Blackmagic 4K fir cinema
 

Pardon for being a noob. I was wondering when one shoots for a cinema/movie using the Ultra HD resolution of BMPC, how does it come out when projected on a true 4K projector. Esp knowing the frame size being slightly different between true 4k vs UltraHD...

Re: Blackmagic 4K fir cinema
 

HD has been used for cinema productions for many years, the issue with the Blackmagic camera is exactly the same. Many theaters don't show the edges anyway, because they're masked by the curtains. What you do may come down to your delivery agreement with your distributor and the aspect ratio you're shooting eg scope.

According to the DCI spec in 4K, for Flat (1.85:1) presentation 3996×2160 pixels of the image are used. The Blackmagic is 3860 x 2160, if you wish, you could adjust in post to fill the cinema 1.85 aspect ratio and lose a few pixels in height. The 4096 horizontal pixels get used in scope as against 3996 with 1.85, .ie they're not using an anamorphic lens on the projector because they use 1716 vertical pixels for that format to give a 2.39.aspect ratio.

If it's just for festivals, you won't notices the edges, I recently watched a documentary I worked on a few years ago, which was shot with a JVC GY HD100 (1280 x 720p). in a cinema and it screened without a problem

Re: Blackmagic 4K for cinema
 

My querry was for theatrical release of movie shot on UHD...

Re: Blackmagic 4K fir cinema
 

It's exactly the same as for HD on 2k, the horizontal and vertical pixels are just doubled for UHD on 4k.

The Arri Alexa gets 4k theatrical release and it's 2880 x 1620.

However, if you want a true 4k resolution you'll need a 5k or higher Bayer sensor, but at this budget level that is probably the least of your worries when trying to get a theatrical release.

Re: Blackmagic 4K fir cinema
 

Thanks Brian.

Re: Blackmagic 4K fir cinema
 

How good or bad the BMPC 4k footage holds for Chroma Key & later Grading works ?