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Of super 8 print sharpness and life's risks

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  • Of super 8 print sharpness and life's risks

    I recently pulled out some of my Derann S8 prints and projected them on my GS1200, and realized that I could not get the usual razor sharp focus uniformity across the screen. I decided to clean the Elmo f1.0 zoom lens and also realign the lens barrel to the projector. Some improvement but still not that biting sharpness that I remember.
    Later on I was watching TV and one of those irritating commercials for weight reduction came on. I noticed that I could not make out the fine print at the bottom of the picture, you know, the medical disclaimer for side effects, in this case very sudden weight loss, otherwise known as death!
    Then it dawned on me that my problem had nothing to do with my super 8 prints, or projector, or lens - the problem was my eyes! Just like your ears can be the limiting factor of an audio system, so your eyes can be the limiting factor of a film system.
    My eye doctor tells me I need to get cataract surgery. He says the cataracts are not only diminishing my perceived brightness but also producing blurring due to astigmatism. He assures me the operation is very low risk and it will correct all my visual problems and my super 8 prints will look just like they were 20 years ago! Fine, sounds great, but just lets check up on possible side effects, you know like the fine print at the bottom of that TV commercial. Holy cow, one possible 'side effect' is total loss of vision!
    Sometimes it's a curse being an engineer. You learn in designing stuff the old engineering mantra that " if something CAN go wrong it WILL go wrong! We engineers are always trying to minimize risk in any undertaking. Sure cataract surgery is a very safe procedure - but its nowhere near as safe, for example, as flying!
    I ran a test last night while projecting an S8 print. By tilting my progressive glasses in a vertical plane I could totally eliminate all vertical astigmatism and the print looked uniformly biting sharp across the screen, as I remembered it being.
    This tells me that maybe a new set of glasses, designed to correct vertical astigmatism, will restore the perceived glory of my Derann prints, and that's the path I am now persuing
    -the zero risk path first!
    If that doesn't do the job, then I will probably opt for cataract surgery later this year.
    Anyway, if you are getting up there in years, and your film prints are looking a little dim and/or slightly soft focus, you may want to get your eyes checked,
    Last edited by Paul Adsett; March 12, 2025, 08:21 AM.

  • #2
    Hi Paul

    I've had relatives who have undergone cataract surgery. It is straightforward day procedure. You get an eye patch to go home with like Rooster Cogburn for 1st night then you are fine after that.

    They will do one eye at a time likely 4-6 weeks in between. Results will be astounding.

    Don’t delay get it done asap.

    Cinemascope eyesight coming soon.


    Mike

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    • #3
      Paul, most of my working life I've had to wear various headphones / earphones. Having good hearing is really important for my job. About 15 years ago we had just moved to a new house, and each night, when all was silent, I kept hearing this vary faint, intermittent, very low pitched hum.

      "Why is the boiler making that strange noise each night?" I thought.

      You guessed it; I have low-frequency tinnitus. Now, there are much worse things to have, especially high frequency tinnitus and it really doesn't bother me too much once you accept it.

      But the amusing part is that for months I refused to believe it was me, and that it was something in the house making the noise at night.

      Full acceptance came when we moved again a few years later...and the night hums followed me...

      I can actually laugh about it now...many nights waking up, thinking "That bloomin' boiler!!!"

      Oh yes, and as Mike says, I've had many relatives have cataract surgery and it has always gone well.

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      • #4
        Ironically, I had to put on my reading glasses to see this thread clearly...

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        • #5
          The Optometrist called them "a sign of maturity" which I guess beats "sort-of bifocals" but they are really called "progressive lenses". The whole idea is a variable focal length so I can look close at the gauges on the dashboard and then look up at the sign hanging over the highway and still have both be in focus.

          I call 'em "posture glasses" because I can't lay back on a couch cushion and watch a film! Even if the axis of sight is really horizontal, the glasses themselves are pointed mostly at the ceiling and the optimal focal length is "close"!

          It's like I have this tiny, nagging voice perched on my ears saying "Sit up!...SIT UP!!!!".

          I've had a number of friends and family members get cataract surgery and the results have been pretty amazing! There are some pretty concerning things about modern life, but things like this are a definite plus for these times!

