Why is IMAX not wide screen?

[hendra]

I often wonder why Imax is not wide screen. Why is Imax aspect ratio closer to 1.33:1 but movie theater is closer to 2.4:1? Does Imax camera have a technical limitation that makes it difficult to make a movie at 2.4:1?

[BStecke]

Part of the point of IMAX is the size, but if you get much wider than 2.4, you start getting too wide for people's field of vision. So, they just make it bigger overall. That's not any sort of technical answer, merely my own speculation

[mjbethancourt]

Imax is widescreen, it's just not 2.5:1.

[RiseDarthVader]

IMAX probably mainly chose the 1.33:1 ratio because it is the most immersive. It just fills your vision much better then 2.40:1. For example when you watch the 2.40:1 scenes in IMAX for The Dark Knight or Transformers while it is huge it just does not give that wow holy crap it is huge that you get with 1.33:1

[BLUCanadian]

isnt Imax 1.44:1 not 1.33:1

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by BLUCanadian

isnt Imax 1.44:1 not 1.33:1

Yes... and feature-film Imax is usually 1.78:1.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Part of the point of IMAX is the size, but if you get much wider than 2.4, you start getting too wide for people's field of vision. So, they just make it bigger overall. That's not any sort of technical answer, merely my own speculation

I had a problem when I went to go see Transformers in the IMAX, at the end when the film when then Autobots were battling the Desepticons I actually had to turn my head left or right to see what was going on at the very sides of the frame.

[NL197]

As part of the "Focus Points" featurettes on The Dark Knight BD, there is mention of not utilizing the top of the IMAX frame as much because a person's field of vision isn't naturally that high so it's mostly dead space. That certainly played a key factor in modifying the image to 1.78 for Blu-ray.

Where you sit in an IMAX theater is really where you can tell if it's more immersive or not, because if you sit too close to get a 'bigger' image, you'll be looking all over the place to keep up with the action and that can be very distracting.

Personally, I've always sat at the very top of the theater I've been to, because it allows for looking straight across, and downward without having to miss anything.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Not all Imax theaters present the film in widescreen. There's actually a TRUE Imax and a "Fake" Imax (which is cropped and the screen is smaller than the true imax screen)...

The imax theater in milwaukee at the museum is a Fake Imax for example, it's the DOME style and appears 4:3. MAKES ME SICK TO WATCH MOVIES ON THE DOMES!!!! STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!!

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

Not all Imax theaters present the film in widescreen. There's actually a TRUE Imax and a "Fake" Imax (which is cropped and the screen is smaller than the true imax screen)...

The imax theater in milwaukee at the museum is a Fake Imax for example, it's the DOME style and appears 4:3. MAKES ME SICK TO WATCH MOVIES ON THE DOMES!!!! STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!!

there's also a Dome IMAX up in Syracuse New York, and of the features I've seen there, I can't stand it, the distortion is so way off, it makes me nauseous - literally.

[RiseDarthVader]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

Not all Imax theaters present the film in widescreen. There's actually a TRUE Imax and a "Fake" Imax (which is cropped and the screen is smaller than the true imax screen)...

The imax theater in milwaukee at the museum is a Fake Imax for example, it's the DOME style and appears 4:3. MAKES ME SICK TO WATCH MOVIES ON THE DOMES!!!! STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!!

Well scenes shot with IMAX cameras should look almost 4:3 but if it is a 2.35:1 movie or the 35mm scenes of The Dark Knight and Transformers:ROTF that are cropped to be 1.44:1 then thats messed up. Are you sure they were cropped though? As far as I know all IMAX's get the same DMR print. Which unfortunatly are just the 35mm DI's with DNR and EE applied.

[Uncle Leo]

Originally Posted by NL197

As part of the "Focus Points" featurettes on The Dark Knight BD, there is mention of not utilizing the top of the IMAX frame as much because a person's field of vision isn't naturally that high so it's mostly dead space. That certainly played a key factor in modifying the image to 1.78 for Blu-ray.

Where you sit in an IMAX theater is really where you can tell if it's more immersive or not, because if you sit too close to get a 'bigger' image, you'll be looking all over the place to keep up with the action and that can be very distracting.

Personally, I've always sat at the very top of the theater I've been to, because it allows for looking straight across, and downward without having to miss anything.

+1+1=!

I sat to close the first time and my neck hurt after from turning side to side, up and down.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

Yes... and feature-film Imax is usually 1.78:1.

IMAX-Digital screens are 1.78

Films like The Dark Knight and Transformers 2 where select scene were shot in 1.43 those scenes were later recomposed to 1.78 for IMAX-Digital and HiDef home video blu-ray release.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

One of the coolest examples EVER.

3000 words, right there.

That first one is a stretch of the 35mm, right? (I seem to recall asking this before)

yeah a stretch/compress. That's about how an anamorphic print would look size wise/quality wise in equivalent relation to the other two formats if all else was made equal (17.5 mm x 21 mm (367 square mm) anamorphic projector aperture -> 12.4 mm x 29.6 mm (367 square mm) flat projector aperture)

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Canada

I had a problem when I went to go see Transformers in the IMAX, at the end when the film when then Autobots were battling the Desepticons I actually had to turn my head left or right to see what was going on at the very sides of the frame.

Yeah that''s the way you do it, money for nothing, and the chicks for free, I want my, I want my, I want my Tele-presence

I want my, I want my, I want my Tele-presence

I want my, I want my, I want my Tele-presence



It's like that in real life, like when you go to a basketball game, or to the races. That's what movies is all about: Brand new WORLDS.