This is topic Projectors in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 05-30-1999, 02:54 AM:
Would like to know if anyone in the U.S uses Bauer U3,Kinoton F.P 30 OR
Cinemecanica Vic 5 projectors what are your opinions on these.Here in Australia
all of the above projectors are used in multiplex cinemas though there is small use
of christie projectors.Although Bauer went out production in the late 1970s there
are quite a few still used.I have worked on all of the projectors listed above
except the Christie and what ive heard about them i dont think i would want to.
The best 2 that I liked working on are the Bauer U3 and the Kinoton F.P 30, as
for the Cinemecanica Vic 5 I am not impressed whith them they dont seem to
made as solid as the early models.I have spent a lot of time useing Century
projectors and have found them to be quite good also.As for digatal sound,Dolby
and D.T.S are the main ones used here S.D.D.S has not taken on here as yet
allthough there is a few in use. personally i prefer
the Dolby system Ive had problems with the disk drives on the D.T.S units failing
this has happened at couple of multiplex cinemas where i have worked and ive
heard from other projectionsts haveing the same problem.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-30-1999, 02:54 AM:
I don't have much experience with the projectors that you listed, but I agree that
the Cinemeccanica V5 is not the best. It is very hard to keep the onscreen image
steady. I have heard that the V5's were actually designed to only be used in
screening rooms! I don't know how true that is, however. As for the drives failing on the DTS units, I can personally atest to this. We have
the DTS-6AD units, and when a drive goes bad, it is always drive 'A'. It will just
sit there with the access light on and won't do anything else. The drive must be
replaced. DTS units are actually built very cheaply, despite having the best sound
quality. Oh well, I guess you can't win 'em all when you have companies trying to
save a buck or two 
Posted by Brad Miller on 05-30-1999, 02:55 AM:
I have only known of two units to have drive failure since Jurassic Park debuted in
1993...with one exception. A theater I went to had EVERY SINGLE DRIVE
FAIL ON EVERY UNIT. It turned out they got the units during the switch
between the DTS6 to the DTS6D system. The units were DTS6 and the drives
were "intended" for the DTS6D. DTS promptly (and I mean literally overnight)
exchanged them all for new ones. Can't beat that kind of service! The Cinemecannics V5 is actually an excellent machine except for two points,
they typically exhibit a side to side weave and belts must be checked every six
months. As to handling film, they are excellent!
Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 05-30-1999, 02:56 AM:
We have some go out and man, what a pain to change. Would be nice if they
could just slide out or something. You practically have to disassemble the whole
unit just to change a drive. On, second thought, you do.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-30-1999, 02:56 AM:
Yes, the Cinemeccanica (proper spelling 
does treat the film well. But I have
heard complaints from operators that it is very easy to crush the solar cell and lose
sound, which is bad, especially if you don't have digital. Also, I was under the
understanding that the V5 belts could go 2 years before they need changing! The
belt path design is great! It beats Christie's belt path design (or mess) and they
surely last longer than they do in the Christie!
Posted by Brad Miller on 05-30-1999, 02:56 AM:
Yes, the Cinemecannica V5 is a FAR superior projector than the Christie
gearless. Actually, even with the side to side weave, the V5 is STILL more steady
than the Christie units.
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 05-30-1999, 02:57 AM:
The newer V-5 units have an improved gate with a sprung side film guide which
takes care of the weave ( as long as you keep it clean ).I have one on a 55 foot
screen at the moment with no problems. Two years ago cinemecanica redesigned
the sound drum to fully cover the film path area save a slot for the rear scan led(s)
to shine through; this was done due to mylar prints and the eventual conversion to
dye sound track. This kit is available to fit any V-5/V-8.
Posted by Anthony Matarazzo (Member # 63) on 05-30-1999, 02:57 AM:
Hi, I work in a cinema in Brisbane, Australia and I use
Cinemeccanica's vic 8. They are a good projector, but we have alot of film
breaks. The only thing I hate about the film path is around the sound drum.
Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 05-30-1999, 02:58 AM:
At the last multiplex where i was working as a technical manager we had 11
cinemeccanica vic 5s and i also agree with you about the sound drum but i believe
that the drum has been changed to better design. I have had problems with the
sound drum with film going down into it and when the tail goes through at the end
of the show it hits the cell somtimes breaks it off causeing big problems but again i
believe this has been changed in the later models also the drive belt is pain to
change if it breaks during a show, to prevent this i checked and replaced belts on
regular basis. The company no longer uses Cinemeccancas and has changed to
Kinoton F.P 50Ds a far better projector. Buy the way i am also a projectionist in
Australia.
Posted by Brad on 05-30-1999, 02:58 AM:
DTS service scares me, I sent them E-mail to TEch@DTS.com and took them
SIX weeks to answer me. Thats not service. It was prepurchase questions, I don't
own one yet.
Someone told me the the CD drives in there units were just standard SONY
drives and could be bought locally and they'd work. Any truth to that?
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-30-1999, 02:59 AM:
Try e-mailing this address:
cinematech@dts.com
They answer pretty quickly. I believe the DTS drives are Toshiba. I vaguely remember this from when I
changed one out once. The drives require a special jumper on the back and so on
and so forth...I imagine that you may be able to get a standard drive to work if
you had the jumper and knew where to put it. Trust us--> DTS is good. Most
films have DTS on them.
Posted by Brad Miller on 05-30-1999, 02:59 AM:
I've never tried to use a standard drive, so I can't answer that question. However
as to service, I've had instant turnaround with DTS. In one instance, I had an
older unit that was having problems with the drives and they not only sent me a
new unit...but a 6D (3 drive) player...AND 3 more to match, just so all 4 units in
this particular theater would match in the wiring and operation!!! As if that wasn't
enough, DTS paid for all the overnight shipping so we wouldn't miss those all
money making "Tuesday" shows last March!!! Poor service, I think not. I simply cannot say enough positive things about the
DTS format and the company.
Are you a collector, independent theater owner, etc? You have not listed an email
address or last name.
Posted by Marc Jones (Member # 29) on 05-30-1999, 02:59 AM:
Current DTS drives are a TEAC 532S (SCSI) I just bought a DTS 6D (referb)
and it wouldn't boot off of any of the drive and I have just recieved the
replacements this week, I guess the turn around was OK, but I'm not happy about
spending the money to open the box and find a dud. Guess I shouldn't go cheap.
Posted by Arthur Reebel (Member # 1208) on 04-23-2002, 11:10 AM:
I'm New to this list but was reading through alot of the older posts and just wanted to put in My 2 cents worth. I currently work in a 6 screen theatre and we have 5 Cinemeccanica V5's and 1 V8. and I actually like theses Projectors and haven't had any problems with them for the most part. Yes the belts can Be a pain to try and change but once You've done this a few times You can usually do it within a matter of minutes. just wanted to get My opinion out there. If I had my choice between the V5's or a christie Projector I would take the V5 hands down.------------------
Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 04-23-2002, 12:06 PM:
Is it just me, or is everyone in this topic showing up as unregistered and without a picture? SOmething's rotten in the state of Film-Tech. or is this topic just that old?
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 04-23-2002, 02:05 PM:
Check the dates on the posts. This thread is as old as dirt (almost)------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 04-23-2002, 03:10 PM:
Joe, when did you move?Josh
Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 04-23-2002, 03:26 PM:
I just moved about a week and a half ago. Started a new job as well. If you and/or the weenie man ever make it down this way, you'll have to let me know.