Welcome to BigScreenBiz.com

We need a lamphouse and recitifer for a Century projector, hopefully available in Northern California.

Also, anybody have a good source for reasonably priced lenses? We need a full compilment of pairs as we are installing a second projector to allow changeovers and the ability to show studio vault prints of classics. We'd like the picutre to look consistent between projectors.

---

Have you checked with theatre equipment dealers in your area? The classified here, on Film-Tech, and in Boxoffice magazine?
http://www.itea.com/members.html

Scott Hicks' AMERICAN CINEMA EQUIPMENT (www.cinequip.com) in Portland, Oregon has plenty of used (and new) equipment available. I highly recommend them.

I would stay with the Strong Super Lumex if your size screen is such that you can. I think you will find that you will have a lot less problems if you do so.

What does my screen size need to be for SuperLumex and what is it exactly?

Als, as this project becomes beigger that it was supposed to, I learn I must create a second venting system. Should this be done by an HVAC person or is it simpler than that.

If you're going to do changeovers, you should probably go with the cinema supply idea (like what Ken suggested)

You should look for lamphouses with comparable hours on them. If the time on the reflectors varies widely, or it the care of the respective lamps differs, you could have trouble getting the two to match up well. Replacement reflectors for those lamps run in the $900-ish range, plus any technical help you might need to install them.

The Lume-X is probably the most popular lamp, though I've seen good results from the Christie lamps of that size, and also the Xenex Pups.

"What does my screen size need to be for SuperLumex and what is it exactly?"

That's sort of like looking at the horse from the wrong end. A better way is to decide what size of picture you need for your theatre, then size your equipment appropriately.

As for lamphouse size, information from John P. indicates you should consider 5 watts per square foot, all else being average and in good condition. You can run 1,000 watt bulbs in these lamphouses... maybe smaller? (Ken?). If your calculations indicate you might go over the 2,500 - 3,000 watt range, you'll need bigger lamphouses than the ones listed above.

[This message has been edited by rodeojack (edited December 07, 2004).]

That estimated 5 watt per square foot of "scope" image area assumes a two blade shutter (50% shutter efficiency), modern fast lenses, good optical alignment, port glass with anti-reflection coatings, and a matte white (gain=1) screen.

---

John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

There are calculator charts which tell what size Xenon bulb you need based on screen size, type of screen and length of throw to the screen.

For example my theatre (single screen w/ two projector changeover) has a 15 foot high X 30 wide screen and an 80 foot throw to the screen. Based on the charts I need 2,250 on the screen. I therefore run a 2,500 watt bulb at 90% of capacity (2,500 x 90% = 2,250) and I am right where I should be. By running bulbs at 85 - 90% of capacity (and turning them up as their life progresses you get longer life).

It is always better to have as much light as you can as the prints these days (particularly if you run art product) are sometimes dark. It seems to be a rule among cinematographers that to illustrate how arty a film is it somehow has to be dark and underexposed.

The Strong Super-Lumex will hold up to a 2,500 Watt bulb. I got two brand new ones when I bought them and the light is terrific - much better than Christie in my opinion.

What should I be paying for the bulbs and the Super Lumex?
We will be using the changeover for studio and archival prints of classic, usually black and white films. I need to be careful not to damage them

My screen info is:
Height 11’7”

Width 23 ½’

Throw 91’

Looking at the Strong International "Lens Selector and Picture Size Computer", a 11'7" high matte white (gain=1) screen would require at least 1600 watts. A 1.5 gain curved screen would reflect even more light. A larger 2000 watt lamp would allow you to slightly defocus the lamp to achieve superb luminance uniformity.

The throw really does not matter, as long as you can use normally efficient modern lenses of moderate focal length. Assuming the center of your preferred seating area is about 3 times the height of the image or 35 feet from the screen, you would want to curve a gain screen with a radius of (91+35)/2 or 63 feet to optimize screen luminance uniformity, per SMPTE Recommended Practice RP95.

For showing archival B&W prints with a 1600 or 2000 watt lamp, you should still use an efficient heat filter (dichroic reflector) and be careful to properly align and not "hot spot" your lamphouse.

---

John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

[This message has been edited by John Pytlak (edited December 08, 2004).]

One thing to take into account is what is your existing lamphouse (make/model) and bulb wattage?

For a changeover situation, you used to be able to get matched reflectors for color temperature. It's especially important to have it as close as you can when you're running black and white film..but shows on color too.

I remember once trying out a bunch of different reflectors and picking the closest pair.

I have an opportunity to buy a pair of Xetron XHM 2000 lamphouses with rectifiers. They were bought at the same time about ten years ago and have less than 1000 hours each on them.

I am supposed to make an offer. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

I wouldn't know how to value something like that... However, if they've been stored well, it sure sounds like the kind of package you're looking for.

The only manuals I can find for it were written between 1981-1983, so I couldn't tell if the lamphouse could have been made more recently than 20 years ago. It would seem curious that someone would buy two lamps (pretty expensive back then), and then use them for fewer hours than one bulb would have under warranty. If that's the case however, you may have found a jewel in the haystack.

[This message has been edited by rodeojack (edited December 21, 2004).]

Beaware that most xetrons of that period had ht metal reflectors and will have issues with any black and white print even with a heat filter