Planar A480-PL User Manual

Introduction, Basic projection parameters

Using the AKPro Attachment Kit

Important ceiling mount location considerations

Package Contents

Attachment Plate Diagram

Connecting the AKPro Attachment Plate – PD8130/PD8150

Mounting the ATH1 transport

Connecting the AKPro Attachment Plate – Viper

Mounting the ATH1 transport

Final adjustments

Programming

Aspect Ratio Matrix, Cleaning and Contact information

2 2 3 4 6 7

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AKPro system with ATH1 transport shown

Planar Model A480-PL

Professional Grade

Home Cinema Conversion Lens System

USER MANUAL AND INSTALLATION GUIDE

Including the UH480 Lens, ATH1 Transport

and AKPro Projector Attachment Kits

As of February, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Planar A480-PL lens system – the world’s leading model anamorphic lens system designed to dramatically enhance today’s high performance 16:9 projectors when showing the true widescreen aspect ratio of most major motion pictures.

The A480-PL lens system includes the UH480 Lens and ATH1 automated transport to provide the optimum performance when viewing all wide screen content. The ATH1 transport can be mounted to your ceiling, to an improvised ceiling structure, or to the pre-engineered AKPro Attachment Kit. However, due to the very simple Plug-and-Play procedure they offer, use of these kits will be the focus of this installation guide.

UH480 BASIC PROJECTION PARAMETERS Throw Distance (distance from projector lens to screen)

This distance should be between 12 and 25 feet (3.6M and 7.6M) with the

standard UH480 lens with an ideal range of 14.5 to 17.5 feet (4.4M to 5.3M) for the highest pixel level clarity, especially for computer graphics applications at 1080 resolution. If your projection system involves a significantly higher throw distance then we recommend purchasing an optional correction element (see www.panamorph.com) if you need graphic level performance.

Throw Ratio (ratio of throw distance to 16:9 native image width)

This ratio primarily impacts image distortion. To minimize the amount that the image edges bow inward a throw ratio of at least 1.6 is recommended.

If larger distortion is acceptable, the large aperture of the UH480 will generally work with a throw ratio as low as 1.3 as long as the beam passes through the lens unobstructed. Due to the large distortion and also the increased non-uniformity of image brightness (hot spotting) at very low throw ratios you may wish to consider a curved screen in such cases to help compensate for these artifacts.

Image/Lens Shift Horizontal lens/image shift other than fine adjustment is not recommended due to

keystoning that can be introduced by the UH480. Vertical lens shift does not impact the use of the UH480. However, note that with vertical lens shift the UH480 should be tilted to face the approximate center of the screen to make any residual pincushion distortion symmetric at the top and bottom of the image.

A NOTE ON YOUR SCREEN FORMAT

The A480-PL system works very well with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen. However, if you are considering a new screen we actually recommend an aspect ratio of 2.40:1 for the best all around fit. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio is somewhat of a film industry designation for many aspect ratios around 2.35:1 and may include many titles up to 2.40:1 and occasionally higher. Consequently, by following these installation instructions we will help you optimize your constant height imaging performance for all three primary aspect ratios of 16:9, 1.85:1 and the general range of 2.35:1-2.40:1.

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WARNING!

Use extreme caution and appropriate hardware when installing heavy objects to a

ceiling. Periodically check all fasteners and connection hardware to be sure they are

not coming loose. Improper installation may lead to an increased risk of your

equipment becoming unstable and possibly injuring someone.

USING the AKPro ATTACHMENT KIT

The AKPro includes a high performance, rigid, solid steel plate specifically designed to attach to a properly installed ceiling mount head made by Chief Manufacturing (for use with the PD8130/8150) or Premier (for use with the PD8130/8150 and Viper), which may then be further installed to the ceiling using a variety of standard Chief or Premier mounting components. These components are not included in the kit but are available. The ceiling mounts and

associated hardware must be installed to ceiling structural members to support at least 250 pounds and must be extremely rigid. Any play in the ceiling mount will result in a rocking of the AKPro assembly as the lens moves in and out of the projector beam and represents a danger to equipment and personnel.

The AKPro Attachment kit may also be used with a projector mount, but you must ensure that the mount is suited to support the total weight. If you wish to use a different projector mount the lens system is stabilized by using two chains extending from the front area of the plate to ceiling attachment points. You may skip ahead to Page 6 and the section titled: “Alternate

Attachment Plate Method”

IMPORTANT CEILING MOUNT LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS

For optimum imaging results consult the projector’s instructions for the ceiling mount location to place the projector’s lens in the horizontal center (ie left to right) of your projection screen (even

if the projector has a horizontal lens/image shift capability). In addition, make sure you are not at the limits of your projector’s zoom capability so that you have some range for image adjustments.

The AKPro attachment plate is designed so that the projector and other attached components form an average center of mass (gravity) approximately located at the center of the ceiling mount pipe. Therefore, the ideal ceiling mount location will be shifted by the AKPro 2” (50mm) toward the left side of the screen from the ceiling mount location indicated by your projector’s instructions.

If your projector ceiling mount is already installed and you do not wish to move it (or similarly move the screen in the opposite direction) due to a shift by the AKPro system, then you can make fine horizontal shift adjustments to your projector (if available) combined with turning the projector (only as necessary) during final setup to compensate for the shift. Some small amount of image distortion (horizontal keystoning) may result but in most cases this will not be noticeable since the image edges will typically be masked by the screen borders.

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PACKAGE CONTENTS

AKPro attachment plate, AKPro attachment bag (hardware, spacers), plate hook bag (chain, hooks, hardware)

Transport, transport mounting hardware, lens bracket mounting hardware, power supply, Panamorph remote, batteries

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Panamorph lens and mounting bracket

Chief RPA ceiling mount (PD81xx use only)

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Ceiling side of Attachment Plate

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Top View (this side towards ceiling)

Front

H H

8130/8150 8130/8150

7170 7170

8130/8150 8130/8150

7170 7170

Rear

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