2K Projection

[Tom Lowe]

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5093/transformerslr6.jpg

So yesterday I saw back-to-back screenings of The Transformers. First in 35mm, then in DLP. I'm assuming the projector at the Aliso Viejo 20 was a Christie 2K, but I did not ask the manager to confirm it.

So, I sat in the center of the screen, about the equivalent of 6 or 7 rows back, I would think. Distance wise, probably about 25 feet away from the screen.

Resolution: 35mm appeared to have much better resolution. I noticed that in one particular scene where you see the Secretary of Defense on a small TV on someone's kitchen counter I could see Voight clearly on the 35mm print, but on DLP, he was a jumbled little blob of pixels. The difference was very noticeable.

Color: DLP seemed to have a huge advantage here. The colors with digital projection were extremely vivid and really popped. Why is this?

Overall: 35mm wins, IMO, because sitting 25 feet away from the screen, there was massive pixelization on the large screen with DLP (the biggest screen at that cineplex). The pixelization totally pulled me out of the movie and made me think about the method in which it was being projected, rather than enjoying the movie or whatever.

Perhaps if I was sitting in the middle of theater I would not have noticed the pixelization so much.

I might have to check it out again! :)

[C.H.Haskell]

lol...thanks Tom, so was the movie any good? I am about to go after the Bar B Q...our local moving picture house here in Park slope Brooklyn has one of the digital satellite projectors (use to be 1 of 5 but I am sure there are many more) So I maybe wrong about this but perhaps with the picture being pipped in may have a sharper result, I will talk to the projectionist and get some details. In the meantime I hope I enjoy the picture more then the projecting method!

more to come.

[Tom Lowe]

Yeah, i liked the movie! so far this summer I have felt let down by all the "blockbusters" like POTC and Spiderman and Shrek. Transformers really delivered on the action, IMO. there is plenty of silliness, of course, but if you check your brain in at the door you will probably enjoy it. :)

[Alexander Nikishin]

I'd have to disagree with you here Tom.

I just finished watching Transformers on both a film and Chrsite 2k projection system and was absolutely in love with the clarity, crispness, and vibrant colors coming out of the Christie DLP.

35 on the other hand, silky but much too soft and washed out.

I sat in the back row, about 75 or so feet away, beautiful!

[Sam Druckerman]

When I was shopping for my home theater projector, I was taken back at how much there was to learn before chosing the right model.

When I go see a movie I like to sit in the first 1/3 to 1/4 because I want to get lost in the experience, I don't like to see the sides outside of the screen.

Well, a lot of home dlp projectors don't look good unless you sit back away from the screen.

I'm wondering if that's true in the movie theater as well?

Tom, everythings easy in hindsight, but to bad you didn't get up and sit farther back to see if the picture improved. Since Alexander had such a different experience, that might just explain it.

Maybe someone who knows will chime in.

[Alexander Nikishin]

I'd imagine that seating distance is in fact a large factor in image quality.

Maybe you were just too darn close Tom?

I'll have to see it again but from a closer view next time.

One negative side effect to DLP cinema is the dreaded DLP rainbow flicker. (Though I only hear about it from home theater DLP's.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DLP

[Tom Lowe]

Yeah, I was too close, for sure. But then again, theaters do have those first ten rows, and with DLP, I saw very, very clear and distracting pixelization.

I will try to see it again and sit farther toward the back. The pixelization will go away and I will be able to concentrate on the overall viewing experience.