leyjerry Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Hi everyone, It's been a while (over a year) since I've posted anything but I have enjoyed reading about everything HT. I'm about to pull the trigger on an anamorphic lens to use with my JVC X95. The dilemma is which one to choose; CAVX - Aussiemorphic lens MK 5 or the XEIT- Crystalmorphic CM-5E. I'll be projecting on a Seymour AV curved AT C130 XS screen in a completely light controlled room. So which lens will give me the biggest bang for my buck. Your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucmor444 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I have the CM-5E but haven't mounted it yet - real high standard product from my perspective in regards to apparent workmanship, lens quality etc. ArthurK has one too so may be able to chime in. From all reports both lens are excellent so it may simply come down to the price you can get either one for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oztheatre Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Watchout, here comes Owen.. hahahaaha. Just the facts. The Crystalmorph is the best on the planet, period. It's the ONLY 5 element 2 air gap lens in the world, a complete re-design. The other cylindrical lenes are ALL 4 element single air gap and they're very good too but the 5 element version is an improvement on what is a very very old design (1950's). Less grid distortion, more even light illumination across the screen, less losses, ie more transparent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quark Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I'm running an Aussiemorphic MkIV lens - same optics as the MkV, different housing. The optics are excellent. Agree, the Crystalmorphic is also excellent. Bang for buck, you might also consider the hybrid lens here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren2503 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I have a Schnieder lens, It is the third in a line of upgrades I have done. In regard to lens and after getting the Schnieder I can confidently say I will never need to upgrade again Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steveo188 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Hi everyone, It's been a while (over a year) since I've posted anything but I have enjoyed reading about everything HT. I'm about to pull the trigger on an anamorphic lens to use with my JVC X95. The dilemma is which one to choose; CAVX - Aussiemorphic lens MK 5 or the XEIT- Crystalmorphic CM-5E. I'll be projecting on a Seymour AV curved AT C130 XS screen in a completely light controlled room. So which lens will give me the biggest bang for my buck. Your thoughts? I am using the Crystalmorphic on a JVC X75 and the picture is nothing short of stunning, also Tony that makes the lens is a terrific guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jutta Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) Is the Crystalmorphic available to purchase or on order? Edited March 28, 2014 by Jutta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcheringa Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Yeah, Xeit is still going strong. The dollar drop has re-opened America to us with trans-Pacific orders forming about 30% of sales. We are doing a roaring trade in import replacement too. Everyone seems to have hiked their prices, except us (well, up only a little). Thanks for all the nice things said about Xeit lenses here. Youse know who you are (even if I don't!). Gosh... I'm blushing. We're in the happiness business. Nothing personally rewards us more than satisfied customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oztheatre Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Is the Crystalmorphic available to purchase or on order? They're never far away. Sold one 3 weeks ago and was delivered last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oztheatre Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Yeah, Xeit is still going strong. The dollar drop has re-opened America to us with trans-Pacific orders forming about 30% of sales. We are doing a roaring trade in import replacement too. Everyone seems to have hiked their prices, except us (well, up only a little). Thanks for all the nice things said about Xeit lenses here. Youse know who you are (even if I don't!). Gosh... I'm blushing. We're in the happiness business. Nothing personally rewards us more than satisfied customers. I call your lens Tony, a once in a lifetime product. Only once in a lifetime does something like that come along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jutta Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Cheers. Yes know all too well the value if the AUD currently as a manager of an export small business. We do 80% overseas currently. 35 years in business this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArthurK Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I have the CM-5E but haven't mounted it yet - real high standard product from my perspective in regards to apparent workmanship, lens quality etc. ArthurK has one too so may be able to chime in. From all reports both lens are excellent so it may simply come down to the price you can get either one for. I have the CM-5E and love it, especially with the cineslide mount. Quite a nice piece of engineering and it looks quite imposing up front of the projector too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcheringa Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Who ARE all these people who have a Xeit lens? I 'm so busy making them - each one takes a full day to put together, five hours in a clean room and the rest calibrating - that I don't get to meet the punters. The process involves cleaning, rinsing, drying, more cleaning and then mechanical assembly. When the parts are together we have more cleaning and assembly of the glass. Finally an hour of calibration, then final assembly into the stand. THEN packaging. You really need a drink after all this. It all has to be done to high standards and can get very intense when the pressure's on. As to meeting customers, I hardly ever get to meet the installers either, for that matter. The lenses just leave here and I rarely hear back. Hey, no news is usually good new in this business, sort-of... Anyway, the good vibes are much appreciated. Thanks guys. In answer to the "stock" questions... stock levels are pretty good at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian13 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I too have the Xeit Crystalmorhic 5E lens and cineslide. Magnificent products with top notch build quality. Was one of the first originals to purchase and have had it for near on 2 years now with faultless performance. Must mention that Tony is a perfectionist. Personally went up to Sydney to visit him where he makes them and he showed me from start to finish the pains taking process he goes through to build them. He and his wife also put on a mean BBQ with great hospitality and many many stories and facts about the world of cinema. THIS MAN KNOWS HIS STUFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leyjerry Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 Thanks Guys, Specs are a great way of levelling the comparison playing field but not much beats real owners feedback. It looks like the Crystalmorphic 5E will get the nod. As for the sled the Cineslide looks the business. How much is it? Is there a manual version which can be motorised at a later date? