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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » Barco 10S Vs Christie Solaria One (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Barco 10S Vs Christie Solaria One Andrew Thomas Master Film Handler Posts: 273 From: Pearland, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012 posted 08-01-2016 10:51 PM                     So, we are helping an older couple try and save their theater and one of the things I've noticed is that the image coming out of these Barco 10S units is absolutely garbage. Our Solaria Ones, which seemingly should have similar image quality, are way worse in black level, way worse on the colors, and just have an overall washed out image. Honestly, the 19B and 23B units in here also look worse than our Solaria Ones and a much worse than our CP4220, and in the same ways that the 10S appear. Poor black level, poor contract, poor color, and just an overall washed out appearance. I've actually never seen D-cinema look so bad. One friend told me that the lens on our 10S units is a real nightmare (it's the 1.2-1.7 lens), but these image issues are so bad that I feel like there must be something settings wise that is out of whack. I'm pretty sure the owners had a non-Cinema installer put this stuff in. Any ideas on things I could tinker with myself?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-02-2016 06:27 AM                     First things first. Try putting up a test pattern like "Framing_uncorrected" and look at the colors and contrast. Using a test pattern will typically take a lot of the "processing" out of the image so you can see what is the projector and what is the installation "quality." The S2K projectors ARE going to look worse in the contrast department (as are the 4K stuff...same problem). That said, the colors should still seem very vibrant if set up properly. Make sure the projector isn't filling up with dirt...start with pulling the lens out and looking at the inlet pupil. If it is dust covered, you won't have good contrast and typically a dull picture. And if that area is dusty then start looking at the output of the light engine and then the input and the integrating rod. I've put in a LOT of 19Bs and 23Bs...their image should appear excellent and compare favorably to the Christie CP2200/CP4220. If you are not seeing that, then something is up and don't forget about the screen and port glass in all of this. One thing the 10S has over the Solaria 1/1+ that even the most diehard Christie fans will have to admit, it doesn't have the IMBS2. While that doesn't have a direct impact on the image other than being able to play the movie every night.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 08-02-2016 01:52 PM                     quote: Steve Guttag being able to play the movie every night. If you're lucky!  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-02-2016 04:05 PM                     Interesting that 19 and 23B units posted having bad images, for my 23B units are giving out crisp and clear images. Looks like these units aren't being operated to their full capacities on the user end. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-02-2016 06:50 PM                        Speaking of IMBS2, why has Christie started calling them CMB's? We've got another coming in (it's our 5th or 6th) and the invoice now lists it as CMB. I asked the Customer Service guy and he didn't know.  |  IP: Logged Andrew Thomas Master Film Handler Posts: 273 From: Pearland, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012 posted 08-04-2016 01:45 PM                     I think the best way I can describe what the images look like is that everything, especially bright portions of the image, "glow". So the image is both washed out and lacking in sharpness. This occurs more strongly on the 10S units, but is also present on the 19B/23Bs.  |  IP: Logged Ian Freer Expert Film Handler Posts: 135 From: Wellington, New Zealand Registered: Oct 2003 posted 08-04-2016 04:01 PM                     I've once seen something similar and it turned out to be a pretty serious coating of very fine dust on the Light Engine/prism surfaces. This was on a 23B from memory.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 08-04-2016 04:45 PM                     The 10S also suffers from the same issue. Take the lens out and look at lens back surface and prism exit surface with a torch. Barco has a retrofit kit for the lens mount to prevent dirt getting in there. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Andrew Thomas Master Film Handler Posts: 273 From: Pearland, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012 posted 08-04-2016 08:43 PM                     Is that something that can be cleaned? If so, best to just have a reputable tech do it or can I handle that myself?  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 08-05-2016 02:28 AM                     quote: Carsten Kurz Barco has a retrofit kit for the lens mount to prevent dirt getting in there Hi Carsten, Do you have an R number for that? Is that for S models only or for all Barco machines?  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 08-05-2016 05:43 AM                     I have only seen it for S and E models. It's a thin rubber seal around the lens mount. Barco calls it 'Inner Dust Rubber Kit'. There is a section in the Barco manuals explaining that this should be factory installed since the end of 2015, but earlier models need to have it retrofitted. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 08-05-2016 05:57 AM                     Thanks Carsten, I'll have a look. I do believe that most of the dust is coming from poor gasket design on the main filter though. Lens mount must be sealed though, so any improvement on this department is welcome! I must say Barco should really learn from Christie on this! Found it. Are they saying that early S machines did not have that rubber seal at all??? I thought it was a just minor gasket!  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-05-2016 06:50 AM                     I believe the part number you are looking for is: R5001495K Note, installing this requires pulling the lens mount apart so it isn't for the faint of heart and one has to be able to perform the Scheimpflug again.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 08-05-2016 08:13 AM                     Marco - there have been a few discussions here around 10S/8S accumulating loads of dust on the lens back surface and prism exit. So I guess there is also a bad airflow adding to it. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Andrew Thomas Master Film Handler Posts: 273 From: Pearland, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012 posted 08-05-2016 05:29 PM                     Not to nag, but is the cleaning process something a fairly savvy user be able to do, or is this really more the realm of an experienced tech? (Like, Film-Tech's office is literally 2 minutes around the corner!)  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

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.