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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » Choosing new projector (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Choosing new projector Gregor Phillips Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Vancouver, BC, Canada Registered: Jan 2019 posted 01-20-2019 12:23 PM                        First time poster here.. hoping to get some thoughts on a new projector. We are setting up a room for post production. 20' screen. 27' throw. Right now we are considering a CP2215, Barco 8s or 8SLP, or 6E. What kind of image quality might we expect from these? I think we are fairly limited in price (40k USD), what might give us the most 'bang for buck'?  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 01-20-2019 12:48 PM                     Barcos with ICMP/Alchemy offer a nice set of realtime/alternative video inputs. Incl. 4K capability (even if the projector only displays 2k). HD-SDI/HDMI2.0 (with embedded audio), and a HDR option (upcharge). Plus, you can create/playout DCPs incl. testing of encryption, etc. The black level of these S2K machines, is mediocre though. I guess the 8S is slightly better than the DP2K-6E, but not much. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Gregor Phillips Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Vancouver, BC, Canada Registered: Jan 2019 posted 01-20-2019 02:26 PM                        Thanks. Would anyone happen to know if the 10s would be a worthwhile improvement over the 8s in terms image quality? We're not sure about Alchemy, does look like a great feature set but we might be fine with just the basics, as this is for audio post.  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 01-20-2019 03:14 PM                     If your just an audio post-house then any of those choices will be good.  |  IP: Logged Gregor Phillips Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Vancouver, BC, Canada Registered: Jan 2019 posted 01-20-2019 03:57 PM                        Ok thanks.. it's really for the client's benefit, we'd like to have the best image possible as this can be a real selling point in our industry. But if you think the difference between these projectors is negligible, then point taken.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-20-2019 05:01 PM                     As for quality, they all use the same TI DMD set and the images will be the same. The lenses are different but I have not seen an image quality difference. Contrast is not as good as a larger chip DMD set (Barco C series or Christie CP2220 and up, or the extra large chips in the 2K Barco B series and equivalent Christie units). The only difference between the 8s and 10s is the lamp size allowed - the projectors are exactly identical except for the maximum lamp power (and image brightness) capability. All the Barco projectors you list are air cooled, there is no coolant to replace like in the Christie. The 6E is also quieter and smaller than any of the others. Barco also uses washable air filters so you don't need to replace them periodically like for the Christie, although the 6E filters need a day to dry after washing (a swap set is suggested for 24/7 operations). You should look into the input requirements. With standard SDI input cards you have two SDI inputs - but a fairly old SDI spec with limited bandwidth - and two DVI inputs. Sourcing from a PC or workstation can be troublesome to configure, particularly for 3D projection. If you get the Barco ICMP you have higher spec SDI inputs (3G?) and HDMI (plus DP on special order, I think) but lose the DVI inputs on the projector. Plus the ability to play DCP packages if that's worthwhile. For either Barco or Christie with standard input you need an expensive TI "Enigma" decryption engine module to play encrypted cinema content (plus a cinema server, software players are available that play encrypted DCPs if you control the KDM generation - major title distributors won't make KDMs for "insecure" software players). If you don't want this decryption capability, you don't need to get (and pay $$$ for) this module.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 01-20-2019 08:30 PM                     Just the basics, and audio post? You don't need any of these projectors then. While they are DCI compliant, they do not deliver the best image. For audio post, the projector does not even need to support P3 color (although I guess it is still advisable to buy a projector that does). You get a better picture for less money if you stay away from these entry level DCI projectors. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Gregor Phillips Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Vancouver, BC, Canada Registered: Jan 2019 posted 01-20-2019 11:35 PM                        Interesting. So you can get a better picture for less money by staying away from a DCI? would you be able to give an example of one of these projectors?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-20-2019 11:55 PM                     Note, on the projectors the OP listed, the CP2215 is NOT an S2K projector but based on the .98" chipset. The equivalent Barco projector is the DP2K-12C, which can run anywhere from 850-2200 watts.  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 01-22-2019 04:18 PM                     Sony VPL-VW5000ES is a very good performer. It is rated at 5000 Lumens but may not be enough light for you 20 ft screen. Be nice if you could get a demo in your space.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 01-22-2019 08:44 PM                     Oh, well, you get a DCI compliant Sony 4k projector including DCP server for half of what the VW5000ES costs... - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 01-22-2019 09:24 PM                     Not too much more then the projectors being talked about. Edit: new one on Ebay for $40.9K.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 01-22-2019 09:59 PM                        quote: Steve Guttag The equivalent Barco projector is the DP2K-12C, which can run anywhere from 850-2200 watts. In relation to Dave's post, the 12C is air cooled (it has a large fan between the light engine compartment and the card cage, that the 15C and 20C do not), and does not have a liquid cooling system. The 15C and 20C use liquid cooling for the light engine. If the projector is to be operated in a blimp-like enclosure with accessibility for maintenance issues, this is probably a slightly better bet, because troubleshooting a coolant leak in such an enclosure is a whole bunch of no fun: the projector will almost certainly have to be lifted out. However, for the four-yearly "Smart Maintenance D," which in the case of the 12C means swapping out the fan rather than the pump, it makes no difference: the position of the fan within the chassis is such that you'd still need to take the projector out a blimp, if it is operated inside one.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 01-23-2019 07:28 AM                        If you go with a Barco try to get a minolta lens if you can get one in the size you need.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-23-2019 07:58 AM                     quote: Leo Enticknap In relation to Dave's post, the 12C is air cooled (it has a large fan between the light engine compartment and the card cage, that the 15C and 20C do not) All "C" projectors have that fan.  |  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.