If you have a Sankyo 301-880 projector is it gentle to film?

[slashmaster]

Looks like I found myself a very nice condition Sankyo 702. Problem is it seems to have put a minor scratch on a film that I'm 95% sure had none before:( I think it might have brushed the upper loop former because it sometimes doesn't release all the way. Have any of you guys with one of these ever had problems with it scratching your film? Also the zoom lens on this is a disappointment, the sharpness isn't horrible and is consistent across the screen but the contrast isn't good. Have any of you guys fitted one with another lens?

[slashmaster]

Oh, by the way, I had thoroughly cleaned the gate and everything with a brush and Q tip before projecting this film.

[Tommy]

With the projector on...look down the lens...is it cloudy?...then you have internal lens fungus which kills the contrast in the picture.
Take the lens out...leave it in direct sunlight and see if it clears...can take days, weeks or even months depending on the infestation.

[slashmaster]

Hi Tommy, Yes it is cloudy looking when you look at it from the side while the projector is running. It is really only the last element though, the others have specs of dust but are relatively clear. Was able to get the last element out too. Cleaned both sides thoroughly but very difficult to put back together without leaving one fingerprint on it. By the way, when projector lenses have a fungus problem wouldn't the projector bulb do a better job killing fungus than the sun could?

[Tommy]

Well, you're going to burn out alot of projector bulbs...I think sunlight works best because it has ultra violet rays.

[slashmaster]

Alright, Thanks Tommy!