help choosing a projector!?

lynx6201

I'm looking for a home theater projector (~1500$ range or less) for my pool house. The building is about the size of a large living room, and there are a lot windows.

The main thing I've found, is that I probably want something thats pretty bright, a lot of lumens (is 3000 necessary?). I picked out two I thought might work, but since there are so many, I really don't know where to start, but I've been looking at some reviews on cnet..

1. http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-projectors/dell-2400mp-dlp-projector/4505-7858_7-31878925.html?ttag=rev_spon_prod

2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824248056

Answer
There are a lot of multimedia/presentation projectors that have high lumens but they are typically less than ideal for home theater use. They use 4:3 ratios and generally have pixel counts like 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600 which are lower than high definition's 720p or 1080p.

They may be your only affordable option though as most home theater projector don't go over 2000 lumens and most being under 1500. You could go with one of these and use a high gain screen.

A high gain grey screen would be best when you have more ambient light in your room. Of course then you're talking about a screen that could cost as much as your projector. You will probably need a grey screen to help your black levels anyway.

Ultimately though you are going to have a washed out picture with poor contrast unless you are viewing movies at night. Have you though about buying some blinds or heavy blackout curtains for your windows?

projector for xbox 360?

Luc

I am looking to purchase a projector for my xbox 360 and blu-ray player. I Have a pretty open area, and have a budget of $700. I am not looking for 3D compatible, only good picture quality and a good size projection.
Any suggestions on what to buy?
I was recommended the Optoma HD 66

Answer
well for under 700 $ you are going to have to buy a 720p projector, 1080p cost about 900+ unless you find one used.

if you see 720p advertised, make sure you look for the actual screen resolution, most everyone will advertise 720p - 1080p, but they actually are only 800-600, that is very bad.... dont get anything below 1500 lumens. most bulbs are 4000-6000 hours, thats about 3-4 years for the average gamer. and with a 720p projector, you wont want a screen bigger than 70" or you will see big aliasing problems, but if it doesnt bother you, it can get bigger no problem depending on how bright you get.

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projector or outdoor tv?

Q. i just had a pool built and im looking to get an outdoor projector and screen...but im also considering an outdoor tv...i know outdoor projectors arent great during the day time, but my main concern is initial cost and setup? I couldnt find any reviews or pros and cons about the two...any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Answer
Projectors are more expensive than your standard tv. Beside that you will also need a screen and a sound system to support it. You would not be able to watch a tv program on tv with a projector. You can purchase a large screen LED or Plasma tv from Samsung or Panasonic, say a 50" and it will be brighter than a projector during the day or night showing. Also projector lamps are only rated for around 2,000 hours of use and replacement lamps can be limited. Hope this will help you out.

Home Theater Projector or TV?

Q. I don't watch TV at all, but I would like to be able to watch movies on something bigger than my lap top. I heard about projectors and started doing some research, but it seems like projectors are way more expensive than any of the TVs out there. Is there a reason I should still get the projector instead of a TV? Do they last longer or something? Or is it only because they're bigger than a TV?
Thanks!

Answer
There are lots of arguments and theories relating to this subject so be prepared for lots of replies. In my opinion, it used to be the case that projectors had far better resolution and clarity over a crt set and that's why it was a prefered choice and also it was smaller than a rear projection set.
These days technology has moved on in leaps and bounds and with the innovation of HD technology, there is not a lot of difference when it comes to the home user. I would say to make sure you go plasma rather than LCD if you decide to go down the "tv" route

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Can a projector make this size of image? Also, HD or SD?

Johnny

I want to use a projector instead of a TV, because the only available space is above a radiator and I'd rather put a projector screen there than any electronics like the xbox 360.

The length of my room from wall to wall (from projector to screen) is around 9.5 feet. A bit less when you consider that the projector itself would probably be around a foot long on its own, so it might be around 8.5 feet from projector to screen.

I only really have space to fit around a 50-54 inch 16:9 screen including any borders though.

Can projectors make that kind of size from that kind of distance?

