35mm film can be damaged mechanically and by heat.
Until quite recently the 35mm projector was the standard for both indoor and outdoor theater projection systems, but modern technological improvements have seen a shift towards a new digital projection standard. There are pros and cons to both systems, but as of 2010, the momentum of the previous 35mm format keeps it the dominant force in movie projection technology for now.
Classic 35mm Projectors
35mm film projection is based upon the rather old technique of chemical film exposure, where the occasional defect is somewhat more common than that of a digital projector. Backlighting behind the film projects the image to the screen, generating a substantial amount of heat. If the mechanism of the projector jams, the film strip may overheat and melt, thereby ruining the entire film for future viewing. There are some advantages to 35mm format, in that image quality is still quite high. Only recently has digital technology been able to match the color resolutions and variations. Film reels themselves have a rather limited lifespan and are quite bulky when compared to digital formats.
Modern Commercial Digital Projectors
The first full-size digital projectors comparable in quality to 35mm film started to appear as early as 2006 with the release of the NEC Starus projector line. Competing companies were quick to follow suit and now there are a myriad of digital projection equipment available on the market, as of 2010. Digital projection systems are slowly catching on, but rather than entirely replacing 35mm projectors they sometimes appear alongside their older cousins in movie theaters, which switch between the two devices as the situation merits. These digital projectors also serve to expand the business model of a movie theater by allowing it to host business-oriented presentations using digital presentation software such as PowerPoint and its competing equivalents. One of the key advantages to digital projection formats is that the actual storage media lasts far longer than that of film, making them easy to reuse as long as the license allows for re-showing past the original release run. Movies shown habitually, such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show, can end up costing less than digital formats since there will be no costs incurred by frequently replacing film reels.
Digital versus 35mm Projection
The digital versus film debate is nothing new, but many experts agree that comparing the two technologies is akin to comparing apples and oranges as they have entirely different production methods and implementation. Arguments can be made for either technology since the filming of movies in 35mm format often finds itself in final status distribution as digital format DVDs. Modern technology also allows for the conversion of digital files into 35mm film reels, so the quality is ultimately in the hands of the film crew; the projectionist is only able to work with as good as he is given. With no clear winner and both technologies having clear pros and cons, for now, the most sound decision for drive-in theater is to use both types of projection system and let future trends determine the dominant technology. Either way, people will get to enjoy movies their favorite way.
Tags: 35mm film, 35mm format, digital projection, digital formats, digital projectors, projection systems
