digital cinema
Latest
Sony to release 'affordable' 35mm digital cinema camera to fend off RED and Panasonic
While RED ushered in the revolution, the camera wars are really just starting for the film industry, with Sony showing off at NAB today one of its upcoming 35mm (full frame) digital cinema cameras after ARRI hogged the spotlight last week. Sony's 35mm roadmap already had the industry atwitter, but news that the camera will be "affordable" is news indeed. Of course, affordable is a relative term: think in the $10k to $20k range, for a rough guess. What's great is that, with the addition of the Panasonic AF100 unveiled yesterday, it's clear that manufacturers are finally starting to glom onto this idea of taking these wonderful DSLR-style sensors and putting them into camcorder bodies. The 5D Mark II is great and all, but it was really just pointing to a bigger trend. The Sony camera is due to be released around this time next year, and you can check out a video of the unveil after the break.
Sony takes Uncharted 2 on tour, with 4K digital projection to make you forever loathe your home setup
Looking for a quick and easy way to become completely dissatisfied with your own PS3 rig? Maybe you could try tracking down Sony at one of its "sneak peak" stops, where attendees will be able to play through some of the upcoming, already-lauded Uncharted 2 on a movie screen powered by a Sony 4K digital cinema projector. Unfortunately, only four locations have been named, and two of them are in California, so not quite everybody is going to get a chance to spoil themselves for this generation of video games forever.
New Orleans' Prytania rises up to 3D
Outside of the frozen food section at the supermarket, nothing beats the summer heat quite like a cool (or downright cold) movie theater, and the recently Sony/RealD 4k-equipped Prytania theater in New Orleans just added 3D capabilities to entice viewers some more. No surprise -- Disney's summer blockbuster, Up, was the first talkie to make the leap off the silver screen at the newly outfitted venue, and we suspect that The Prytania -- the only theater in N'awlins to have Up in 3D -- raked in a healthy crowd for its investment. We love to see storied theaters keep up with the times, and this almost 95-year old movie house is no exception.[Thanks, gamedude360!]
Sony joins up with DCIP, assists in switching theaters over to digital projection
Proving it can play well with others, Sony Pictures has decided to throw in with most of the other major studios in the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners to fund digital projection switches across North America. Similar to its existing deal with RealD to go straight to 3D with 4K SXRD equipment, these digital cinemas can be converted to 3D later. Since we first heard about the group's plans to upgrade movie theaters, plans have slowed due to the credit crisis, but with every major studio except Warner Bros. on board, it would seem they've got the backing to make 20,000 digital perfect -- and cheap digital print movie distribution compatible -- sooner rather than later.
Dubai begins shift to digital cinemas, ready for 3D goofiness
Reports have already shown that the hunger for HD in the Middle East is rising, and apparently so is the hunger for digital cinema. The Middle East's very first digital cinemas have opened in the desert playground this week, with two screens showing digital versions of the latest Mummy film at Grand Cinema's Grand Festival complex in Dubai Festival City. If plans pan out, Grand Cinema expects to have all of its screens converted to digital within two years, and yes, the third-dimension was mentioned. According to Gulf Films' Jean Ramia (pictured), digital really is "the future of cinema," and now that it's becoming more pervasive, we can expect to see "a lot more 3D films being produced." Goggles up!
Can 3D cinemas really take off?
Every so often, a technology manages to get everyone on board at just the right time in order to make a surge. Recently, that technology has been 3D cinema. After titles like Hannah Montana and U2 3D hit the scenes, the buzz swept over ShoWest in Las Vegas and has continued on with announcements that all future DreamWorks Animations productions would be made in 3D and even the NBA dipping its toes into the third-dimension during the regular season. Still, word on the street has the price of bringing a Dolby 3D Digital Cinema experience to theaters between $20,000 and $30,000, and of course, you have to convince viewers to wear those somewhat uncomfortable glasses and probably pay a premium just to sit down. Quite honestly, we still don't see 3D becoming a dominant force in tried and true theaters for years; as amazing as the technology can be when executed perfectly, there's still quite a few detractions holding it down. What say you? Can you imagine a 3D theater or two popping up in your local Cineplex? Would you even go if it happened?[Via AboutProjectors, image courtesy of LA Times]
Sony loading up four theatres with 4K SXRD digital cinema systems
Movie-goers in Dallas, Indianapolis, Riverside, California, and San Diego, you can go ahead and color us officially envious. Your lucky cities will soon host a total of 54 CineAlta SXRD 4K digital cinema systems from Sony, with an unspecified mix of 10,000 lumen SRX-R210 and 18,000 lumen SRX-R220 models planned to shock and wow customers at four AMC locales. The units were unsurprisingly crafted specifically for use in (home?) theaters, and will be paired up with Sony's LMT-100 Media Block servers. Barring any unforeseen disasters, installation should begin next month in the aforementioned areas, and holiday crowds should be enjoying a delightful visual experience before the year's end.[Via TGDaily]
Sony's 18,000 lumen SXRD 4K prototype projector
So you've got a fancy home theatre system do ya? Oh, and you like to boast a bit about the 3000 lumens your 1080p DLP kicks? Well check that ego son, 'cause Sony just unveiled their newest SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) 4K projection technology which slams your home kit with a blinding 18,000 lumens (nearly twice the brightness of their top-o-the-line SRC-R110, pictured to right) and a 4096 x 2160 resolution. As you may have guessed, these are designed and priced for commercial movie theatres. Still, if you've got a couple hundie grand to drop, we're sure Sony might grant an exception to you and your fifty-foot screen.
