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Projector Suggestions

ademers
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Jun 11, 2008, 12:48 PM

Post #1 of 8 (5133 views)
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Projector Suggestions	Can't Post

Hi, I am a newbie. I am looking to buy a projector to use with Izzy but I am not sure what best to look for? In school I was borrowing the A/V departments Epson Powerlite 83. I will be working on a theatre performance piece with a potential throw of 20-40' for a house that holds 150 seats. Any suggestions on a beginners model projector? Price range $1000-2500. Thanks.
____________________________
Interdisciplinary Theatre Artist
www.tctheatre.com

michel
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Jun 11, 2008, 2:48 PM

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Re: [ademers] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hello

It depends on what else is important: noise, hd, lensshift etc.

For low budget Beamer we use the either the
NEC LT 280 or the
Acer PD726W

I am sure others would recommend different ones. It is really difficult to say what Beamer is the best for overall use.

Michel

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(traditional haiku poem)

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skulpture
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Jun 11, 2008, 3:23 PM

Post #3 of 8 (5126 views)
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Re: [michel] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi (and welcome to the Izzy forum)

i think you have a decent budget so hopefully you can get a really good projector.

I personally rate BenQ projectors, but I have heard from many VJ's that the NEC projectors are reliable and of a very high standard.

As Michel said above, you need to think about what you need the projector to do? (Apart from project! Tongue

) For example are you going to need to lens shift the picture all the time? Or is it going to be fixed for good? Does it need to be silent? Or is it going to be tucked away.

it's one of those difficult questions I suppose.

If it helps you may find a wider knowledge base from the VJing forum www.vjforums.com there is always talk about projectors floating around in the threads.

An instant without duration....

www.grahamthorne.co.uk

ademers
New User

Jun 12, 2008, 10:58 AM

Post #4 of 8 (5075 views)
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Re: [michel] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will be performing in different spaces so I guess lens shift would be good to have.

Any opinion about the need for higher Contrast ratio? A few of the NEC projectors have high lumens 3000 and low contrast (500:1). Such as the NECVT700. Versus perhaps the BenQ MP622C?

I know I said my range is higher but I am also thinking about less expensive for now if I can find something pretty good!!

Thanks again.
Anna
____________________________
Interdisciplinary Theatre Artist
www.tctheatre.com

(This post was edited by ademers on Jun 12, 2008, 11:49 AM)

Kingcaffeine
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Jun 14, 2008, 4:41 PM

Post #5 of 8 (4916 views)
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Re: [ademers] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I use the Panasonic 5600u. 5000 ansi lumens and the lens is interchangeable. They are a discontinued model so you can find them cheap! I paid USD $7000 for the PJ and a long throw zoom lens (5x-8x). I'll bet you can find them cheaper now. Projectorpeople.com is a great resource with lots of models and throw distance calculators.

hal
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Jun 17, 2008, 12:25 PM

Post #6 of 8 (4707 views)
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Re: [ademers] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I like http://www.projectorcentral.com/ for comparing models since they have all the information in a consistent form.
and their lens throw calculator and search are good too.

Personally I don't like BenQ I toured with some BenQ DLP projectors and they were very unreliable.
But then It's tricky to find a desktop projector that is durable, it's not what they were built for, being small and light and cheap all works against being durable. But I think that 3 LCD is probably more durable overall.

I know some people really buy into the DLP contrast ratio and whatnot but I really don't like single DLP projectors at all.
A) if you shake your head you get that headache inducing separation of the colors, caused by the color wheel.
B) the color wheel is a small moving part that can and does break.

3 DLP projectors are another matter because they don't have either of those problems, but they cost a pretty penny.

-------
As far as Lumen VS Contrast ratio. It's hard to say both measurements are pretty suspect, you can boost one at the detriment of the other. If you are showing cinematic content in a dark space then contrast may be something to consider. But if you are trying to use the projector in a lit space or say on stage with stage lighting then you can probably just forget it.
The ambient light will always wash out your image to the point where your contrast ratio is crap no matter how good the projector. And you may end up having to crank the Gama up just to get the image looking good to the audience, which will also just throw the contrast ratio out the window.
--
Hal Eagar - Media Effects Artist http://haleagar.com
Director - Digital Performance Institute http://digitalperformance.org
DPI-office 646 442 4435 | Hal-cell 917 257 8440

ademers
New User

Jun 17, 2008, 6:04 PM

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Re: [hal] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Hal and Kingcaffeine. Clearly I have some more research to do and testing if possible. I'll look into your suggestions. I appreciate the reply.

----

So HAL, I will be using the projector on stage with lighting. Do you then recommend that I look primarily to the Lumen count and (as you recommend) a 3 LCD as the main criteria for selecting a projector?

I hope I dont sound hopeless...I've only worked with a few projectors and most of them were classroom/academic class.

Again, I appreciate the advice.

Anna
____________________________
Interdisciplinary Theatre Artist
www.tctheatre.com

ZED
Novice

Jun 19, 2008, 5:37 AM

Post #8 of 8 (4621 views)
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Re: [ademers] Projector Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you want a big, bright and flexible projector, if will cost you more than 2000$.

Understand me, in low budget you can find some pretty cool, small, bright and noiseless DLP or LCD projectors (acer, planar, etc...). But the problem is the lens. For example, I use the planar PR5020 (DLP, 2500 lumens), they have only a lens rate of 1.8 to 2.2. So you have to be extra careful of where you put your projector. Especially if you're touring, that could be a problem. The other problems on those kind of projector are that the zoom and focus are manual (think placement again) and the cost of the replacement lamp (lamps are always costy, but when you pay it half the price of the projector, you're not happy)

If you can have higher budget, it's better and more usefull to buy a lcd projector around 4 to 6 thousand lumens with changeable lens (a lens usaually cost 2'000 or 3'000). My personnal preferences goes to the panasonic (i don't remember the model number), the infocus LP850 or the eiki (or the christie's for more complete version of the eiki (the same with more option)). If you buy one of those model with the lens (short and long throw) you're not tie to a precise distance or placement of your projector.

Hope it help.

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