Hey, whats up fellas.
I've been hanging around the forum for awhile now and have to say something here.
It seems like theres more people having trouble putting this project together, then people who actually did it?
Why?
Not because it isnt worth it or cant be done... It's the fact that people are CHEAP! EVERY project I see is full of... "oh, I picked up this lcd at a flee market... " or " I got this deal on a real good OHP but I'm not happy with the picture quality!?"
STOP BEING CHEAP!
Buy everything new! Spend some money and you'll create something special!
And to go a little off topic here, I also see too many people talking about 1000 Watt MH bulbs... you guys gotta be nuts! You need 10 amps just to run the dame thing, which means most people will have to run an extra line in the room. 450 is more then enough. If you dont think so... you should re-design your light chamber... or buy a newer LCD which is made to let more light through.
Plus too many people are making these things too dame big! Even with a 15" flat panel theres no need to have the light 3 feet away from the LCD! Worried about heat? buy "Low E" glass make a sealed chamber and add a few small fans. Bring the LCD as close to the bulb as possible and it'll be more then bright enough.
just a thought...
John
I've been hanging around the forum for awhile now and have to say something here.
It seems like theres more people having trouble putting this project together, then people who actually did it?
Why?
Not because it isnt worth it or cant be done... It's the fact that people are CHEAP! EVERY project I see is full of... "oh, I picked up this lcd at a flee market... " or " I got this deal on a real good OHP but I'm not happy with the picture quality!?"
STOP BEING CHEAP!
Buy everything new! Spend some money and you'll create something special!
And to go a little off topic here, I also see too many people talking about 1000 Watt MH bulbs... you guys gotta be nuts! You need 10 amps just to run the dame thing, which means most people will have to run an extra line in the room. 450 is more then enough. If you dont think so... you should re-design your light chamber... or buy a newer LCD which is made to let more light through.
Plus too many people are making these things too dame big! Even with a 15" flat panel theres no need to have the light 3 feet away from the LCD! Worried about heat? buy "Low E" glass make a sealed chamber and add a few small fans. Bring the LCD as close to the bulb as possible and it'll be more then bright enough.
just a thought...
John
jcbklyny
"STOP BEING CHEAP!" ? I see the point you are making...but why in the world should I have passed up my 3M9550 for $150.00 cdn? So I could buy a brand new one that gives me less lumens for more money? Or perhaps one that gives slightly more lumens for considerably more money? You are right in what you say about the cost factors though, DIYers have to remember that "you get what you pay for". If you buy a 4 inch LCD TV to base your projector around....you will get what you paid for...a projector that has very limited uses, and that will ultimately probably not keep you happy for long.
Keep your costs down...but not so low as to make the project not worth doing. That would be my view.
zardoz
"STOP BEING CHEAP!" ? I see the point you are making...but why in the world should I have passed up my 3M9550 for $150.00 cdn? So I could buy a brand new one that gives me less lumens for more money? Or perhaps one that gives slightly more lumens for considerably more money? You are right in what you say about the cost factors though, DIYers have to remember that "you get what you pay for". If you buy a 4 inch LCD TV to base your projector around....you will get what you paid for...a projector that has very limited uses, and that will ultimately probably not keep you happy for long.
Keep your costs down...but not so low as to make the project not worth doing. That would be my view.
zardoz
i spent $700 on my project, not including the screen. there are a bunch of "gotchas" to DIY OHP projectors that haven't really been discussed and are a factor in determining if you would be better off just spending the $1500 on something nice rather than $700 on something that will always be flawed. for instance, you will never get the correct 4:3 aspect ratio on of your OHP + 15" lcd because the sides of the lcd slightly overhange the edges of the OHP
Stop being cheap?
I obviously know nothing about your financial status, but I do know that alot of people don't have alot of money to work with when putting this projector together, which is the reason they are interested in this project in the first place.
I do agree though that people are expecting $100,000+ projector quality out of $200 and a 4" LCD, which is obviously wrong.
I personally think the OHP route is a bad way to go. You buy the OHP, then you need a bigger stage, and have to retrofit a new MH light in there, when you could have just picked up a light off ebay and a few parts from a TV repair shop for much cheaper, and build your own OHP.
