8mm Forum: Placing the projector properly

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Topic: Placing the projector properly

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 22, 2007 11:15 PM

Hi all,

After seeing various photos when people showing their films with the projectors, I notice that the projectors were always standing in about 20-30 degrees angle.

Since this is an analog technology, doesn't that angle will create keystoning picture?

I am now setting up my dedicated theatre and I have a possibility to place the projector at 0 degree angle stand position. Will it be good or 20-30 degrees is better?

thanks,

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Winbert

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 23, 2007 03:27 AM

Get the projector dead flat in line with the centre of the screen.

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British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

Posts: 4071
From: Essex UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 23, 2007 04:39 AM

I agree with JC. You should always if possible aim for 0 degree angle.
Yes if you have large angles then you will see some keystone effect and could also get uneven focus with f1.0 and 1.1 lenses where the depth of focus is very small.

Kev.

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GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 23, 2007 09:39 AM

Winbert,

Congratulations on having a screening room and please send pictures! Since I don't have a permanent setup, if I feel like taking the time to do it right I'll use a projection table with telescoping legs to achieve a zero degree angle. If I'm lazy (excellent chance) , I'll take advantage of the "Keystone Eliminator" on my Da-Lite portable screen that compensates by tilting the screen forward.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 23, 2007 10:24 AM

What the heck is "Keystoning"? All I know is the more "flat" the angle, the less "stretched" (from top to bottom) the image looks, as well as a sharper overall focus from side to side, top to bottom.

Is Keystoning that rare bizzare incident where you are watching Buster Keaton running across the screen, and a bunch of Keystone cops bust into your living room, (it's terribly hard on walls), tip thier hat, and then jump into the projected image to chase keaton down the street?

Yes, I am a very VERY bizzare man!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Lars Pettersson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Registered: Jan 2007

posted May 23, 2007 11:33 AM

Hi everyone!
For years I was puzzled by the fact that I could project the same print with the same projector and lens, and when showing the film at a distance of 9 feet, the image would be razor sharp, but when projecting from 20 feet the image would sometimes be reasonably sharp, sometimes mysteriously fuzzy... until I took the time to set up the projector and screen ABSOLUTELY at 90 degrees to eachother. I was amazed at how it was now possible to have a perfectly (better than ever) sharp 12-foot picture. The longer the throw, there´s absolutely no margin for error when it comes to misalignment in setting up the projector, and the biggest risk is getting it wrong left-to-right, since tilting the projector upwards is only possible by so much, but not putting the projector correctly at 90 degrees to the screen is very easy to miss! [Roll Eyes]

Cheers,
Lars

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 23, 2007 11:21 PM

Thanks Doug,

I am still constructing the screening room. Now is already 70% done. Below it's the plan. But first of all, I'd like to let you know that I have three major hobbies, they are:

1. 8mm films
2. Train model (HO gauge)
3. Vinyl/records

I have to accomodate the threes into one room, otherwise my wife (the Minister for Finace of the house) will get mad ! [Wink]

The room is 5 m x 3.5 m (15.4 ft x 11.4 ft). So, I took almost half of the room for the train set (scenery), which that the size of the board).

However, if half it's taken by the scenery board, where the projector is going to be? Then my plan in to put the scenery underneath of the projector room. (see picture 1)

Picture 1

quote:
note: the poles seen under the projector/music room are to be taken out when the mezzanine floor has been considered strong enough (the concreat has been solid).

Therefore the projector room will already be 50 cm high from the ground. This is why I mentioned above that I have a possibility to place the projector at 0 degree angle since I just need to place it on the table with 50-75 cm high.

With the above construction, then when I need to play with the train, I just pull the sceney out and use the screening room as the train set room (see picture 2). With this reason I have to provide wheels for the board.

By having 50 cm high of the projection room, I have also a side benefit that I can place the couch at fixed position and not to close to the screen. The couch will be footless but can be added with the foot rest.

Picture 2

Now, I have also to tell you that the projection room is also in share with the turntables. So, I can still listen to the music with equipments (amplifier,speaker, etc) belong to the projectors. What I need is only the switcher/mixer. So it's really cost effective.

Probably it will finish in next 2-3 months and certainly I will post to the proper room if it is done.

ps: Doug, can you manage "Your Screening Room Pictures" as I suggested in that sticky topic? (i.e make sub topic under the owner's screening room)

cheers,

[ May 24, 2007, 04:19 AM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

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Winbert

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