CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

I think I have mentioned this in the past. I know Nash and I have talked about it a little. Basically, I have thought about renting out calibration equipment locally as a minor business idea. I don't consider this as something that would make a lot of money. This is probably good enough to make a little extra spending cash, as well and more importantly pay for the purchase of some better calibration equipment.

The way I would do this is to have a website and probably market this over at AVS and craigslist. I would have just rent the equipment. The renter would come and pick up the equipment. It would be up to them to familiarize themselves with their tv and the equipment. I would have links and a primer on the website. I figure something like the Eyeone Pro / Display 2 combo would be able to rent for around $75 for three days.

Anyway, just some thoughts. I need to put some more research into this unless everyone thinks it is a bad idea. What does everyone think?

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Sounds good to me. I suppose you would use credit card as a deposit. What about shipping it to someone. (like me )
IS it still feasible ?

LOTREE · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:18 am Post subject:

I thought about a similar idea, either buying one to rent out to photog friends or renting one off a friend, more so acquaintances as I know a few people locally with the Spider. That's as far as my idea went. Very Happy

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

Years ago a bought an AVS-1 meter and rented it out a few times enought to get most of my money back out of it. I think its a good idea.

Mike

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Thanks guys for the feedback.

Jeff,
Yeah I was thinking of using a CC as a deposit. I don't have a CC account, so I would have to look into Paypal. This is also the thing that is keeping me from looking at the purchase of a better meter.

I hate shipping things, so I would probably steer away from doing that. Also, I am not sure how Tom would feel about that. Plus, it is more difficult to get things returned from out of town.

My best friend said it would probably be better to start on the low end and rent it for cheap than go with a higher end meter. I could see that, but I am not sure if I would have to buy the Pro software or not.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Well we could have had a PR 650 but I f*ck*** it up by pulling the memory card out while it was powered up. it was working from my short 3 minute test. And Photo Research will not send me the calibration file to reprogram the card because they said its too old and they no longer service them, I say its bull sh*t!!!

They told me they had too many customer blame them for calibrating old equipment knowing it would go out of calibration quicker, than a newer unit. I say thats Bull and they just want to sell the new equipment while the old stuff is still reliable!!

Any one have any connection at PR so I can get the File I need to resurrect this Unit?

I put the PCMI card or what ever it is in my lap top and it says it needs to be formatted so i know the contents are gone. i was hoping the file was there and I could extract it and then re format the card and re install the calibration file and Software for the probe.

Athanasios

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

That sucks, Nash. I doubt PR is that big of a company. Give Ken a call. David Abrams is another guy that might know someone, but you may not know him. What does Craig use?

I agree it is probably BS.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I was even willing to pay the 1500 to have it calibrated by sending it in but they said sorry. I explained I am a hobbyist and do not plan to use it for making money so i wont bitch if it fall out of calibration or breaks etc once i get it up and running. So now I have no idea what to do.

I sent LA haberline an email, maybe they have the ability to get the file from them or they can do it themselves. I know they are at CES so i dont expect an answer for a week or so.

I asked if I could talk to someone higher up in the company or give me a name of someone and they said said sorry we can't give out that info!! They had the file still too and were about to give it to me but then I got the call about it being too old.

Also if you go to the web site and click on contacts and click the RMA request and put in PR 650 it puts up the message about the SN's BUll!!

Athanasios

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

You should have told them that you are a pro and that if they don't give you the file then you would take them to court. I know Datacolor serviced my spectro last year and it is eight years old. I would lay into them like there is no tomorrow if they said that they would service it anymore.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

here is the link, scroll down to PR 650 and you'll see the message.

http://www.photoresearch.com/current/rma.asp

Athanasios

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

On the software options page, there is an option for self calibration. Could you buy this software?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

stefuel · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject:

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Each Probe is married to its own calibration file and software. So i need the calibration file for this exact S/N Probe.

Athanasios

stefuel · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:02 am Post subject:

I don't really see the need for a end user to have or require access to a high end colorimeter. 6500 Kelvin is 6500 Kelvin no matter what you test it with. If your test equipment is calibrated, it shouldn't make any visual difference. On the other hand, if you're doing it for a living and it makes your job a little easier then fine. It also looks impressive to the customer when you show up with a 20K$ meter to calibrate their display. But like I said 6500 K is..... Wink

My meter is not leaving the house for any amount of money. Wink

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 1:34 am Post subject:

ChrisWiggles · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:30 am Post subject:

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

the reason i wanted to use the PR 650 was to get the Zone contrast done in the blend zone. its much easier to leave the pR 650 in one spot and aim the lens to the zone i wanted to adjust. with a I1 pro or my Chroma 5 i have to move the tripod to each location. and no tripiod will raise high enough to get the upper corners. i had to stack boxes to reach thet. and to keep moving a probe is a pain.

Athanasios

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:38 am Post subject:

Very true!

Everyone click here to purchase a JETI Specbos 1211!: http://www.curtpalme.com/ChromaPure_JETI.shtm

Wink

(Nice spectro meter, not so nice price for the average person).

Kal