I am a beginner and have fully read through this forum and many others multiple times. I want to build a projector. This will be used as a daily tv + as a theater system to watch dvd's when friends come over. Since, I am going to be watching this each day I want it to be top quality.
I am going to be building a projector using a 15" lcd screen. I am willing to spend up to $600 or so, maybe more. I will build the enclosure myself.
Can you guys help me pick out the best combination of goods. I believe I need:
1. LCD Monitor
2. Lens
3. Light
4. Fans
5. Reflector
6. Any thing else?
Any help is appreciated. I have read through all the help, but want to make sure the combination of light, lenses and lcd is correct.
I am going to be building a projector using a 15" lcd screen. I am willing to spend up to $600 or so, maybe more. I will build the enclosure myself.
Can you guys help me pick out the best combination of goods. I believe I need:
1. LCD Monitor
2. Lens
3. Light
4. Fans
5. Reflector
6. Any thing else?
Any help is appreciated. I have read through all the help, but want to make sure the combination of light, lenses and lcd is correct.
I know this place is a mess, but realize that there are like 3 of these new threads every week. Just read everything if you can. I know it's a lot. Check out the "NEC 1545" thread. $200 for an Elmo SD305 and $250 for an NEC 1545 (actually, the 1555 would be better) is less that your budget, and I'm unaware of anyone making a better looking PJ.
Oh yeah, check out Alan Staples web site. He finds the best deals and re-sells lenses and lamps for diy projectors.
www.diylabs.org
www.diylabs.org
It's not that I dont mind paying for alans triplet lenses, it goes to a good cause, but they are really pricey, and he has jacked the prices. Great site though, I guess he deserves every penny he makes.
For twice that
I can seel u my LCD xga 2000 lumen projector, a mitsubishi. let me knwo if u want it, that or i can seel you a dlp with same specs, and 90% bulb life remaining for 1800.
I can seel u my LCD xga 2000 lumen projector, a mitsubishi. let me knwo if u want it, that or i can seel you a dlp with same specs, and 90% bulb life remaining for 1800.
verbose mustafa said:
I don't know about that. Do you know how much an OHP w/ a triplet costs compared to one w/ a doublet or single?
I got my Davis DL450 clone (Kodak DP850) for $600, and I could not be happier! This DLP blows DIY out of the water! I has a 6000 hour bulb, 800x600 DLP, and is small and quiet. I could not be happier (except for a CRT).
If you have $600 I would not advise the DIY route look into
1) Used DLP/LCD projectors (you will need to look around my projector was quite a deal.)
2) a CRT projector-- I almost got a sony 1271q (1600x1200 7" CRT projector that can do full HDTV) (it sold for $500) But I am away at college and it is over 150 pounds. If you love to tweak a CRT projector is going to be your top choice.
If you have $600 I would not advise the DIY route look into
1) Used DLP/LCD projectors (you will need to look around my projector was quite a deal.)
2) a CRT projector-- I almost got a sony 1271q (1600x1200 7" CRT projector that can do full HDTV) (it sold for $500) But I am away at college and it is over 150 pounds. If you love to tweak a CRT projector is going to be your top choice.
That's a rare deal. And it's 800x600 = low-definition. I'm looking for a high-def projector w/o spending $4000 (the cheapest 720p non-CRT projector I could find).
You know what. A 600 lumens CRT projector for $800 bucks (the best I could find) is nothing I am interested in.
Dim, and you can't play video games or use it as a computer screen w/o the risk of burn in. Actually, you can't even watch things in 16x9 w/o risking burn in.
And these are not high-def native. Most new CRT's are, but 700 lines of resolution is not high-def. In fact, it's 68 lines less than my DIY setup.
CRT's need serious adjusting, and to be honest, they just don't look very clean (the old cheap ones I mean). They're never very bright. You've got 3 tubes to worry about. And what happens when one burns out? The thought of buying a used CRT front projector makes my stomach turn. We've all seen what these things look like in bars. Why do you think companies like Runco can get away with selling these things for more than the cost of a Lexus? Because there are tons of quality concerns when it comes to CRT. Digital projectors are the way to go.
I find it hard to believe that you got working a DLP projector for $600. I'm not saying your lying, but I find it hard to believe. Nevertheless, for anyone looking to get a nice projector for cheap, the X1 is the only thing available, and at 800x600, the word "nice" is questionable, and at $1500, the word "cheap" is questionable as well. I look through ebay. I look through Inventory Solutions and I don't know where these mysterious deals exist.
I have spent $700 on my system, and it will definately give your projector a run for it's money. Also, I can (and will) put my LCD monitor back together and use it as an actual monitor when I upgrade to a higher res panel w/ a higher contrast ratio for a small fraction of what an X1 costs.
