Recommended HD or 2K projectors for DCI P3 work.

[Frank Cueto]

Hi guys,

Noticed we don't have any current threads on this subject so I decided to start one up myself...

We are getting ready to invest on a NICE projector, preferably one that can do P3 and DCI. 2048x1080 would be nice but not a deal breaker.
Its a small screen (110") so it doesn't need to be the brightest one. we are looking for something that will be a color accurate tool.

Also important is that it doesn't need to be in an AC housing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks to everyone

 

[Frank Cueto]

*BUMP*

Any takers?

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Barco DP 2000 with Barco Post software.

However, Barco is about to show full 4K lineup at Showbiz East 2010 in Orlando in October.

 

[Frank Cueto]

Thanks Mark. I've known about that one, but was wondering if anything a tad more affordable has been released?

Have you taken a look at this sony one?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/549117-REG/Sony_VPL_FH300L.html

I had a small chat with the guys in "the studio" @ B&H And they mentioned that this was being used a lot and was p3/dci capable. Not sure though, seems awfully cheap...

 

[John Saunders]

I 2nd barco. Another one to take a look at would be Projection Design especially the F35 it is 2560 x 1600 and lists for $36k with out a lens. They are rated for 24/7 and have some good specs.

 

[Barend Onneweer]

Aren't those projectors way too bright for a 110" screen?

The Projectiondesign FL32 (LED) claims DCI gamut, but at 700 lumen seems a bit low on power.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Aren't those projectors way too bright for a 110" screen?

The Projectiondesign FL32 (LED) claims DCI gamut, but at 700 lumen seems a bit low on power.

Projection Design projectors are great for smaller DI room - amazing color calibration - you can get more info from anders.lokke (at) projectiondesign.com or Neil.Wittering (at) projectiondesign.com - seen them up close and personal and was very impressed.

That said ... price out a Barco. Nobody pays MSRP.

 

[Frank Cueto]

Aren't those projectors way too bright for a 110" screen?

The Projectiondesign FL32 (LED) claims DCI gamut, but at 700 lumen seems a bit low on power.

Well, it would be good to know if its 700 lumens calibrated or BEFORE calibration.

 

[Barend Onneweer]

Well, it would be good to know if its 700 lumens calibrated or BEFORE calibration.

Looking at the FL32 and Cineo32LED some more I see they're actually sped'd at 750 lumen. I've read multiple times that the subjective luminance is higher than measured because of the wide gamut. So it might suffice.

Keep in mind that the LED light sources have a much longer life, and the light doesn't dim after 1000 hrs of use like regular projector lamps. So all in all it might be an option to investigate.

Barend

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

Hi Guys. I'm actually preparing a GROUP BUY for the F35 Projector which is BEYOND 2K 2560 x 1600 and I will post the offer this by next week. MSRP is 34,995 (est, final pricing TBD) shipping end of October 2010.

I can tell you these are AMAZING projectors for the $... can apply custom LUTS, etc, but the CINEO32LED is NOT suitable for grading... you MUST order these with the VIZ- SIM Color Wheel for Color Critical Grading.

From what I understand (pending confirmation) They use the EXACT SAME Texas Instrument DLP Dark Chip that the 2K Christie uses. But its repackaged in a much smaller form factor. I would not pay attention to the LUMEN numbers as those are all over the place with every manufacturer. You dont want/need super bright for grading, you do that in a light controlled room (or should anyway)

THE F32 Projectors are used extensively in top UK and India post facilities for color critical work.

I wil have all the specs posted next and obviously the more buyers we can wrangle, the more we can save.

Mark P - Any pricing at all on the new 4K Barco's? Can we imagine these will all be around $100K min like the SONY's?

My hope is to get the F35 down to $25K to $30K on a group buy, but its actually the new HIGH RESOLUTION lenses that will make it tough to get it cheaper. They tried using the lens from the F32 but you lose all the resolution gained.

Still WAY cheaper than the 2K Barco or Christie and as Mark said IDEAL for smaller DI Theaters with shorter throws... although you CAN throw the F35 over 50 Feet with a Zoom lens.. (more $ though)

exciting times for sure

 

[Tai Wah Lim]

Tim, for the F35, I noticed the inputs are only dual dvi and hdmi 1.3a. Any option for dual hdsdi with rgb4.4.4? Lim

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

Hi Tai, we are working on the configuration now, but those are old posted specs. Final will have HDMI 1.4 10 Bit and from what I understand its RGB 4:4:4 - but still trying to confirm that myself. Stay Tuned

 

[Frank Cueto]

I am indeed interested, can we also get an option for the 1920x1080 PJ? That makes it a tad more affordable.

