digital cinema

[edong]

A couple of times I went to movie theaters featuring digital cinema. They use the DLP technology. Are those really film-less? The image is clearer and more pleasing to the eyes than the conventional film. I wonder if the home version of DLP projectors can have similar quality. I've seen some models at electronics stores but the image quality does not thrill me.

[kschang]

Yes, it really IS film-less. However, those costs 10-100X the home models that you and I can buy. They are designed to run off extreme heat of those super projectors used in cinemas after all...

[edDV]

Are you certain they are using DLP technology? Do you know the projector details or name the theater?

Mark Cuban's Landmark theaters are using 2kx2k or the new 4kx2k Sony SXRD projectors.
http://www.avrev.com/news/0305/24.sony.html

A 1920x1080p SXRD HDTV resolution projector version will be avaiable for the home someday. A rear projector model has been introduced.
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200302/03-008E/

JVC is working on a 4K DLP model (JVC's 4K D-ILA) that has been demonstrated.
http://www.d-cinema.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=38

[Steve Stepoway]

That's right -- the projection doesn't involve film, though most films are still shot on film, of course (and will be for quite a while, I suspect). I know this has been in some Cinemark theaters for a few years. TI was trying to get people interested, and put it into a few theaters to prove it would work. The final film is scanned (either 2k or 4k lines, if it hasn't been already digitized in post), and then compressed with a proprietary compression algorithm. As of 2 or 3 years ago, feature films were in the 50 to 60 gig range after compression. Actual playback was off harddisks in a PC (SCSI RAID, as I recall in the ones I've seen). Projectors use 3 chips, and higher res than anything available to consumers (either 2k or 4k lines -- I don't recall -- but NOT 1080). You actually can see film grain in the projected image (I don't mean the micromirror grid, but real GRAIN).

If it looks a whole lot better than film, then the film projectors in your cinema need work (most of them do, of course). I've seen 3-chip business-quality projectors (on about a 30 foot screen, figure $10 grand+) that looked spectacular. Not as good as theater-quality, but they figure something like $100k to $200k+ per screen for that. And that's where the argument over theaters going digital comes from.

Steve

[edong]

Are you certain they are using DLP technology? Do you know the projector details or name the theater?

It's UltraStar Cinema in San Diego. I do not know if they are statewide/nationwide chain of movie theaters. Their ad at the movie guide section says DLP cinema. I believe they're using digital in all their locations.

What's amazing is I do not have to use my eyeglasses like I do with films. I had cataract surgery and for some reasons the films are blurry to me without glasses. Maybe for the purists, they will say film is sharper.

[edDV]

Are you certain they are using DLP technology? Do you know the projector details or name the theater?

It's UltraStar Cinema in San Diego. I do not know if they are statewide/nationwide chain of movie theaters. Their ad at the movie guide section says DLP cinema. I believe they're using digital in all their locations.

What's amazing is I do not have to use my eyeglasses like I do with films. I had cataract surgery and for some reasons the films are blurry to me without glasses. Maybe for the purists, they will say film is sharper.

Ahh, probably a 2kx2k, lets consult Google

http://www.dcinematoday.com/dc/pr.aspx?newsID=398
http://www.qscaudio.com/press/news.php?id=41
http://dlp.com/dlp_cinema/dlp_cinema_digital_cinema_101.asp
http://digitalcinemamatters.blogspot.com/

PR Stuff:
http://www.screendigest.com/reports/dcaup04/NSMH-67EEWV/pressRelease.pdf

Good stuff but first generation. It will only get better. They avoid the comparison to 4kx2k and 4kx4k future tech but 2k digital theater is very good, lower cost and great qualitywith no film scratches or dust. Also delivery can be live over satellite. Now if they would only offer lower prices and increase scheduled features!

After all they make their money from the $2 cokes and $5 popcorn. Just need to fill up the seats with eyeballs.

[BJ_M]

ive designed and installed about 100 digital theaters now - all use DLP (that ive done) .. even the older 1280 projectors looked pretty good really ... on smaller screens (now almost all are 2k res) ... we have done screens greater than 60feet wide using multiple projectors and in some cases edge blending ....

biggest diff. from home projectors is the amount of light -- 6000 lum. min on a 24 foot screen , two of those for a 30 foot...
and that was 4 years ago - now 10 - 12 lum and up is normal for the same size ...

~30 - 34 foot screen get 18,000 lum and bigger screens and/or 3D use a lot more (40,000+lum is not uncommon, sometimes with dual projectors (also dual for some 3d) ) ---

compare that to a good home projector at 1000ansi lum ...

[edDV]

I guess those projectionists must wear NASCAR style Nomex fire suits? Man it must be hot back there

[BJ_M]

they use the same cooling as regular film projectors (in fact the same bulbs in many cases)






put one of these in your basement
http://www.nec-pj.com/products/dlpcinema/nc2500s.html

[edDV]

28 Amps not too bad. A few clothes dryers.

But you don't want that added to the A/C load.

[BJ_M]

same as a film projector of the the same output .. about the same weight also - 564 lb (a bit heaver though)