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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Brightest Outdoor Screen I've Seen
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 07-08-2000 08:29 AM
I don't know if this warrants discussion, but my wife and I agree that last night we saw the brightest drive-in screen we've ever seen. Not only that, it's as bright as any MOVIE I've seen. Was it that Chicken Run and Gladiator are bright prints? We were a little concerned, this screen faces the sunset, but presentation was just excellent. About a 200-230 foot throw to at least a 60-70 foot screen. On visiting the booth, I saw a Century projector lit with a Kneisley-conversion of an old Peerless Magnarc at ONLY 2000W! What a magic combination though, I put it ahead of theatres I know are running 3 and 4K. Have any of you experienced this? A place that just seems to click? To Tim Reed, I believe this theatre is what you speak of, the drive-in of the "future". Old single, converted to twin, short throw, and this is unique, the rows are spaced 30-33 feet instead of the usual 40. 200 spaces within 300 feet of the bright screen. Gets everyone close. Marvelous! Back screen is a little further, he uses 3K and says it's brighter still, but it's a bigger screen protected from sun.------------------
Dave Bird
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 07-08-2000 04:15 PM
Yes Gordon, Lindsay Twin. I know you would know (cuz I think you probably equipped this place), but damn, I almost cannot believe that screen 1 is only 40 feet, picture is SO good, but since it's you, I believe it! As I said, this place is sort of "scrunched" together, but it works very well, getting everyone closer. Not sure how far 1st row is from screen, closer than usual though. They are able, I think, to have rows so close because the screen is quite high. I don't know if you worked on Kingston as well, but the 48 footer there always looks better than the 120' (?) original.
(Screens are measured horizontally, aren't they?)
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 07-10-2000 06:52 AM
Achieving the SMPTE aim of 16 footlamberts on a 40 x 17 foot matte white scope screen should be possible with about 3000 watts. They are obviously doing a good job with what they have (efficient optics, good alignment, clean screen).BTW, never trust your eyes alone when measuring screen luminance. A screen luminance meter is needed for accurate readings. A picture projected at 10 footlamberts can look "bright" in a drive-in, but 16 footlamberts will look even better. For more information on measuring screen luminance, see:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/spring98/pointers.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/notes/march2000/pytlak.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/notes/june2000/pytlak.shtml ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 07-10-2000 11:34 AM
Dave:Remember, it's the SCREEN AREA and GAIN that affect screen luminance with a given projector, lamp, and lens, not the THROW. Getting a gain surface on a painted outdoor screen is tricky to do consistently. It would ideally take a "pearlescent" paint, sprayed on. A gain screen should be properly curved. When the screen is wet with rain or dew, all bets are off. I recall the MP Technology Council sponsored some work on gain and directional (i.e., "containment") drive-in screens many years ago, but only a few were built. ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays
Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 07-10-2000 11:45 PM
>>Remember, it's the SCREEN AREA and GAIN that affect screen luminance with a given projector, lamp, and lens, not the THROW.<<I think what Dave was referring to is the discussions we had on the drive-in list, where there were people wanting ridiculous throws. These would get into very slow, long lenses, where light would be lost. And since Schneider no longer makes anything faster than f/2.0, any new d/i construction will be limited in throw, if they're going to stay with an efficient lens. Dave, I remember that question!  I've never heard of that theatre, though. The longest throw I knew of was at the New Albany d/i, in New Albany, Indiana... just over the river from Louisville. It only had a measly 1,100 ft. throw, and custom lenses. I think the focal length of the flat lens was something like 11 inches! ------------------
Better Projection Pays!
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 07-11-2000 10:56 AM
It's not quite that simple, as there are many factors that affect the efficiency of a projection system in putting light on the screen. Obviously lens f/number, shutter angle, number of shutter blades, lamp size, screen gain, etc. affect screen luminance. But the f/number of the lamphouse system, type of reflector, alignment, type of port glass, etc. also can affect efficiency.A good guide is the Strong International "Lens Selector and Picture Size Comparator" slide rule, which is based on "typical" installations. ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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