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

[ITDEFX101]

I am assuming that unless it says Sony 4k or 4k at all, that all the screens are by default 2k projections?

[pL86]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

I am assuming that unless it says Sony 4k or 4k at all, that all the screens are by default 2k projections?

Odds are, most digital cinema projectors will be 2k because they're cheaper and 4k projectors didn't really exist when the digital transition happened. Are you referring to that brief branding ad for Sony 4k projectors that sometimes screens before the movie? I wouldn't make judgment about what projector is being used based on whether or not not that plays. I go to a Regal theatre where they sometimes play that and sometimes they don't.

I'm curious, any reason you care? There are very few theatrical movies released in native 4k DCP. Most movies that will be played through 4k projectors will be 2k movies that are upconverted. And many pros feel that most 4k projectors put out an inferior picture to 2k projectors. If this interests you, you should check out this thread on film-tech forums which a site for professional projectionists:

http://www.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb...002748/p1.html

One of the projectionists in the discussion estimated that as of July 2016, only five movies were released in 4k DCP this year. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and the upcoming Passenger also had and will have 4k prints for their 2D version but that's pretty much it.

[Geoff D]

You may well lose a little contrast with a 4K projector but 2K's contrast itself is hardly amazing, to be honest I can't even remember the last time I saw decent black levels on a cinema screen, be it 2K digital or 15/70 IMAX. And the last time I watched a 'scope DCP on a 2K projection the lack of pixel density was painfully obvious, I'd rather have a 4K projection just for that.

[pL86]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

You may well lose a little contrast with a 4K projector but 2K's contrast itself is hardly amazing, to be honest I can't even remember the last time I saw decent black levels on a cinema screen, be it 2K digital or 15/70 IMAX. And the last time I watched a 'scope DCP on a 2K projection the lack of pixel density was painfully obvious, I'd rather have a 4K projection just for that.

Fair enough but you are damning with faint praise! There's no use pining over spilled milk but I am with the camp that in general, the moviegoing public was swindled when the entire movie production pipeline moved to digital. There were and are tremendous advantages to digital, both creatively and from a production standpoint, but there's been a lot lost as well. The last couple years of widespread film distribution were pretty miserable since those "film" prints were struck off digital intermediates.

[ITDEFX101]

In the pre-digital movie projection era I never noticed the details on say close up's of people's faces when seeing a movie. I guess I was detracted by the film grain or whatever...but then digital projection and I am like wow you can really notice a lot more detail. I do agree about the black level not being the same.

Yes I am talking about the 4k ad which I always see at the Alamo cinemas

Sony Digital Cinema 4K FullHD(1080p) - YouTube

I am not sure what Regal or Cinemark are projecting these days.

I am pretty sure that the audio quality of Cinemark's xD's screens are not better than Regal's/AMC's large format screens, yet they charge for nearly the same amount that R/A does for their LFS.

[ITDEFX101]

oh btw...what's Cinemark's Auro 11.1 audio system compared to the other high end audio systems offered by other theaters? To be honest, it doesn't sound any better than Regal's.

[Zhorik]

Auro 11.1 is having selective releases, as the movies featuring the format currently have been derived from the DTS:X mix.


Considering the small number of films released in Auro this year ( https://www.barco.com/en/Auro11-1/Movies mixed in Auro 11-1) are Auro theatres converting to Atmos?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

oh btw...what's Cinemark's Auro 11.1 audio system compared to the other high end audio systems offered by other theaters? To be honest, it doesn't sound any better than Regal's.

It's not object based, at least not the original format.

[UFAlien]

I've been thoroughly unimpressed with the movies I've seen/heard in Auro at my local Cinemark. I really do wish they'd switch to Atmos but I don't see it happening since the Auro installation is part of a deal with Barco, the company that also supplies their projectors.

[ITDEFX101]

Has anyone seen Rogue one in Dbox yet? I wanted to try it out and was curious since the last time I did Dbox was for Dark KNight RIses.

[chad_1138]

Seeing Rogue One at the Indy State Museum in 70mm IMAX today

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

In the pre-digital movie projection era I never noticed the details on say close up's of people's faces when seeing a movie. I guess I was detracted by the film grain or whatever...but then digital projection and I am like wow you can really notice a lot more detail. I do agree about the black level not being the same.

Yes I am talking about the 4k ad which I always see at the Alamo cinemas
Sony Digital Cinema 4K FullHD(1080p) - YouTube

I am not sure what Regal or Cinemark are projecting these days.

I am pretty sure that the audio quality of Cinemark's xD's screens are not better than Regal's/AMC's large format screens, yet they charge for nearly the same amount that R/A does for their LFS.

supposedly the Cinemark XD screens are using Barco laser projectors - but don't quote me...

[dubious]

Made a trip to the NCG chain for the first time today to see Rogue One 2D on their "Xtreme" screen. Appears they were using a dual Christie 4K stacked projector setup. Great brightness, but looking at the starfield in the credits on the way out I could see that projectors were not as aligned as they should have been, but the slight lack of focus probably allowed Tarkin and Leia to pass as flesh and blood. The theater was also outfit with Dolby Atmos which help emerse the audience into the battles, not to mention the theater was packed full for a 3pm tuesday show two weeks into release.

[ITDEFX101]

Saw this in D-BOX at the Cobb Theater in Leesburg, VA. Didn't have much of a kick as I expected but as soon as Vader went to town with those rebels, boy did it really kick into gear.

How do you guys get your information to know what projector is projecting your movie? Do you climb on top of the top row and peek thru the window to find the label?
LOL

[dubious]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

How do you guys get your information to know what projector is projecting your movie? Do you climb on top of the top row and peek thru the window to find the label?
LOL

Well, in the case of my recent post, my assumptions were based on,

There was a Christie DLP splash logo before the movie started. The screen was huge (30 x 72 ft?) and by the amount of detail, I could assume it was 4K. The 2K trailers looked soft by comparison.

They were stacked and both lit.

[ITDEFX101]

You know........I am starting to notice that in some recent movies that I have seen the facial features on some close up shots of characters are not as detailed as before. Some of it looked kinda soft to me. Now granted I don't expect everything to be super sharp and detailed when watching a 3d movie, but I DO QUESTION these post production facilities on why 3d is not working as intended.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Saw this in D-BOX at the Cobb Theater in Leesburg, VA. Didn't have much of a kick as I expected but as soon as Vader went to town with those rebels, boy did it really kick into gear.

How do you guys get your information to know what projector is projecting your movie? Do you climb on top of the top row and peek thru the window to find the label?
LOL

i usually just ask on the theatres Facebook page or in person to the manager they are pretty forthcoming with all the technical stuff

[Dreamliner330]

I mean honestly, how much could it really cost to add this room to the back of my house?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIDu...ature=youtu.be

[voltz]

I wish I could have seen that in IMAX....

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

I mean honestly, how much could it really cost to add this room to the back of my house?

Since it's China you have to wonder how many workers were killed putting that thing up.