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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Community   » Film-Yak   » Remote Focus & Framing (Page 1)

 
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2   
Author Topic: Remote Focus & Framing
Tom Fermanian
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 101
From: Sainte Adele, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Dec 2001

- posted 03-29-2002 01:16 PM      Profile for Tom Fermanian   Email Tom Fermanian   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
In another post, I mentioned that we took over a small twin in a resort town, the only former employee kept was the projectionist, 41 years experience, he has been promoted to projectionist manager, being able to handle things in this small 100 + 84 seat twin, he has asked us if it was possible to instlall a remote focus & framing control to be put in back of cinema auditoriums in order to fine tune if need may be during shows when he will be tending to other duties and we want to save a few steps for this fine mature gentleman, a few of you may frown on this, but smallness of operation there dictates this, anyone know of an existing inexpensive fix to be put on a couple of Simplex 35 heads (no turrets), with thanks, Tom

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Tom Fermanian
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 101
From: Sainte Adele, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Dec 2001

- posted 03-29-2002 01:19 PM      Profile for Tom Fermanian   Email Tom Fermanian   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
OOOPS,
Maybe should have posted in Film handlers Forum???????

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-29-2002 02:54 PM      Profile for Randy Stankey   Email Randy Stankey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I once took a piece of green garden hose, split it lengthwise for a few inches and slipped it over the end of the focus knob (on a simplex) then ran the other end of the hose out of the port hole.
Put a hose clamp or something around the knob/shaft to make it tight.

It will only work for a distance of about 2 or 3 feet but you can sit in the back row of the auditorium, right under the proj. If you neet to tweak the focus, just reach up above your head and give it a twist.

Don't know if this will work for you but you are welcome to expand on the idea if you want.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

- posted 03-29-2002 03:51 PM      Profile for Joe Redifer   Author's Homepage   Email Joe Redifer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The framing knob should be locked down, unless threading and splicing in frame is a problem. If so, hire competant projectionists. But a guy I know who they call "Gary Stanley" has remote frame and focus functions in his screening room wired up to a little box by his seat. It's pretty cool.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

- posted 03-29-2002 08:07 PM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Older projectors may have to be returned to the factory to get such features installed.

Be aware, though, that the cost can be quite high. While I'm taking a wild guess, I wouldn't be surprised at $1000 to $1500 per projector, not including labor to wire remotes.

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

- posted 03-29-2002 09:34 PM      Profile for Josh Jones   Author's Homepage   Email Josh Jones   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I dont see why doing something like this would be that hard. the framing control would take a reduction motor with one hell of a gear ratio and a little balls, the focus, would be easier. I have found the only thing I need to touch up is the focus, so maybe that is all you need. Just be sure you put in something to stop the motor if it reaches the end of the framing play, or you could end up damaging the mechanism.

Josh

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

- posted 03-29-2002 09:36 PM      Profile for Josh Jones   Author's Homepage   Email Josh Jones   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Run down to the local surplus store and see what kind of motors and such they have. The curtain motors I'm gonna use in my screening room will probably be some off the wall surplus units. Plus, surplus is cheap

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 03-29-2002 11:28 PM      Profile for Aaron Sisemore   Email Aaron Sisemore   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a Tokiwa TSR in storage that has all the motors and belts for remote focus and framing.

-Aaron

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

- posted 04-01-2002 02:35 PM      Profile for John Pytlak   Author's Homepage   Email John Pytlak   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Many of the Kodak screening rooms have projectors equipped with remote focusing, to allow critical focus of the image with "nose to the screen". Older installations used small selsyn motors, newer ones use geared-down bi-directional low voltage DC motors. One even allows the use of an infrared LED hand-held remote control to adjust focus.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

- posted 04-01-2002 04:10 PM      Profile for Jerry Chase   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
What, you mean those projectors don't have the auto-focus made so famous by Kodak slide projectors?

<Runs, ducks, and hides>

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 04-01-2002 07:00 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Most labs have the same features so DOP's and timers can sit in the theatre and play

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 04-01-2002 07:04 PM      Profile for Ken Layton   Email Ken Layton   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ballantyne offers remote focus/framing on the Pro-35 projectors.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 04-01-2002 07:29 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It is an option almost any professional projector

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

- posted 04-01-2002 09:06 PM      Profile for Paul G. Thompson   Email Paul G. Thompson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Remote focus is fine, as long as it isn't "auto focus"

But why go through the expense? If the projector has focus drift, maybe a few things need to be serviced.

As far as remote framing is concerned, if you had several runs where nothing was out of frame and all of the sudden it popped out of frame, it would be a great time to take a hike up to the projection booth and see what the hell is going on.

If it is a known out-of-frame, it should have been repaired before the film is presented to the public.


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Rachel Gilardi
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2214
From: Peabody, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2007

- posted 04-01-2002 10:14 PM      Profile for Rachel Gilardi   Email Rachel Gilardi   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Remote focus is fine but why remote framing? Other then the exception of starting timers in which you probably and hopefully do NOT have for a 2 screen theatre, the film should be in frame from the beginning. As long as it is fine at start you should have no reason what-so-ever for having to fine tune it unless there is something seriously wrong with your projector. I wouldn't really worry about the framing, it would probably be a waste of money for what you need.

If you call up some of the local techs they should be able to give you a pretty good idea what the cost would be to set up remote focus…fun fun!

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