Would I notice the benefit of 720p in these circumstances or should I just stick to 800 x 600?

Answer
Ok, you asked several questions in one! The other answers are correct, but I'll try and make this specific and comprehensive!

First, what projector do you have? If you let me know, I can tell you what the throw distance would be to get a 54 inch image. Typically speaking, you can get a 54 inch image with about a 6 or 7 foot throw length, depending on your projector. You definitely will be able to get a 54 inch image with 8-9 feet of throw space. Check out the calculator in the source list for exact ranges of your particluar projector.

Your second question is would you notice a benefit with a 720p projector over a 800X600 native resolution. My answer is WITH OUT A DOUBT. I actually just compared a Toshiba DLP-S25U projector with a native resolution of 800X600 to a Panasonic AX200U projector with a native resolution of 720p. The difference was incredible!

A couple of issues with projectors, as well as HD TV's:

First, there's a huge difference between 720p with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, and a 720p with a 6000:1 contrast ratio. The reason for this is because the picture sharpness and detail is all in the ability of the projector or TV to display different amounts of shading. The contrast ratio is how many shades of grey are between white and black. To get the best HD picture, you need a contrast ratio of at least 5000 or higher. Newest TV's/projectors now are 10,000-15,000:1 ratios!

Keep in mind that 720p means a native resolution of 1280X720. This means there are 60% more lines of resolution over 800X600 picture. That is truly significant! Is it life and death to upgrade? No. But if you see what 720p looks like, you won't be able to go back to 800X600!

As someone who has purchases many projectors and used them from my own home theater, to large auditorium settings, I would recommend you get a projector that has a 1280X720 native resolution, also known as 720p. Don't be fulled by projectors saying they are HD but have a native resolution of 1024X768. They will say they are 720p/1080i capable, but what it means is they can receive an input at that resolution, not that they can project at that resolution.

I would also want a projector with at least a 2500:1 contrast ratio, and would prefer 6000:1 or more. If you want to truly see the ability of HD, then you need the high contrast ratio.

Lastly, get a projector with between 1000 and 2000 lumens. I wouldn't go under 1000 in case you need it in a bigger setting at some point. Anything over 2000 would totally wash out 54 inch image and not make a good picture. I personally can recommend the Panasonic AX200U projector. It does an amazing job. It's 2000 lumens on full bright, but has an economy mode which takes it down to 1700. The contrast ratio is 6000:1, and it has a zoom lense of 2x, which is far superior to almost any other projector! Basically, from 8 ft away, you can have an image that is 40-80 inches, or anywhere between.

You can buy a brand new one on Ebay for $1250. I have used it in a small setting (about 60 inch screen), and just used it to broadcast the BCS National Title Game earlier this month on a 138 inch screen! It is a phenomenal projector for the price! Good luck!

Viewsonic Pj503d zoom help?

Q. Hi there guys,

Today I bought one of these Viewsonic projectors, and realised after I had set it up where my old projector was (which could zoom in and out), the image was slightly too big. This is quite annoying as it was just perfect before, and moving the projector or the screen is really not an option.

Are there any suggestions to what I could do? The specs say that it has "digital zoom", and I just need to zoom out by about 10 inches so it fits correctly.

Cheers, James

Answer
I don't think it really has a digital zoom. It says it does on projectorcentral but I downloaded the user guide and there is no mention of it. I also read several reviews that say it has no zoom at all. If that's the case, you would obviously have to move the projector or buy an after market lens that would probably cost as much as the projector.

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Recommended Projector and portable screen advice?

marmaduke

I am after purchasing a good quality projector and portable screen. Screen size will be about 8ft

What shoudl I look for in a reasonable quality projector> Makes, Types etc. It will be mostly for Video.

Answer
There are a lot of good projectors out there. Contrast ratio, lumens, the connections you may want are the first thing. The main thing I would watch is the warranty of the unit and the lamp life. Most projector lamps last about 2000 to 3000 hours and only have a 1 year warranty. Lamp replacement could cost between 200 and 500 dollars. Mitsubishi makes a projector that has good quality, 3 year warranty, and up to 5000 hours in economy mode for the lamp. Dalite or Draper make quality screens.......some generic brands don't reproduce the images real well.

