Digital IMAX

[Jim H]

Tired of this crap. I've heard a number of people go "oh boy, there's a new digital IMAX by me!".

Here's the reality. The quality is WAAAAAAY worse than the film based IMAX, the screens are smaller, and the projector is a 2K projector - which is, at best, comparable to 35MM projection.

Basically, you're paying more money to get next to nothing. Fuck that, and fuck IMAX for (apparently) giving up on the best quality format that was widely available.

Oh yeah, and fuck them for not differentiating in advertising which theatres are digital IMAX and which are still film based.

[Jon Lyrik]

Long time no see, Jim.

And yes, it is supremely overrated. They won't be topping IMAX format/horizontal 70mm film until maybe the late 2010s. There won't even be a format to top 35mm before 2015, it looks, barring big developments from RedOne.

[Jim H]

Long time no see, Jim.

And yes, it is supremely overrated. They won't be topping IMAX format/horizontal 70mm film until maybe the late 2010s. There won't even be a format to top 35mm before 2015, it looks, barring big developments from RedOne.

One of the new Red camera sensors is bigger than 35MM (not out yet, 2010 supposedly). I'm not sure if the latitude is better or other factors though.

But yeah, good to be back, though I'm still not posting super regularly yet... Taking a while to get back in the groove of things.

[APzombie]

this is probably the most rant worth cinematic rip off ever. i can'y believe they are doing this.

http://www.lfexaminer.com/screencompa.JPG

here is a recent article about the subject.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10252008/entertainment/movies

if you want to know if the imax around you is the real deal or not, go to

bigmoviezone.com

and type in your theater. Under theater stats, it should read 1570 for screen format. If it says DIGITAL, you are wasting money.

[Jim H]

Thanks for that. I was just about to update this with the info on how the new digital screens were also much smaller. Get this too - they're usually MORE EXPENSIVE! So, you get a smaller screen at vastly reduced quality and PAY MORE for it.

GRRRR!!!

At least I'm lucky in that the only IMAX in driving range is a real one.

[Jon Lyrik]

I totally agree with the complaints and all, but we should keep in mind that these sorts of things are necessary for digital cinema and cinematography to ultimately top film in all compartments. Not that I don't love film, but hey, the day a 10k digital camera comes out at RedOne prices is the day I'll max out multiple credit cards to make my opus. (10k is roughly IMAX resolution, I think). And that can only happen if digital is implemented and experimented with by enough of the right people.

[APzombie]

I totally agree with the complaints and all, but we should keep in mind that these sorts of things are necessary for digital cinema and cinematography to ultimately top film in all compartments. Not that I don't love film, but hey, the day a 10k digital camera comes out at RedOne prices is the day I'll max out multiple credit cards to make my opus. (10k is roughly IMAX resolution, I think). And that can only happen if digital is implemented and experimented with by enough of the right people.

10k is equivalent to IMAX 70mm similarly to 4k being equivalent to 35mm. in the end the aesthetic is still different and noticeably so. Perhaps your right, but I don't think digital cinema is an immediate necessary progression either. I like watching films in theaters, not big screen t.v.'s. I'm not trying to be picky, but why should the audience be cheated out of an epic cinematic experience because digital technology can't keep up with whats been around for years?

[Jon Lyrik]

I agree on that aspect because they aren't advertising 70mm IMAX and digital IMAX as being separate. Remember, I'm agreeing with the original post, so yes, I find the digital IMAX to be a scam. But maybe this is a necessary painful step for future improvement. Regardless, it's definitely deceitful considering this is happening right as IMAX is starting to really take off.

As for digital, yes, I'm aware it's still different regardless of resolution, but I love the medium (Lynch and Fincher have brought me around, I used to be strictly pro-film) and would like to see it press on.

[Jim H]

Except it isn't needed. Theatres right now are very slowly converting to digital projectors, something they've been doing as the tech has improved and prices have fallen on it. Why can't we just wait until digital projection has surpassed/equalled 70MM BEFORE replacing it?

That's how technology improvement normally works... By IMPROVING it.