Projector purchase help!

[Ellen]

Hello there,

 

The show my company is taking to this year's Edinburgh Fringe features projected film as a large component and we've now reached the stage of rehearsals where we need a projector to work with and play with how we'll be using the film in the show, and we need advice on what projector to get.

 

The films are in HD and are black and white, and will be projected from a projector placed on stage. However, we want to be very playful with the way we use these projected films in the production - including having the projector moved and manipulated by those on stage, with the film being projected onto different surfaces to generate different effects.

 

Someone has suggested this portable Pico projector which looks great in terms of ease to move around, but I'm uncertain as to whether it would perform well enough in a stage setting. We don't have a huge budget, so the price of this one is equally appealing but we also don't want to get something that isn't going to be good enough.

 

Our Edinburgh Venue is small, maximum 60 seats, and we don't mind a slightly rough aesthetic to the projection - however we also don't want the quality of the films to be completely lost. I don't know if the films being in black and white makes this harder or not, my knowledge of projection is very minimal. Any help that anybody can give on this would be hugely appreciated as we really need to get this projector as soon as possible!

 

Thanks,

 

Ellen

[AHYoung]

I have been involved in the developement with a couple of companies doing similar things, ie having actors move units. The one thing thats apparent is that unless the shows in a blackout, the pico units are simply too low output to be of use. Interestingly when you said pico, I thought you meant a 300 lumen unit, but the optoma has a big 20 lumens or there abouts, ie 100 times less powerefull than id suggest so dont waste money on it.

 

Basically your challanges are, unit small and light enought to move, bright enough to give an image on a lit stage, and ideally not using a standard lamp that is very prone to damage if jarred or knocked when hot, or having the power lead accidentally pulled out . My suggestion would be to look at the LED / Laser powered Casio units http://www.casio-projectors.eu/uk/products/greenslim/ . the downside is they are expensive compared to a standard unit. They do however also have a much wider than normal range on the zoom lens which can be usefull.

 

 

That said, if its key to your show, you need to make the investment, as if you buy the wrong thing, you will just be spending the money again. Also being based in edinburgh im more than familiar with the fringe, and dont rely on the stage being lit in any way sympathetically for projection, as you will just be one show of about 10 that day and the rig will be a very general cover, you really need something thats got enough punch, any modern standard unit will be fine as long as the image is a sensible size, but id doubt any pico could cut it.

[mrboo]

I would look into getting a hire unit for this event that is over spec as get it right and people will want you in there venues. get the less spec and it does not work and you will unsell your show for more booking.

 

http://www.stage-electrics.co.uk/productHire.aspx?code=PROJXGA2500

[bruce]

As Alastar says, the Casio units are probably a pretty good match for your requirements - fairly bright and not too fragile. Only downside is that the fans are a bit on the noisy side when running in normal mode. Push them into "eco" mode and they're bearable.

[Ellen]

Okay, brilliant thanks for this. Very useful! I did think the lumens level on the Pico Optoma was far too low. I'll have a look into the Casio option and see what I can find!

 

Thanks

I have been involved in the developement with a couple of companies doing similar things, ie having actors move units. The one thing thats apparent is that unless the shows in a blackout, the pico units are simply too low output to be of use. Interestingly when you said pico, I thought you meant a 300 lumen unit, but the optoma has a big 20 lumens or there abouts, ie 100 times less powerefull than id suggest so dont waste money on it.

 

Basically your challanges are, unit small and light enought to move, bright enough to give an image on a lit stage, and ideally not using a standard lamp that is very prone to damage if jarred or knocked when hot, or having the power lead accidentally pulled out . My suggestion would be to look at the LED / Laser powered Casio units http://www.casio-pro...ucts/greenslim/ . the downside is they are expensive compared to a standard unit. They do however also have a much wider than normal range on the zoom lens which can be usefull.

 

 

That said, if its key to your show, you need to make the investment, as if you buy the wrong thing, you will just be spending the money again. Also being based in edinburgh im more than familiar with the fringe, and dont rely on the stage being lit in any way sympathetically for projection, as you will just be one show of about 10 that day and the rig will be a very general cover, you really need something thats got enough punch, any modern standard unit will be fine as long as the image is a sensible size, but id doubt any pico could cut it.