Anamorphic Lens User? Do tell!

[Todd Anderson]

I'm curious to see if any members are anamorphic lens users... I'm weighing the pros and cons of buying one for my JVC NX7.

 

[Grayson Dere]

I still remember way back when my local A/V shop had a Runco setup that used an anamorphic lens that rode on short tracks like a train to position itself in front of the lens. Fun stuff!

 

[Todd Anderson]

I remember seeing something similar but wasn't on a Runco.

I'm looking at a Panamorph DCR J1 lens... it's fixed. Hoping there's a couple of owners out there to comment ;-)

 

[Michael Boeker]

Last fall I did some tests with Seymour Screen Excellence fabric, a JVC NX7, and a Panamorph DCR J1. Measurements were taken 19’ 6” from the screen with high bulb and iris fully open.


Enlightor NEO Fabric

150” wide
PJ aspect set to auto: 55 nits (16 fL)
PJ aspect set to Zoom: 61 nits (18 fL)
DCR-J1: Didn’t test, but should be 75 nits (22 fL)


Enlightor Bright Fabric

150” wide
PJ aspect set Auto: 60 nits (17.5 fL)
PJ aspect set to Zoom: 66.5 nits (19.5 fL)
DCR-J1: 82 nits (24 fL)


Enlightor Bright
170” wide
Zoom: 55 nits (15 fL)
DCR-J1: 67 nits (19.5 fL)

Auto to Zoom: 11% increase in brightness (a nice benefit of the NX series vs the previous models - you get a free brightness increase when using the full 4096 pixel panel width for scope movies)
Zoom to DCR-J1: 23% increase in brightness
Auto to DCR-J1: 37% increase in brightness

 

[Todd Anderson]

Did you feel like 16x9 suffered much?

 

[Michael Boeker]

No. On an NX7, one is using 3017 x 2160 pixels when watching 16:9 and I really didn't notice a difference. When you think about it, the 16:9 portion of the 2.40 wide image is the exact same pixel density as when watching 2.40. If it is ok for 2.40, then it really is going to be ok for 16.9. There is some horizontal downscaling, but I don't think one could tell the difference unless going extremely large with the screen size.

 

[Michael Boeker]

You can also crop/stretch 16:9 for a wider image. Here is an example:

 

[VinceHoffman]

Using a (McIntosh re-branded) Isco 3L anamorphic lens on a motorized sled with my JVC DLA 990 and 2.37:1 Seymour-Screen Excellence EN4k motorized screen. Sorry no measurements as that is well beyond my skill-set. However the picture quality improvement for superscope aspect films vs simply zooming the PJ is not at all subtle. No going back for me.

 

[Andre Newman]

I recently bought a second hand U480 horizontal stretch lens to use with my JVC X7000.

Best purchase in a long while, while the image loses a little sharpness and geometry is slightly compromised that's only apparent in test patterns. There's an unexpected quality to the image that's immediately striking, I'm attributing it to the higher pixel density, looks far more like film than a digital image.

I get just under 20% light gain but with a 3.3m wide scope screen it's enough to push us up to 60nits which is a significant gain.

A DCR (or DCR jnr) should add even more light and have better geometry and less sharpness loss.

The lens is permanently installed inside a projector port and I don't see any huge disadvantage with scaling 16:9 but most of what we watch is scope anyway.

I wouldn't want a scope screen without an anamorphic lens now, wish I'd got one years ago.

If you use MadVR, budget for a faster GPU as well, everything has to be scaled now!

 

[Todd Anderson]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm in the process of getting a new screen, and the manufacturer is telling me that the benefit of an anamorphic lens is really only realized on larger screen sizes. My screen will be 110" 2.37:1... they're saying that the negative impact of an elevated black floor will outweigh any benefits gained by more brightness (implying, that a 110" screen at my throw distance, which is 13', is more than bright enough).

@Michael Boeker

 

[R Smith]

I just ordered a Panamorph for a JVC RS2100 projecting on a 144" 16:9 screen. I should get approximately a 136" 2:4:1 equivalent when using the Panamorph. I went with the 16:9 for when we want to go "super size me" for football games or the wife's Hallmark movies! I'll give an update when it all gets set up.

If you want one on the cheap, keep looking on eBay and other Forums, as I hesitated & missed out on an open-box Paladin DCR 4K Anamorphic Lens System + XM2 Bracket on eBay for about $3400 being sold by an integrator in England.

 

[NBPK402]

I used to use a Panamorph U480 with my old Panasonic projector...now it is just sitting in the closet looking for a new home since we no longer have a projector.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I ultimately decided to skip the anamorphic. My setup, as is, wouldn't have benefited from it. That isn't to say your setup won't. I ended up going the route of buying a new screen with motorized masking.