Good portable business projector under $1000?

bakegoodz

Needs to be able to work with the lights on. Used for conferences with under 20 people.
What are good brands, models?
You can get projectors with brighter bulbs that work fine without being dark

Answer
No projector will work well if there is a lot of light on the screen surface. Fluorescent light and daylight are the worst. Try to minimize ambient light on the screen surface if at all possible. Any extra light on the screen takes away from the image.

Pretty much any name brand projector will work great. I buy Sharp, Epson, Sanyo, Sony, NEC for the places I work - all will work great.

Here is one good choice:

http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-XR32XL-Multimedia-Projector/dp/B00193F9V2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1272660031&sr=1-2

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How do you make a RCA video projector?

Sanjay S

I want to know how to make a projector with an rca video input in it. If you don't know what an rca video input is, it's the yellow cable plugged into a tv when you want to play your wii, ps2,ps2, etc. If you don't know how to make a projector like that and you know where i can buy a cheep one in a store (like $50 or less) please tell me.

Answer
Just Google "DIY projector") and you'll find numerous suggestions. That said, you are NOT going to make a reasonable projector for $50 or less. The site at the link suggest $200-$800.

You won't find any good used projectors for $50 ... and if you did it will undoubtedly have a burnt out lamp ($300-$500 alone) or other major problem. Expect to pay $300+ for a reconditioned/discontinued projector in a store. You MAY find something on eBay or Craigslist for less ... but before buying verify the condition of the lamp.

Projectors, cables and Video games?

Noise

I am going to buy a low end projector <1000$ at 800x600 resolution 2000:1 contrast and 2000 lumens so is this good for video games PS2, PC, and Xbox360, and I have no Idea about cables I have been using the default cables that come with the system those with 3 cables yellow, white and red I suppose this is called AV and maybe composite.

So what is the difference between those cables: composite, component, S-Video, RGB, and AV and how do each one look like?
thanks techman2000 but can you tell me what the VGA connector is? is it the one with the pins that is used in PC's, and wow it is actually this good. and I have a Ge-force 6600 graphics card and it has an S-video output as well as the one with pins and a third one which has pins but not like the other one so what is the best way to connect it to the projector and what about the PS2 and the Xbox360?

And most importantly how do games look on a 800x600 projector if the room is dark?

Answer
I suggest you purchase a 1024x768 or 720p projector. With the systems that you are playing, they can output HD resolutions. Therefore, you need an HD projector. 800x600 will only give you 480p, which is considered standard definition.

As for which cable to you, I would recommend using VGA or DVI for your computer and component for your game systems.

This is how the cables compare in quality from worst to best:

Composite (yellow) - SD
S-video - SD
Component (red, green, blue) - SD, HD
VGA - SD, HD
DVI - SD, HD
HDMI - SD, HD

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Projector help for home theater.?

enels4

I was thinking of getting a projector for my home theater and i was wondering, which aspects do i need? and which one should i get? Please try and remember that i am on a budget.

I was thinking of the InFocus IN2102EP. Does this look good for my needs? Is there anything i am overlooking? Thanks for your help.

Answer
A projector is a great way to go ... I'd never go back to a TV for watching movies or HDTV programming.

For a HT the needs are a bit different than for a classroom or business setting. You need a projector with as high resolution as possible, good video processing, high contrast, quiet fan, capability to connect DVI or HDMI inputs, and typically (because of the darker room easily achievable) don't need high lamp brightness (e.g 1500 lumens is enough). It's also desirable -- but not essential -- to have a wide zoom lens ratio and lens offset capability to facilitate installation. Size, type, etc are secondary.

The InFocus you suggest (see link for specs) is designed for classroom use. It's not a bad choice, but the 2000:1 contrast ratio is on the lower end of the recommended range for HT use. The 800x600 (SVGA) native resolution is again on the lower end of acceptable for HT use. The real weakness is the lack of any form of digital input (although component video via a VGA adapter is an acceptable alternative given the resolution capability). That said, it's about as good as you are going to get for the price (and better than many alternatives) and InFocus are a good manufacturer.

