Large Format/"Premium" Theaters (IMAX 15/70, Digital IMAX, XD, ETX, RPX, etc.)

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

wouldn't it matter for those theaters that have 4:3 screens?

Yeah it would. Which is where IMAX can get away by saying that most of their theatres worldwide are 1.9 anyway.

Essentially, now outside any quality difference from shooting say with a regular ALEXA or spherical 35mm compared to the 65, there's zero difference between seeing a 'formatted for IMAX' film/a film shot flat (or even 2.0 a-la Jurassic World) and a film shot with the digital so-called 'IMAX cameras' which are atm nothing but an Alexa 65 wth IMAX stickers.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by antovolk

Yeah it would. Which is where IMAX can get away by saying that most of their theatres worldwide are 1.9 anyway.

Essentially, now outside any quality difference from shooting say with a regular ALEXA or spherical 35mm compared to the 65, there's zero difference between seeing a 'formatted for IMAX' film/a film shot flat (or even 2.0 a-la Jurassic World) and a film shot with the digital so-called 'IMAX cameras' which are atm nothing but an Alexa 65 wth IMAX stickers.

what happened to IMAX 'Phantom 65' digital cameras that captured 1.43 - is that not being used anymore?

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

what happened to IMAX 'Phantom 65' digital cameras that captured 1.43 - is that not being used anymore?

It never captured 1.43 as far as I'm aware, it was 1.9. That's their 3D system, the Alexa 65 is the 2D.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

wouldn't it matter for those theaters that have 4:3 screens?

And as this thread has stated they are getting fewer

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by antovolk

It never captured 1.43 as far as I'm aware, it was 1.9. That's their 3D system, the Alexa 65 is the 2D.

well as I remember (and imdb denotes it) all the imagery both 15/70 shot scenes and 'Phantom' scenes for 'Born' were displayed at 1.43 (some cropping of the digital captured scenes could have occurred if is in fact 1.90)

I only saw ' Transformers: Age of Extinction' in IMAX-Digital - how did this look in 15/70; did the IMAX 'Phantom 65' scenes go full 1.43 or not?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

And as this thread has stated they are getting fewer

I blame the chains and their installing IMAX-Digital screens to the masses - going the low road aren't they.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well as I remember (and imdb denotes it) all the imagery both 15/70 shot scenes and 'Phantom' scenes for 'Born' were displayed at 1.43 (some cropping of the digital captured scenes could have occurred if is in fact 1.90)

I only saw ' Transformers: Age of Extinction' in IMAX-Digital - how did this look in 15/70; did the IMAX 'Phantom 65' scenes go full 1.43 or not?

It's probably cropping of sides to be consistent in the case of 'Born'. BvS did the same with a couple 5/70 shots in the IMAX sequences, and Catching Fire did with the Super 35 spherical stuff during the IMAX arena sequence (with the Blu-ray showing the most 'complete' image for these particular non-15/70 sourced shots)

Don't think TF4 was ever released 15/70 actually, and I think it was confirmed that it was only done at 1.9. Even the Blu-ray 3D of that features the Phantom stuff in letterboxed 1.9.

Also re: fewer 1.43 screens - it's quite telling also when the new massive 'flagship' IMAX venues are, despite being huge and even wider than the biggest 1.43 venues, only 1.9.... (referring the TCL Chinese and Empire Leicester Sq specifically)

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I blame the chains and their installing IMAX-Digital screens to the masses - going the low road aren't they.

Yup

[Eric The Duke]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Why does the ratio matter when they are moving to shooting digital

For me, when I go to see IMAX I want to see the entire screen filled up for as much of the movie as possible. You get to see more in the frame using 1.43 than 1.90.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by antovolk

It's probably cropping of sides to be consistent in the case of 'Born'. BvS did the same with a couple 5/70 shots in the IMAX sequences, and Catching Fire did with the Super 35 spherical stuff during the IMAX arena sequence (with the Blu-ray showing the most 'complete' image for these particular non-15/70 sourced shots)

Don't think TF4 was ever released 15/70 actually, and I think it was confirmed that it was only done at 1.9. Even the Blu-ray 3D of that features the Phantom stuff in letterboxed 1.9.

Also re: fewer 1.43 screens - it's quite telling also when the new massive 'flagship' IMAX venues are, despite being huge and even wider than the biggest 1.43 venues, only 1.9.... (referring the TCL Chinese and Empire Leicester Sq specifically)

If AMC down sizes it's Lincoln Square theater to 1.90 that would be a travesty. Interestingly my recent trip down to the Lockheed Martin IMAX laser screen here in D.C. - I swear I thought the screen looked altered to a less box like 4:3 screen - the manager told me it's the original screen dimensions (hmmmm,really?)

T4 actually had three aspect ratios toggling throughout the movie

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Eric The Duke

For me, when I go to see IMAX I want to see the entire screen filled up for as much of the movie as possible. You get to see more in the frame using 1.43 than 1.90.

Your missing my point

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Eric The Duke

For me, when I go to see IMAX I want to see the entire screen filled up for as much of the movie as possible. You get to see more in the frame using 1.43 than 1.90.

It's the fact that newer IMAX constructs are 1.78 not 1.43 that in turn is pushing the industry to a newer aspect ratio to accommodate both sized screens; full screen for 1.78 screens, all the 1.90 image but not the entire screen for 1.43 ones.

[Eric The Duke]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Your missing my point

Well maybe elaborate more......

[BozQ]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well as I remember (and imdb denotes it) all the imagery both 15/70 shot scenes and 'Phantom' scenes for 'Born' were displayed at 1.43 (some cropping of the digital captured scenes could have occurred if is in fact 1.90)

I only saw ' Transformers: Age of Extinction' in IMAX-Digital - how did this look in 15/70; did the IMAX 'Phantom 65' scenes go full 1.43 or not?

