Outdoor projection of moving dots

[connollycleary]

I need to project outdoors, from a window onto a pavement in Ireland. We will be projecting a video showing bright moving dot's, like stars, at night, from approximately 9 meters, and the projections doesn't have to be really big, just bright. We don't need colour, and XGA resolution is fine. The street isn't very brightly lit, but there is some peripheral light. Any suggestions on a suitable projector, we were looking at the Sanyo PLC-XF1000 but it's a bit pricey.

Since we don't need colour, I thought maybe we could get a projector that is outdated, like an end of series or something, that is bright but has very few colours.

Any ideas anyone? Are there any companies that deal in older model projectors in the UK?

[jason5d]

if you are just projecting white dots how about a moving head light?

[kerry davies]

Been there done that with moving heads, Solars and bodged up slide projectors with home-made slide rotators. Far easier, cheaper and simpler than video projection. If it has to be video then the vidiots should leap in here.

 

http://www.optikinetics.co.uk/kinetics/projectors/solar-250.html

[timmeh2]

Been there done that with moving heads, Solars and bodged up slide projectors with home-made slide rotators. Far easier, cheaper and simpler than video projection. If it has to be video then the vidiots should leap in here.

 

http://www.optikinet.../solar-250.html

 

Hi

 

+1 for the opti, although I'd discount a 250 or Pro and go straight for a K4.

 

All the best

Timmeh

[connollycleary]

thanks for the reply's lads. the moving dots in question are actually video footage of people moving, it's a reconstruction of a scientific experiment from the '70's where a bloke, Gunnar Johannson put light points on 13 ponts of the human body and filmed them, to see how much information the eye could gather just from these points. We have films of almost 100 irish schoolkids made up of moving dot's so it's not just random. We have to use video.

 

great link though to optikinetics, very useful for other projects, thanks

[sleepytom]

The Sanyo XF47 is the brightest XGA projector on the market, it's also the brightest machine that can be run from a domestic ring main.

 

How long is the installation for? Hire will be the sensible option unless it a long term setup.

 

If you want to risk using an older machine and can cope with the physical size and power requirements then things like an old Barco R12 ELM or R18 ELM might be an option. These can be picked up for a few grand and might be cheaper than hiring an XF47 if the install is running for a few months. If you go down that route then make sure that the machine comes with a suitable lens and has bulbs which are not too old (ideally less than 500 hours) - check http://www.gearsourceeurope.com for old projectors (often over priced for their age though!)

 

If you have limited space, domestic power and a small budget then the Sanyo XP200 is surprisingly good for the money and form factor. I've done building projection with XP200s and providing the ambient light level is not too high then you'll be suprised at how good 7000 lumens can look. look at this video it is 2x XP200 one doing each half of the building. Each projector was doing approximately 12m wide image, so with a standard lens and your 9 Meter throw the image will be between 3.8m and 5m and thus considerably brighter than the image in my video.

 

Whatever you choose for the projector you should produce the graphics at the native resolution of the projector, run the playback from a computer connected on DVI this will give you the sharpest image and maximise the perceptible brightness. With black and white content you'll be able to considerably boost the brightenss by tweaking the brightness and contrast controls on the projector. (with full colour images this makes everything look horrible, but with b+w graphics you can really push things to maximise the light output)

[connollycleary]

thanks Sleepy tom

 

I love the brighton animated projection, really nice, and am starting to think that the XP 200 might do the trick. it's a long term install, so we really need a new projector. I'll let you know how it goes

best

 

a

[productionpeople]

Hi Connolly

 

I am a Sanyo dealer and can provide a cost for new XP200 or I am just about to prepare to sell the following projectors from hire stock but not priced them yet.

 

1 x Sanyo XP100

2 x Sanyo XP200

2 x Sanyo XF45 (10,000 ansi Lumens) in QED flying frames

 

If you are interested in any of these please feel free to drop me an email ricky@productionpeople.org or give me a call on 0845 50 55 123 a word of advice with the XP range make sure you get a spare filter with it as they run on a scroll and can end up running out quickly depending on the enviroment.

 

Best regards

 

Ricky

 

 

 

[AHYoung]

While we are doing the commercial pitching, we can also supply and have more experience than most in this area...

 

however, if its a long term use projecting white dots is there any option to go oldschool and use a opti effects projector? , its much of a mutchness as to output power.between the k4 and a decent dataprojector, but all in all it will cost less than half the price. Also a k4 run from a mains timer just works, wheras the data projector needs an event controller plus media player, If thats what you need. we can supply and also make it work as its strraightforward stuff, but if you can use the simple solution, id give it a go.

[connollycleary]

Hi Ricky, hi AH

 

For this job we really have to use a new projector, it's a public command and they wouldn't be happy with used stuff, but I would certainly be interested in talking to you both about prices for a new Sanyo. I'll be in touch with you both about that. It has to be video as the file is a film made with school kids, we've turned them into star people, so it's quite specific, the K4 won't do. With regard to used equipment I would certainly be interested in talking about that for an exhibition I'm looking after in the spring

thanks for getting in touch

A

[Pete McCrea]

Well if everybody else is going to go in for the pitch I may as well chip in.

 

Another option might be the Barco CLM. A little smaller in plan foot print than the XF series but slightly deeper. Single chip DLP so will give deeper blacks, and a physical shutter to completely kill the light output if needed. Whilst we have no plans of moving our stock on at the moment, though I do know of several local to us that have led a very sheltered life, and are looking at being moved on, so would be happy to help you make contact.

 

Failing that we'd be happy to look at some long term hire rates - we've been shown to be competitive against the likes of XL Video and VER for long term theatre work, so understand and know the crazy competitive rates that the units can go out for, and arecquite happy with kit going overseas ( though having family in Ireland I might deliver personally and say hello). Let me know if a quote is of interest.

 

Like all the others that have chipped in we can offer you competitive rates on new Sanyo's, and being Christie Dealers can offer you options from their product range. Another manufacturer that we've seen a demo from recently is Projection Design. Uk based and offering a range of products that are competitively priced against the Panasonic and Christie DLP products, so could be worth a look in for you.

[AHYoung]

Another manufacturer that we've seen a demo from recently is Projection Design. Uk based and offering a range of products that are competitively priced against the Panasonic and Christie DLP products, so could be worth a look in for you.

 

Im sure you mean Digital Projection, they are Uk based and do the big stuff very well having been the first to offer DLP based projection. Projection design are Nowegian and make very high quality and robust but not particularly bright units so not really much use for your application.

[Pete McCrea]

Yes! Sorry long days at the moment!

 

As you say it was Digital Projection - the chap that came down really does know his shizzle - I could have listened to and spend time soaking up his knowledge as he's been involved from the start so knows the technology inside out.