Topic: Imax Film vs Imax Digital

[Neil_Luv's_BLU]

Hi all

Well I had the pleasure of seeing Watchmen in Imax twice this last week (yes I really like the movie that much but we're not here to talk about the movie)

On Monday I took a trip to London's BFI Imax which is one of the biggest in Europe, and of course still uses the Imax film reel projectors. It was an amazing presentation!

And on Friday I went to an Odeon cinema in Wimbledon to see it again but in Imax Digital. The presentation looked visually sublime (as did the film version) and the sound was crystal clear with no distortion. The only slightly underwhelming aspect was the size of the screen...

I'm not sure how many of my fellow Blu-ray.com forum users have seen Imax Digital (I'm sure many if not all of you have been to an Imax theater at least once) But has anyone else who has seen a Digital Imax presentation noticed the difference in screen size... It is still a significant jump from conventional movie screens, but for me it just didn't have the WOW factor that you get from the behemoth screens of there film projecting older brothers!

Anyone at all?

[ShelbyGT500]

Yeah I agree the digital IMAX does not have the same impact as a IMAX film. Although it is better than a regular version of the movie the digital does not stack up to the film.

[Neil_Luv's_BLU]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGT500

Yeah I agree the digital IMAX does not have the same impact as a IMAX film. Although it is better than a regular version of the movie the digital does not stack up to the film.

Agreed.

I'd happily see a digital Imax film again though.

At a guess (and probably a good one) I'd say the reason the screen isn't as big as conventional Imax is a screen resolution issue.

Though eventually a digital projector will come along that can easily accommodate the largest screen... ONE DAY!

[ThePhantomOak]

I have, but did not know that was why... Interesting.

Originally Posted by Neil_Luv's_BLU

Hi all

Well I had the pleasure of seeing Watchmen in Imax twice this last week (yes I really like the movie that much but we're not here to talk about the movie)

On Monday I took a trip to London's BFI Imax which is one of the biggest in Europe, and of course still uses the Imax film reel projectors. It was an amazing presentation!

And on Friday I went to an Odeon cinema in Wimbledon to see it again but in Imax Digital. The presentation looked visually sublime (as did the film version) and the sound was crystal clear with no distortion. The only slightly underwhelming aspect was the size of the screen...

I'm not sure how many of my fellow Blu-ray.com forum users have seen Imax Digital (I'm sure many if not all of you have been to an Imax theater at least once) But has anyone else who has seen a Digital Imax presentation noticed the difference in screen size... It is still a significant jump from conventional movie screens, but for me it just didn't have the WOW factor that you get from the behemoth screens of there film projecting older brothers!

Anyone at all?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I prefer IMAX Digital myself. The screen may be smaller, but I prefer quality presentation over screen size. Either way, the screen is still pretty damn big.

Plus, one major advantage to digital is that if I don't get to see a presentation until its 3rd or 4th week of release, I don't have to worry about losing picture quality via physical wear and tear of the film print. A 3 week run of a film print sees upwards of 100 trips through many sprockets and gears.

[Neil_Luv's_BLU]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I prefer IMAX Digital myself. The screen may be smaller, but I prefer quality presentation over screen size. Either way, the screen is still pretty damn big.

Plus, one major advantage to digital is that if I don't get to see a presentation until its 3rd or 4th week of release, I don't have to worry about losing picture quality via physical wear and tear of the film print. A 3 week run of a film print sees upwards of 100 trips through many sprockets and gears.

That is a plus!

But if I was taking someone to see an Imax movie for the first time, I would visit the largest screen I could find just so I can see the look on the persons face when they see the size of the screen for the first time... I remember my own reaction and would love to see someone else in awe of this monolithic screen before there eyes!

[Cisco in HD]

Where can one go to find out whether it's a IMAX film or IMAX digital theater?

[Neil_Luv's_BLU]

Originally Posted by Cisco in HD

Where can one go to find out whether it's a IMAX film or IMAX digital theater?

One can go here Cisco:

http://www.bigmoviezone.com/main.html

It has all sorts of info pertaining to Imax screen locations and types around the world... Year the screen was opened for the first time, Screen size and type, Digital or film... etc etc.

Hope this helps