 

[Tai Wah Lim]

Hi Tai, we are working on the configuration now, but those are old posted specs. Final will have HDMI 1.4 10 Bit and from what I understand its RGB 4:4:4 - but still trying to confirm that myself. Stay Tuned

Thanks Tim, certainly count me in for group buy if we can do rgb4:4:4 and at good price. Lim

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

@ Frank- absolutely...the F32 is being used now in post houses for 10 Bit 1080P work
and is incredible for color critical work... list is $19,995 but they are going for around $16,500 USD plus lens. (Depends on throw... standard lens is only $2200) zooms are about twice that.

EDIT: The F32 is an AMAZING projector for under $20,000 USD. Nothing else comes close for post work. You can also stack two and add circular polarizers for 3D work.

@ Tai, Im pretty sure they are doing that now with the F32 in India now with Steve Shaw of www.lightillusion.com He is a well respected voice in DI and builds high end post houses all over the world. He SWEARS by the F32 and has done 4K film DI's with it so I am almost positive the VIZ-SIM color wheel is 4:4:4 10 and even 12 Bit.

Steve is the guy who introduced me to the F32. So stay tuned.

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

Tai- OK, HDMI 1.3a.. supports RGB 4:4:4 simply need to use the AJA HD-SDI DUAL LINK to HDMI 1.3 (3G) converter. or KONA, or Doremi Dual Link to HDMI converter...or any other dual link to HDMI 1.3

all will carry full bandwidth RGB... he uses the F32 now for 4:4:4 film out deliverables even though its only 1080P.

 

[Tai Wah Lim]

Tai- OK, HDMI 1.3a.. supports RGB 4:4:4 simply need to use the AJA HD-SDI DUAL LINK to HDMI 1.3 (3G) converter. or KONA, or Doremi Dual Link to HDMI converter...or any other dual link to HDMI 1.3

all will carry full bandwidth RGB... he uses the F32 now for 4:4:4 film out deliverables even though its only 1080P.

Tim - noted. I know Steve. He did some LUT conversion for me. Unfortunately, I am using Cinespace for color management. Lim

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

Tai- Even better news. I just got this from the manufaturer.

"The new F35 projector will have 12-Bit color depth, and be compliant to HDMI 1.4 standards"

he also added this
"Our current Electronics Suite already supports the DVI/HDMI 1.3a standard; whereby, the DVI and HDMI inputs will process a 10bit 4:4:4 (RGB) Color Space; Full Bandwidth/Resolution for RGB color. You may have heard of 4:2:2, which means full resolution for B&W (4 = Y/Luminance), then half the resolution, for subtractive color (2:2 for Cr, Cb); it’s merely a ‘splash’ of color to fill in the full resolution of the Y Luminance Value. Since our projectors already implement the HDMI 1.3a standard, this would stipulate a full 4:4:4 Bandwidth color space.

“Limited to Dual Link”
Dual Link is a requirement for native source resolutions of 2560x1600 and higher, such as our F35 WQUXGA projector. Single Link can only obtain up to 1920x1200 WUXGA resolutions.

3D Processing
· Our current PW392 Electronics Suite does not support the newer HDMI 1.4 3D standard. It will process at 60Hz, for Left-Eye/Right-Eye. The F35 will have a newer Electronics Suite, which is capable of HDMI 1.4.
· The HDMI 1.4 standard, on the F35 projector, will be required to process the increased resolution and faster response times. Note:
o Resolutions higher than 1920x1200 will require either a Dual Link DVI or HDMI cable
o Source input (video card) must be capable of transmitting the higher bandwidth signal
o Higher resolutions, and/or 3D, will require that the ancillary equipment also be capable of transmitting the additional bandwidth required (Switcher, CAT6 extender, etc.)"

 

[Frank Cueto]

Tim, will it do HD-SDI DUAL-LINK? Last time I checked they had some issues with HDCP on it (didn't know we had HDCP on HD-SDI)

 

[Barend Onneweer]

Just to get this straight, considering the topic starter was looking for a DCI compliant projector: the F35 does not cover the DCI gamut. I was told by Projectiondesign that they are considering implementing the DCI color wheel from the F82 in an F35, but they weren't sure this option would become available and/or when. You'll get spot on Rec709 though.