GoKawiilIMAX cameras' loud whir traced to massive 65mm film format
IMAX's signature camera noise stems from its 15/70 film format, which uses a 65mm negative running horizontally across 15 sprocket holes per frame instead of the standard five, producing images roughly three times larger than conventional film. At 24 frames per second, this means 360 sprocket holes—about 5.6 feet of film—pass through the camera every second, requiring a powerful motor and mechanical components that create audible rattling during shooting.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This explains why film sets using IMAX cameras, like on Nope, often need extra sound dampening or post-production audio fixes since the camera's own mechanical noise can interfere with dialogue recording. It also highlights the physical trade-offs directors accept for IMAX's superior image quality, since digital IMAX alternatives don't have this issue but can lack the same visual characteristics purists value.
- IMAX's 15/70 format uses 65mm film with 15 sprocket holes per frame, three times larger than standard.
- Moving 336 feet of film per minute demands a powerful motor and creates mechanical noise.
- The loud rattle heard in behind-the-scenes footage is a direct consequence of the format's massive film size and speed.
Oppenheimer 4K UHD Blu-ray — If reading about thunderous IMAX cameras makes you want to see what all that 15/70 film effort buys you, Oppenheimer was shot extensively with those very cameras. The 4K UHD disc lets you take in that enormous large-format imagery at home, expanded aspect ratio and all.
See Oppenheimer 4K UHD Blu-ray on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Jack Whitcombe, 2026-09-13
Published there as: “Why are IMAX cameras so notoriously loud?”
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