See the links for reviews and lots of info on projectors. Worth reading.

Hope that helps.

Can a projector make this size of image? Also, HD or SD?

Johnny

I want to use a projector instead of a TV, because the only available space is above a radiator and I'd rather put a projector screen there than any electronics like the xbox 360.

The length of my room from wall to wall (from projector to screen) is around 9.5 feet. A bit less when you consider that the projector itself would probably be around a foot long on its own, so it might be around 8.5 feet from projector to screen.

I only really have space to fit around a 50-54 inch 16:9 screen including any borders though.

Can projectors make that kind of size from that kind of distance?

Would I notice the benefit of 720p in these circumstances or should I just stick to 800 x 600?

Answer
Ok, you asked several questions in one! The other answers are correct, but I'll try and make this specific and comprehensive!

First, what projector do you have? If you let me know, I can tell you what the throw distance would be to get a 54 inch image. Typically speaking, you can get a 54 inch image with about a 6 or 7 foot throw length, depending on your projector. You definitely will be able to get a 54 inch image with 8-9 feet of throw space. Check out the calculator in the source list for exact ranges of your particluar projector.

Your second question is would you notice a benefit with a 720p projector over a 800X600 native resolution. My answer is WITH OUT A DOUBT. I actually just compared a Toshiba DLP-S25U projector with a native resolution of 800X600 to a Panasonic AX200U projector with a native resolution of 720p. The difference was incredible!

A couple of issues with projectors, as well as HD TV's:

First, there's a huge difference between 720p with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, and a 720p with a 6000:1 contrast ratio. The reason for this is because the picture sharpness and detail is all in the ability of the projector or TV to display different amounts of shading. The contrast ratio is how many shades of grey are between white and black. To get the best HD picture, you need a contrast ratio of at least 5000 or higher. Newest TV's/projectors now are 10,000-15,000:1 ratios!

Keep in mind that 720p means a native resolution of 1280X720. This means there are 60% more lines of resolution over 800X600 picture. That is truly significant! Is it life and death to upgrade? No. But if you see what 720p looks like, you won't be able to go back to 800X600!

As someone who has purchases many projectors and used them from my own home theater, to large auditorium settings, I would recommend you get a projector that has a 1280X720 native resolution, also known as 720p. Don't be fulled by projectors saying they are HD but have a native resolution of 1024X768. They will say they are 720p/1080i capable, but what it means is they can receive an input at that resolution, not that they can project at that resolution.

I would also want a projector with at least a 2500:1 contrast ratio, and would prefer 6000:1 or more. If you want to truly see the ability of HD, then you need the high contrast ratio.

Lastly, get a projector with between 1000 and 2000 lumens. I wouldn't go under 1000 in case you need it in a bigger setting at some point. Anything over 2000 would totally wash out 54 inch image and not make a good picture. I personally can recommend the Panasonic AX200U projector. It does an amazing job. It's 2000 lumens on full bright, but has an economy mode which takes it down to 1700. The contrast ratio is 6000:1, and it has a zoom lense of 2x, which is far superior to almost any other projector! Basically, from 8 ft away, you can have an image that is 40-80 inches, or anywhere between.

You can buy a brand new one on Ebay for $1250. I have used it in a small setting (about 60 inch screen), and just used it to broadcast the BCS National Title Game earlier this month on a 138 inch screen! It is a phenomenal projector for the price! Good luck!

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Video Projector Question?

Q. Alright so im going to college in 20 days. My roommate and I want to have a projector in our room instead of a television. So the question is, if i were to buy one of these, which could i run through a cable outlet and perhaps hook up an xbox 360 to. If i have to buy adapter that's fine. I just want one that woud be easy to use and affordable. So here are some options. My price range is about $200 max so i will be buying used.

