What is the video resolution display at the theater?

[Solodays]

In terms of video quality, how does theater video display quality image compare to a HDTV's?

 

[MrChad]

Most theaters still project film, which is an analog medium, so it's difficult to compare. It's a lot like comparing a 35mm film print to a digital camera shot.

 

[daniel1113]

Most film in the theater is either a 2k or 4k transfer.

As a comparison, the best HDTV is:

1,080 scan lines x 1,920 pixels/line = 2,073,600 pixels

 

[EvilYoda]

SOmething like the Runco VX-2c or Sony Qualia 004 (like someone had mentioned, the new generation "4K" projectors) is the ballpark you want to be in.

 

[Viper GTS]

Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

 

[FoBoT]

its like, eleventy billion x 42 or something

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Most film in the theater is either a 2k or 4k transfer.

I assume by that you mean the copies that are distributed are reproduced using a 2K or 4K process?

Original film would still be higher, right?

Viper GTS

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

yeah there are billions more silver crystals (molecules?) in film then there are pixels in digital media, film still rules quality!

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Most film in the theater is either a 2k or 4k transfer.

I assume by that you mean the copies that are distributed are reproduced using a 2K or 4K process?

Original film would still be higher, right?

Viper GTS

Yes, but not much higher. Once you get above 6k or so, supposedly the only part of the film that gains any noticable resolution is the grain, so it is unnecessary. However, since almost every movie is edited, color corrected, etc. with a computer these days, nearly every film shown in a theater is either 2k or 4k (including the master).

EDIT: This is all for 35mm.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

yeah there are billions more silver crystals (molecules?) in film then there are pixels in digital media, film still rules quality!

Analog is better than digital in most stuff. Records vs CDs for instance.

I'm sure I'm wrong. Somebody tell me why/

 

[Apex]

Film is in theory higher. In practice though, there are many many things that reduce the effective resolution, especially in most of the non-highend theaters.

 

[thomsbrain]

film may be higher "resolution," but digital projection for star wars looked fvcking amazing, IMO.

 

[Tab]

If you counted the film "grains" as "pixels" wouldn't it be around 20 million or so?

There was a discussion about this in Highly Tech.

 

[David Brent]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

film quality degrades rapidly after the first few showings, it's only better than hd the first couple showings of that film reel.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

yeah there are billions more silver crystals (molecules?) in film then there are pixels in digital media, film still rules quality!

not for long...

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: JToxic
Analog is better than digital in most stuff. Records vs CDs for instance.

I'm sure I'm wrong. Somebody tell me why/

Depends what quality you're talking about...

A record might have greater "resolution" than a CD, but it's going to degrade in quality each time you play it; the CD won't.

EDIT: Doh, David Brent said almost the same thing while I had my reply window open.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Film is much, much higher resolution than HDTV.

There are standards far above current HD (2K & 4K as mentioned) those may come close to film though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone put a number on film.

I'm sure you could do it (and someone probably has), but I've never seen it.

Viper GTS

yeah there are billions more silver crystals (molecules?) in film then there are pixels in digital media, film still rules quality!

Analog is better than digital in most stuff. Records vs CDs for instance.

I'm sure I'm wrong. Somebody tell me why/

i too prefer records to cds. and i was born in 86 after cd's took over i think lol certainly i should be one of those kids with the latest tech just dangling off me (for the most part i am ) but id give anything to have a record deck in my pocket ! and whack on some good oldskool house tunes

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
film may be higher "resolution," but digital projection for star wars looked fvcking amazing, IMO.

QFT :thumbsup:

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
film may be higher "resolution," but digital projection for star wars looked fvcking amazing, IMO.

QFT :thumbsup:

Star Wars was shot in 2k HD, too.

 

[rh71]

I saw Sin City in digital at the theatre. Wasn't a big difference vs. regular theatre projection IMO. I've been spoiled by HDTV but really the only thing that affects me is VHS quality.