On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 9:25 AM, Tom Whiteside <tom.whites...@duke.edu>wrote:
> Over the years I have heard many people say they cannot recommend > autoloaders, yes I know I know, but I think this is a matter of personal > preference. I've been using Bell & Howell autoloaders for many years and > generally do not have any trouble with them. Many of them have silent and > sound speed (important to me), and a variety of lenses are readily > available. I agree, it is a matter of preference. I know a number of film collectors in town and elsewhere who use daily their 2592 projectors. If maintained, these machines run very well. My aversion to the auto-loaders, even the manual threading B&H 1574/1579 and modified manual-threading 1568, is that it can be difficult to free film from the threading path. Very difficult with B&H auto-loaders. I'm one who believes that film should be simple to thread *and* remove from a projector's film path. That's why I've advocated for Eiki SL and SSL, and Hokushin SC-210 and Apollo QL-100 projectors. The Eiki SSL has a built-in line and common 42.5 lens barrel. Kodak Pageants are great in that they're easy on film, have a low-contact silent threading path when there is no sound, and have the sound focus and 18/24 fps operation, but one is stuck with a very poor lens and hardly any options for lenses, and servicing them can be a pain. Slot loaders are not without their quirks, but if regularly service, these machines can run very well, and removing film mid reel is simple. > If you are fortunate enough to have a stock of the Marc 300 lamps (beware > - they are no longer made) a 1568 or similar model projects a very bright > image. Most of the classroom projectors use bulbs that are not as bright, > but are easy to find and relatively inexpensive (BHB, EMM/EKS, ELC.) > > MARC 300 and 350 machines are very usefully, and generally can be found for much less than a xenon and if not running frequently are worth considering for purchase. Xenon has the advantage with $/minute cost, but unless one is running on some kind of daily/weekly theatrical schedule with 16mm, which I don't imagine anyone is, then MARC projectors are worth considering. > ANY projector 30+ years old should be overhauled by a competent technician > at this point, so go ahead and pay for the new worm gear on a B&H autoload > and you will have -IMHO - a nice workable projector for many years to come. > > I'm glad you mention this Tom, as I'm afraid this gets ignored. If donated or found real cheap, a projector should be overhauled before subjecting prints to it. Eikis, Bell & Howells, etc where designed to run a million feet of film between service, but they must be serviced and anyone overlooking this is places prints at risk for damage. While (serviced) projectors costing $400-500 might seem expensive, particularly when compared to a projector sitting on eBay for $150, these projectors cost $1500-2000 when new in the 70s-80s. The cost of a fully service projector today is still a bargain. Alain -- 40 FRAMES Alain LeTourneau Pam Minty 40 FRAMES 5232 North Williams Avenue Portland, Oregon 97217 USA +1 503 231 6548 www.40frames.org www.16mmdirectory.org www.emptyquarterfilm.org
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