Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Digital Kodak: A Progress Report

This is topic Digital Kodak: A Progress Report in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-25-2001, 09:16 PM:

The on-line edition of "American Cinematographer" has an article about the Kodak Digital Cinema system:
http://www.cinematographer.com/article/mainv/0,2108,30791|1,00.html

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Aaron Haney (Member # 747) on 10-26-2001, 03:52 AM:

John, thanks for the article. I have a couple of questions that were not covered that perhaps you can answer:

I realize Kodak is placing its bets on D-ILA, but what do you think about the potential of laser projection? The company Silicon Light Machines makes some pretty big claims about its laser-based devices. Might laser projection eventually exceed both DLP and D-ILA in terms of contrast and resolution, and if so, would Kodak want to switch to laser-based projectors for its digital systems?

And what does Kodak plan to do about the fact that the terms DLP and "digital projection" have unfortunately, in many people's minds, become one and the same? Are there any big marketing campaigns in the works to win mindshare?

You have posted here before stating that the contrast ratio of film is 10000:1. JVC's website indicates that the contrast ratio of current D-ILA devices is only about 1000:1. What does Kodak plan to do to get their digital projectors up to the same contrast range as film?

Sorry to bombard you with questions like this, but I've been wondering about these things, and you seem like the right person to ask.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-26-2001, 09:44 AM:

Since I am not directly working on Kodak's Digital Cinema project, I have to defer you to those who are. As noted in the article, Digital Cinema is an evolving technology with many stakeholders, and Kodak will be a major participant in providing key technologies, equipment, and services needed to deliver a cost-effective system that delivers the features and quality that moviemakers, distributors, exhibitors and theatre audiences expect and deserve.

Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 10-26-2001, 03:36 PM:

The article talked about a hybrid system of digital AND film. I wonder if the real goal, at least at this point, is to give both parties what they want? IE: The studios save money by shooting and editing in the digital realm. AND since the system is designed to strike "REEL" film from digital "negatives", the exhibitors get what they want keeping the reliability of film and the cost savings of not having to buy new video players every 5 years. (Of course, those with money to burn could do so, go digital, and we'll see if the audiences really do care.) Sounds like a win-win. As usual, Kodak, crazy like a fox!

Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-26-2001, 08:35 PM:

Seems to me that this forum exists for the benefit of projectionists and cinema technicians. The advent of full scale digital cinema will make the former redundant and the latter will need to be less skilled. Digital cinema offers nothing to the viewing public that is not already available, it is being promoted by a handful of corporations hungry to make big money. Personally I would like to make more money so I could buy a big boat, but not if it meant sacrificing even one job in my organisation.

The more digital cinema is discussed, the greater the momentum it attains. Is that what you folk really want?

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Ray Derrick
President
Panalogic Corporation Pty Limited
44 Carrington Road
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655
Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935

Posted by Aaron Haney (Member # 747) on 10-27-2001, 12:37 AM:

Not discussing it will not make it go away. It's not like it is talked about so much that it overwhelms the forums or anything. In fact, there was someone who recently accused the forum goers of being just the opposite and having a "head in the sand attitude" about digital cinema. Neither is the case. The topic comes up from time to time, and people talk about it, that's all.

Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-27-2001, 08:53 PM:

Of course it won't go away, but I would prefer not to see it helped along.

Many people on the technical side of the industry regard DC as the single worst thing to happen to cinema exhibition since the introduction of television. I wouldn't go that far, but apart from it's far reaching implications for employment in the industry, it has had the effect of stopping a lot of cinemas from installing better quality equipment because they are afraid it is going to be useless in a few years. It has also slowed the development of improved equipment for the existing technology. The result is that the industry is stagnating and the public suffers as a result.

I have come to greatly respect John for his excellent contributions to Film-tech, however I would rather see some postings regarding what progress Kodak is making with improvements to the quality and durability of film to try to counter the premature introduction of DC. How about it John?

DC will come, and sooner than most of us think, but it should arrive when the technology is good and ready and when the industry is good and ready, not when the film distributors decide they want to further line their pockets.

We too have already developed DC products - just like Kodak we have to do this or we will be left behind. But I think digital cinema should not be promoted until all of the many processes involved have been carefully worked out and standardised.

That's my little editorial rave for the month. I will now go back to my cage and chew on a banana (the photo's coming Brad).

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Ray Derrick
President
Panalogic Corporation Pty Limited
44 Carrington Road
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655
Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-27-2001, 10:19 PM:

Ray.......doesn't Norm Schneider of Smart already has a Digital Cinema processor?.... Dolby tentitive plans are to to show a prototype digital cinema processor box at ShowEast next week.....when sound was introduced was it perfect?....the same with color?......Price, reliable set of standards, and return on investment costs on present equipment will gauge where and when it will happen. I love film, when it is done properly where the audience can get involved in the show and not the mechanics of delivery....I sell a ton of Cinemeccanica but then again I am promoting Barco Digital.....each way should be an "event" if done properly.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

Posted by Aaron Haney (Member # 747) on 10-28-2001, 10:22 PM:

quote:
Richard Fowler wrote:
when sound was introduced was it perfect?....the same with color?

I understand what you're saying, but I feel I should point out that I don't think digital cinema deserves to be placed in the same category as the introduction of sound and color. Those two inventions exercised parts of the human senses that were going unused before. Digital cinema's goal is not to add another dimension to motion pictures, but to do the same thing that's been done before -- only in a different way.

In fact, a stated goal of many DC equipment makers is to come up with something that is "indistinguishable" from film. If it really ends up being indistinguishable from what has come before (which, so far, it isn't) it is hardly on the same level as the introduction color or sound.

quote:
John Pytlak wrote:
Since I am not directly working on Kodak's Digital Cinema project, I have to defer you to those who are.

John, is there some place I can e-mail my questions? I've looked around on Kodak's website and I cannot find a place for people to submit questions.

Posted by Ray Derrick (Member # 1001) on 10-29-2001, 02:22 AM:

Richard, the DC processor you are referring to is a Panastereo CSP2200. When I said "we" I was meaning Panalogic and Panastereo collectively.

Panastereo processors are designed by yours truly here in Australia. For many years we have had a close association with Smart, who were originally our US distributor. About four years ago we sold the manufacturing rights for our cinema processors to Smart so Norm started a separate company called Panastereo Inc to handle this.

Norm's Panastereo company also handles our other Panastereo and Panalogic cinema products in the USA.

I might add that Norm and I are very good friends, he is a very capable, hard working and generous individual.

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Ray Derrick
President
Panalogic Corporation Pty Limited
44 Carrington Road
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655
Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-29-2001, 08:39 AM:

Aaron asked: "John, is there some place I can e-mail my questions? I've looked around on Kodak's website and I cannot find a place for people to submit questions."

The best way to state your opinion or ask questions is to use the on-line Kodak opinion survey form:
Kodak Opinion Form

Be sure to identify the people/group you are trying to contact: in this case, Bob Mayson, Glenn Kennel, and the Kodak Digital Cinema team.