Vrex Model 2020 Projector at 3D Movie/Video Competition

[P3D Oliver Dean <3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At the "1st Ever 3D Movie/Video Competition" last weekend and at the
Pasadena Stereo Club meeting last Thursday (yesterday), I had the
privilege of being able to use the fantastic VRex Model 2020
stereoscopic video projector for showing the Competition's
field-sequential videotape entries (the kind you ordinarily have to view
with LC Shutter glasses).  Arranged for by the amazing Lawrence Kaufman,
the projector takes any NTSC S-VHS, composite VHS, or computer RGB input
and projects it on a screen.  If the input is field-sequential stereo,
the projector converts it to a brilliant, sharp image that HAS NO
FLICKER and can be shown on an aluminum-surfaced screen for viewing with
ordinary 45/45 polarized spectacles!  

The magic that makes this possible is VRex's micro-polarizers, which are
applied internally to each raster line, thereby making the left and
right views capable of being displayed nearly simultaneously rather than
having to interrupt one image in order to display the other.  Other
parts of the circuitry convert the input alternating images to a
continuous display.  Don't ask me for technical details -- VRex, I am
sure, can answer technical questions far better than I!

VRex sent Len Cardillo to help us with the initial mysteries of setting
up and operating the projector, and his expertise was a big time-saver
for those of us (meaning me and Lawrence Kaufman!) wanting to learn
quickly.  Len showed us a lot of reduced temperature (a.k.a. cool!)
features:  An on-screen menu allows you to use a remote control for
adjusting such things as input source, picture brightness, contrast,
color tint, and color saturation, as well as changing the right/left
stereo polarity, sound level, bass/treble, etc.  There were several
other sophisticated onscreen-controllable features that we didn't get a
chance to explore.  

Fortunately, the sound level could be changed by an external touchpad on
the top of the projector, thereby making it unnecessary to interrupt the
projected show for an onscreen display; however, a remote controlled
sound level that didn't use the onscreen display would have been a tad
more convenient. We had a slight difficulty getting enough detail in the
brilliantly illuminated light colored areas, but after some futzing with
brightness, contrast, and color saturation we managed to get stunningly
bright, brilliantly colored, sharp, flicker-free images with ghosting
occuring only when the contrast was too great. 

Setup required rethinking our traditional ways of aligning a projector
with the screen.  Ordinarily, we try to put the projector across from
the center of the screen or slightly above it, in order to minimize
keystoning and to try to keep the "hot spot" from being too low as
viewed from the low sight lines of the audience.  However, this
projector is designed to be used from a low angle so that an audience
can see over the top of it, and the projector has a huge, wide-angle
lens that requires it to be located close to the screen.  It
automatically compensates, within certain limits, for the keystoning,
and the screen brightness appeared to be unifom when viewed from an
adequate distance.  We filled a 70-inch by 90-inch screen with a truly
brilliant image in the darkened room.

The only downside -- the price is a thud in the solar plexus at about
$11,000!  Maybe VRex will come up with some sort of rental and/or
leasing plan for special occasions.  

Our special thanks go to Dr. John Hart, director of the Stereo Club of
Southern California's Motion Picture Video division, who originated the
idea for the competition and arranged for the meeting place at Longley
Way School in Arcadia; and Lawrence Kaufman, who organized the judging
and lined up all the display equipment for the various formats, as well
doing publicity and getting judges and award prizes for it.  Besides
getting to meet the extremely helpful Len Cardillo from VRex, we also
had the privilege of meeting Ray Hannisian, who is currently producing a
series of Stereoscopic travelogs under his trademarked "On the Road with
Ray3D" series, and who won awards for his work at the competition. 
Judges, contestants, and prize contributors all deserve special thanks
in another posting.
  
-- 
Oliver Dean -- 3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dominguez Hills (near Los Angeles), Calloushernia, USA


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