I obviously know nothing about your financial status, but I do know that alot of people don't have alot of money to work with when putting this projector together, which is the reason they are interested in this project in the first place.
I do agree though that people are expecting $100,000+ projector quality out of $200 and a 4" LCD, which is obviously wrong.
I personally think the OHP route is a bad way to go. You buy the OHP, then you need a bigger stage, and have to retrofit a new MH light in there, when you could have just picked up a light off ebay and a few parts from a TV repair shop for much cheaper, and build your own OHP.
I've planned to build my own ohp, but I don't know what kind of lens to buy, etc.. I really know nothing in optics. Help would be appreciated.
For now all I know is I need a lamp kit ( metal halide with reflector ), a condenser lens ( dont have a clue what to buy ), a fresnel lens to put before my lcd, some use a 2nd lens after the lcd and before the projection lens ( still dont have a clue, should a use the 2nd lens or not, if not, which projection lens will andle a 15" lcd.. )
I read some website that explain how to do your own projection without a ohp, custom lens setup, but allways for lcd panel of 7" or less..
so.. anyone could help me to make a plan to build a good projector for my 15" lcd? ( don't want to buy a ohp )
For now all I know is I need a lamp kit ( metal halide with reflector ), a condenser lens ( dont have a clue what to buy ), a fresnel lens to put before my lcd, some use a 2nd lens after the lcd and before the projection lens ( still dont have a clue, should a use the 2nd lens or not, if not, which projection lens will andle a 15" lcd.. )
I read some website that explain how to do your own projection without a ohp, custom lens setup, but allways for lcd panel of 7" or less..
so.. anyone could help me to make a plan to build a good projector for my 15" lcd? ( don't want to buy a ohp )
We do it cheap so we can 
(1) Tell the world that ingenuity doesn't need big bucks, Just knowledgable people (DIY'ers)who are willing to share their accomplishments as well as their mistakes so others may learn(2)brag to our buddies about the BIGWALL TV you build yourselve at a fraction of the cost, with nothing but out of date technology and getting your hands a little dirty.
I totally believe in the first statement, and totally enjoy the second whenever possible.
(1) Tell the world that ingenuity doesn't need big bucks, Just knowledgable people (DIY'ers)who are willing to share their accomplishments as well as their mistakes so others may learn(2)brag to our buddies about the BIGWALL TV you build yourselve at a fraction of the cost, with nothing but out of date technology and getting your hands a little dirty.I totally believe in the first statement, and totally enjoy the second whenever possible.
ok ok i cant listen to this anymore.
im going to go out on a limb here, and at the risk of stereotyping(i truly feel stereotypes exist in this world because 2/3 of the time they are true!) i am going to put the lot of us into a few catagories that would explain the "cheap" behavior.
we (we meaning those who post and behave cheap)are one of the follwing:
1. a kid under 21 with very limited funds who dreams of a big screen and will try anything cheap because while we dont have gobs of cash, we are at least somewhat capable of "getting our hands dirty" doing a little reading on the net BUT NOT WILLING TO BE A PIONEER
2.a kid at heart over 21 who has no credit and cant buy anything at the awesome interest rates right now which require less shipping, less tinkering, and less frustration. we are stuck with what we can ebay together for as little cash as possible. unfortunately, while we are willing to be pioneers, WE OFTEN END UP GETTING BURNED with ideas not fully thought out. we would be better off fixing our credit and buying the real deal.
3.a surplus/radio shack/technophile geek with a family and always fooling around with some project to help us feel special to are geek friends and family. we research everything and then research it some more. then we commit large amounts of capital because IF IT AINT DIY, IT AINT COOL.
