Digital Projection at Theater

[benzgrl]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but some friends and I were going to see Captain America tonight and noticed as we were buying the tickets online that the theater we are going to said it was showing it in Digital Projection.

Is this something newer (better) than a regular screening? How is this different from IMAX?

Thanks for any info.

[Donat96]

Basically, instead of the movie being shown from film strips, it's projected from hard drives that hold the entire movie using DLP projectors.

[42041]

It is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than being projected from a 35mm film print, a digital projector shows a sequence of JPEG images. It doesn't suffer from many of the problems inherent to film projection, like instability, optical generation loss and dirty prints, and is usually sharper. Modern print stocks are probably capable of better contrast than current digital projectors though.

IMAX theaters also use film and digital projection. In the case of IMAX, digital is thought inferior, since IMAX projectors project 70mm/15perf film rather than 35mm/4perf, yielding a brighter, bigger, higher resolution, more stable picture.

[exolstice]

The only downside is that digital projections are often darker because they leave the 3D lens on, and in my experience since there is no actual projectionist in the booth, when there is a problem, they won't notice unless you go complain.

That being said, you don't get any dust, scratches, and other wear typical of film projections.

[LOTR07]

Normally a Sony 4k projector....awesome crisp clean picture....you will enjoy it...

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by exolstice

The only downside is that digital projections are often darker because they leave the 3D lens on, and in my experience since there is no actual projectionist in the booth, when there is a problem, they won't notice unless you go complain.

That being said, you don't get any dust, scratches, and other wear typical of film projections.

Let There Be Light!

[Dubstar]

I have the opposite problem at AMC Tysons' the brighter 3D mode is left on for the 2D presentations - so the image and specifically white lettering becomes hazy and out of focus due to too much light.

my neighborhood AMC - Mazza, the Sony 4K presentations have all looked stunning. Unfortunantly the two largest screens are not digitally converted - AMC is intending to install Christie DLP units sometime in the future. (due to the fact that 4K DLP can throw much more light onto larger screens - Sony 4K LCoS can't)

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by 42041

It is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than being projected from a 35mm film print, a digital projector shows a sequence of JPEG images. It doesn't suffer from many of the problems inherent to film projection, like instability, optical generation loss and dirty prints, and is usually sharper. Modern print stocks are probably capable of better contrast than current digital projectors though.

IMAX theaters also use film and digital projection. In the case of IMAX, digital is thought inferior, since IMAX projectors project 70mm/15perf film rather than 35mm/4perf, yielding a brighter, bigger, higher resolution, more stable picture.

that's always been the case, 70mm film stock will always look better than 35mm, hence the 1980's boom of 70mm "35mm blowups"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part II" in 35mm though looked great even in 35mm (granted it was opening day). The plus of IMAX 15/70 is that since the film is all on one platter, those ugly annoying reel changes that occur every 20 minutes on 35mm film presentations are absent (thank god).

[KrugStillo]

I must say that I love digital projection. I worked as a projectionist for years and I've dealt with film. I feel that those Sony 4K digital projectors have gotten as good as film. I can tell by the overall look but I like it better, it really doesn't look that different. A long time ago I saw Master and Commander digitally and it was dark and hard to watch. Not the case anymore. Theaters could easily replace all their projectors with it and nobody would really notice a difference. As much as I love film I think with red cam and digital cinema it's not really needed anymore. I know there will be people who disagree with me but when you can get that level of quality from the camera all the way to the theater and then straight to blu-ray why would you want to deal with a middle man (film). You really would only use film for asthetic purposes. Also as an independent filmmaker I can't see any good reason to not shoot digitally at this point. It's cheaper and you get a better end result for your money (I'm talking low budget productions). Anyway that's my take on it.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by KrugStillo

I must say that I love digital projection. I worked as a projectionist for years and I've dealt with film. I feel that those Sony 4K digital projectors have gotten as good as film. I can tell by the overall look but I like it better, it really doesn't look that different. A long time ago I saw Master and Commander digitally and it was dark and hard to watch. Not the case anymore. Theaters could easily replace all their projectors with it and nobody would really notice a difference. As much as I love film I think with red cam and digital cinema it's not really needed anymore. I know there will be people who disagree with me but when you can get that level of quality from the camera all the way to the theater and then straight to blu-ray why would you want to deal with a middle man (film). You really would only use film for asthetic purposes. Also as an independent filmmaker I can't see any good reason to not shoot digitally at this point. It's cheaper and you get a better end result for your money (I'm talking low budget productions). Anyway that's my take on it.

no the problem is the mass production/film release on 35mm - artifacts and bad prints fall through the cracks and occasionally an ugly print gets seen - "There Will Be Blood" one of the film reels was upside down and in reverse - talk about a "wtf?" moment.

the best time that 35mm really shines are during film festivals - those prints are superior to what the studios mass release to indie theaters

Digital projection has it's problems too - I've seen flicker (through out the entire presentation of 'The Golden Compass') audio drop outs ('30 Days of Night)


but generally yes, I agree with you - what the DP and director see and capture on film or the new 4K hidef cameras is how you're going to see it in digital projection (minus the 35mm artifacts)