Saket..I'm new to this stuff myself having only just got my first LCD panel (Sharp QA-1050) and an OHP (Hanimex A-4)
The OHP comes with 2 250w Halogen globes (the 50hour life variety I assume) and I can switch a knob to go from one lamp to the other if one blows.
I don't have anything to compare my OHP output to but I'll give an opinion anyway.
A 250w halogen is OK in a completely dark room (I made a carboard "housing" that blocks most of the light escaping from the projector while still permitting airflow) if I'm watching bright outdoor scenes. Stuff like the inside shots in Lord of the rings is still a bit dark even in a completely blacked out room.
The plus of the projector (but for all I know though they are all like this) is that the globes sit on a base that can be raised or lowered by about 3 inches.
Becuase of this fact I think its pretty feasable to put some "low profile" 500w Halogen floodlight in this case and position the platform at it's lowest position.
I'll try it with the just the one case fan at first and see how it goes and if the lense above gets too hot I'll whack in another fan.
So from newbie to newbie my suggestion for the best OHP is a big old model thats busted. One that is quite high leaving lots of distance from the base to the lense so you can stick in your own high wattage globe. Probably have plenty of room for a ballast for a HID globe if you wanted to go that way.
And trust me you probably will..I'm already thinking higher watt globe..higher res panel...I just know if this continues I'll become like some of the hard core people I've read posts from on here searching for a UXGA LCD screen to sit atop my home built box putting out 50,000 lumens at 5000k. 🙂
Hope my little ramble gave you some ideas.
The OHP comes with 2 250w Halogen globes (the 50hour life variety I assume) and I can switch a knob to go from one lamp to the other if one blows.
I don't have anything to compare my OHP output to but I'll give an opinion anyway.
A 250w halogen is OK in a completely dark room (I made a carboard "housing" that blocks most of the light escaping from the projector while still permitting airflow) if I'm watching bright outdoor scenes. Stuff like the inside shots in Lord of the rings is still a bit dark even in a completely blacked out room.
The plus of the projector (but for all I know though they are all like this) is that the globes sit on a base that can be raised or lowered by about 3 inches.
Becuase of this fact I think its pretty feasable to put some "low profile" 500w Halogen floodlight in this case and position the platform at it's lowest position.
I'll try it with the just the one case fan at first and see how it goes and if the lense above gets too hot I'll whack in another fan.
So from newbie to newbie my suggestion for the best OHP is a big old model thats busted. One that is quite high leaving lots of distance from the base to the lense so you can stick in your own high wattage globe. Probably have plenty of room for a ballast for a HID globe if you wanted to go that way.
And trust me you probably will..I'm already thinking higher watt globe..higher res panel...I just know if this continues I'll become like some of the hard core people I've read posts from on here searching for a UXGA LCD screen to sit atop my home built box putting out 50,000 lumens at 5000k. 🙂
Hope my little ramble gave you some ideas.
As an aside..something I've picked up on recently about Halogens (and theres knowledgable people here who can correct me if I'm wrong) is that the longer the life the yellower the light output.
For home theatre setup it appears we need the "whitest" light possible.
So if you go Halogen (which is cheaper in setup costs for a newbie I think) you'll always have a trade off between the "whiteness" of the light output v the life span of the globe.
I think there are even some Halogens that are deliberately burnt out over a life span of 15 hours or so purely to get them to produce a more "whitish" light.
I believe "bulb" is North American for "globe" and the terms are interchangable.
For home theatre setup it appears we need the "whitest" light possible.
So if you go Halogen (which is cheaper in setup costs for a newbie I think) you'll always have a trade off between the "whiteness" of the light output v the life span of the globe.
I think there are even some Halogens that are deliberately burnt out over a life span of 15 hours or so purely to get them to produce a more "whitish" light.
I believe "bulb" is North American for "globe" and the terms are interchangable.
halogen, MH
I've been to see my local lighting expert last week, I learned a few things from him. Halogen bulbs are according to him "much hotter/watt than a MH HID" "the colour is harder to controll also"
I've seen a post indicateing that some halogen OHP use a "bluish" filter on the final optics it's been theorized that this is for correcting the yellow light. (no idea)
My illuminating friend also told me that "double ended bulbs" tend to have a much shorter lifespan than base mounted bulbs. If he knows why he didnt say, just that he sells LOTS of them as compared to base/mogul style lamps. (he's not basing his observations from popularity of style, strictly on performance he has seen) My theory is that in my proposed setup I should be able to adjust somewhat for colour correction regardless of bulb type with the gamma correction on my HTPC.
It's all theory till it's built
zardoz
I've been to see my local lighting expert last week, I learned a few things from him. Halogen bulbs are according to him "much hotter/watt than a MH HID" "the colour is harder to controll also"
I've seen a post indicateing that some halogen OHP use a "bluish" filter on the final optics it's been theorized that this is for correcting the yellow light. (no idea)
My illuminating friend also told me that "double ended bulbs" tend to have a much shorter lifespan than base mounted bulbs. If he knows why he didnt say, just that he sells LOTS of them as compared to base/mogul style lamps. (he's not basing his observations from popularity of style, strictly on performance he has seen) My theory is that in my proposed setup I should be able to adjust somewhat for colour correction regardless of bulb type with the gamma correction on my HTPC.
