Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Analog Scott (A) on March 23, 2005 at 21:00:58

In Reply to: "Digital projection at the cinema may swing it back the other way again." We do seem to be at odds here. posted by clarkjohnsen on March 23, 2005 at 07:51:30:

"Digital projection will keep me at home. It looks godawful and almost makes me sick, even just to think about it. (Granted I haven't checked it out for a year.)"

I remember my first experience with digital projection. It was interesting. No flicker and a perfectly stable image. Yet it was horrible. Harsh looking with very poor ability to render subtle gradations in color or value. Pixilation and aliasing problems up the wazoo anytime the image moved with any speed. The last digital projection I saw was of Master and Comander. Much better than before but the problems are still there.

"Digital sound is no great shakes either; always I look for the Sony SDDS exhibitor, far and away the best of the lot."

I don't know to blame the system or just the ridiculous levels that are commonly used. Way toooo loud.

"'The quality at your local cinema suffers from a less than optimal print with colour degradation etc.' You talkin' to me?! Then think again. I attend widely here in Boston and around South Florida and South California and *never* have witnessed optical degradation. Oh, the occasional dim bulb -- but I always complain and get a coupla free passes for later."

Some of us are lucky to live in big cities with competent theaters. I have heard this is a real problem in many areas.

"I'm glad to hear you attend to the gamma, color temp etc. -- most don't, and I'm sure you have mounted a good presentation."

In the end video is just video. Leaves you wondering what the original image really looked like.