Model 1 vs Model 2 picture quality

[RetroRGB]

May 6, 2013 19:27:34 GMT buckoa51 said:

It handles RGB and most importantly RGB at native 240p (rather than converting it to 480i like all other capture cards). Have a look on my website for some detailed info on it. It can't capture composite or s-video though.

Oh, awesome, thanks! I'll definitely take a look.

[RetroRGB]

May 6, 2013 19:24:10 GMT infernalcombustion said:

So keep doing what you're doing.

Thanks!

[zyrobs]

May 6, 2013 17:39:42 GMT RetroRGB said:

There's one point of yours I strongly disagree with: Photos vs. screen captures. I have hundreds of pictures on my site. None were "snapped with an iPhone", they were all taken by me personally, with a DSLR, using a prime lens, tri-pod and the same manual settings. Also, the camera was always at the same height, in the same place, the same distance away. Finally, all comparison shots for each system were taken at the same time. Said differently, I didn't take "Saturn shot #1" on a Saturday morning and then "Saturn picture #2" a week later on a Friday night...every time a picture comparison was taken, it was one right after the other to make sure the lighting was identical. As a result, the pictures reflect exactly what my eyes saw on my Sony PVM RGB monitor. Screen captures via an RGB capture card become complicated. I actually toyed with the idea of buying a Matrox RGB video capture card to do the comparisons, but that added so many different factors...the most important being that playing a video of an RGB signal via YouTube on your laptop is really not a good representation of what the console is actually outputting. You need to see it on a monitor, with scanlines in order to really grasp the differences.

I hear ya. Still, if we are comparing the RGB quality of the *Saturn*, direct RGB frame capture would be the best. Not video uploads, just pictures. Photos, while I agree they can be done well, will take a shot of how the Saturn works on that TV. Which, again, can skew the results because I get visibly different quality on two different sets - a 1000$ plasma and a 20$ used CRT (the plasma is worse).

[RetroRGB]

May 6, 2013 20:45:38 GMT zyrobs said:

I get visibly different quality on two different sets - a 1000$ plasma and a 20$ used CRT (the plasma is worse).

Hahahaha...that's exactly why I got into this to begin with! Then once I discovered RGB monitors, I was hooked for life (for my old systems, at least)!

Thanks for your reply and you made a valid point. I'll definitely look into the capture card buckoa51 mentioned. I already checked out his review and YouTube videos and it seems like a device I need to own. If nothing else, some pics with a capture card will work well alongside my other pics.

For the record, I'm using a Sony PVM-20M2U with only a few thousand hours on it that's been professionally calibrated. By no means does that make it "perfect", but at least you know I'm using a good display and not some garbage TV.

[ShiningRangerSaga]

Feb 3, 2013 0:58:45 GMT buckoa51 said:

I believe this was discussed a while back and many didn't believe there was a difference between Model 1 and Model 2 video output, well seems there is a small difference:-

www.retrorgb.com/Saturn

Though he says not to use a raw sync cable and I'm using one with my Model 2 with zero issues, in fact it gives a much better picture on e.g Daytona where using composite video for sync gives dot crawl over certain colours.

Anyway, just a FYI, the differences are minimal.

I agree with what he has to say, model 1 is the way to go from personal experience. I first noticed the quality difference waiting for a friend to dial me so we could play sega rally on netlink with my model 1. I was shocked on the difference in quality through simple composite.

Then again, my model 1 could just have been used much less. My model 1 is a launch unit from may 95. I got it absolutely mint, CIB, as if it was never used. one of the first off the production line 40,000 serial number range. My model 2 was from back when the 3 free games thing was going on, manafactured august 96. average condition, and didn't work when I first got it. It was in noticably lesser condition than the model 1. It was my first ever saturn, I payed 20 dollars, and I sold it afew months ago (regret ) Anyways, enough with my rambling. All I have to say is bubble screen CRT,switched to 16:9, running s video on a model 1 saturn is ABSOLUTELY beautiful (especially playing NiGHTS!)

[smokemonster]

I just ordered a scart cable, but wasn't aware of anyone making a raw sync cables for the Saturn. Is there a source for these?

I was hoping to find a nice shielded cable like I have for my other systems, but came up short with the Saturn. I still have time to cancel and replace my order if anyone could recommend a good source.

[buckoa51]

Retro console accessories on E-bay used to make them though it's only really the XRGB3 that needs them.