If you love going to a 3D movie, but you hate the long drives and the high prices of getting to an IMAX theater – if there even is one in your area – then your solution may be coming to a regular theater near you next year.

Sony will be demonstrating its latest in digital cinema technology innovation: a single-projector 3D adaptor designed to work specifically with its 4K projectors in movie theaters.

The new adaptor for traditional theater projectors will use the full height of Sony’s 4K imaging device, with the ability to display full 2K images for the left and right eye simultaneously and in parallel, from top and bottom.

The new lens units, models LKRL-A002 (X1.1 -1.9) and LKRL-A003 (X1.9 - 3.3), consists of an optical and mechanical assembly for each left and right eye image. It is designed to meet DCI specifications for 3D digital projection, while overcoming the bandwidth and resolution limitations of currently available 3D systems.

“With the addition of the 3D adaptor to our digital cinema product line-up, Sony can now offer the best of all worlds to exhibition: stunning 4K imagery from 4K movies, and incredible 3D with no triple-flash artifacts,” said Gary Johns, vice president of Sony Electronics’ Digital Cinema Systems Division.

The system was developed to give exhibitors the flexibility to switch between showing 4K and 3D content. The 3D adaptor attaches onto the lens mount of the projector and is compatible with all Sony 4K projectors currently in the field. It can be easily removed or re-attached within minutes.

The 3D adaptor is expected to be available in March 2009.

The new technology will be shown off at ShowEast, the Motion Picture Industry Convention which runs between October 13th and 16th.

The only thing that this blogger really cares about is if the projectors will make it out to us locals in time for the release of the final Harry Potter movie.