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Author Topic: How bad is the DP 75? Thomas Jonsson Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Bromolla, Sweden Registered: Sep 2003 posted 02-12-2006 06:06 AM                       At least in Sweden, the Philips DP 75 (not the Kinoton DP75 E) has a very bad reputation. It´s said to be noisy, and generally a no-good machine. Is it really that bad? I know it´s not DP 70 class, but how does it actually perform? If compared to the FP30 D, what´s the 35mm image like, regarding focus and steadiness? How does it handle 70mm? Any comments? I have no experience in this machine, just curious. Thomas  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-12-2006 06:54 AM                     It is awkward to thread and the gate is a very convoluted curve to it but it does put out a very good picture the sprocket pads are often an issue Not a bad machine but just not one of my favorites  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-12-2006 03:43 PM                     I think Gordon summed it up pretty well. I have a pair under our service and they are doing just fine but they don't receive anything like a "grind" service. I would NOT characterize them as noisy either...they run film at similar loudness as the other Kinoton machines. BTW....there is not difference between the Philips DP75 and Kinoton DP75...same machine. The new machine, the FP 75E is a cross between an FP30E and an SP75E. A well tuned DP75 should put out a pretty darn good show. Note, Dolby's "listening room" is equipped with a pair of DP75s. My biggest gripe with the DP75 is the speed. The start up too rapidly and they do not run at 24fps...they run fast. On the pair I service, I plan to go to a 3-phase motor with suitable controller to correct both issues.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 02-12-2006 05:46 PM                     I wonder what Dolby has done to correct that in their listening room. After all that would affect the pitch of their SRD tracks!  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-12-2006 08:00 PM                       The Dolby DP75 projectors run on speed or did when I installed them. The used sync motors and toothed belts and ran both 24 and 30 FPS, just in case.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-12-2006 09:24 PM                     My apologies...I was indeed referring to their more popular (for reasons that escape me) async motors. With a sync motor, they should run at speed, of course. Sam, any problems with the DP75s at Dolby?  |  IP: Logged David Kilderry Master Film Handler Posts: 355 From: Melbourne Australia Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-13-2006 05:46 AM                        They provide a great picture on 35mm and 70mm, but VERY noisey on 70mm and moderate on 35mm. In fact they would be the loudest projector on 70mm that I know; Bauer U3, Cinemeccanica 8 and 10, DP 70/EL 4000/AA2 are all much less loud on 70mm. They are indeed difficult to thread on 35mm due to the gate, and by this I don't just mean hard to get used to like many new projectors for the first time; they are tricky to thread with 35mm full stop. On the other hand, 70mm just falls into them. I have operated them in several booths and the clatter on 70mm can drive you mad. Gates and skates seem to wear even more quickly than on other Kinoton/Phillips projectors and the auto lens change is something to watch; out - turn - back. Still a few in use here in Australia as they have proved very reliable over the years. A solid projector in my opinion and certainly no dog. David  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-13-2006 07:28 AM                     The only major downside is they don't like film-guarded prints  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-13-2006 11:00 AM                       The most questionable area is the int. sprocket pad roller or spoon. It had a hard time keeping the film in contact and just plain made me nervous. A steel reinforced spoon came out later and it is much better but still kind of tacky. A lot of theatres used rubber bands to hold the spoon in place. The other serious problem they have is that under certain conditions the vertical column will flex and cause the lens carriage assembly to move in relation to the film and the effect on the screen is not soon forgotten. Looks a bit like flicker or travel ghost. Various fixes have been done in the field but this flaw caused them to be pulled out of Mann houses in LA. The main advantage of this projector was the very fast conversion from 35 to 70mm operation as the gate and trap are one piece and the pad rollers change out very quickly. This was an important feature in its day.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-13-2006 04:39 PM                     They definately have the slickest and fastest spindle change of any projector past and present from 1/2" (12.7mm) to 5/16"....they take all of .5-seconds to change and are very secure. As for threading...I have to disagree on the ease...I have found them to thread plenty fast..even in the gate area. The enormous lower loop will fool some...this is probably why the lower "spoon" is not too critical...the machine will practically operate without any "spoons". Perhaps the 70mm noise is noted by the fact it does not have a door on it in later incarnations. The AA2 has a door. The quietest 70mm machine is probably the Century JJ...with or without a door...it has the smallest loops too. What can I say...I don't dislike the machine though it is definately a strange beast. I'd rather run an FP75E though. Which is also strange in that it is noisier turning the 70mm film by hand than when it is running at speed...go figure.  |  IP: Logged Ben Wales Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 602 From: Southampton. England Registered: Jul 99 posted 02-13-2006 04:51 PM                     There are Still a working Pair of the Philips DP75's working and had doors fitted, this was at the ABC Shaftsbury Avenue in London, now named Odeon Covent Garden. I have worked on several DP75 and found they gave a steady picture. Just keep handy a supply of "Rubber Bands" for that Pad Shoe!.  |  IP: Logged Bernard Tonks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-14-2006 04:49 AM                     I must say that whenever I saw 70mm at the old ABC, Shaftsbury Avenue, I thought the picture there was excellent. It was a twin cinema then with two projectors in each box on changeovers! Don’t remember the doors on the projectors though, were they put on later models? When Classic / Cannon took over the Prince Charles Cinema, off Leicester Square from the Star circuit, a pair of Philips DP 75s with a platter were installed replacing the Westrex 5000 35/70mm projectors. Many thought that this was a crying shame as they were running well especially 70mm. Perhaps it was a question of servicing and spare parts available.  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 02-14-2006 12:37 PM                     Bernard, they are still in service at the Prince Charles. We put SR.D on them not so long ago. Quite a few of them around these parts, always in change over pairs for some reason, I recall most of the ABC's I worked in being equipped with them or FP20. I've no real axe to grind with the DP75, the only real bug bear is the fiddly plastic pad shoe devices. They need little maintenance to keep them whirring away.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 186 From: Essex, UK Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-14-2006 04:33 PM                     This is off topic a bit, but I was told my Prevost P70 came from the Prince Charles. Just thought I'd share that  |  IP: Logged Stan Gunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 176 From: Clematis, in the hills near Melbourne Australia Registered: Aug 2000 posted 02-16-2006 03:11 AM                        Currently I am looking after 4 phillips DP75s at one site,I find them to be a good solid machine. Apart from the fiddly threading around the intermittent, they have a very stable and sharp image due I think to the strange gate setup which is also very silent [when it is in good order],but can be very noisey if worn. My main gripe is the over complex electrics, which was changed in the KINOTON version, I would have no hassle in seting up my own cinema useing them. Stan  |  IP: Logged

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