It's all theory till it's built
zardoz
I've been researching the globe life of the bi-pin OHP halogen bulbs.
The base isnt the reason for the difference.
You can get long life bi-pin halogen globes but the luminescence and colour temp is different.
I'll use a 300watt JC 24v G6.35 as an eg becuae that's what I'm going to put in my OHP next.
The standard OHP one has a life of 50 hours but is 10500 lumens with a colour temp of 3400k.
A long life 1000 hour bulb of the same time is 6400 luments with a colour temp of 3000k.
I don't know the technical details other than the OHP bulbs have their useful life sacrificed in order to burn brighter and whiter.
Even knowing there is a 1000 hour globe..based on those figures the 50 hour one would still be my first choice.
I don't know where they get there lumens figures from though becuase my 250w globe (supposedly 8500) isnt very bright and I certainly dont think it meets the "4000+" lumens figure people quote on here as being a bare minimum for any kind of decent video projection.
The base isnt the reason for the difference.
You can get long life bi-pin halogen globes but the luminescence and colour temp is different.
I'll use a 300watt JC 24v G6.35 as an eg becuae that's what I'm going to put in my OHP next.
The standard OHP one has a life of 50 hours but is 10500 lumens with a colour temp of 3400k.
A long life 1000 hour bulb of the same time is 6400 luments with a colour temp of 3000k.
I don't know the technical details other than the OHP bulbs have their useful life sacrificed in order to burn brighter and whiter.
Even knowing there is a 1000 hour globe..based on those figures the 50 hour one would still be my first choice.
I don't know where they get there lumens figures from though becuase my 250w globe (supposedly 8500) isnt very bright and I certainly dont think it meets the "4000+" lumens figure people quote on here as being a bare minimum for any kind of decent video projection.
Quick primer on bulbs
Ok, as I have been in the Stage lighting business for about 15 years I know a little about lamps, so here are some of my reflections. (pun intended!)
Definition 1)- The field of a lamp is the total area of a spherical surface lit by direct output from the bulb.
Firstly the Lumen rating of a non reflector bulb is the total light output of that lamp, point measured in several places, then averaged out across the field. This gives little info for projection purposes as the final amount of useable light is completely dependant on reflector and condensor lens, as well as filament or capsule design.
Definition 2)- the peak output of a bulb is measured by the above technique, but the angle of the peak output is limited by the lumen level dropping to 50% of the average as measured above, and the peak lumen value is calculated as an average of the that area.
This is usually used for lamps that have in built reflectors or lenses, often called spot lamps.
Note however, that this gives no idea of the quality of the light within that area, it can be very peaky and uneven, and often is!
Got to go, more on lamp tech later...🙂
Ok, as I have been in the Stage lighting business for about 15 years I know a little about lamps, so here are some of my reflections. (pun intended!)
Definition 1)- The field of a lamp is the total area of a spherical surface lit by direct output from the bulb.
Firstly the Lumen rating of a non reflector bulb is the total light output of that lamp, point measured in several places, then averaged out across the field. This gives little info for projection purposes as the final amount of useable light is completely dependant on reflector and condensor lens, as well as filament or capsule design.
Definition 2)- the peak output of a bulb is measured by the above technique, but the angle of the peak output is limited by the lumen level dropping to 50% of the average as measured above, and the peak lumen value is calculated as an average of the that area.
This is usually used for lamps that have in built reflectors or lenses, often called spot lamps.
Note however, that this gives no idea of the quality of the light within that area, it can be very peaky and uneven, and often is!
Got to go, more on lamp tech later...🙂
Maybe it's simple
But here is something that I need to understand.
Here is what an Apollo Horizon 2 OHP manual says - "the system projects over 2000 lumens of brightness".
My question is - what would be the problems if I use a 4000 lumens bulb in a projector that comes with 2000 lumens? Will the bulbs be incompatible? There might be heating problems, but if that is taken care of, what woould be the other problems one might face retrofitting an existing ohp? This would greatly help me in deciding which kind of OHP i would decide to buy.
But here is something that I need to understand.
Here is what an Apollo Horizon 2 OHP manual says - "the system projects over 2000 lumens of brightness".
My question is - what would be the problems if I use a 4000 lumens bulb in a projector that comes with 2000 lumens? Will the bulbs be incompatible? There might be heating problems, but if that is taken care of, what woould be the other problems one might face retrofitting an existing ohp? This would greatly help me in deciding which kind of OHP i would decide to buy.
changing bulbs
there are things to think about before you change to other bulbs in a proj.
socket size ?
heat?
electronics inside. don't underestimate that, some projectors have electronics for the max cap. of wattage of a specific bulb type. If you mess with that, you may create problems, BIG problems.
there are things to think about before you change to other bulbs in a proj.
socket size ?
heat?
electronics inside. don't underestimate that, some projectors have electronics for the max cap. of wattage of a specific bulb type. If you mess with that, you may create problems, BIG problems.
changing bulbs
Thank you uvodee
That's what I was looking for. I am sure I would not be doing that anyway. Just another question about lumens. Maybe this is not the right forum, but while wwe are on it, let me see if i understand this.