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanoo Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 If bang for buck is really the question then you can't go past a Panamorph UH480. I personally run a Schneider Cine Digitar and totally agree with Warrens comments. I have personally compared the Isco III, UH480, Schneider, panamorph DC1 all side by side in my own theatre and clear bang for buck winner was the UH480. The Schneider and Isco were only 5% better if that and only because of side by side comparison. I had a fellow AV nut see the UH480 in my theatre without side by side comparisons and he stated that it was the best picture he had ever seen. I do have one for sale that you are welcome to have for $1600. I will also have a Schneider kino linear transport available for $1250 in around 4-6 weeks time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Mike Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I use a Aussimorphic MKV from CAVX - Mark Techer, a great product also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minty Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I got rid of my anamorphic lens (mk3 Aussiemorphic) and bought a Lumagen Mini 3D video processor. Best move I ever made and best bang for buck you can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren2503 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 If you are looking for a high quality anamorphic lens , my advice would be to understand who manufactured the lens ( glass component) and their reputation in that field Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oztheatre Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 If bang for buck is really the question then you can't go past a Panamorph UH480. I personally run a Schneider Cine Digitar and totally agree with Warrens comments. I have personally compared the Isco III, UH480, Schneider, panamorph DC1 all side by side in my own theatre and clear bang for buck winner was the UH480. The Schneider and Isco were only 5% better if that and only because of side by side comparison. I had a fellow AV nut see the UH480 in my theatre without side by side comparisons and he stated that it was the best picture he had ever seen. I do have one for sale that you are welcome to have for $1600. I will also have a Schneider kino linear transport available for $1250 in around 4-6 weeks time. If he wanted bang for buck he'd be using the zoom feature on that projector.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanoo Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Yes but question was about anamorphic lenses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oztheatre Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Yes but question was about anamorphic lenses... Yes and he has a top of the line JVC X95, hardly going to put a prism lens in front of that, even if it represents 'bang for buck'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 All the JVC range use the same lens so the same applies to all models. The E-shift models have effectively zero pixel structure so a lens is an expensive way of adding distortion IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcheringa Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) The problem with prism lenses is that they distort so much,most noticeably towards (although not restricted to) the edges where the image can elongate quite significantly. It's quite common to see a 1.25 expansion in the center and 1.45 at the edges. The average is around 1.33, but only the average. Single air-gap cylindricals have this problem, too. On my web site there's a comparison between an Isco and a Xeit lens, clearly showing the Isco stretches the image far more unevenly than the Xeit. Prism are also susceptible to ghosting, more readily than cylindricals. And of course they can't be focused, plus they displace the image a couple of inches due to the light path passing through an optical "chicane" as it passes through the prisms. And this is for a GOOD prism lens. Simple ones - with no correction for astigmatism or color aberration - are just plain awful. It's easy to think something is "the best image you have ever seen". That is simply because you haven't seen anything better. Many of our own customers who have upgraded from a prism system (and in some cases from a single air gap cylindrical) can tell the difference straightaway when they install a Xeit lens. Specifications here: http://xeitoptics.com/specifications/ Edited April 2, 2014 by Alcheringa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanoo Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Understand all that's been said here. As stated, I have DIRECTLY compared Isco III, Schneider Cine Digitar, UH480 and other forms of non corrected prisms. These comparisons were not made with cheap projectors - JVC HD990, Runco Q750i and Runco LS5. The two cylindrical were best and looked brilliant. The UH480 looked fantastic even after viewing the cylindricals. My point is that the difference is not as big as is made out. The person who stated that this was the best image he had seen had just spent 2 weeks visiting local specialist AV stores viewing the best of their projector set ups. His impression was that the image QUALITY was the best he had seem anywhere. This was not in reference to the "immersiveness" of widescreen but in reference to image quality. If the image projected through any A-Lens is as good as the image quality without a lens then it is a Damn good lens period. Do I use a UH480? No, because the cylindrical is better but only by 5% if that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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