IMAX is a member of the 8K Association and has certified a number of 8K digital cameras for content creation. IMAX has some smaller 'IMAX Digital' theatres that use dual 2K projectors.
The Digital Cinema IMAX digital presentation has been created from 8k scans of the original film elements, graded specifically for the high contrast dual-projector IMAX digital projectors, before being scaled to 4K resolution and packaged with the uncompressed IMAX 5.0 sound mix of the film.
Movies are made to be watched in IMAX. From our crisp IMAX 4K Laser format to the towering seven-storey screen and hair-raising surround sound, there's no other cinematic experience like it.
4K capable systems are now common and the preferred standard for most cinemas. However, there were issues when the concept was first introduced including some manufacturers producing 4K capable products that were in advance of the format being formally established and standardised.
15/70mm refers to the physical characteristics of the film reel. The 15 indicates the number of perforations along the edge of the film and 70mm is the height. This full frame IMAX format produces images up to 18k resolution, far superior to the 4k images seen in most digital cinemas.
It's often reported that IMAX 1570 Film has native resolution of up to 16K, far greater than any other film or digital format. The other key difference is the aspect ratio of the 1570 presentation.
A noteworthy observation is the brightness difference between the IMAX enhanced version and the 4K Blu-ray Dolby Vision presentation. During comparisons, the IMAX enhanced version consistently appeared brighter and more impactful than its widescreen counterpart, even when both were in Dolby Vision.
Yes! If you're viewing 8K content on a 65+ inch screen, 8K will prove to be much better than 4K. However, if you view 4K and 8K content on a smaller screen, you won't notice any significant difference.
If we translate this calculation to a TV, it turns out that for a screen 60" wide viewed from five feet away, the limit of our resolution is 4K. At this distance, we would be able to tell the difference between HD and 4K, but any increase beyond 4K (say, to 8K) would not be noticeable.
What resolution is used in IMAX cinemas? There are three different IMAX projection formats - the original IMAX 15-perforation, 70mm film system, IMAX Digital, and IMAX with Laser. IMAX Digital uses 2K projection (2,048 x 1,080) and IMAX with Laser uses 4K projection (4,096 x 2,160).
Using ground-breaking proprietary technology developed by IMAX, IMAX Enhanced digital remastering produces more vibrant colors, greater contrast, sharper clarity and up to 26% more picture – images as action-packed and powerful as the filmmakers intended.
Unfortunately, there isn't any. Well, you can stream YouTube in 8K but if you're looking to watch proper movies or TV shows in 8K then you're stuck with upscaling. In fact, back in 2019 the executive director of the 8K Association, Chris Chinnock, cast doubt on the possibility of 8K Blu-rays ever happening.
As of right now, 8K simply hasn't been adopted on a wide scale by streaming, video games, or even home video. Instead, 4K is still the highest available resolution in almost every category.
The screen is massive and specifically tall, built to fit the unique way the movie is shot. It can be up to 40% larger than a standard movie screen. The seats are angled to open your field of view an average to 70 degrees, while speakers are positioned to immerse you in sound.
Netflix was one of the first streaming services to offer 4K streaming. However, they have yet to bear the torch for 8K content streaming. 8K is still very much a technology in its infancy. If 8K streaming ever does reach Netflix, it will likely be some time before we see it!
Movie fans can find an 8K Cinemas theater throughout the United States. If you are in California, be sure to visit Serra Theatres in Milpitas and Town 3 Cinemas in San Jose. In the Atlanta area? Visit Digimax Theatres in Roswell, Georgia.
Yep, 8K, as in four times the resolution of Ultra HD 4K TVs. You can, if you really want to, buy models from Samsung, Sony, LG and TCL in a variety of sizes. Samsung was the only one of the makers to premiere a new 8K TV at CES 2024, while the rest haven't released new models in the past couple of years.
Can a human tell the difference between 4K and 8K?
The increased pixel count in 8K TVs results in an even sharper and more detailed image than 4K. However, the difference may not be as noticeable to the human eye, especially on smaller screens or from a far viewing distance.
4K TVs provide truly amazing clarity, but if you're looking for the most immersive viewing experience available, only an 8K TV can achieve this. 8K offers 4 times as many pixels than 4K and a staggering 16 times as many pixels compared to a 1080p TV.
Clearly fitting 8K's 7640 x 4120 pixel count into self-emissive screens is quite the challenge. The third big argument against 8K is that it doesn't deliver enough of a discernible picture quality benefit to justify its expense. In fact, some say it makes no difference at all from regular viewing distances.
While still not matching the theoretical resolution of traditional IMAX film, which is estimated at up to 12,000 lines of horizontal resolution on the 65 mm camera negative (12K) and approximately 6,000 on a 35 mm release print (6K), the new laser system features dual-4K resolution projectors, each capable of ...
The aim of IMAX is immersion: they aim to fill your vision, including peripheral vision with picture and create an immersive experience. 4k is just a resolution of the traditional cinema wide-screen picture. 4k is adequate for big screen presentation, although 8k would be better.
The average IMAX screen size is approximately 72' x 50' (22m x 16m), which is significantly larger than traditional movie screens of approximately 50' x 20' (16m x 6.1m). Is IMAX worth it? Yes, it is absolutely worth the price of admission. It's the biggest screen with the best quality.
