Imax Theater 3D Question

Although IMAX 3-D and digital 3-D achieve their 3-D effect through different means, the end results is comparable to the viewers' eyes. Except that the IMAX screen is generally larger.

Unless you're going to one of the new digital IMAX theaters, in which case you'll likely get a screen not much larger than average using the same form of 3-D as every other digital theater.

The immersion factor of a 15/70mm IMAX theater is one of the best reasons to watch it there. Also, the resolution is much higher than 2K digital.

However, the digital 3D has a little less ghosting/image trail during fast motion. So the two images are a little tighter in my experience. Not enough for me to give up the IMAX experience however.

I'm not positive, but I think Woodridge is one of the new smaller Imax theaters. If you want to take full advantage of "The Imax Experience," then the place to go in Chi-town is Navy Pier. They have the biggest screen by far. Of course, they also have the highest prices, and they sell out quickly, and you have to pay extraordinary amounts for parking, but such is life.

Also, I'm a projectionist who has dealt with the new digital 3D stuff since the very beginning, and I've seen every format that's out there except for the new digital Imax stuff. I honestly have to say that despite the numbers, digital 3D looks better than traditional Imax 3D. The reason for this is a number of factors which naturally occur in an imperfect environment.

With Imax 3D, you start out with the disadvantage of the 3D system, which as David said, is inferior by nature. There is substantially more ghosting than there is in the digital systems. I think that the reason for this is because Imax uses linear polarization as opposed to circular polarization, but don't quote me on that.

But then on top of that, Imax uses two prints on two projectors running in unison. So if there are imperfections on one but not the other, things will look weird in just one eye. Even though Imax will most certainly be brighter, the two eyes might not be evenly bright, one eye might be slightly out of focus, one eye might jitter, etc.

And then you have the problem of dirt, which has plague every Imax presentation I've ever seen. As I understand it, Imax projectors have a piece of glass known as a "field flattener" which picks up dust like crazy. You see this big blob in the center of the frame, and it'll slowly move across the entire screen. It's very annoying.

To me, the three big advantages to Imax are size, brightness, and resolution. But for most movies, you can get rid of resolution, because they're usually not mastered at anything higher than 2K. I'm guessing that this is the case with A CHRISTMAS CAROL, but I'm not sure. So that leaves size and brightness. Like Josh said, most of these screens are not that big, so that leaves brightness.

If it were me, I'd go with a digital presentation, because the 3D is so much better. I know that's not the popular opinion, and a lot of factors have to do with each individual venue, but that would be my recommendation.

Actually, I think I was wrong. It seems like Woodridge is real Imax.

It's not as simple as that. Most digital IMAX theaters DO use a smaller (28x58 foot) screen but the IMAX 3D system uses TWO 2K digital cinema projectors which actually doubles the screen brightness. The two projectors use fixed polarizers and the R and L video frames are seperated and sent only to the appropriate projector.

This is superior in terms of screen size and brightness to the most common 3D system, which is the RealD 3D system plus an active polarizer fitted to a single 2K (2048x1080) digital projector. AMC owns a lot of these, and even a few earlier Digital Cinema theaters that still use first generation 3D in 1366x768 resolution. (Most such older digital projectors have now been relegated to showing between-show network advertizing from satellite or local advertixing from a server.)

But the latest and greatest 3D is Sony's SRX Large venue 4K (4096x2160) resolution projectors with large-screen brightness levels (up to 21,000 lumens). These can be found in pairs in large-screen IMAX theaters right alongside the IMAX 15/70 film projectors. AMC also is installing the 4K projectors in single units using the RealD 3D active polarizer.

The 4K projectors are really quite good, worth checking to see if one is installed nearby. I have four only 14 miles away installed at an independant local Silicon Valley theater chain (Camera 7 at the Pruneyard in Campbell). Hard to predict what they will be showing because they are an independant. I am hoping to catch the new James Cameron 3D film Avatar there around Christmas. (The Camera 7 uses the RealD 3D active polarizer system.)

It should be noted that Sony's 4K projectors are not necessarily better than the 2K DLP projectors which are out there, because the 4K projectors are not capable of producing nearly as many colors. For something like AVATAR, it might make more sense to go the 2K route, since it was shot in only 2K anyway.

