Rank Cintel Mark III Digiscan - what's it cost?

[Wills]

While getting a quotation for our Cine reel to DVD conversion, I noticed that the equipment they use is a Rank Cintel Mark III Digiscan. One idea I had is that since we've got 13 reels of this stuff, it might be cheaper to buy a scanner, do the work, then sell it second hand. I think perhaps that it might have been out of our price range - anyone got any idea how much one of these babies costs?

cheers.

[edDV]

While getting a quotation for our Cine reel to DVD conversion, I noticed that the equipment they use is a Rank Cintel Mark III Digiscan. One idea I had is that since we've got 13 reels of this stuff, it might be cheaper to buy a scanner, do the work, then sell it second hand. I think perhaps that it might have been out of our price range - anyone got any idea how much one of these babies costs?

cheers.

Are you serious? These are ultra expensive and require a highly skilled operator. Then the companion color correction system and recorders are well into the six figures and a good colorist requires $80k/yr as does the system engineer to connect things properly.

This is an out of warranty used one
http://www.broadcaststore.com/store/prod_detail.cfm?eq_id=426100

A this decade model will set you back a cool $780K not counting the color correction system and recorders.

[Marvingj]

Ha Ha We used to have one at the Television network I work at, its very expensive & you better have some kind of maintenance contract because its going to make you cry if its breaks down.

[Wills]

Well that's kind of what I figured.
Never having attempted to find out the particulars of this kind of transfer before, I didn't have any idea about the costs of the kit they use. Obviously that idea's out of the window.

Thanks.

[filmboss80]

What type of film is on those 13 reels? 16mm? 35mm? Super8? If it is 16mm, you can get a telecine projector on ebay, usually for less than $500. You'll also need a film-to-video transfer box, consisting of a front-silvered mirror and rear-projection screen. Use a good 3-chip video camera to capture the images projected onto the transfer screen, and you can get very satisfactory results. I have used both a Rank Cintel and a telecine projector. Yes, the expensive scanner is better, but for the price, it is not that much better than telecine, as long as you are capturing the projected images with a very good video camera.

Most of the scanners, used, start at around a quarter of a million bucks. I don't think you'll want that for just 13 motion picture reels.