Innovations Session – Austin IMAX Flat Screen
🎥 A Tiny Bit More on Cameras for the Giant Screen
Session Leader: Phil Streather
Sponsored by: Cinity
Presenters: Cinity, Phil Streather, Sean Phillips, ASC, Nate Cohen
Session includes:
- Introduction by Cinity – Beyond their projection systems, Cinity will share their ambitions in the LED space and how this technology relates to the giant screen community.
- Showcase Premiere – New camera tests conducted in Sydney, Australia under the auspices of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS), led by Sean Phillips (ASC) photographed by Susan Lumsdon and her crew. Lenses and cameras were generously provided by The Front, Achtel Ltd., Duclos Lenses, and Reel Water Productions LTD with support from Nate Cohen. Post production provided by  Moonraker FX, Bristol, and Nathan Cohen Productions, Toronto.
- To Crop or Not to Crop – A revisit of this hot topic, leading into Saturday’s Fort Worth COSM dome session, where the same clip will be presented in an immersive LED dome environment.
Session Summary:
Four industry-standard cameras were tested: the URSA 12K, Red Raptor VV, Achtel 9×7, and Sony Venice 2, each using a 28mm lens. The goal is to determine whether audiences can perceive differences in full-frame shots (no zooming in) between these leading high-end cameras commonly used in giant screen production.
This session also sets the stage for an upcoming evaluation in Fort Worth, where the same tests—this time shot with fisheye lenses—will be shown on the LED dome. This will provide a valuable comparison and deeper insight into how these choices affect the audience experience on giant screens and domes.