A) InFocus X1a DLP Multimedia Video Projector

B)Optoma (PT100) LCD gaming and video Projector

C) Name a better one under $200 that would work well in a dorm room :)
it is for a small college dorm room and it doesnt have to be high def at all. i just want one because they take up way less room.

Answer
Keep in mind that projectors needs to be in a dark room to be effective. Also the lamps on the projector are only rated at 2,000 hours of use, replacing a lamp can cost you a minimum of $50 if it is available at all. There is no sound system and you will need a screen also. For the price of $200 it is not going to be a reliable one. I use a projector for watching blu ray disc movies only and the cost of the projector was $3,499. A decent one will cost you around $1,500. A standard tv either Plasma, LCD or LED are rated at 60,000 to 100,000 hours and are less expensive than a projector. It is also much brighter than a projector in a well lighted room. Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. Hope this will help you out.

whats a good amount of lumens a projector should have for a dark room?

Topher L

i have a 300 ansi projector right now and even in pure darkness the colors are washed out and its hard to see when its a dark movie. i want to know how many lumen or ansi lumens that are near to television quality. it doesn't have to be perfect. can you recommend any good projectors that are not too expensive?
thank you alan and...your name i just forgot but i see you posting to projector questions all the time guy. i have it set up to were its at 150 inches. i love this size....oh wait you gave me a link to calculate it...ah well if anyone posts again maybe that can confirm what i calculate on that site for the right amount of lumens to screen size.

Answer
The lumen level needed with depend on the screen size, however 1000 lumens is considered a minimum for a 6 foot wide screen in a room where the screen is totally dark. This assumes a proper projection screen vs. a white painted wall or surface.

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How bright are Honda Civic LED Halo Projector Headlights?

Raymond M

I have a 1999 Honda Civic EX with the factory headlights. They have become real yellow and I am buying these http://www.protuninglab.com/2lhp-cv99jm-tm.html and I am wanting to know will they be brighter at night when I drive?

Answer
The LEDs should be pretty bright but they are no good for your night time driving because LEDs have lower wattage and are not suitable for actual illumination.

I will recommend you add the 4300K warm white or 6000K ultra white HID Conversion Kit for this kind of headlight lamps to achieve better lighting output.

But make sure to ask the seller whether these projector headlight lamps are well built to endure the heat.

01 Honda Civic HeadLights (aftermarket projectors)?

tazerized

I have an 01 civic with aftermarket headlights. The problem is all my lights all work except my low beams. I've checked the power, the relay, fuses, the bulbs and even switched the connector from the high to low beams and they work. Any Ideas?

Answer
try changing the switch. 2001 civics did have a bulletin on the failure of the light switch. I am not sure if it is under warrany though. you should check with your local honda dealer in any case.

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For super 8mm film, what kind of projector should I buy for black/white and color films?

So I'm shooting a test roll on Tri-X B/W reversal and I want to buy a projector. What are some commonly used film projectors for super 8 mm that are cheap, reliable and can be repaired easily? I don't need a high quality projector, but one that is fairly decent and used commonly by amateur film makers. Also, can I use the same projectors for both color and b/w films? Are there adjustable apertures on projector lenses? Thanks in advance!

Answer
Whether the film is color or B&W makes absolutely no difference with the projector. A projector can play either black and white or color film. Why did you think that mattered?

You just need to be sure you get a projector that can play Super-8 film. There is another kind of 8mm movie film, called "Regular 8mm" or "Double-Run 8." Regular 8mm and Super-8 are NOT compatible. They have different frame sizes and the sprockets are different. There are some projectors that can play both Regular 8mm and Super-8. But if you're using Super-8 film, then you have to be sure the projector specifically says that it can play Super-8.

Projectors do not have an adjustable aperture, but they do have manual focus. Really, there is no need for adjustable F-stops with a projector anyway.

The other advice I can think of is to try to avoid using "auto load" projectors. (Where it threads the film automatically). They suck. They jam often, and it will eat your film. Just look for a better quality projector, where you load the film manually.

