HD projector experience.

Calranthe · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:15

I am thinking of purchasing a HD projector but was wondering what is the minimum distance between projector and screen ?

And how good are these, how sharp an image.

Basically i'll be going from a low definition tv to whatever I decide on.

Have no experience at all of projectors.

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 16:10

I would love one for my room to watch films but i only have about 3 meters from wall to wall

I would also like to know how much distance you need for a certain screen size

fini · 14 Oct 2007 at 16:13

Camalot said:
I would also like to know how much distance you need for a certain screen size

You could get a short-throw projector - they can go massive with very little room.

Calranthe are you thinking of using the projector as your sole source of tv watching? If so I wouldn't recommend this - the need for a dark room(ish) combined with the expense of new bulbs (depends how much tv you watch), would make this a bad decision IMHO.

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 16:23

fini said:
You could get a short-throw projector - they can go massive with very little room.

Very nice

Is there any you could recommend?

FrankJH · 14 Oct 2007 at 16:41

before anyone can really give you valid advice we really need to know a budget

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 16:53

FrankJH said:
before anyone can really give you valid advice we really need to know a budget

Ok, lets say around £300 for the sort of thing i'm after.

What would i be lookin at?

fornowagain · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:05

Camalot said:
Ok, lets say around £300 for the sort of thing i'm after.

What would i be lookin at?

For HD? Not much. Maybe £500 for an Optoma HD70 for the short throw, be careful about the drop on the cheaper units. They have no lens shift. 10ft throw is about the min btw.

http://www.themescene.tv/distancecalc.aspx?PC=HD70

badbob · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:11

Camalot said:
Ok, lets say around £300 for the sort of thing i'm after.

What would i be lookin at?

Add a 0 and you'll get a good one, new. £300 will get something second hand.

fini · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:26

If you're looking at only spending around £300 then remember that a new bulb alone could cost you that much - something to consider when buying second hand.

fornowagain · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:30

fini said:
If you're looking at only spending around £300 then remember that a new bulb alone could cost you that much - something to consider when buying second hand.

Always worth factoring in the running costs. For instance the lamps are around £140 for the Optoma HD70.

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:37

fornowagain said:
Always worth factoring in the running costs. For instance the lamps are around £140 for the Optoma HD70.

Jesus!

And how long will the current lamps cost :eek:

badbob · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:42

And how long will the current lamps cost

If it's second hand it's likely near the end of life. New bulbs 2000-3000 hours, and depending on how many times switched on (got a finite number of "on" power ups) Also if power failure whilst the unit is on that'll shorten bulb (and internals) life.

Raikiri · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:43

Do you mean last? It's normally 2-3 thousand hours

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:51

So if i'm reading this site right....

http://www.themescene.tv/distancecalc.aspx?PC=HD70

I can get about a 70 inch image with a distance of around 3 meters between wall + projector? (HD70)

badbob · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:53

If I were you I'd have a smaller image on a lower quality/lower brightness/lower resolution PJ.

Chris1712 · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:53

I recently picked up a Sanyo PLV-Z3 second hand with 280 hours on the bulb for £330. This is one of few HD projectors available at this price, plenty for 200-300 non HD though.

Bare in mind 3000 hours is 3 hours a day for nearly 3 years, so its not really that bad. Probably not a great idea for common TV use but for films/games thats fapping ages.

Calranthe · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:55

FrankJH said:
before anyone can really give you valid advice we really need to know a budget

I have about £800

the room is about 10ft by about 30ft

Camalot · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:59

Chris1712 said:
I recently picked up a Sanyo PLV-Z3 second hand with 280 hours on the bulb for £330. This is one of few HD projectors available at this price, plenty for 200-300 non HD though.

I'm not too fussed about HD actually. All id want it for is to watch a few movies with the gf, watch some shows like PB/heroes

What would you recommend for a non HD projector then? Bare in mine i will only have 2.5-3meters space between wall and projector

Chris1712 · 14 Oct 2007 at 18:19

Toshiba Mt-200 would be a good bet, or Epson TMP-10 (iirc?) or maybe Panasonic AE100. Trawl through ebay and avforums.com

badbob · 14 Oct 2007 at 18:21

Camalot said:
Bare in mine i will only have 2.5-3meters space between wall and projector

I'd just buy a flatscreen tbh. For that distance 40-46" will do.