Mumbles3k and jbug,
I can, from visual confirmation, tell you that the Colossus Woodbridge IMAX uses 15/70mm film and a full 1.44:1 microperf screen. You will not be disappointed jbug. The projection manager maintains a neat projection booth and I've only seen dirt on the screen once.

What are you and your wife watching jbug?

I think he's talking about the Cinemark at Seven Bridges in Woodridge, IL.

Whoops. Sorry. Damn cities with the same name

I will watch Avatar in IMAX 3D, RealD, and in the digital IMAX to compare all three of them. Will be fun

I understand your argument and it's too bad that Cameron didn't use a 4K Digital Intermediate. But I have watched 3D films at the Camera 7 and never noticed posterization or any other visible artifacts of reduced color depth. I believe that visible artifacts such as that actually derive from incorrect video processing during video post-processing, and that the color depth on the 4K Sony projectors is fine.

What I HAVE noticed is that the brighter 4K projectors stand up to the dimming from the RealD 3D polarizer and glasses better than most 2K projectors do. There is another West Coast theater chain (Cinemark) that uses 2K projectors in rather larger screens than most. IMHO these theaters are fine for vanilla flat Digital Cinema but I have been disappointed with screen illumination values during 3D showings (I saw Beowulf, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Up in such theaters).

If you want the full effect of the IMAX 3D you must see it on a 80'x60' IMAX screen. If you have doubts just call the theater and ask what size screen they have, very simple. I saw it recently and the flying scenes are incredible.

That would be one of the best IMAXs to watch anything. They use an all Danley speaker setup, incluiding 4 TH 50's which measure flat to 10hz at over 125db. The SH 96's they use are the speakers I want to use in my home cinema. Four 15" bass drivers, six 4" mid range drivers, and a 1.2" compression driver for the highs, all in a their patented synergy horn. Six of those with the four TH 50's for bass...you'll be in heaven. Check it out at Danleysoundlabs.com. Atleast you know the audio will be incredible.

I get pants flapping at my local IMAX too. They use six 18" drivers, with 3 to an enclosure and each enclosure's driver side facing each other. I would rather have the
Danley setup. I'm pretty sure my IMAX severely rolls off the bass below 20-25hz. Sometimes the speakers strain at high SPLs, like during Star Trek with levels set to 0.

Ha haa! Cool. Hope you enjoy it.

I saw avatar imax 3d at the amc 16 in cupertino. I'm not sure what size screen it was. It seemed bigger than a regular screen but nothing like the imax dome screens. The main problem I had was the glasses. They weren't paper or anything, but the polarized lenses were really flimsy and smudged. I tried to clean them best I could, but it was irritating. Where can you get a pair of high quality polarized 3d glasses to take with you to these things? It seems like such a waste to watch a $300M movie on an 80' screen worth 100s of thousands of dollars, with 99 cent glasses.

http://www.look3d.com/collections.html

I would get in contact with them to find out if the glasses are interchangable between RealD and IMAX 3D theaters.

Once again - the list of IMAX versus LieMAX theaters (may not be complete)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...1,0.11158&z=14

While tastes vary (the reason we have some lively debates here on AVS), the ghosting at IMAX theaters is very distracting to me and tends to pull me out of the experience. Now, regular IMAX is spectacular and I have no issue with that.

My wife and I went to see A Christmas Carol the other day at a "regular" Real D, 3-D theater. What struck me was how virtually flawless the 3D presentation was. No ghosting/double images. The depth of field was completely believable, and enhanced the movie experience.

And may not be completely accurate..

No need to use that unmaintained list. IMAX now provides this information directly through its theatre locator. Highlight yours on the map and click "Theatre Type"

I don't see where it says that the IMAX theater shown is a 15/70 IMAX theater or a Digital LieMAX theater.

Then you aren't following directions. Highlight yours on the map, and click "Theatre Type"

It will say either "This location is a classic design IMAX...rolling-loop 15/70 film..." or "This location is a multiplex design IMAX...digital projection system..."

Edit: In addition, the same "Theatre Type" link is available if you go to the showtimes page for your particular theatre.