As far as what kind of Super-8 projectors to look for, one that comes to mind is Bolex. They made really good 8mm movie cameras (both Regular 8mm and Super-8), and I would assume that their projectors were good quality too. But I mostly shoot with Regular 8mm. I recently got a really nice Revere P-90 projector from an antique shop (it's all-metal and very solid. It works great.). But it only plays Regular 8mm.

Look on eBay and in thrift shops and antique shops. The only thing I can suggest is to stay away from really cheap, plasticky "auto loading" projectors. Try to find a more solidly built projector. Some brands to look for are maybe Bolex, Bauer, Revere, Keystone, and Bell and Howell.

Good luck. I'm glad to see someone else is interested in this! There are actually a lot of people who are into shooting with real movie film (Regular 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm). It's starting to make a comeback.

Why won't my 8mm film fit on to my Wards 8mm projector?

Q. I have some reels from the sixties I'd like to watch but they won't fit on the arms of my projector. The film is 8mm and it's an 8mm projector so I don't know what the deal is.
Also, it's a "self threading" projector but I can't figure out how it works. It's a Wards 886.

Answer
It sounds like you have a Super 8mm projector and not a regular 8mm projector.. Some projectors were both, but you need to flip a lever somewhere on it to one or the other. You also need adapters to fit the spools of film on the arms or change spools all together. This was done so people would not try to intermix films in the projector.
.
Regular 8mm has very small 'images' on the film and the images do not go into the sprocket holes of the film. Super 8mm has larger 'images' and the images DO go into the sprocket hole area. However, the sprocket holes are NOT the same between the two and feeding one type of movie film into the wrong projector can and will chop up your film because the holes do not line up right.
.
Have you tried using Google..???

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Define a data projector?

Q.

Answer
A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system. All video projectors use a very bright light to project the image, and most modern ones can correct any curves, blurriness, and other inconsistencies through manual settings. Video projectors are widely used for many applications such as, conference room presentations, classroom training, home theatre and concerts. Projectors are widely used in many schools and other educational settings, sometimes connected to an interactive whiteboard to interactively teach pupils.

what is best power point projector for bright room?

Laura S

We have a small country church. Several windows - white walls. They want a projector but do not want to have to make the sanctuary dark to use it? Any suggestions? Needs ideas for which projector and what type of screen? Thank you!

Answer
lumens are the key, it is the measure orf brightness, look at this page below and decide the number of lumens you will need for your size room and lighting conditions then go from there http://www.projectorpeople.com/resources/lumen-guide.asp

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Good size for projector screen?

Q. I have a projector screen hooked up to my PS3 that i play black ops on. The screen size is around 190+ inches, and i think its a little tough to play it on such a huge screen (although its great for split screen). What do you guys think would be a good size for me to change it to (i can adjust size on my projector) or what size is your gaming tv?

Answer
I have not seen any screen larger than a 120". When watching a movie you should be able to see the whole screen without moving your head or eyes to see what is it in the side od the screen. 190" is a large screen for any house most home theater are in the 100" to 120" depending on the size of the room. Yes, you can adjust the size of the picture being projected to the screen. Just about every projector in the market has a limit on how large the picture should be, and they are usually at around 130". Hope this will help you out.

projector screen size question?

Q. ok so i want to make a projector home theater. my question is how big of a screen should i get. like L x W. the distance from the projector will be roughly 10-10 1/2 feet and this is the projector i want.

http://www.digitalgalaxy.com.cn/e_80i_02.html
if you look guys its also the higher res not just the 640x480

