RE: [AV Media Matters] Elmo telecine projectors

[adam@adamwilt.com]

> ...film chewed up on an elmo or similar projector "telecine" system...

Agreed: the worst part about even the top-end Elmo telecine (a converted
Super8 ST1200HD with a 5-blade shutter, AC sync motor, and a diffuser
lamphouse) was that it had film guides and autothread sensing fingers in the
*middle* of the film path -- right in the middle of the image area! If the
film jumps a perf or loses the loop, you can easily get huge scratches
throughout the entire reel. A disaster.

OTOH I've gotten very good transfers from such a machine when exercising
care
and using a good, well-tweaked camera. While still not as good as a Rank
transfer of the same footage, it can be pretty close. Pulldown jitter and
gate weave were the biggest differences immediately apparent, followed by
higher contrast and definite blocking on the Elmo transfer. The Rank gives a
very smooth, stable, transparent image.

Cheers,
Adam Wilt