8mm Forum: Minimum projector screen size

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Posted by Matthew Smith (Member # 3859) on August 06, 2013, 03:46 AM:

Hi, I am about to telecine some old 8mm family movies into digital form. I would like to know if there is a minimum size screen which should be used for projecting onto, so if the screen was made smaller then you would begin losing detail/resolution. I could not find any previous threads discussing this. I want to capture the best resolution possible, I am using a hd camera too. Thanks

Also, I have the choice between an older kodak brownie movie projector and a newer eumig projector which definitely has a larger lens, would the eumig project with the best resolution/detail?

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on August 06, 2013, 04:43 AM:

If I was going to copy a film to video or Dvd Matthew, I would
first be looking for a prime lens, that will ensure overall focus, vital
to your recording.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on August 06, 2013, 05:45 AM:

Hello, Matthew. If you have to choose between two projectors, the best way is to project two films at the same time one image beside the other and compare with your eyes which of the two projectors gives you the best quality. That said, I have never digitalized any film as I prefer to watch them on a real screen, but I think that some people advised to have a projector that allows you to control the speed to avoid flicking, so I don't know if the quality of the picture is the only possible criteria. But don't worry, there are plenty of specialists on this forum...

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on August 06, 2013, 05:53 AM:

Matthew,
If you intend to project onto a screen and then record the projected picture with a camera I would suggest that the optimum surface and size(from my experience, anyway) is an A4 sheet of good quality Matt Photo Paper.
It is large enough to permit good focus and resolution, but small enough to give an adequately bright picture.
Bear in mind the previous advice: you will need to project at 16.667 fps (plus or minus 0.5 fps) to avoid flicker with a PAL camera... and then correct the speed of the result using a computer edit program.
Martin

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on August 06, 2013, 05:54 AM:

A lot of people do transfer on a sheet of white paper sized 8.5 by 11 inches, so small isn't a problem, you just need to get the camera, screen and projector close together.

When I've transferred I use a corner of my regular projection screen and make the image about this same size.

Posted by Matthew Smith (Member # 3859) on August 07, 2013, 10:34 AM:

Hugh Thompson Scott: thanks for the advice.

Dominique De Bast: Thanks for the tip, that is a good way to see which projector is best. I think the kodak brownie is a nice projector but it was made more to be portable.

Martin Jones: I didn't realize the needed screen size could be so small but it makes sense as 8mm has such a small film size. When I did telecine in the past with an camera that broke, you could adjust the frame rate to a very low frame rate which solved any strobing/flickering, but I noticed with a normal frame rate you did get that. I know have a different camera which is hd but its lowest frame rate is 1/25 I think, so I hope that doesn't cause problems.

Steve Klare: ok thank you.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 07, 2013, 01:15 PM:

Just make sure that you don't use some kind of "beaded" projector screen and some nice reflective paper (no wrinkles) should do. The wrong kind of screen would be like watching your precious films on one of those old super 8 movie editor screens ...yuk, terrible!

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on August 07, 2013, 04:49 PM:

Seriously Matthew, Eumig did make prime lenses for their projectors, I have one, a 20mm, but they do make a difference to your overall picture and contrast, that a zoom lens tends to lose
in the finished picture by losing the "bite".Also, give your film a
clean with something like "CRESCLENE" from CHC, this will hide
any light scratches in your transfer.

Posted by Matthew Smith (Member # 3859) on August 07, 2013, 05:14 PM:

Osi Osgood: thanks, I have a very old worn beaded type screen yes but it is so worn I chose to get a new paper/card screen.

Hugh Thompson Scott: I appreciate your advice. I am unemployed right now and on a tight budget so I don't really want to make any extra purchases beyond the cheap paper/card for the screen etc. I was very happy with the eumig projector and kodak brownie projector's image though when I was doing the same type of project a few years ago. Ironically I do have a negative scanner but only meant for still photography film like 35mm/120mm, scanning 8mm movies manually would take centuries unfortunately! I've read of people rigging up frame by frame scanners and modifying a projector but that is a bit beyond my capability. thanks for the tip about the film cleaner.

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