1500-2000 lumens projector

[Ynot]

Hmmm...

Did a trawl of the projection forum, and to be honest the number of hits were FAR too numerous to get any meaningful (and up to date) feedback from, so decided to bite the bullet and try a new topic! Apologies if this isn't strictly stagecraft oriented, but the principles will be the same either way.

 

I've just been asked about options for the purchase of a new projector for a classroom style environment.

A colleague of mine has been given a grant to set up a unique style of informative display/education suite in the belly of an old airplane, and that includes catering for around 25 youngsters, and showing them powerpoint and video presentations as well as displays etc. He's looked at the various screen media, then decided that projection would best suit the situation.

 

The space is able to be pretty much blacked out and it's not a huge area, so a high lumens count is not important, as long as the picture is going to be clear.

 

Now my experience using projectors is fair, though limited, and I've never been involved in specifying one myself, so some advice would be appreciated.

 

As I see it, the requirements are (and I think most of these are probably fairly standard these days):

 

1500-2000 lumens

zoom lens

Possibly remote control of zoom and/or focus

PC input and composite video.

Sturdy construction and preferably carry bag/case

Decent tech support package if available

couple of spare lamps.

Overall budget (incl spares) of £1200 or so inc vat.

 

I've looked on a variety of suppliers and other comparison web sites and to be quite honest, the choice is overwhelming, so what I'm looking for really is a recommendation from any of the Blue Roomers who can recommend any particular models in this price/facility range. I'm not interested in suggestions based solely on 'this web site says this' opinions - but if you've actually used a couple of models made by XYZ projectors inc and found them reliable, that would help.

 

Cheers

TD

[mac.calder]

VPL-CX76 - it is the latest model in the CX70 range - we have two of the 70's and two of the 71's at work for board room stuff - they are quite nice units, motorised tilt, side-shoot, auto keystone, zoom and focus, all on the remote. 2500 lumens.

 

Nice throw, and you can get one for about AU$3,000 - so under your budget, and you will be able to get some spare bubbles (just)

[Stuart91]

couple of spare lamps.

 

Replacement projector lamps are expensive, and it's normally not worth keeping spares unless what you're doing is really "mission critical" and must have a backup.

 

The manufacturers only guarantee a lamp for a limited amount of time - 30 or 60 days in many cases. If you bought it at the same time as the projector, and have had it kicking around in a bag or flightcase since then, they won't honour any guarantee and the lamp will be in far from ideal condition.

 

It's usually fairly easy to get replacement lamps next working day, and there are few situations where a backup lamp would be needed RIGHT NOW. For critical shows or events, we'll have a backup projector on hand, but I don't think you'd be wanting to leave a bunch of kids waiting whilst you faff around trying to change a lamp.

[Pete McCrea]

We've got a handful of Taxan units in rental stock, and have sold plenty to similar users. Single chip DLP, around the 2300 lumen mark. They are quite basic, in that the zoom/focus is manual, and not a huge range of useless menu settings, but they have proven to be reliable over time. Most of the other rental houses in the area run the Sanyo XU range.

 

I'd echo Stuart91's comments about lamps. We can generally supply next day for pretty much every manufacturer (as can a lot of AV companies), so it's best not to hold them. If your getting near the rated lamp hours it can be prudent to get a new lamp in, but I'd say when your within 50-100 hrs depending on the usage.

[timtheenchanteruk]

All the projectors I have worked with have a low lamp life warning on them anyway, so spare lamps wont be a problem, the warning pops up when you power up, you then cancel it, but it will remind you when you re-start it.

 

If its permanantly rigged, surely once its focused etc it doesnt need touching again, so remote function would be a waste. if it isnt it would easily be reachable to re-focus/zoom anyway

[Shez]

All the projectors I have worked with have a low lamp life warning on them anyway,

 

Which is fine if they actually last for their rated life. We've got in excess of 40 installed projectors where I work; I can only recall ever once or twice getting that low lamp warning before having to replace the lamp. On all other occasions, either the brightness has diminished to a level where it becomes obvious that it needs changing, or the lamp has exploded ( :o ) which means a trip back to the manufacturer to have all the broken glass removed... The 2000 (or whatever) rated hours is under ideal conditions and from my experience is rarely reached. Around 500 hours seems to be more common.

Maybe I'm just buying the wrong projectors. Or letting the wrong people use them...

[Ynot]

Thanks for the responses thus far, guys.

 

Whilst the discussion on lamp life is interesting, it's really academic. The client has asked for a quote for spare lamps, and whilst I'll happily feed back the thoughts expressed (nothing new to me) it will unlikely make a difference. As I understand it the projector will be used as a semi-portable setup, brought out and setup when required. If the operator finds a lamp blown at that time, it doesn't matter whether one is available next day, or next week, it screws them for that showing, so they want a spare in the cupboard - it will be kept in a locked cupboard, btw, so no banging around a carry-bag.

 

I would still like any other suggestions for actual projectors, so if anyone else has any experience as requested, that'd be great.

 

Cheers.

[Feed me AV]

I just got a couple of Sanyo XU 87 and they are good projectors, the wirless connection is rubbish but I might need to sit down and have a play with the setting to see if I can get a better picture.