Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Century SA vs JJ Gate Noise

This is topic Century SA vs JJ Gate Noise in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Don Furr (Member # 1469) on 02-24-2011, 01:24 PM:

Sorta a dumb question but in your experience are JJ's "louder" (film noise) than SA's? I just retired my SA for a JJ-1 and the gate noise is higher than the SA. There is no excessive tension in the gate and my loop sizes are acceptable. Are JJ gates just inherently louder?

Don

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-24-2011, 02:43 PM:

Nope. Assuming you are comparing 35mm to 35mm, something isn't right there.

Posted by Don Furr (Member # 1469) on 02-24-2011, 04:43 PM:

OK Brad......I'll keep checking. Thanks.

Don

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-25-2011, 08:17 PM:

With a few exceptions, they are the same projector. Alignment is more critical with 70mm. I have found that SA/JJ are either the same or that the JJ is better. Perhaps because more care was taken during manufacturing. Same exact casting. Louis

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 02-25-2011, 09:26 PM:

In my experience, a lot of operators and techs fooled around with the gate casting to optimize it for either 70 or 35mm so it's possible to get the gate way too close to the film tension bands or the top is closer then the bottom etc,.

This assembly is not pinned so it's possible to get it way off. After that, the gate rails wear unevenly so this could be the problem.

I'll leave to Louis to describe how to set the distance and film tension properly.