IMAX vs IMAX 70mm: The difference between these two cinema formats

Graphic by Steve Dent (Universal Studios)

You've apt heard, ad nauseum even, that Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey is nan first characteristic movie afloat changeable successful nan awesome IMAX 70mm movie format. With each that publicity, galore cinema fans want to spot it projected that way as well. However, they whitethorn get confused, arsenic The Odyssey is disposable successful some IMAX 70mm movie and nan IMAX integer format. Both are excellent, but 1 is decidedly a spot better. Let's break down nan differences betwixt these 2 formats. 

To understand IMAX, it helps to cognize really movies are captured successful nan first place. Many are changeable digitally, arsenic it's cheaper and much convenient than utilizing film. However, galore filmmakers still want, well, film. Most use the 35mm format, but immoderate big-budget projects for illustration Oppenheimer, Nope, Tenet and No Time to Die are changeable successful full aliases successful portion connected 70mm film, aka Super Panavision 70mm (more astir that shortly). And past there's nan king of movie formats, IMAX 70mm, utilized successful blockbusters like The Odyssey, Dune: Part 3 and Sinners.

The champion imaginable spectator acquisition is watching a movie changeable connected IMAX 70mm movie and projected from an IMAX 70mm movie print. With its quadrate 1.43:1 format and 69.8 x 48.5mm framework size, IMAX 70mm (also known arsenic IMAX 15/70 owed to nan 15 sprocket holes per frame) is projected horizontally connected colossal 59 x 79-foot screens to capable your section of imagination successful each directions. 

The other resolution, up to 18K equivalent, intends that images are pin sharp, moreover connected that immense screen. The projection is agleam arsenic well, acknowledgment to nan usage of azygous aliases moreover dual 15kW water-cooled xenon bulbs — up to 7.5 times brighter than nan ones you'll find successful regular theaters. All of that exertion makes IMAX 70mm much immersive than immoderate different format.

However, location are only astir 24 specified theaters successful nan US, 9 successful Canada and six elsewhere astir nan world. The different situation is that only 1 characteristic movie has been afloat changeable connected IMAX (The Odyssey, of course). This comes down to cost. The Odyssey accumulation costs was $250 cardinal and required a typical caller camera strategy to trim sound and let dialog to beryllium filmed. On apical of that, each IMAX 70mm projection people reportedly costs astir $80,000. 

Your adjacent champion stake is seeing a movie changeable utilizing a operation of IMAX 70mm and Super Panavision 70mm film, past projected successful an IMAX 70mm theater. That still offers nan afloat IMAX scale, brightness and 1.43:1 projection connected those aforesaid ample screens. However, those films deficiency nan afloat solution of existent IMAX successful immoderate scenes and won't look arsenic sharp. Films successful that class are much communal but still beautiful uncommon and see Oppenheimer, Tenet, Dune Part 3 and Sinners. 

Films changeable connected integer aliases 35mm, past upscaled, transferred and projected connected IMAX 70mm movie are a further measurement down. That process results successful different driblet successful sharpness, though you clasp nan immersive 1.43:1 facet ratio, colossal surface size and awesome brightness. Many caller films fresh that bill, including Barbie and Project Hail Mary, some changeable connected Arri Alexa 65 integer cameras and screened connected IMAX 70mm astatine prime theaters.  

If you person nary IMAX 70mm movie theaters successful your area, integer IMAX (also known arsenic IMAX pinch Laser) is simply a mini measurement down. All of those theaters max retired astatine 4K resolution, astir a 4th of nan IMAX 70mm movie format. Plus, only a fistful of integer IMAX cinemas successful North America tin play nan taller 1.43:1 facet ratio, truthful you won't get arsenic crisp aliases expansive an experience. 

With that said, integer IMAX is still superior to astir movie theatre experiences. The 4K solution is overmuch sharper than emblematic 2K DCI theatre projection systems. The champion format, IMAX pinch Laser astatine a 1.43:1 facet ratio, uses nan GT Laser dual projector strategy that offers unthinkable clarity. Brightness and opposition are really superior to IMAX 70mm film, acknowledgment to nan laser system's light-emitting powerfulness and expertise to wholly move disconnected pixels. 

Once again, nan problem pinch nan 1.43:1 GT laser strategy is scarcity, pinch conscionable 12 aliases truthful specified theaters successful North America. The adjacent champion action is IMAX 4K Laser astatine nan wider 1.90:1 facet ratio. That uses respective laser projector systems, pinch nan brightest and sharpest being GT Laser pinch dual projectors, offering nan aforesaid fantabulous brightness and opposition arsenic nan 1.43:1 system. The different IMAX 1.9:1 options are nan single-projector CoLa and XT systems pinch reduced brightness and sharpness, though still a superior viewing acquisition to regular 35mm aliases 2K integer projections. There are galore much of those, pinch around 100 successful nan US.

As pinch IMAX 70mm, nan champion measurement to spot integer IMAX is connected films changeable connected IMAX 70mm aliases regular 70mm movie for maximum sharpness and immersion. Films changeable connected 35mm movie aliases integer formats will look a spot little sharp, though different qualities for illustration brightness and opposition will beryllium unchanged. 

Standard 70mm film, besides known arsenic Super Panavision 5/70, is different bully action that's superior to a regular cinema experience. The framework size is astir double nan width of regular 35mm movie film. However, pinch a tallness of conscionable 22.09mm, Panavision 5/70 has a overmuch wider 2.2:1 aspect. 

Resolution is simply a 3rd that of IMAX 70mm, but still overmuch higher than 35mm movie and sharper than astir integer formats. 70mm movie prints are often struck straight from 70mm aliases IMAX negatives (optically and not digitally), truthful nan image value and solution are 2nd champion aft IMAX 70mm. However, nan image is cropped significantly, truthful you'll beryllium missing retired connected item and nan immersion facet disposable only pinch nan existent IMAX 70mm format.

With each that successful mind, you should beryllium capable to find an IMAX aliases 70mm theatre successful your area that gives you nan champion measurement to watch The Odyssey and different films worthy of nan other grandeur. To suss those out, cheque your section listings to find a showing, past double-check that they're so disposable successful your preferred format.