YOU ALL KNOW WHICH CHEAP DIY'r YOU ARE
others may be a mix, others may be truly cheap.
myself, i think the ideas here may be cheap, but the pioneering spirit that is diy is truly great whatever the reason.
myself- im done and neither cheap, geeky, or broke with bad credit.
i sold all my gear and bought a new infocus X1 with a 100.00 rebate and 5 year warranty for about 1300.00 with 0% interest.
so anyone who is here to hate on the "cheap" people can fk off and flame at an easier target..... me the sellout.
good day
im going to go out on a limb here, and at the risk of stereotyping(i truly feel stereotypes exist in this world because 2/3 of the time they are true!) i am going to put the lot of us into a few catagories that would explain the "cheap" behavior.
we (we meaning those who post and behave cheap)are one of the follwing:
1. a kid under 21 with very limited funds who dreams of a big screen and will try anything cheap because while we dont have gobs of cash, we are at least somewhat capable of "getting our hands dirty" doing a little reading on the net BUT NOT WILLING TO BE A PIONEER
2.a kid at heart over 21 who has no credit and cant buy anything at the awesome interest rates right now which require less shipping, less tinkering, and less frustration. we are stuck with what we can ebay together for as little cash as possible. unfortunately, while we are willing to be pioneers, WE OFTEN END UP GETTING BURNED with ideas not fully thought out. we would be better off fixing our credit and buying the real deal.
3.a surplus/radio shack/technophile geek with a family and always fooling around with some project to help us feel special to are geek friends and family. we research everything and then research it some more. then we commit large amounts of capital because IF IT AINT DIY, IT AINT COOL.
YOU ALL KNOW WHICH CHEAP DIY'r YOU ARE
others may be a mix, others may be truly cheap.
myself, i think the ideas here may be cheap, but the pioneering spirit that is diy is truly great whatever the reason.
myself- im done and neither cheap, geeky, or broke with bad credit.
i sold all my gear and bought a new infocus X1 with a 100.00 rebate and 5 year warranty for about 1300.00 with 0% interest.
so anyone who is here to hate on the "cheap" people can fk off and flame at an easier target..... me the sellout.
good day
jcbklyny works for proxima! he wants us to buy BRAND new from him! lol
why be cheap? the REAL question is WHY NOT be cheap? dammit its the AMERICAN way
why even make a thread liek this? its pointless, not EVERY one is cheap, there was some guy who payed 560$ for and LCD panel if u think thats cheap then u DO work for a projection company...
and they dont make LCD panels anymore what others ways can a person get it if its not "cheap"
even if i was rich i'd STILL be cheap...thank God for a free country
I've created "something Special" with less than 300...
just a thought....
why be cheap? the REAL question is WHY NOT be cheap? dammit its the AMERICAN way
why even make a thread liek this? its pointless, not EVERY one is cheap, there was some guy who payed 560$ for and LCD panel if u think thats cheap then u DO work for a projection company...
and they dont make LCD panels anymore what others ways can a person get it if its not "cheap"
even if i was rich i'd STILL be cheap...thank God for a free country
I've created "something Special" with less than 300...
just a thought....
qwkbird, none of your sterotypes fit me. i'm 23, single, have plenty of money... but I'm just cheap. Although I do have to say that now that I've tasted what the DIY route can do, I really want to be a $3000 nice projector!
kl899 - thats why i said stereotypes only turn out to be true 2/3 of the time. 🙂 I DONT FIT THE STEREOTYPES EITHER! i seem to be a hybrid of no.3 as far as the research stuff goes, and some unknown type that has the means to not be "cheap" when being "cheap" also means taking a hit in the results of the performance of the projector. i just didnt like the way the post was going. if none of us were cheap, we all would have $5000+ dlp projectors.
i still may be cheap, as i went with the best "cheap" dlp i could find.... the x1 at only a marginal difference in cost between a good metal halide setup, a good lcd, a good htpc. i said screw it.
diy is fun, and the ideas are great. but like others who still post even though they have moved on to store bought projectors, the ease of store bought won me over in the long run. im just glad that i could still sell all my stuff at a profit before store bought comes down in price that no one wants to diy a projector anymore.
🙂 you guys will still see me around on here! i like the info and personalities to much to leave.
i still may be cheap, as i went with the best "cheap" dlp i could find.... the x1 at only a marginal difference in cost between a good metal halide setup, a good lcd, a good htpc. i said screw it.
diy is fun, and the ideas are great. but like others who still post even though they have moved on to store bought projectors, the ease of store bought won me over in the long run. im just glad that i could still sell all my stuff at a profit before store bought comes down in price that no one wants to diy a projector anymore.