The XGA LCD projectors in the market actually cost around $3K or more usually have 1000 or 1200 or so lumens....for more price - say $4K or more, we may get 1800 to 2000 lumnes.
a) If we use LCD monitors(ripped) on OHP, the LCD only passes 50% of the light. So if use a 4000 lumen OHP, will the quality be the same as that of a 2000 lumen XGA LCD projector?
b) One of my friend has an SVGA projector which he purchased has only 1200 lumens. The picture quality is good. How is the picture quality comparable to the LCD+OHP method (with a say 4000 lumen OHP and a 1024x769 LCD)?
c) By theory the LCD + OHP shld be better than an XGA projector(in market), but in actual cases, is it so?
Thank you uvodee
That's what I was looking for. I am sure I would not be doing that anyway. Just another question about lumens. Maybe this is not the right forum, but while wwe are on it, let me see if i understand this.
The XGA LCD projectors in the market actually cost around $3K or more usually have 1000 or 1200 or so lumens....for more price - say $4K or more, we may get 1800 to 2000 lumnes.
a) If we use LCD monitors(ripped) on OHP, the LCD only passes 50% of the light. So if use a 4000 lumen OHP, will the quality be the same as that of a 2000 lumen XGA LCD projector?
b) One of my friend has an SVGA projector which he purchased has only 1200 lumens. The picture quality is good. How is the picture quality comparable to the LCD+OHP method (with a say 4000 lumen OHP and a 1024x769 LCD)?
c) By theory the LCD + OHP shld be better than an XGA projector(in market), but in actual cases, is it so?
lumens
gee, i am not informed on everything you ask but.......
Bestbuy now sells an lcd proj for $1.295.00 800 lumens and nice picture!.
my dukane proj is said to have 4300 lumens and that through a FX bulb 50 watts. i don't know how that is possible, but, good quality and i am satisfied. I think and that is my experience at the same time,, that lumens numbers are just eyecatchers ........
it is personal taste that should come first.
my 4300 lumems result is about the same as the 800 lumes of the bestbuy projector !!!
my panels is a spectra C.
gee, i am not informed on everything you ask but.......
Bestbuy now sells an lcd proj for $1.295.00 800 lumens and nice picture!.
my dukane proj is said to have 4300 lumens and that through a FX bulb 50 watts. i don't know how that is possible, but, good quality and i am satisfied. I think and that is my experience at the same time,, that lumens numbers are just eyecatchers ........
it is personal taste that should come first.
my 4300 lumems result is about the same as the 800 lumes of the bestbuy projector !!!
my panels is a spectra C.
Uvodee,
You can also get an Infocus X1 which is the hottest entry level DLP projector going for $1500. Yes, you read correctly...it is actually a DLP and not an LCD. Check out the posts on avsforum under the <$5000 projector forum. I just ordered one. I really like my CRT, but it's not line doubled and it has analog convergence which is more difficult to converge. I'm never satisfied.
Jeff
You can also get an Infocus X1 which is the hottest entry level DLP projector going for $1500. Yes, you read correctly...it is actually a DLP and not an LCD. Check out the posts on avsforum under the <$5000 projector forum. I just ordered one. I really like my CRT, but it's not line doubled and it has analog convergence which is more difficult to converge. I'm never satisfied.
Jeff
infocus X1
who makes this infocus X1, certainly not Infocus themselves i supose.......
let me check that out, seems a good price, i guess that is why the lcd proj are coming down in price as well.
who makes this infocus X1, certainly not Infocus themselves i supose.......
let me check that out, seems a good price, i guess that is why the lcd proj are coming down in price as well.
Here's a link to 14 pages of discussion on the X1.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=196119&perpage=20&pagenumber=1
Jeff
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=196119&perpage=20&pagenumber=1
Jeff
this is funny
So bestbuy is selling this X1 ( and a similar Toshiba) for $1299 this month.
this is so funny, i read the comments on the avs forum and you can read between the lines (at least i can) that
a) they are wild about but cannot say it because it is too cheap for them)
b) the specs blow them away but again......
c) most of them are bitter
they have sperate forum for cheap projectors so " the big boys" don't get distracted hahahhhahhahahahahahahahahahahah
well and i thought that lumens (only 800) would be a bi setback) no one really seems to make a serious point of that.
J-P
So bestbuy is selling this X1 ( and a similar Toshiba) for $1299 this month.
this is so funny, i read the comments on the avs forum and you can read between the lines (at least i can) that
a) they are wild about but cannot say it because it is too cheap for them)
b) the specs blow them away but again......
c) most of them are bitter
they have sperate forum for cheap projectors so " the big boys" don't get distracted hahahhhahhahahahahahahahahahahah
well and i thought that lumens (only 800) would be a bi setback) no one really seems to make a serious point of that.
J-P
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