Is Sony's 'œ200Hz Motionflow' the answer to super-smooth LCD TV?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 10 November 2008 07:45

Opinion and Analysis

With today’s modern TVs comes on big problem – onscreen motion that isn’t smooth. Sony’s new “world first, super smooth” 200Hz Motionflow technology doubles the previous 100Hz models, promising to add three new and unique frames for each original in what could revolutionise large screen LCD TVs – at least for Sony and its Bravia range.

Sony has come out with a promise that will delight anyone set to buy a new TV, and really annoy anyone who’s recently purchased an expensive, large model: “the world’s fastest frame rate on LCD TV”.

This is achieved by doubling the 100Hz technology found on many competing models to 200Hz, and dubbing it “Motionflow”, with Sony set to offer it on its Bravia Z series models from the end of the month in Australian stores.

Jan Ergen, Product Manager for Bravia televisions at Sony Australia said: “Our message to consumers is simple – Motionflow 200Hz delivers the fastest frame rate of any LCD TV. Watching any fast-moving action, particularly sport, is super-smooth and more life-like than ever before thanks to this world first technology from Sony.”

So, how does Motionflow 200Hz work?

Sony explains that “moving pictures on TVs are created by showing a sequence of still images (or frames) in quick succession.

“Better motion reproduction on LCD TVs is achieved by creating and inserting new and unique frames between the original frames.

“Motionflow 200Hz technology creates three additional unique frames for every original frame, increasing the typical frame rate from 50 to 200 per second. This increased frame rate greatly improves the clarity of fast-moving objects and panning scenes on screen.

“A complementary image enhancement technology called IB (Image Blur) Reduction boosts the sharpness of the final picture by improving the original, frame by frame, before it is processed by Motionflow 200Hz.

“Whether allowing you to see the detail of a panning shot or viewing the ultimate in smooth motion clarity for sport, the Motionflow 200Hz Bravia sets new standards in image quality and enjoyment.”

You can see in the following picture how this is meant to work:



So, what other new technology is in the Bravia Z series, what sizes do they come in, and how much does each new model cost? Please read on to page 2.