🙂 you guys will still see me around on here! i like the info and personalities to much to leave.
More...
I didnt mean to get under anybody's skin here... I just wanted to make a point.
Point Being --- Just because you can Do-It-Yourself doesnt make it CHEAP! People make it cheap and get cheap results!
I work for an entertainment company. We have a range of projectors from $3-$12,000! (I'm not going into all the model numbers and details) But the bottom line is my homemade projectors are BETTER then anything we have under 5 grand! and BLOWS away anything under 2.
I've heard people saying how the commercial 3 LCD setup is better because it eliminates screen door effect... FALSE! Not true!! Your 1,300 or even 7,000 dollar store bought projector is gonna have the same screen door effect!
A DIY projector CAN BE JUST AS GOOD if not BETTER then commercial units of double the price.... if you tried and didnt get good results... your design IS FLAWED!
You CAN get a FULL 4:3 picture with a 15" LCD... you just need to make your own enclosure.
If your gonna do it yourself... DO IT RIGHT!
I didnt mean to get under anybody's skin here... I just wanted to make a point.
Point Being --- Just because you can Do-It-Yourself doesnt make it CHEAP! People make it cheap and get cheap results!
I work for an entertainment company. We have a range of projectors from $3-$12,000! (I'm not going into all the model numbers and details) But the bottom line is my homemade projectors are BETTER then anything we have under 5 grand! and BLOWS away anything under 2.
I've heard people saying how the commercial 3 LCD setup is better because it eliminates screen door effect... FALSE! Not true!! Your 1,300 or even 7,000 dollar store bought projector is gonna have the same screen door effect!
A DIY projector CAN BE JUST AS GOOD if not BETTER then commercial units of double the price.... if you tried and didnt get good results... your design IS FLAWED!
You CAN get a FULL 4:3 picture with a 15" LCD... you just need to make your own enclosure.
If your gonna do it yourself... DO IT RIGHT!
Re: More...
realy? sounds interesting. i'd like to see your projectors 🙂 post pix or give your setup info.....mr. BIG spender.
jcbklyny said:
realy? sounds interesting. i'd like to see your projectors 🙂 post pix or give your setup info.....mr. BIG spender.
Here's the deal. Spending $800 to make a projector that is of poor quality is not a good idea. The Infocus X1 is one of those rare nice things out there for a very reasonable price. However, it's 800x600, meaning that your spending more than $1000 for something that isn't even HD. To me, that's pointless. For that kind of money, I'd rather have a CRT rear-projection TV.
Find a high-def DLP or LCD projector. Oh wait, you can't because they don't even exist. The closest thing to it I've seen is one w/ 1600x1200 resolution, which is still 320 vertical lines short of being true high-def. And I think it was in the $40-50 grand range.
If you just want a cheap projector, it's gonna cost you $300 or so at least, and your results will be questionable. Personally, I've spent about $900 already, but I have a very bright XGA picture. But I still won't be able to justify the money I've spent until I can make the thing quieter and get a UXGA panel working.
Being cheap is fine. Thinking that your going to get something nice and clean for less than $400 is not a good idea, because you won't.
Oh yeah, WTF is the need to buy something new? This isn't a car we're talking about here, it's electronics. It either works or it doesn't. Nothing wrong w/ buying something used, so long as it works. I bought my 3M 9850 on ebay for $400. If I were a complete idiot, I could have bought it brand new. The cheapest I could find it for was $2300! Everything was pristine when I got it, and it works perefectly.
Find a high-def DLP or LCD projector. Oh wait, you can't because they don't even exist. The closest thing to it I've seen is one w/ 1600x1200 resolution, which is still 320 vertical lines short of being true high-def. And I think it was in the $40-50 grand range.
If you just want a cheap projector, it's gonna cost you $300 or so at least, and your results will be questionable. Personally, I've spent about $900 already, but I have a very bright XGA picture. But I still won't be able to justify the money I've spent until I can make the thing quieter and get a UXGA panel working.
Being cheap is fine. Thinking that your going to get something nice and clean for less than $400 is not a good idea, because you won't.
