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Topic: Bias Against Chinons
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Joe Balitzki
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 529
From: Charleston, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted April 20, 2013 03:21 AM
I don't have a problem with the Chinon that I own but mine is the next model down from their top Stereo model. But mine was barely used. When they work well, they are fine. However, when problems develop they scratch and/or damage film. While any projector can do so, the plastic gate in Chinons is known to be problematic. I had the same model as Austin bought like new from a seller on eBay. It was squeaky clean inside and out but it scratched the emulsion on two prints that I ran through it. I quickly returned it for a refund. In a older thread, it was mentioned that Derann had numerous scratched rental prints from Chinon owners. The design of the gate is at fault. Not only does the Elmo have a metal gate/pressure pad, its much easier to clean. Also, Elmos are easier to get repaired here in the USA. Years ago, I started with a Bell&Howell S8 Sound projector. It made a emulsion scratch on some prints. As soon as I was able to, I bought a ST-1200 HD Elmo which at the time was one of the best & most expensive machines available. The difference was immediately obvious. I also bought a faster lens for it. My brother had the same projector as Austin, and his home movies were scratched to hell. In his case, it was even worse because I doubt he kept the machine clean. When Austin damages a prized print, then he will learn the hard way like I did to get a better projector. If Chinon had made the Gate out of metal at least on the high-end models and had the side spring rails next to the gate like Elmo, I would have not given out such advice.
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Movie Lovers Do It in the Dark
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted April 20, 2013 12:57 PM
My CHINON 9500's (two of them) perform quite admirably. No scratching to report.
However, they do have one slight problem, and it can be a bi**h to deal with. The plastic film gates can get gummed up easily with gunk. I don't know if the make up of the plastic attracts gunk, but they certainly do, none the less.
Therefore, even on the top notch models, if you run into problem with the film just sliding through without the claw seemingly refusing to push the film through, it may well NOT be because of a bigger internal problem. Just go through the complete film gate path, (especially the pre-claw area) and give it a complete clean, and the projector should function fine after that!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted April 24, 2013 01:02 PM
Hi, Matt.
The "gate" is a sort of channel which the films goes through and is located between the lamp housing and the lens holder. While in the gate, the film is kept (or should be kept) perfectly flat by the pressure pad. PPressure pad, film and gate are thus kept together much like a sandwich. Also while in the gate the film is trasnported by the claw, intermittently, one frame at a time, 24 times a second.
There are two side, spring-loaded guides in the gate (one above the other below the frame aperture - i.e. the light from the lamp comes from) whose function is to absorb any uneveness there might be on the film sides, e.g. because of a splice or porr film cutting. These guides lie on the sprocketless side of the film and their strength, shape and wear (if any) can be crucial in ensuring proper film locating and steadyness.
Hope this helps.
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Maurizio
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