Answer
First, save your money. That projector is a 640x480 resolution (roughly half the resolution of a low end high definition projector) and the native format looks like it's 4:3 (~square). This means you will be watching a low resolution screen, and when you want to watch something in widescreen, it will likely reduce your resolution even further in order to achieve the correct wide format.
Next, your throw distance is fine at ~10 feet, but with a projector you want to balance room light with screen size. The larger the projected screen, the darker the room has to be. If you want a 100" screen, you will need to be TOTALLY BLACK because this projector doesn't have a lot of brightness, but at the recommended 72", you can have some ambient light in the room, it will just wash out the picture.
Once you've determined screen size, and controlled ambient light, you will have to continually recalibrate your projector (correct brightness and color) because as the bulb ages, it's color and brightness output will vary, and negatively impact your watching experience, and you should look at the cost of replacing the bulb as you'll be doing it every ~2000 hours (or less!)
I generally don't recommend projectors for amateur home theater hobbyists because of all the sacrifices and additional investments that are generally required for the projector to function properly. If you want to do it right, expect to pay no less than $5-7000 dollars for projector and room modification to make the experience worthwhile.
Buy a direct view screen unless you have a dedicated room you can make into a home theater, with controlled lighting, a dedicated audio system (the speakers in the projector will be terrible!) and the capability to run wires through the walls and ceiling to make for a clean install.

*Edit*
As mentioned below, the projector scales resolutions down. It is native at 640x480 and that's all it will ever be able to show. It can take in any resolution, but isn't capable of actually SHOWING those resolutions, it just removes information (detail) from the image until it can display whatever is left. This is not an investment I would recommend making, you will be sharply disappointed. Beyond the low resolution, it's a fair bet that the lens is very low quality (poor focus edge to edge, poor detail) the fan is likely very loud (interrupts your movie experience) and as mentioned above, if you plan on using the internal speaker... good luck. It will sound terrible and have zero bass capability.
IF all you ever plan to do is watch standard DVD's or play video games, this unit might function minimally to suit your needs, but it is NOT capable of displaying high definition. You need a projector with a NATIVE RESOLUTION of at least 1280x720 (720p) to be capable of displaying high definition.

Hope this helps!

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I need a projector for a backyard party!?

Q. My brother is having a Birthday party and we need an projector we can rent to use outside. ANy idea on where we can rent one?

Thank you so much! :)

Answer
http://www.projectorcentral.com/rental-suppliers.htm

good luck,
mar

Computer Projector Opinion?

buffkjehfk

I am looking to buy a projector so that I can host movie nights in the backyard and watch regular 4:3 television. Do you guys think the Optoma EP727 is a good projector for my uses? It would be used most in low light. Full specs are at:
http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projspec.asp?itemid=23263&itmname=Optoma%20EP727

Also, should I buy it from Amazon or ProjectorPeople or somewhere else?
Thanks.

Answer
The videophile types would say that projector is not full HD but you probably will like the picture anyway. I invite a group over for "movie nights" using a XGA projector like that one projecting onto a 60 inch wide screen and the picture is great! I just use the "s-video" input.

Projector People is the way to go...I have bought several projectors from them over the years. They are knowledgeable and have great service.

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What is the value of a Tower Automatic 8mm Projector?

Q. What is the value of a Tower Automatic 8mm Projector???? Model number - 584.92920
Serial number - SB-65148??? Just wondering if they had any value??
Thank You,

Answer
It's worth whatever someone will pay for it. There's plenty of these showing up as unsold on Ebay. People have been asking prices starting at $20.

Nostalgia alone doesn't guarantee value in consumer electronics. There are lots of 8mm projectors around and not many people with 8mm films looking for a basic projector. So as a piece of working technology there's not much value.

I've often thought though that these make quite a nice cinema room prop if resprayed in satin black and gold like the vintage typewriters. Of course that's quite a lot of work and there's no guarantee of a sale. But Ebay could get you some nice exposure and it would stand out compared to the dozens of plain projectors for sale on there week in week out.

value of HD projectors?

Q. I am trying to buy one of the older versions of a Runco projector. It is the Runco Dr-300c, I couldn't find any used ones but I am willing to buy one new. Does anyone know what these go for brand new?

Answer
around $250=350

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Business use projector - which one do i get?

bmofo

I need to purchase a replacement projector for one of our conference rooms. The current one is ok, but the colours seem washed out/faded - especially the blues, even with a new bulb fitted.

So I figrue I need to get a better spec projector. The throw is about 5 meters to a 100" screen.

What attributes do i need to concentrate on to get the best colours in my projected image? What make/model do you reccomend for GREAT colours and brightness for a business use? Budget is not an issue.

