OT: Cool Sony Projector 4096x2160

TGS wrote on 10/30/2007, 10:24 PM
I received a newsletter from Markertek today:

Sony Mega-Projectors Coming to Theatres.

GreenHD_sm logoSony Electronics is equipping four of AMC Theatres ' new movie theatres with CineAlta SXRD 4K digital cinema systems. At 4096x2160 pixels, the projectors deliver a resolution four times that of 1080p and can be used on screen sizes ranging from 42 to 60 ft. According to Sony, the high resolution will virtually eliminate artifacts in frames even for people watching a movie from the front row. Pixels are set an 8.5 micrometer pitch with an intra-pixel gap of 0.35 micrometers. The projectors sport a 2000:1 contrast ratio and are available in 18,000 /13,000 / 8,000 lumens models. The motion picture industry recently announced that it is working with major cinematographers to start production on 4K originated features, and the industry has accelerated development of 4K cameras in recent months. "Our goal with SXRD digital cinema technology has been to deliver unmatched levels of resolution, contrast and overall image quality," said Gary Johns, a Sony vice president in charge of its Digital Cinema Systems Division.

Comments

farss wrote on 10/30/2007, 11:15 PM
The 4K projector has been around for quite a while. Saw it do it's thing at NAB 06. Feed it the right 4K content and it's really mindblowing. Makes 1080p from early Star Wars digital shoots look pretty bad compared to 4K scanned off 65mm.

The big problem with all digital cinema projectors is the cost of ownership, even more so with this monster as it's LCD.

Bob.
DJPadre wrote on 10/31/2007, 12:43 AM
"Lumens of 18,000 /13,000 / 8,000 "

ok were talking over 20k here for a basic unit..
farss wrote on 10/31/2007, 1:26 AM
That'd likely buy you a couple of sets of lamps, if your lucky.

That's the problem and why a lot of the cinemas down here are in no hurry to switch to digital projection, it'd send them even more broke.

Currently the distirbutor pays for the prints and gets the lions share of the ticket price. Really all that keeps the cinemas going are candy bar sales.

Now with digital projection the distibutor saves a bundle on prints.
The cinema has a very signifcant capital outlay and higher running costs but will still get the same dollars for every bum on a seat. To screen a 35mm print costs maybe $10/hour in lamp life, a 35mm projector lasts a lifetime. With digital 4K lamp life has got to be around $50/hour and the LCD screens don't last too long at all and the cinema has to pay for all of this out of the same slice of the pie.

They'll sure do OK if digital projection puts a heck of a lot more bums on seats but the days of them risking showing indie productions could come to an end. Even without the digital projection issue the industry forecasts I've read suggest less movies to be made with more focus on the big ticket productions. Add in digital projection and possibly the future for indie productions and cinema release is bleak.

Bob.
Coursedesign wrote on 10/31/2007, 8:41 AM
Great analysis, Bob!

Only the last conclusion requires a shift in thinking. Not all indie productions need 4K projection.

So they will be shown in the smaller theaters in the multiplex, with cheap 2K projectors (or, gasp!, even 1K projectors).

The Landmark Theater in West L.A. has some very small theaters with a couple of sofas for those who feel like it, and overall a home feel, amplified by a good assortment of libations and bar food. That's where they show the more narrow indie films, if they don't think they can fill one of their big salons with memory-foamed leather seats in a stadium configuration.

Serena wrote on 10/31/2007, 3:48 PM
There is an arrangement for a limited time for the installation costs to be shared with the distributor (carrot to get theatres converted ). Also to give theatres a share of the costs saved by not generating prints. But there is little real incentive for owners to take on the expense. The rallying cry is "3D", which is promoted as the thing to bring audiences back out of their home theatres. And interactive. Much as CinemaScope was to drag audiences from their TVs. Must admit I haven't seen 3D since the 50s and I expect the emphasis to be on spectacle (as was Cinerama). Good reason to stay in the home cinema, which in any case is predicted to gain 3D quicker than theatre owners would wish.
farss wrote on 10/31/2007, 4:17 PM
You're dead right about the 'spectacle' and it's going to be a big challenge for DoPs.
There was an interesting discussion about this on the CML. following a screening.
Basically the director wanted The Spectacle and the DoP knew what he was doing but the director won the day. End result was about 10 minutes into the screening most of the audience were doing technicolour yawns.

As for the costs of conversion to DCI, I hope you and Course are right. Yes a lot of the smaller independant cinemas are looking at systems way under 4K, some even less than 2K. From what I've seen lumens are more important than pixel count.

I haven't actually tried something as simple as plugging a JH3 into a DCI compliant projector but it looked doable and the man from Barco said it'd work but even then I'd be cautious about just how it'd look on the screen until you've tested it. Prepping a digital print for projection to the DCI spec is still rather expensive and there's not many places that can do it. Thankfully one of them is here in Sydney.

Bob.