Digital Theater - Not as great as I thought

Hi all,

I saw EPII in Kitchener Ontario, Canada on a digital DLP projector. I didn't find it all it was hyped up to be. Althought the clarity was nice, at times I noticed pixelation. Did anyone notice this too? The pixelation seemed to show up mostly in areas of high contrast (ie edges of subtitles, etc) and gradients.

I can understand why theater owners are weary of digital projectors... I don't think they're 'All that' yet considering the costs.

The clarity is nice (at times impressive)... but I think the quality of the projectors can be improved on.

What were your experiences? Maybe I saw it on a crap digital projector!

I saw it at Silver City in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada........I didn't notice anything different, then again I'm not sure if it was digital or not. As for a crappy digital projector........this is Kitchener, afterall

it's only one of 4 digital projectors in Canada (Showing Star Wars EPII).

Surprising huh? : )

I remember taking a day off from my OAC high school classes to see TPM at the Cambridge Center movie theatre back in '99

You saw it on a crap digital projector.

As a projectionist (in Australia), I've had many discussions with co-workers about the merits of Digital Projection v Film.... As has been noted here, the biggest problem is that Digital projectors aren't that much better...I don't doubt that theaters will eventually convert to all digital formats, but with the expense of upgrading the existing infrastructure - it will be some time yet! I think that the only people that are really pushing for digital projectors are the film distributors (what's the cost of a CD nowadays???) and producers. At the end of the day the general public is still going to be paying upwards of $15 per ticket - and the cinemas are still going to be making a killing on the candy bar prices (something like 90% of box office takings go to film distributors! - the cost of renting the film - the ratio changes over the course of the films life).

If and when the cinema owners can justify the expense of new infrastructure it will happen. But as it stands, there are clearly no advantages in doing so yet.

btw, How was pixelation and desity? What was the sharpness like? What about shadows? (there aren't any Digital cinemas in Oz, I'd like to know what its like! - only seen at tradeshows - you know, the 'perfect' environment)

I've complained all along about DLP and the obvious digital artifacts apparent. Hell, that's why I don't have an HDTV or one of those little dishes, or digital cable - it's a generation or two away from being watchable to my eyes.

Nope. It's MOST noticable on high contrast screens with text...

The pixelation issue only came up in certain places:

1. Sometimes during Subtitles (when aliens were talking) 2. Gradient areas (noticed it most serverely during the Austin Powers Trailer).

Aside from that, the image is very clear. I noticed a definate improvement over a traditional projector as there were no sratches or jitters.

However, it was the pixelation issue that really got to me. I was just couldn't understand why certain areas would look pixelated at times, yet perfectly ok the next.

Anyhow, the digital project was good... but not 'perfect'.

Sorry didn't answer the two other questions.

Density - Pictures were 'perfect' at times. There were a couple of scenes at the beginning of the movie I thought I was looking through a transparent window. It was very nice.

Sharpness - very crisp. Extremely clear. No artifacts, smudges, dust, etc.

Shadows - Seemed fine. The dark scenes showed up fine on screen. Nothing out of the ordinary.

However, I didn't pay much attention to the colours, shadows, etc as the pixelation issue kinda peeved me.

I've never noticed dust, scratches, et al on the print of the main presentation feature i.e. all this talk about superior quality for digital projection is overblown. What kind of a movie must you be 'watching' if it can't prevent you from not noticing hairs and dust on the film?

well it is in Canada after all, they have to dub in all the 'eh?''s after each sentence.

(kidding!) - LOL