Article posted on August 3, 2012
If you would like to transport genuine Cinemascope films onto your 21:9 screen filling the format without losses, there is no way past an Anamorphot. We have had a really close look at the CDA 1.33x M from Schneider-Kreuznach.
Most Hollywood cinema films are produced in the Cinemascope wide image format of 2.35:1 or 21:9. As Blu-ray always saves an image format of 16:9, about 130 lines are missing at the top and the bottom, then shown as black beams on a 16:9 screen. In order to experience the genuine cinema feeling in a home cinema, it would be desirable to be able to show the Cinemascope films broadly and epically without the black beams. For this purpose, there are screens in the corresponding format, and naturally one has the possibility of zooming the projector up every time for a 21:9 film with the result that the black beams "fall out of the screen" at the top and bottom. For this, some projector manufacturers are already offering image format memories. The problem in this mode of procedure: physical resolution of the image chip is lost and parts of the complete 1920 x 1080 pixel structure are left unused.
The solution
For some years now, almost all home cinema providers have been offering a switchover to stretch the image contents of a 21:9 Cinemascope film to the complete height of the 16:9 image chip. Logically, this means that objects are now extended vertically. So after the internal image stretching, equalisation is necessary. This is where the Anamorphot comes in, producing the 21:9 image format exactly and correctly again with its optical setup. The result is a Cinemascope picture which makes complete use of the whole resolution of the chip. A further advantage is the high light yield thanks to the larger number of pixels which are physically illuminated.
Setup and image quality
The Cine-Digitar Anamorphic CDA 1.33x M from Schneider-Kreuznach is the manufacturer's middle Anamorphot and suited for beamers with a chip size of up to 1.3 inches – regardless of whether it is an LCD, SXRD/D-ILA or DLP projector. Its four cylindrical glass elements have been arranged in two groups and its light permeability is stated by the manufacturer at 96.5%. With 2.3 kg, it lies well in the hand and promises image definition into the corners. Its manual focus is lockable and an optional stand ensures perfect position. In the test, we had the CDA 1.33x M with Schneider-Kreuznach's in-house beamer CDP 3500, and we in fact did not observe any loss of definition. The illumination was homogeneous right into the corners. All and any distortions as a result of assembly can be remedied with an Allen key which is part of delivery and adjusts the angle of the optic on two set screws on the slide. The Anamorphot can be reliably moved in front of the projector lens and back again at any time as soon as it had been connected with the trigger jack of the beamer by a mini-cinch cable and the corresponding image formats have been selected.
Conclusion
This is real fun home cinema! Fans of films available in the Cinemascope format will come to love the Cine-Digitar CDA 1.33x M from Schneider-Kreuznach as soon as they have experienced only one presentation with it.
Lab report: Schneider-Kreuznach CDA 1.33x M Image Anamorphot optic Text: Timo Wolters / Photos: Stephan Schlüter Anamorphot CDA 1.33x M home cinema