Oh yeah, WTF is the need to buy something new? This isn't a car we're talking about here, it's electronics. It either works or it doesn't. Nothing wrong w/ buying something used, so long as it works. I bought my 3M 9850 on ebay for $400. If I were a complete idiot, I could have bought it brand new. The cheapest I could find it for was $2300! Everything was pristine when I got it, and it works perefectly.
I agree that its not REAL HD, but it still looks damn good for the money. Frankly, the two most important factors for me going this UN-CHEAP route were that 1- I wanted a smaller setup, not a huge box, or ohp and uxga or xga lcd, and a htpc, and noise, and uv issues,... and 2- i can take my projector to tailgate, work, school, bachelor parties, WHEREVER!
thats why i didnt get a rear proj widescreen HDTV. to me the price and portability were worth the MARGINAL sacrifice in picture quality.
btw this x1 is awesome.
and im still cheap.
That's cool. To me, having a small box is something I am giving up. Completely last on my list as far as what I want. I'm concerned about what the projected image looks like, not the projector.
thats why i like yall so much! we can agree not so much to disagree, but to have different ideas on quality/functionality/ergonomics/and what is "cheap"
besides, watching my astros beat the hell out of the nemisis rockies tonite was great... on any projector 😎
who knows, i may get the itch and still diy an expensive xga htpc setup. thats why i keep coming back for more "research".
besides, watching my astros beat the hell out of the nemisis rockies tonite was great... on any projector 😎
who knows, i may get the itch and still diy an expensive xga htpc setup. thats why i keep coming back for more "research".
i agree with Lifter, size doesnt matter 😉
i dont care if my Projector was the size of a BENZ! i'd still like it 🙂
and Lifter, Great job on ur Pj, do u mind if i ask u any questions about it? ,..yes? well ok lol
Do you play video games on it?
If yes how does it look (Gta3 if u've tried that)
Becuz my video games dont look to well on mine, it may be my screen i dont know....
-JimmY-
i dont care if my Projector was the size of a BENZ! i'd still like it 🙂
and Lifter, Great job on ur Pj, do u mind if i ask u any questions about it? ,..yes? well ok
lolDo you play video games on it?
If yes how does it look (Gta3 if u've tried that)
Becuz my video games dont look to well on mine, it may be my screen i dont know....
-JimmY-
who the hell are you!?
my distaste for your post lead me to post this reply:
1 the nature of DIY is to be cheap
2 the purpose of these projects is to gain knowledge, and enjoy the whole process of doing your self
3 i can tell you from experience that i appreciate these cheap projectors more than a rich person who hasn't had to sacrafice anything to get everything they want.
4 last i must also comment, if you think you're better for doing something different, you're a narrow minded fool.
so to make a long story short, i would take a cheaper item anytime if i knew i could fix it.
gregory in mn😎
my distaste for your post lead me to post this reply:
1 the nature of DIY is to be cheap
2 the purpose of these projects is to gain knowledge, and enjoy the whole process of doing your self
3 i can tell you from experience that i appreciate these cheap projectors more than a rich person who hasn't had to sacrafice anything to get everything they want.
4 last i must also comment, if you think you're better for doing something different, you're a narrow minded fool.
so to make a long story short, i would take a cheaper item anytime if i knew i could fix it.
gregory in mn😎
That's pretty harsh. I agree w/ you, but I think he makes a reasonable point. A lot of people here want to find a pearl in an oyster.
Neg - I have an Xbox, so no GTA3, but I can tell you that video games are the best thing about it. I have the HD component output pack, and a Viewsonic N6 (component input to VGA output basically). Gaming is so lifelike it's unbelievable. Games are so much more forgiving than movies, because while 3D graphics are only so far along, even the greatest video projector in the world is pale in comparison to 35mm film (George Lucas is a fool).
Neg - I have an Xbox, so no GTA3, but I can tell you that video games are the best thing about it. I have the HD component output pack, and a Viewsonic N6 (component input to VGA output basically). Gaming is so lifelike it's unbelievable. Games are so much more forgiving than movies, because while 3D graphics are only so far along, even the greatest video projector in the world is pale in comparison to 35mm film (George Lucas is a fool).
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