Answer
Well you must have some budget. You can spend tens of thousand of dollars, depending on how much resolution and brightness you want.

The site Projector Central has a great search engine for choosing features:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm

These are some popular conference room projectors:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/conference-video-projectors.htm

I would personally suggest the Dell 7609WU (about $4500):
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Dell-7609WU.htm
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/25/dell-quietly-introduces-7609wu-dlp-wuxga-projector/
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS291US303&sourceid=chrome&q=7609WU&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16802969654770541177&ei=o3iFSoqSCoSEtge345CvCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4#ps-sellers

which data projector?

Andrew G

Tossing up between the Dell 1209s and the Benq MP620 but not sure which would be the best. Does the Dell allow switching between 4:3 native and 16:9 modes. Anyone have any info or reviews of the above, what would you buy. Mainly to be used for home theater/tv viewing in medium sized room.

Answer
First, you don't want a "data projector", you want one designed for video.

Projectors fall into several broad classes (based on use). In general for the use you specify you want a projector designed for home theatre use ... not business (like the Dell and Benq).

The differences can be subtle, but basically HT projectors put more emphasis on colour accuracy and video processing. In addition the fan noise level is usually lower. There is less emphasis on brightness (since it will be assumed the projector will be used in a light controlled room).

That all said, most projectors can be switched between 16:9 and 4:3. The difference is really in whether the NATIVE resolution is 4:3 or 16:9 (or similar). If 4:3, widescreen images use a subset of the available vertical resolution, while a 16:9 projector will use a higher proportion of the vertical resolution for widescreen images (in the case of a 16:9 image, 100%).

Either the Dell or the Benq will work for HT use, but neither are really designed for that.

See the 1st link for an overview of recommended projectors (a bit dated, but still valid) at various price points. The second link is to another projector review site, and an article on the best HT projectors (probably all too expensive for you .. but there's lot's of other info on this site too).

You would be advised to do some reading and think about your needs/preferences/budget ... then identify some candidates.

A projector is a great idea (I watch HDTV and movies on mine and wouldn't go back to a "normal" TV), but it requires some RESEARCH o find the best one for yours particular needs.

Hope this helps.

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projector for home theater?

WANNA FLY

I'm thinking of getting a projector for my laptop to project movies on the wall of a small apartment. Epson powerlite S5 seems reasonable. any inputs?
Also, am concerned about the electricity bill. is using a projector costly on the utility bills?

Answer
I wouldn't recommend the powerlite or any multimedia\presentation projector for home theater. You will be much better off buying a home theater projector. Multimedia projectors are very bright, but they typically have terrible blacks and sub par video processing. The end result is a washed out picture with tons of motion artifacts. Home theater projectors are designed for watching movies. You can spend a similar amount of money and get a nice home theater projector. I'd personally recommend the Panasonic PT-AX100U. It's very bright, and it has very good video processing and solid blacks. The Panasonic models also eliminate the screen door effect that is the achilles heel of most LCD projectors. Epson makes nice home-theater projectors as well if you are partial to Epson.

Before you buy anything take a look at the following sites:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

Read up on some of the projectors in your price range and enjoy.

what are the best qualities to look for when buying a video projector for home theater?

bmystifyin

Answer
Here's a must have list for a home projector:

1. Native contrast level of at least 2000:1; not a dynamic rating;
2. Have a history of long bulb life, exceeding or meeting 3,000 hours;
3. Must be bright enough in a semi-lit room;
4. Should have a built-in speaker so you can play and hear it anywhere without relying on attachment speakers;
5. Must be light, no more than 7 pounds max so it can be taken and moved as a portable projector;
6. The manufacturer must have a track record of good customer service, especially in quickness in acquiring a replacement bulb.
7. Must have built-in deinterlacer and not rely on progressive processing of DVD players. A built-in deinterlacer means that any incoming signals can be processed by the project alone.

Recommendations: Check out the current and older Viewsonic and Infocus models. A used refurbished Infocus SP4805 for $600 from Amazon.com is the best deal in town.

Good luck!

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