Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 18, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Sony has introduced a 3D adapter for Sony CineAlta 4K projectors that enables 3D projection with a single projector in digital-cinema-equipped theaters. The new adapter uses the full resolution of Sony’s 4K SXRD devices and simultaneously projects two 2K images, each with 2048 × 1080 pixels, for the left and right eyes.
The LKRL-A002 and LKRL-A003 lenses offer zoom ratios of 1.1–1.9 and 1.9–3.3 respectively, covering a broad range of applications and installations. An optical and mechanical combination generates the two separate images for each eye. Sony says the new system meets DCI specifications for 3D digital projection and surpasses the limited bandwidth and image resolution of conventional single-projector 3D systems. “By adding the new 3D adapter to our digital-cinema portfolio, we now offer cinema operators the best of all projection worlds in a single solution: the unmatched image quality of 4K films and 3D without ‘triple-flash’ artifacts,” explains Gary Johns, Vice President of Digital Cinema Systems at Sony Electronics.
Combined with Sony’s integrated LMT-200 Media Block, the SRX-R220 CineAlta 4K projector delivers a 4:4:4 RGB signal path for very high image quality and brilliant colors. The projector can also deliver 60p 3D images, particularly suitable for broadcasting sporting events or projecting alternative content where a 24-frame-per-second film look is not desired.
The system is designed to give cinema operators flexibility when playing 4K and 3D content. The 3D adapter mounts directly onto the projector’s lens fitting and is compatible with previously shipped CineAlta 4K projectors using an LMT-200 Media Block. According to Sony, the adapter can be changed within minutes. It supports 3D playback on screens up to 17 meters wide and will be available from March 2009.
