the sale started?

[dunham44]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I try to get all my movies in hdx, but I can see what you guys mean about like certain movies being worthy or so old that it don't matter.

[MaxH]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

Has anyone else had a change of heart and upgraded once the sale started?

I'm thinking about it. I did find movies that I had previously purchased directly from Vudu in SD that I decided to purchase in HDX for $2.50. One was Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, an action movie that would benefit from a higher resolution and framerate. The movies that I did D2D in SD were the 5 free Flixster conversions, and I did movies that are all about the dialog: Milk (which has a 70s cinematography that won't benefit so much from HDX), Glengary Glen Ross, and three mockumentaries by Christopher Guest. I don't think I'll bother spending to upgrade the video on those.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I'm thinking about it. I did find movies that I had previously purchased directly from Vudu in SD that I decided to purchase in HDX for $2.50. One was Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, an action movie that would benefit from a higher resolution and framerate. The movies that I did D2D in SD were the 5 free Flixster conversions, and I did movies that are all about the dialog: Milk (which has a 70s cinematography that won't benefit so much from HDX), Glengary Glen Ross, and three mockumentaries by Christopher Guest. I don't think I'll bother spending to upgrade the video on those.

last week, I hit the end of the road on my D2D list until more become available. I was entertaining the idea this weekend of upgrading two of my freebee Flixster movies which I have on DVD. One is "Matchstick Men" and the other is "The Perfect Storm".

Both could benefit with viewing in 1080p, but I do not know about paying the in-store D2D rate of $10.70 for this upgrade. Still chewing on the idea.

Someone else in the forum mentioned doing so and I am beginning to like the idea of moving two out of the SD column and do a +2 into my HDX column.

[JayJB]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I have not upgraded the vast majority of my DVD movies to HDX for a couple of reasons.

Many of the old classics were never re-mastered, and I question whether or not HD makes a difference (perhaps it does, I just don't know).

My reason for going digital is portability and my current tablet is not an HD screen, so I only get SD anyway.

Cost....I've converted over 200 using Vudu to Go, and approx. 80 at Walmart before it became available.

Having said that, it would be nice to have the option to upgrade from SD to HD/HDX for $3.00 ($1.50 during the promotional period) for those titles I've done via D2D.

Vudu Movies:
118 HDX
237 SD
355 Total
Vudu TV Seasons:
3 HDX

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I have not upgraded the vast majority of my DVD movies to HDX for a couple of reasons.

Many of the old classics were never re-mastered, and I question whether or not HD makes a difference (perhaps it does, I just don't know).

My reason for going digital is portability and my current tablet is not an HD screen, so I only get SD anyway.

Cost....I've converted over 200 using Vudu to Go, and approx. 80 at Walmart before it became available.

Having said that, it would be nice to have the option to upgrade from SD to HD/HDX for $3.00 ($1.50 during the promotional period) for those titles I've done via D2D.

Vudu Movies:
118 HDX
237 SD
355 Total
Vudu TV Seasons:
3 HDX

I have "The Sound of Music" in HDX. The quality is superb.

For me, my D2D journey was a methodical one. I only added titles into HDX, unless there was a title I didn't want to wait for the HDX version to become available, but was otherwise available in SD.

"Jeremiah Johnson" is one such title and that I would not mind paying $5 for the HDX upgrade if it ever becomes available.

You may feel differently and I respect that. For me, I paid cash for each of my HDX additions over a long period. I am very pleased with my collection as it stands today.

[JayJB]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

Many of the old classics were never re-mastered, and I question whether or not HD makes a difference (perhaps it does, I just don't know).

I should have said "Many older films" rather than classics....I have a lot of "B" movies too, and I really don't think those were re-mastered.

To each their own...at least we have options. But I do have a few regrets and would like to upgrade. My next tablet will likely be HD resolution or higher, so at some point, that reason goes away too.

[MaxH]

Re: D2D: Redeeing DVDs in SD or HDX?

I have not upgraded the vast majority of my DVD movies to HDX for a couple of reasons.

Many of the old classics were never re-mastered, and I question whether or not HD makes a difference (perhaps it does, I just don't know).

If you get HDNet, you can find lots of older movies in HD, and you'll see that the broadcast quality of the original films are much better than DVD-quality. Everything I've watched on HDnet from the 70s and before has been quite stunning compared to SD.