Transformers: Age of Extinction never had 15/70mm release. Only IMAX 3D. So there definitely wasn't any 1.43 AR. And as you accurately pointed out, it jumped between three aspect ratios because it was shot with no less than three different cameras. Michael Bay used 35mm film, RED Epic Dragon 6K and Phantom 65 Gold 4K 3D.

From what I remember, the Phantom 65 had two 65mm sized sensors for each "eye". And it's worth noting that 65mm's native AR is 2.20. But digital cameras have selectable resolutions to shoot in, so I'm pretty sure it's in 1.89.

The ARRI Alexa 65 (or now known as the ARRI Alexa IMAX) is just a 2D camera with a 65mm sensor. Natively, the sensor has an AR of about 2.1, but I think most are cropped to fit the Digital IMAX AR at 1.89.

But the camera sensor's size or aspect ratio is not the main reason for picking an aspect ratio.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is an interesting example. Gareth Edwards and DOP Greg Fraiser used the Alexa 65 with Ultra Panavision 70 Anamorphic Lens. If they left it alone, the full resolution image would have resulted in a 2.76 AR, similar to Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. But it appears that they crop it to scope 2.39. Perhaps they're using this combination to create a large sense of scale in their photography.

We'll see how The Russo Brothers use the camera for Avengers: Infinity War. They claim to be using this camera for the entire feature and by 2018, IMAX Laser will be more widespread. I'm curious to see if they will frame for 1.43, 1.89 or 2.39

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Eric The Duke

Well maybe elaborate more......

They are shooting digital "IMAX" that is not 4:3 and more and more screens are not 4:3 quite a few liemax screens are scope format now

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

They are shooting digital "IMAX" that is not 4:3 and more and more screens are not 4:3 quite a few liemax screens are scope format now

Really? Where? (Ill be sure to avoid them)

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by BozQ

Transformers: Age of Extinction never had 15/70mm release. Only IMAX 3D. So there definitely wasn't any 1.43 AR. And as you accurately pointed out, it jumped between three aspect ratios because it was shot with no less than three different cameras. Michael Bay used 35mm film, RED Epic Dragon 6K and Phantom 65 Gold 4K 3D.

From what I remember, the Phantom 65 had two 65mm sized sensors for each "eye". And it's worth noting that 65mm's native AR is 2.20. But digital cameras have selectable resolutions to shoot in, so I'm pretty sure it's in 1.89.

The ARRI Alexa 65 (or now known as the ARRI Alexa IMAX) is just a 2D camera with a 65mm sensor. Natively, the sensor has an AR of about 2.1, but I think most are cropped to fit the Digital IMAX AR at 1.89.

But the camera sensor's size or aspect ratio is not the main reason for picking an aspect ratio.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is an interesting example. Gareth Edwards and DOP Greg Fraiser used the Alexa 65 with Ultra Panavision 70 Anamorphic Lens. If they left it alone, the full resolution image would have resulted in a 2.76 AR, similar to Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. But it appears that they crop it to scope 2.39. Perhaps they're using this combination to create a large sense of scale in their photography.

We'll see how The Russo Brothers use the camera for Avengers: Infinity War. They claim to be using this camera for the entire feature and by 2018, IMAX Laser will be more widespread. I'm curious to see if they will frame for 1.43, 1.89 or 2.39

Oh please no....what would be the point? To maintain a constant horizontal image? Standard digital DLP theatrically and IMAX to mirror each other seems counterintuitive

[antovolk]

The increased/'full screen' aspect ratio for films shot with IMAX cameras is one of IMAX's selling points btw BozQ, don't forget.

[BozQ]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Oh please no....what would be the point? To maintain a constant horizontal image? Standard digital DLP theatrically and IMAX to mirror each other seems counterintuitive

Originally Posted by antovolk

The increased/'full screen' aspect ratio for films shot with IMAX cameras is one of IMAX's selling points btw BozQ, don't forget.

Maybe because it's the filmmakers choice?
Like the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story example I just mentioned. Shot with the Alexa 65 and Ultra Panavision 70mm anamorphic lens. The resulting AR could have been about 2.76 AR. But as we can see from the trailer, they're projecting it in 2.39

Why go through the trouble of shooting with such a large format camera and lens when it's going to presented in regular scope 2.39? My guess is, it's an artistic choice. To create the sense of scale the camera and lens offers. Although, to be fair, unlike Avengers: Infinity War, the filmmakers for Rogue One did not explicitly said they're shooting this for IMAX, nor are there any indications that we will see a taller AR for IMAX presentations.

So how exactly are the Russos going to approach Avengers: Infinity War remains to be seen. Maybe we'll know more later this year when they start principal photography.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by BozQ

Maybe because it's the filmmakers choice?
Like the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story example I just mentioned. Shot with the Alexa 65 and Ultra Panavision 70mm anamorphic lens. The resulting AR could have been about 2.76 AR. But as we can see from the trailer, they're projecting it in 2.39

Why go through the trouble of shooting with such a large format camera and lens when it's going to presented in regular scope 2.39? My guess is, it's an artistic choice. To create the sense of scale the camera and lens offers. Although, to be fair, unlike Avengers: Infinity War, the filmmakers for Rogue One did not explicitly said they're shooting this for IMAX, nor are there any indications that we will see a taller AR for IMAX presentations.

So how exactly are the Russos going to approach Avengers: Infinity War remains to be seen. Maybe we'll know more later this year when they start principal photography.

Rogue One wasn't filmed with IMAX-branded cameras unlike Civil War, TF4 etc, so that's a bad example and even so, it was filmed at a WIDER aspect ratio, IMAX is all about taller aspect ratios.