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Author
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Topic: Forbidden digital?
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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler
Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted August 25, 2015 05:04 AM
As somebody forcibly retired fom the film industry due to the digital takeover in the cinemas, I feel I have some grounding in the digi/film discussion too.
From my start with toy projectors as a child, through a pathe Ace and many more projectors, I now find myself retired, with an 8 and 16mm projector and films that I enjoy but have seen dozens of times with the family.
What is the eduring appeal of this hobby? The machine itself, the reels of film, even the scratches and joins, I love it all!
How often, though, can I add to my collection? Forget it!
Ok, I just invested in a second hand DVD projector, and I sort of feel a traitor.
On the other hand, I have stacks of films in my DVD collection to run on it, and mostly the quality is great.
The point is that, yes, this is the 8mm Forum, dedicated to lovers of film, and I suggest all manner of film presentation, but to suggest digital talk is not in the correct spirit of the hobby is perhaps blinkered.
If you can afford the films, get them, but we don't all have the space or the necessary funds.
[ August 27, 2015, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Allan Broadfield ]
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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted August 25, 2015 06:25 AM
We are lucky to be able to buy a video projector at all in my opinion. I mean the video could be all big screen flat screens. Big flat TV screen or film projectors for film. I wouldn't be happy with that option. So glad to have my Panasonic VP.
I went to John Lewis recently ( for USA readers an upmarket department store ) and looked at the TV section: 4K, curved screens and a 78" diagonal 4K screen for £10,000! Well now, looking at that Samsung 4K screen of 78" I realised that is about the size I project from my video projector. I had the day before been running the Blu-Ray of FUNNY FACE, the Astaire musical. I wouldn't have swapped for the Samsung TV. Apart from the literally monumental task that getting the Samsung into the house might be, the end result was too bright, glowing, video-looking. Although the colour being set too high could be lowered. FUNNY FACE on my Panasonic VP on the other hand was matt-looking, very film-like and pin sharp with lovely natural colours. The price of the Panasonic projector was also less than a quarter of the price of the Samsung. In fact about 19% of the price of the large, awkward to install and fixed at 78" and over-vivid Samsung. No contest.
In my opinion the flat screens will never be as good as video projection because they are always emitting the light directly at you, glowing at you where the projection reflects light and is more matt-looking as in nature. People don't actually glow in real life so a TV screen never looks as natural.
So that 78" Samsung at £10,000, well that money buys the Panasonic HD video projector, an Elmo GS Xenon, an Elmo LX 16mm Xenon, Scope lenses for both film projectors, 5-way Kef hi-fi speakers, including left and right floor standers and an AV amplifier. And change left over for some nice 16mm prints...
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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity
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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler
Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted August 25, 2015 07:32 AM
With-out Digital we would not be talking on this forum or any other. When I had an analog multi track home recording studio I thought it was the best, that was before I went over to digital, no more destructive editing,no tape hiss, more tracks, more everything, if it wasn't for my hearing loss I would still be using it, it was fun and the things you could do in the home with it, which in the past would have cost a fortune in studio time was an endless pleasure for me...
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted August 25, 2015 01:53 PM
Vidar, I love film.
I love maintaining my super 8 and 16mm equipment and films, and always value the opinion of like minded collectors, so please don't ever leave the forum as we all value the experience and attitude of "real" film collectors here.
That said, in the next few months, we are going to see the launch of UHD for consumer use, and all the ups and downs that will go with any new format.
Already, cinema digital projection has moved to DCI specification, with which DOP's were also involved (celluloid or digital capture...and by the way, there is a lot to be said about the Arri Alexa when it comes to capturing dark scenes).
Domestic stuff doesn't comply to cinema DCI. So you simply can't see the best cinema digital presentation at home, or for that matter, the best current DOP's work. Fact. (When I say the best cinema presentation, I know many theatrical digital presentations are inferior!)
In other words, this is an evolving technology, as motion picture celluloid always was.
Domestic displays are on the verge of new UHD content and panels, but more importantly larger contrast options and larger colour range...specs which are currently exciting, but all over the place!!!
How this will affect domestic projection is yet to be seen, but the fact is that the industry is moving toward better image quality.
There will always be inferior, more affordable displays that let the side down.
You just have to compare it to the best..."film"...demand more, make good judgements on current tech and push the industry to give us what we want...good quality images.
That is why we all here, with our solid understanding and appreciation of film, we are in such a good position to criticise and make things better!
I really can't project, say, my old beloved Universal 8 of "Battlestar Galactica" with it's PURPLE cylons to an audience anymore, but I'm damned if any modern tech pretends to make it look better and doesn't! Yes, the Blu-ray is awesome with my JVC D-ILA projector, but the motion blur is still better and more comfortable from film.
C'mon, we're a force to reckoned with us lot!!!
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