my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » &20K$ video projector recommendations?

Author Topic: &20K$ video projector recommendations? David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 11-12-2009 11:11 PM                        We're in the final stages of the renovations and it's time to start locking down our "ancillary" equipment. One item we'll be purchasing is a fixed installation video projector. We have a 107' throw to a 24' wide screen. The screen is fixed width, but next spring we'll be replacing this with a fixed height screen with a 38' width. So, I need to get a projector bright enough -- and a lens with enough zoom range to handle both screens. I think I'll need something with a throw ratio of 2.8. I'm considering a Sanyo PLC-XF47 with a zoom lens. I've rented the PLC-XF46 in the past and it seemed to do a pretty good job, though a bit dark. Any thoughts/recommendations on currently available projectors? My budget for this caps out at $20K. I would like to have a built-in mechanical shutter, but I can always fabricate an external mechanical damper with a remote switch. -David  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-13-2009 08:21 AM                        I am assuming that you will be using this for rental screenings of video material and for Powerpoint-style computer presentations. For that, I'll plug the Panasonic PT-D7700UK. It may be a bit out of your price range with a lens, and it may not be quite bright enough for your large screen, but it does produce a nice picture, has a mechanical douser ("shutter"), and has a variety of input cards available. There is also a network card available (the functionality comes along for the ride on the HD-SDI card) that provides a web interface to the settings and allows the picture to be tweaked during a screening. It will also do 24P HD natively. I have used previous generations of Sanyos (XF45, etc.) and they are good as well, but LCD seems to be better suited to Powerpoint stuff, while DLP looks better for video (to my eyes, anyway). Older Sanyos do not have mechanical dousers, but the new ones might. You say that the Sanyo that you rented was dim--did you have all four bulbs turned on, or just two? Note that the throw ratio for you will not be just one number--you will need to get a zoom lens that can accommodate (at least) both 4x3 and 16x9 images. Ideally, you would want to be able to fill the screen with 1.85 and 2.35 frames as well; hopefully you will not be between lens sizes. Another item to consider would be a video scaler. These can help tremendously in a multi-format show (shorts program, etc.). I can recommend the Folsom (Barco) Image Pro HD for its image quality, although the user interface is not great. If you want a "cheap" video projector and will be doing more computer stuff than video, the Sony VPL-FX52 (and -FX51 and -FX50) is really not bad. The long-throw lens works in most theatres, but I don't think that it is long enough for 4x3 with your current (smaller) screen.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 11-13-2009 01:29 PM                     High-Lumen LCDs have very poor black levels, and the panels wear out fast. I'm not a fan of single-chip DLP for large audiences, but for presentation and occasional video/DVD/BD/gaming, it might still be adequate. As such, take one of the Panasonic DLP units, I'd suggest. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Todd McCracken Master Film Handler Posts: 263 From: Northridge, CA, USA Registered: Mar 2008 posted 11-18-2009 03:09 PM                    http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/Clearance/ http://www.christiedigital.com/NR/rdonlyres/78F3F61A-3605-4F82-B7F0-E23DA1FCF3CE/0/ChristieClearancePromo_BP_Oct2009.pdf You could always check out the Christie clearance items, though you have to call for pricing.  |  IP: Logged David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 11-20-2009 03:44 PM                        Huh, the Christie list is interesting. The video projector is basically for a couple of things: pre-show tags, and DVD/Blu-ray projection for titles not available on 35. These generally come into play with theatre rentals and some indie/student films, as well as repertory titles without circulating prints. -David  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-08-2009 08:34 PM                        Experience has taught me that the minute a decent video projector goes in the booth of a non-commercial venue, there will be this powerful undertow of bean-counting-itis. You will have an uphill battle trying to fight your programmers wanting to use video rather than film. No doubt there are times when the only available format of a title will be on DVD. And you will use that video source and it will work and most people will not complain. And since you did you homework and spec-ed the best vprojector you could get within your budget, the picture will look passable, even relatively decent, no doubt. BUT, unfortunately that very success will inevitably lull them into wanting to use video instead of film more and more often, especially when they can save $50-80 bucks on shipping for every engagement and well as not having to hunt down multiple film distributors -- with one phone call they have access to multiple studios via Swank or other non-theatrical sublicenese. It becomes almost impossible for them to resist, at least for the majority of non-theatrical operators. If you are lucky and your org has people who understand the difference between film and video, they may actually stick to their guns and not go over to the Dark Side and use video sources only when film is not available or of acceptable quality. But be prepaired....it's a slippery slope.  |  IP: Logged Jack Theakston Master Film Handler Posts: 411 From: New York, USA Registered: Sep 2007 posted 12-08-2009 09:58 PM                     Frank's right. As soon as the money people see the breakdown sheet for a digital show, it's over for film. If they're smart, and understand the value of film presentations, they'll be less tempted to go that route. Unfortunately, most performing art centers I know of are NOT run by film people, and the boards that run these places generally have a collective IQ to that of toothpaste. Choose wisely.  |  IP: Logged David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 12-09-2009 12:05 AM                        Well, me and my wife are the only people involved. Oh, and my mom, who is employee #1. The video projector is primarily for pre-show, rentals, and the occasional classic or silent that simply isn't available any longer. We'll be doing things like the Manhattan Short Film Festival, which is only distributed on DVD. -David  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.