This section includes some recent past R&D projects and interests.

15/70 Resolution Demo - "Check it out Now"
Working with Dr. Laurie Wilcox & Dr. Phil Duke of York University, I developed a simple on-screen perceptual demonstration of actual 15/70mm film resolution up to 4096 horizontal pixels. My goal was to demonstrate directly to each viewer the high information content of LF motion picture film. This was shown at the Digital Seminar at LFCA 2001.

HDCAM® Digital vs Film Tests
Also shown at LFCA 2001 was a direct A/B comparison test I directed and edited between HDCAM™ 24p High Definition Film and Eastman Kodak 5245 65mm film negative. This included shots of Inglis Falls and a model in a canoe, shot in July 2000, by DOP James Neihouse and HD video operator Keith Holding, funded by IMAX® Film Technology R&D. It revealed dramatic differences in colour, texture & sharpness detail.
HDTV to 15/70 Conversion Tests
In 2000 we tested conversion of 1080i HDTV to LF of deep sea images from Woods Hole for Stephen Low, with the CRC in Canada. Later we organized another series in May with Sony, James Cameron, Stephen Low and Bill Reeve to compare three types of HDTV stereo rigs. These 24p HDCAM™ results were converted to 15/70 film at DKP/70MM Inc, a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation. These encouraged Mr. Cameron to proceed with a 3D digital film "Ghosts of the Abyss" in 2001.

3D Space Station Film Lights
The IMAX space team needed a lot of light for the first 3D 15/70 film in space. As Director of Film Technology I assembled and coordinated a team of contractors including Bruno Gilbert, to design and build four safe HMI lights based on tests and specs from James Neihouse. We worked with John Shaw, Leo Baljet, ISTI and Lockheed Martin on all safety and conformance testing, against continuously evolving requirements. All in-cabin footage was shot successfully and safely using these lights, which do not exceed 120 degrees F on the outside case. See http://www.imax.com/spacestation/

Everest Camera
See http://www.everestfilm.com/filming_frame.html to learn about the first 15/70 camera to summit Mount Everest, which my team developed at IMAX Corporation for MacGillivray Freeman Films.

IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

Copyright © 2002 Gord Harris