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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Prometheus - Theaters showing in 4K

The movie was finished in 2K so even theaters with Sony 4K projectors are showing 2K files.

Which brings up something I've wanted to say: I'm not fond of the black levels with Sony 4K projection, I almost prefer seeing something using the 2K DLP projectors instead. The blackest blacks in a theater are from 35mm prints that have used a silver retention process (ENR, etc.), followed by prints that used Kodak Vision Premier print stock, then regular 35mm prints and THEN DLP projection and finally, Sony 4K projection. It's an area that needs addressing. I've seen too many silky-smooth sharp movies shown on Sony 4K projectors with grey blacks.
 
Ah, thanks David, I hadn't realized that. I wonder if there are any local theaters showing a film print. I gave up trying to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in 4K because I just couldn't find any good projection information.
 
I think the true IMAX theaters showing it in 3D IMAX are probably using IMAX prints.

I'm just talking about black levels, overall I prefer seeing movies digitally projected over a 35mm print -- much sharper, steadier, cleaner, even focus across the 2.40 frame, etc. An IMAX print is another matter, I can't wait to see "Dark Knight Rises" in IMAX.
 
Great points. I was thinking that resolution-wise there wouldn't be any difference between digital and film but that the print might be more pleasing to the eye. I think I'll just look for it in RealD, which seems brighter to me than other 3D projection formats.
 
David Mullen ASC said:
The movie was finished in 2K so even theaters with Sony 4K projectors are showing 2K files.

Which brings up something I've wanted to say: I'm not fond of the black levels with Sony 4K projection, I almost prefer seeing something using the 2K DLP projectors instead. The blackest blacks in a theater are from 35mm prints that have used a silver retention process (ENR, etc.), followed by prints that used Kodak Vision Premier print stock, then regular 35mm prints and THEN DLP projection and finally, Sony 4K projection. It's an area that needs addressing. I've seen too many silky-smooth sharp movies shown on Sony 4K projectors with grey blacks.
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just saw Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter last night and it was on sony 4k projector. I was wondering why the black levels were so lifted! it definitely does need to get addressed, it's difficult to watch any film like that.
 
Stivan Widick said:
Hi Tom. In which theater did you see it?
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I live in North Jersey, they have sony 4k projectors in most of the AMC'S around me already. I'm pretty sure none of them are actually projecting in 4k, just 2k on a 4k projector. but a lot of them blatantly tag the "sony 4k digital projector" before every movie now.
 
I think for the next 4K DCP that I want to see I'll call theaters and ask to speak with the projectionist. It's a shame about the black levels of these Sony 4K projectors. It sounds like they've applied lift as if they were showing on television. Weird.
 
I saw prometheus in Imax. It was a real imax so it was a film print. But their projectors were vertically off by about 1/4th of a subtitle letter. So I was actually kind of missing the stability of digital projection in that respect. :P
 
David Mullen ASC said:
The movie was finished in 2K so even theaters with Sony 4K projectors are showing 2K files.

Which brings up something I've wanted to say: I'm not fond of the black levels with Sony 4K projection, I almost prefer seeing something using the 2K DLP projectors instead. The blackest blacks in a theater are from 35mm prints that have used a silver retention process (ENR, etc.), followed by prints that used Kodak Vision Premier print stock, then regular 35mm prints and THEN DLP projection and finally, Sony 4K projection. It's an area that needs addressing. I've seen too many silky-smooth sharp movies shown on Sony 4K projectors with grey blacks.
Click to expand...

That's one of the reasons why we still use a 2K Christie for final color, although we technically can use the 4K Barco. The 2K DLP just has better contrast. Hopefully the next gen of Barco projectors will be better.


Stivan Widick said:
I think for the next 4K DCP that I want to see I'll call theaters and ask to speak with the projectionist. It's a shame about the black levels of these Sony 4K projectors. It sounds like they've applied lift as if they were showing on television. Weird.
Click to expand...

They haven't applied anything, it's just the system can't block that much light. I can't speak for the Sony, as it's not DLP, but I'm told the 4K DLP black level has to do with imager size vs mirror size. The 4K has smaller mirrors, but there is more space between them, so more unwanted light gets through. The Sony 320's and 420's are much better then the original 110's though. The 110's blacks on the 110's were so bad, it looked like the house lights were on!
 
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