Personally, having a portable projector is pointless, espescially since my screen, my speakers, and my satallite dish aren't very portable either. I don't care if my projector is the size of a grandfather clock. I can't make something of X1 quality for $700. But I can make something that will blow away the X1 for $1500.
Dim, and you can't play video games or use it as a computer screen w/o the risk of burn in. Actually, you can't even watch things in 16x9 w/o risking burn in.
And these are not high-def native. Most new CRT's are, but 700 lines of resolution is not high-def. In fact, it's 68 lines less than my DIY setup.
CRT's need serious adjusting, and to be honest, they just don't look very clean (the old cheap ones I mean). They're never very bright. You've got 3 tubes to worry about. And what happens when one burns out? The thought of buying a used CRT front projector makes my stomach turn. We've all seen what these things look like in bars. Why do you think companies like Runco can get away with selling these things for more than the cost of a Lexus? Because there are tons of quality concerns when it comes to CRT. Digital projectors are the way to go.
I find it hard to believe that you got working a DLP projector for $600. I'm not saying your lying, but I find it hard to believe. Nevertheless, for anyone looking to get a nice projector for cheap, the X1 is the only thing available, and at 800x600, the word "nice" is questionable, and at $1500, the word "cheap" is questionable as well. I look through ebay. I look through Inventory Solutions and I don't know where these mysterious deals exist.
I have spent $700 on my system, and it will definately give your projector a run for it's money. Also, I can (and will) put my LCD monitor back together and use it as an actual monitor when I upgrade to a higher res panel w/ a higher contrast ratio for a small fraction of what an X1 costs.
Personally, having a portable projector is pointless, espescially since my screen, my speakers, and my satallite dish aren't very portable either. I don't care if my projector is the size of a grandfather clock. I can't make something of X1 quality for $700. But I can make something that will blow away the X1 for $1500.
I would like to see that, be aware that the X1 has the latest DLP chip from TI and the Faroudja Fli2200 chipset. I work for Infocus and I know whats inside.
My offer of the LP425 is serious, I bought it from one of our customers when he bought a new projector.
You can find the spec's here:
http://www.infocus.com/service/lp425z/spec.asp
It doesn't matter what's inside. A Ferrari cannot beat a motorcycle in a race, no matter what engine it has inside. But a motorcycle will never has as an efficient air conditioner.
DLP, LCD, and CRT. Apples, pears, and oranges. The X1 will have much nicer black levels than any LCD in the world. But then again, the X1 cannot match the black levels of most CRTs.
The fact is that 800x600 with the newest chip from TI is still 800x600. And that still is nowhere near high-defenition by any account.
Even if the blacks are not as dark, or the colors are not as vivid, I can read the writing on Kobe Bryant's shoes with a high-def projector and I couldn't with an X1. UXGA is litearlly twice as detailed as the X1, and even still, that's 320 vertical lines short of true HD. Something to think about.
But resolution is something that companies like TI don't seem to have a clue about, especially since they seem to think that 1920x1080 is good enough for movie theatres. 35mm film is more like 4000x1800 or so. Ask any professional photographer what resolution it takes to not lose any quality when scanning a film slide. George Lucas is a fool if he thinks that HDTV is good enough for movie theatres (Episode II was shot on a regular Sony HD video camera- hence, looked like crap in the theatres but great on DVD).
I also like the look of LCD. I think it resembles film more than the other two do. It makes sense since liquid looks a lot more like acetate plastic than the other two.
DLP, LCD, and CRT. Apples, pears, and oranges. The X1 will have much nicer black levels than any LCD in the world. But then again, the X1 cannot match the black levels of most CRTs.
The fact is that 800x600 with the newest chip from TI is still 800x600. And that still is nowhere near high-defenition by any account.
Even if the blacks are not as dark, or the colors are not as vivid, I can read the writing on Kobe Bryant's shoes with a high-def projector and I couldn't with an X1. UXGA is litearlly twice as detailed as the X1, and even still, that's 320 vertical lines short of true HD. Something to think about.
But resolution is something that companies like TI don't seem to have a clue about, especially since they seem to think that 1920x1080 is good enough for movie theatres. 35mm film is more like 4000x1800 or so. Ask any professional photographer what resolution it takes to not lose any quality when scanning a film slide. George Lucas is a fool if he thinks that HDTV is good enough for movie theatres (Episode II was shot on a regular Sony HD video camera- hence, looked like crap in the theatres but great on DVD).
I also like the look of LCD. I think it resembles film more than the other two do. It makes sense since liquid looks a lot more like acetate plastic than the other two.
yeah what lifter said, specially about the resolution.
first thing I look at when I look for projectors.
first thing I look at when I look for projectors.
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