Tensioned or Variable aspect?

[AngelEyes]

I have been briefly looking at electric screens and it seems that a variable aspect screen or a tab tensioned screen can be had for around the same price.

Not having owned a screen or projector before I was wondering where people would rather spend the money?

I would like to get a JVC HD-1 towards the end of the year and was all set on a tensioned screen (still no idea which mind) of around 240cm. Now I wonder if a variable aspect ratio would be better... how much to 'standard' screens curl/wrinkle anyway?

Thanks,

Adam

Hi,


you can find something interesting in http://www.projectorcentral.com/formats.htm
and www.4format.com


ma

[AngelEyes]

Thanks Ma,

And welcome to the forum

Adam

[PC_112]

My da-lite manual 92" screen has a "wave". You don't notice it until the movie pans, at which point it is really annoying. On the other hand I was never annoyed by watching movies with other than 16:9 ratio.

[AV Nik]

Hi AngelEyes
Do you think you would need a Variable ratio screen?
The only one I’ve seen is the VariVision by Projecta. It has very durable material but is still as prone to ripples as other electric/manual screens of similar quality.
If the environment is too damp or too hot, this can have detrimental effects on any non tensioned screen after long periods. There's some new material comming out shorlty with a special weave which apparently guarantee's to stay flat for longer but it's 2-3 times the price of the good quality screens you see today.
The tensioned screens like Fixed Frame or Tab-Tensioned are the most common guarantee to keep the surface flat.

[AngelEyes]

Hi Nik,

Thanks, I think you are probably right and I don't need variable format. I am new to all this and just wondered what people think the priority is.

I am pretty certain I will go tab-tensioned now as I know I will get really annoyed after spending a lot of money on kit and I get a wrinkle

If you have any suggestions on manufacturers to chek out i would be most grateful?

Thanks,

Adam

[Avi]

Originally Posted by AngelEyes

Hi Nik,

Thanks, I think you are probably right and I don't need variable format. I am new to all this and just wondered what people think the priority is.

I am pretty certain I will go tab-tensioned now as I know I will get really annoyed after spending a lot of money on kit and I get a wrinkle

If you have any suggestions on manufacturers to chek out i would be most grateful?

Thanks,

Adam

Personally I would would not spend the extra on tab tensioned as they to not "guarantee" there will be no ripples etc.

One of the biggest improvements I noticed on a projected image is having the black border directly next to the image on all sides i.e. no aspect ratio black bars between the border and the image. I would opt for a screen that allows this type of "border" adjustment rather than spending extra on tabs. It makes a big difference to perceieved image quality to my eyes.

AVI

[Astaroth]

I was wondering what people do with the variable aspect ratio of films given the benefits quoted by most users of the black border