The next films in the Avengers series, Avengers: Infinity War Part I and Part II, will be the first mainstream movies filmed exclusively on IMAX cameras. When the two films hit cinemas in May 2018 and 2019 respectively, expect high levels of visual fidelity throughout thanks to the extremely high resolution large-format cameras that will be used.
Past films optimized for IMAX screens typically include just a few scenes filmed with IMAX cameras, mostly due to the size of the cameras and noise associated with their operation. However as the IMAX format shifts away from huge 70mm analog film to large digital sensors, shooting entire films with IMAX gear becomes more viable.
Avengers: Infinity War will use IMAX's new 2D digital cameras, which will first be used for some scenes of next year's Captain America: Civil War. This digital camera is based on Arri's 65mm-equivalent sensor, with a capture resolution well above 6K, allowing films to be shot with the same fidelity as 70mm IMAX film, but without the hassle of massive analog IMAX cameras.
Infinity War will be designed and produced to make full use of these IMAX cameras, which is why the entire film will be shot on them. Previously,Interstellar boasted the most amount of IMAX footage in the one movie at 66 minutes, while the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be one of the last to use footage from IMAX's 70mm camera.
The announcement of the first film shot entirely on IMAX cameras is a big step forward for IMAX, who are positioning themselves as the leading cinema technology company. Earlier this year, IMAX announced a new type of digital laser projector for their theaters that delivers the highest dynamic range and resolution yet, perfect for films like Infinity War.