With all the attention that Ultra HD (the format formerly known as 4K) is getting lately, it’s easy to forget that one of the things that truly distinguishes a cinema experience from simply a big TV is the ultra WIDE screen. Panamorph has some news that will make getting that experience at home easier and less costly.
When paired with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen, an anamorphic lens will create a picture 80% larger than a flat panel TV of the same screen height.
Panamorph’s new product is called the CineVista. It’s a $1,500 anamorphic lens system designed to gloriously fill a 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen without loss of resolution. The company says CineVista overcomes the color fringing effect (lateral chromatic aberration) that can be found on some low-cost anamorphic lenses. Panamorph has partnered with home theater projector manufactures to adopt a new color correction technology which works in conjunction with the CineVista lens.
Panamorph calls the image processing ECC (electronic color correction), and it can currently be found on select projector models from Epson, JVC and Sony, with more coming.
The CineVista is designed to work in a fixed configuration and not be removed for 16:9 viewing. This means that the system does not require a motorized sled to move the lens in and out of place. Instead the user adjusts the scalling mode in the projector to match the application. Look for a list of compatible projectors and recommended settings here.
The CineVista can be purchased with or without the lens bracket (middle image).
For more on home theater screen selection, read this.