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Author Topic: My Almost Imax Digital Experience Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-08-2009 02:14 PM                     AMC Easton 30 in Columbus, OH has installed an Imax Digital system to replace the MPX 15/70 film unit they have had since 2005. (They have also removed the 35mm projector). Well, I should say, ALMOST installed it. Upon entering the theatre, I walked up to the booth area and looked in the port holes. There were 2 digital projectors there, one centered at one port hole and another set about 2' to the side of the other port hole, aimed at the solid wall. I assumed that this projector was on some type of track and would roll into place before the film. No such luck. The movie was shown from only 1 digital projector. It looked good, but certainly no better than other large screen digital screenings I have attended. AMC is now charging a $5 premium for IMAX shows. The Imax Digital Experience uses 2-Digital projectors, not one. They should not charge the extra $5 when things are not correct. I guess they thought no one would notice.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 05-08-2009 02:20 PM                     You should have complained!!!  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-08-2009 02:22 PM                     I don't think they should be charging a premium at all for IMAX digital. It's really not any better than regular 2K digital projection. Given a choice, I'll save $5 and see the movie on a smaller screen. The only exception I see for this is 3D. Dolby 3D and RealD are limited to more modest screen sizes while IMAX digital can at least show 3D on a pretty large screen.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-08-2009 05:55 PM                     Lyle, yes, complaints are in process. Bobby, for the record, AMC is now charging a $4 premium for Digital 3D. I don't know how much they will be charging for Imax 3D.  |  IP: Logged Julio Roberto Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 938 From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain Registered: Oct 2008 posted 05-08-2009 06:09 PM                    Holly Cow. Digital revolution is but starting and we are already seeing "bad projection" practices like this on sparkling new houses/equipment. I can't but help to think what will happen in 5 years. Flickery lamps? Out of focus presentations? 2K and screen doors?  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 05-09-2009 06:26 AM                        There's no such thing as fool proof. No matter how simple you make something, you can always find someone simple enough to screw it up.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 05-09-2009 07:21 AM                     quote: Bobby Henderson I don't think they should be charging a premium at all for IMAX digital. It's really not any better than regular 2K digital projection. Given a choice, I'll save $5 and see the movie on a smaller screen. I'll make the same choice as you. Image wise it's not any better. I guess the sound is better since they are supposedly using the real IMAX sound system. Although I suspect that with a well designed modern regular sound system you can have equivalent sound in a non-"IMAX" auditorium.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-09-2009 01:27 PM                     I'd like to see some confirmation that "IMAX Digital" theaters are using similar sound system hardware as true IMAX houses. I have the strong suspicion that these ordinary theaters are merely installing a pair of 2K projectors and slapping the IMAX brand name on it. That suspicion is based on what I've already seen with most 2K digital projection installations. The house gets a new projector, but little if anything gets changed in the theater's sound system. Some places may get upgraded to 5.1 surround, but the upgrade will be the bare minimum to get by. You rarely see sound systems tailor made for the specific auditoriums anymore. Maintaining proper EQ and fixing blown speaker drivers, etc. doesn't happen anywhere near as often as it should.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-09-2009 06:15 PM                     I can't vouch for the speakers behind the screen, but the surround speakers at the AMC Imax are much larger than standard surrounds and they are placed in the rear corners, a position I personally prefer.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-11-2009 09:20 AM                     I'll post this without comment. An Imax representative has informed me that one projector is used for 2D and 2 projectors for 3D. I did indicate that my concern was with Imax Digital, not film.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-11-2009 05:29 PM                     Is he the cleaner at IMAX or something?  |  IP: Logged Fred Tucker Film Handler Posts: 90 From: Sugar Land, TX Registered: Sep 2007 posted 05-13-2009 04:17 AM                     IMAX Digital installation comes with a complete new audio system when AMC converts from 35mm. I do not know first hand if the MPX replacements are receiving the same speaker, amplifer & processor upgrades. Digital IMAX does show through 2 projectors even if it is 2S content, however non IMAX content can be played on the IMAX projectors through only one projector. Since you did not specify which movie saw I can only assume it was not an IMAX title explaining why only one projector was used.  |  IP: Logged Sam King Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Oct 2006 posted 05-13-2009 11:43 PM                     Yea, one way to sell these theatres on digital "miniMAX"'s (like that, you can use it) is that if there is no IMAX product that week, they can be used as "traditional" 2K projectors. HOWEVER, they should be priced just like any other auditorium.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-14-2009 06:21 AM                     Fred Tucker said: quote: Fred Tucker Since you did not specify which movie saw I can only assume it was not an IMAX title explaining why only one projector was used. Sorry for not being clear. The film was STAR TREK, and the IMAX Branding trailer was shown, along with trailers for future IMAX presentations. This is not a new IMAX installation, just a conversion from film. This showing was advertised as IMAX and the ticket indicated IMAX.  |  IP: Logged Julio Roberto Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 938 From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain Registered: Oct 2008 posted 05-14-2009 07:25 AM                    Well, the way I see it, pure and simple deceving, to the verge of fraud. Imax should clearly state what an "Imax" presentation means. Does it mean a regular DCI package presented in a single 2K standard Christie projector on a larg-ish screen? Does it mean a specially re-mastered digital file presented in dual 2K "Imax" projection system? Obviously they purposely don't want to brand things differently and just want the $5 surchage and give nothing extra in return most of the time. With a single 2K Christie projection, decent sound and a regular DCI package, anybody is currently putting the exact same image on the screen for which they are charging more. A different story is whenever they get their own masters on their "modified" equipment. If such thing is indeed what they are doing, keeping so hush about the technical details of it makes one thing it's just marketing BS, otherwise they would be boasting pixel-shifting, 4K upresized masters or whatever. Anyway, good luck to them and hope they get class action suits for just being so retarded about the whole thing and taking business away from good theaters with their deceiving practices. But people are not dumb and soon they'll realise that, 90% of the time, the Imax they've driven so many miles to watch and paid $5 extra to watch is no better than a good local theatre with decent sound equipment. In Spain there are currently 4 digital IMAX 3D installations, FWIW.  |  IP: Logged

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