1080i >>>>>> 1080p or 720p ?

[JonRead]

I recorded a show (FTA) direct from my satellite supplier, so in other words no analogue means, all direct. This was broadcast in 17mbps VBR 1080i. Now, I want to archive this in best quality possible, but something that is Blu-Ray compatible. Sadly I can't leave it as it is as it wont play on blu-ray like that. I want to keep it as an archive for the future, so in other words best picture quality.

So should I encode it to 17mb VBR in 1080i, 1080p, or 720p given that the source is 1080i ? I thought 720p as I have a 37" screen and there is fast movement in it, but would this reduce picture quality ? Would me converting it to 1080p gain any sort of increase in quality if the source is only 1080i ?

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

[Atak_Snajpera]

If you want 50fps or 59.94fps you must resize to 720p . 1080p@50 (59.94) is not allowed in level 4.1 (Blu-Ray players).

[lexor]

1080i @ 17mbps... is it mpeg2? if yes, go with 720p, you'll save space and it will look just as good, especially since your tv isn't 50"+.

[scharfis_brain]

I'd recommend to leave it as it is.
deinterlacing it to 720p throws away lots of pixels.

[Atak_Snajpera]

I'd recommend to leave it as it is.
deinterlacing it to 720p throws away lots of pixels.
Yadif provides good results

[JonRead]

Sorry, I should of mentioned, it is H.264 and not MPG2. So there is a mixed response it seems. Maybe that is a good thing as at least it means either will be good. I will try some experiments.

[lexor]

Sorry, I should of mentioned, it is H.264 and not MPG2. So there is a mixed response it seems. Maybe that is a good thing as at least it means either will be good. I will try some experiments.

I can tell 1080p native source from 720p on my 52" Samsung. I have never seen a difference between 1080i vs 720p except for sports where it's a matter of 60 fps vs 30 fps or less.

Deinterlacing in any hardware, no matter how good and expensive, will destroy any detail advantage unless the bitrate is obscenely high (17mbps is not bad at all for an FTA, but doesn't qualify for obscene). My general rule is that interlaced HD footage goes into 720p. And you are on 37", so it's even less of a dilemma for you. Especially if you have an LCD or plasma with one of those 1360x768 (or something like that) native resolution that are sold as "HD". Then it's going to scale anyway. Scaling = blur, and 720p is closer to that resolution, so less blur. In general a good deinterlacer + good resizer beats anything your hardware will do on the fly.

So, unless it's sports, I see no reason to keep it at 1080.

[ajp_anton]

Is it "really" interlaced, as in not 24fps->60fps?

[Manao]

You shouldn't have to reencode the video in order to play it on your bluray player.