Is home theatre projection as good as Super 8 projection

[Scotness]

I'm not wanting to start a war here - and I know there's many different ways in which somethng could be better apart from just image quality (ie sound quality and ease of use) -- but since I don't have a home theatre I'm just keen to hear from some people's experiences who have both a home theatre and who project Super 8.

The only experience I have is from the bits on In My Image which I projectored at home - which had that magical projectored look/feeling where the images jump off the screen at you - to the actual premiere where it was projectored from a dvd to a screen perhaps 15ft by 20ft and where it looked kind of half way in quality between the tv screen image to the projectored film image.

So I guess what I'm asking is - is it possible for digitial projection in a home theatre environment to have that kind of magic that film projection has?

Scot

[mattias]

So I guess what I'm asking is - is it possible for digitial projection in a home theatre environment to have that kind of magic that film projection has?

sure, but the answer to your question in the subject is no.

/matt

[Nigel]

I think it depends...

Sure it can be as good if not better. What is your budget?? What format do you want to project??

I have an Eiki EX-6000 16mm projector. This thing is huge it weighs about 250 pounds handles 6000' reels and has a 1000 watt Xenon lamp. It shows amazing images if the print is good.

You could invest big bucks into any sort of traditional projector or you could get a high end video projector. Just like with cameras you are limited in what you see by what you run through it.

Kinda hard to give a straight answer...

Good Luck

[reedsturtevant]

is it possible for digitial projection in a home theatre environment to have that kind of magic that film projection has?

At the moment do "home theatre" projectors have less dynamic range, and a smaller color gamut than a projected movie? My film looks so much brighter and darker (at the same time). And the colors!

Not to open a can of worms but I believe the digital world will catch up, e.g.
http://www.cinematography.net/4KDemoOfF ... Cinema.htm

As a long-time computer guy I also believe Moore's Law will make it cheap enough for 4K 72fps home movies on 10 foot wide 50000:1 dynamic range displays within, lets say, 10 years. Even sooner maybe. 8O

But for me some of the magic comes from the smooth whirring of the projector, the warm bulb and the slight scent of oil 8)

[mattias]

Sure it can be as good if not better. What is your budget??

i disagree. it can only look better if the budget is too high to call it home theater anymore. the term refers to a range of equipment, not just that the projector resides in one's home.

/matt

[JCook]

Scot,

If you're looking for higher resolution and less grain there's no comparison between the two. A properly tuned 8 or 9 inch overhead analog CRT projector with quad sampled DVD or a good HDTV source is far superior to Super 8 and/or digital NTSC/ATSC projection.

However there's something about the sound of my Elmo Super 8 projector clacking away in the back of the room which is nostalgic and hard to resist. I find myself anxiously awaiting the mailman whenever I send Kodachrome out for processing. Like a kid lying awake in bed hearing faux sleigh bells on Christmas eve.

John

[tod8]

i know a guy who has an Elmo GS-1200 with widescreen lens. he has an 8 foot wide projection screen. he buys those current films/trailors from Derann. the image (as far as i've heard) is astounding. Derann screens its new releases like this and some of the investors/clients/etc. cannot believe its S-8mm. they swear its 35 (quite a leap).

im sure technology will catch up but there will always be a difference. there is a fundamental difference in the way celluloid and digital/video is projected.

when i look at photographs from the turn of the century i cant believe the realism and detail. what happened to those techniques?

things change.

its funny, as i watched the guy maddin fims (see other thread) i was thinking - when his films get 'old' and they are projected, how will you be able to tell what his deliberate 'old looking' techniques are and what are simply the films actually getting old..(scratchy/blown out, etc)........ but now that we have digital that shouldnt be a problem.

we all know that digital projection will soon be the only way there is, until the next thing.

when i watched start wars 2 on DVD (shot totally on digital) it was lacking the 'shimmering' effect of frames and emulsion rushing by..........the backgrounds looked 'dead'....avoid of any life..... sort of like a video game.....scary...... :?
someone said that film creates contemplation...pure digital doesnt....

ok, i think i lost the subject of the post....i know you are talking about things shot on film and projected on digital/video..dont want to start blabbering....just jumped forward a bit............. :?

t

[Nigel]

Mattias--

I would say if you spend 3,000 dollars you have home entertainment--If you spend 30,000 you have a home theater.

If you want to have a theater in your home then you need to make it theatrical.

Good Luck

[S8 Booster]

NO and yes;

Depends on your passion for film:

If you are a true FILM MAKER - (no offending ) or film junkie - like me and like to edit, soundstripe and sound edit (computer edits + Dolby sound is a fine option) and like to work with the real thing you´ll stick to film & direct projection

Ask me - I just finished a 8 min K40 short for our X-mas (not serious) contest - edited on my Erno viewer and sound edited in the MAC: Working with real film is seductive to me. 8O (and very quick n´efficient! - I love my Agfa tape splicer!!)


That said - if you can live with the artifacts of digital projection I find my own PRO8 neg samples (old V1/200T V1/250D & V1/500T) which I burned on a DVD remarkably pleasant projected with a LCD projector. Due to the low res of most home projectors the grain is sort of smoothed out but still the projected image comes out great and a lot of details looks much better and are visually clear and sharp projected compared to viewed on a PC screen or TV.

So, for example the new V2/200T & V2/500T may look fab digitally DVD projected even though there is no doubt the DVD medium is a small but still step down in image quality compared to MiniDV of the same film projected side by side. Still, definately an option except for K40 price compared.

Sound editing DV footage in a computer for DVD is a real joy off course.


As a side note I just came off the contest and had an opportunity to compare my S8 film directly side by side with DV originated material and the answer is not plain and simple: With this setup projected on a 2.0m screen the DV films came out good and generally better than my S8 footage for brightness and partially colour reasons.

LCD projector: about 10 year old Sharp about 640x480 or so
S8 Projector: about 24 year old Elmo GS1200 with a f1.3 long throw lens

In this setup my S8 footage did not come out superior (well on level but not superior) on sharpness due to the f1.3 lens on the Elmo. It ain´t no good. I have the GS1200 & f1.1 lens at home so I know there is a big difference for big screen/long throw projection. Some of the problem is that at a distance the light capacity on the Elmo drops quickly with the distance. The K40 colours are superior to the DV - even the 3CCD PD100 footage compared but the PD100 colours are not bad at all. Generally the footage from a all of the latest single chippers comes out pleasant on this LCD projector.


So my premature :!: conclusion is that of course S8 directly projected is better - IF you can spend the money it takes to get the right cam/projection gear - sound systems etc, acetate film & sound striping is avail, sound edits/sync can be made on a PC etc, etc.

I do not fancy the Elmo/external synced CD sound solution too much.


Both solutions with somewhat identical performance will cost you approx the same amount of money but on the sound editing issue the DVD is practically far superior to the mag striped film. Technically the sound quality is better or has at least a better potential.

My TwinOla DuNots

R

[mattias]

I would say if you spend 3,000 dollars you have home entertainment--If you spend 30,000 you have a home theater.

good point, but you can rent quite a few 16mm features for that amount and screen them using your $1000 film projector... :-)

/matt