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          • #6
            Well Paul I have the same problem with my eyes. I went to the eye doctor and I have cataracts both eyes. I have have it done in April. One at a time.so I can’t wait to get it done. Leon.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Rob Young View Post
              Paul, most of my working life I've had to wear various headphones / earphones. Having good hearing is really important for my job. About 15 years ago we had just moved to a new house, and each night, when all was silent, I kept hearing this vary faint, intermittent, very low pitched hum.

              "Why is the boiler making that strange noise each night?" I thought.

              You guessed it; I have low-frequency tinnitus. Now, there are much worse things to have, especially high frequency tinnitus and it really doesn't bother me too much once you accept it.

              But the amusing part is that for months I refused to believe it was me, and that it was something in the house making the noise at night.

              Full acceptance came when we moved again a few years later...and the night hums followed me...

              I can actually laugh about it now...many nights waking up, thinking "That bloomin' boiler!!!"

              Oh yes, and as Mike says, I've had many relatives have cataract surgery and it has always gone well.
              I have tinitius too and some hearing loss i can make out dialogue when watching super 8 films when watching tv i use subtitles, such a shame but i do still enjoy watching cine films, and i think my eyesight is going now, old age eh.

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              • #8
                Well, good luck on your impending surgery ( when you have it done ), as, cataracts do grow.

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                • #9
                  Tony, I do consider myself very lucky that I only have low-level tinnitus and only really become aware of it when everything is silent.

                  There was a colleague at work who used to refer to any age related issues as , "your DNA untangling".

                  Always made me laugh.

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                  • #10
                    I have a friend who had it done a couple of years ago. He was having terrible problems as he didn't get checked, but now is fine. I have slight cataracts but have been told that there is an ideal time to get the operation and I am not there yet, I only have a problem when I get the sun or other really bright light shining into my eyes.
                    As for high fequency tinitus I have had that for many years, but as I worked in the telecoms industy with high frequency test signal generators and speakers I can ignore it, it just sounds as if I am still at work.

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                    • #11
                      Welcombe to the club !😉 I have had to wear glasses because of long sightedness since the age of four. This slowly became worse over a period of years, needing reading glasses but changed to varifocals eventually for convenience. I also gradually suffered from hearing loss and have had hearing aids now for some years. The cause put down to being subject to noisy environments. No ear protection on firing ranges during national service, noisy workshop teaching metalwork, e.g. 20 pupils “copper bashing” but also excessive volume at discos. One of the side effects of hearing aids is tinnitus. Mine is high frequency hissing but I now have special hearing aids which can cancel this out. Fortunately no cateracts at last eye test to worry about but likely to start to develop due to my age. See what you youngsters have got to look forward to!😉

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                      • #12
                        I echo exactly Paul has written at the top of this thread

                        Both of my cataracts have been done about four months apart and just this week I have passed with flying colors the final exam

                        Since both eyes have been done movie, watching has never been clearer or sharper

                        If you have cataracts when the doctor says they are ready to be done schedule it as soon as possible

                        I confirm 100% it is worth having done
                        Last edited by Chip Gelmini; March 20, 2025, 12:25 PM.

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                        • #13
                          Ah, I know that feelings.

                          Started to realize when I was getting 40, and had to swallow the truth when I'm now 50 that my eyesight & hearing is no longer what it used to be. Being short-sighted for the whole life is one thing. But losing ability to focus to different viewing distance is quite a serious hit to me. Currently having 2 different glasses for distant & close viewing is already quite annoying - and hoping NOT to have a 3rd glasses soon!
                          Although hadn't correctly measured my hearing range for ages but I'm quite certain that I no longer can hear anything beyond 13-14 kHz anymore. Oh and don't forget about my high frequency tinnitus too.😖

                          These sucks, but threr's nothing I (or anyone else) can do about it.

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                          • #14
                            My mother in her late 70's tried varifocal graduated distance to reading distance glasses. She felt unsteady on her feet when walking with them on, I'll be avoiding them.

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                            • #15
                              Hi Brian. Varifocals do need a while to get used to them and much depends on how they are positioned. I find them much better than having to constantly change glasses. Mine also include re after light which also helps The downside is that they are expensive .

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