What is the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

[Cannikin]

[Blue-Jay]

1. 7?

[chrisesq]

2. 1080i 1080p diff.

1080i means the picture is interlaced. 1080p is progressive scan. Not an expert but I think the 1080i means that there are 1080 lines of resolution but they alternate, so I guess that means that you are seeing 540 lines alternate(extremely rapidly) where as 1080p has all 1080 lines showing at the same time. If that is the case, then 1080 would theoretically be a better picture. Whether the naked eye can really distinguish between the two is a matter for, I'm sure, some debate.

[krispos42]

3. one is progressive, one is interlaced

the 1080p shows 1080 vertical lines per frame, and it refreshes 30 times per second. It goes in an orderly fashion from the first pixel to the last.

1080i also shows 1080 verticals lines per frame, but it first shows the odd-numbered lines, then the even-numbered lines. So the picture the camera captures is actually twice as high as it displays on the screen. You're effectively getting 540 lines of resolution at 60 frames per seconds.

1080p is good for movies, 1080i is good for fast-moving shows like sports. I mean, they are both good, but each one has it's strengths.

By comparison, regular TV is 486i.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080i
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p