Advice on DP Projectors?

[bricummo]

Hi guys,

 

I've just been offered some ex-rental DP projectors. (DP 5000gv model x 2)

 

They're old units but apparently good spec, come with flightcases, and their own suite of lenses, Im assuming short, medium and long throw.

 

They also have a few spares or repair units uncluded too which might come in handy.

 

I'll be using them for my band, anyone know anything about them pros or cons and what I should expect to pay?

 

Cheers,

 

Bri.

[jason5d]

these are 4.5k and 23kg,

I wouldn't bother at any price

[bricummo]

these are 4.5k and 23kg,

I wouldn't bother at any price

 

Hi Jason,

 

Thanks for the feedback, what do you mean?

 

Sorry but I havent got a CLUE about AV :huh: .

 

Cheers,

 

B.

[jason5d]

4.5k or 4500 lumens is the brightness (not bright enough for the size)

and 23kg is a 2 man lift

[bricummo]

4.5k or 4500 lumens is the brightness (not bright enough for the size)

and 23kg is a 2 man lift

 

Cheers mate,

 

Do you mean the size of the unit? or the size of stage?

 

The weight might not be a problem as we won't be using them a hell of a lot just probably one or two tours a year and we have big guys in our crew ** laughs out loud **.

 

Weight aside, what would you expect to pay for all that gear?

 

Cheers,

 

B.

[Stuart91]

Weight aside, what would you expect to pay for all that gear?

 

You can get a brand new, 5000 lumen projector that weights only 4kg for less than a grand.

 

(Details here, literally the first link I got to from Google)

 

Based on that, you will want to be paying significantly less for the older, heavier machines.

 

From the information available on the Projector Central website, it looks like the machines were discontinued in 2006. It would be worth checking whether replacement lamps are still available, and at what price.

[bricummo]

Weight aside, what would you expect to pay for all that gear?

 

You can get a brand new, 5000 lumen projector that weights only 4kg for less than a grand.

 

(Details here, literally the first link I got to from Google)

 

Based on that, you will want to be paying significantly less for the older, heavier machines.

 

From the information available on the Projector Central website, it looks like the machines were discontinued in 2006. It would be worth checking whether replacement lamps are still available, and at what price.

 

Ah I see, cheers mate!

 

Well I've been offered the whole job lot for £1000, but I would have though the selling point would have been the three lenses included?

 

Aren't the lenses really expensive for projectors? I'm just trying to balance out the pros and cons.

 

These old units are in full flightcases and also the other spares/repait units have lamps in too, OK they will be old too but at least spare?

 

The alternative is to spend £2K on the ones you showed (which look great btw!) and then get them flightcased and then come up to the dilemma of needing different lenses for that too?

 

What do you think?

 

B.

[ImagineerTom]

If your use for them is entirely "internal" then ultimately it doesn't matter what make/model/weight they are, however if you're ever going to hire them out / use them to fulfil riders then you'll have lots of problems with such an old unit. Yes lenses are very expensive, and like bulbs tend to be specific to one or two machines so their value is considerable or worthless depending on whether you need them or not; there's very little market for second-hand lenses.

 

I have a couple of big old Barco projectors that were discontinued years ago; for our internal use (projection mapping on to tents and circus ring) they're brilliant workhorses that suit our needs perfectly... but anyone who knows anything about projectors laughs and points at them because they've been superseded by something 1/4 the size, but since they stay mounted to our equipment and only get used by our tech's we have no need to change them.

[Stuart91]

You're right, lenses are expensive, and the projector I linked to doesn't take interchangeable lenses, so you're stuck with the standard lens.

 

The problem is, lenses are specific to the projector, so if the projectors aren't serviceable, the lenses are useless unless you can find similar models to put them in.

 

With a ten year old projector, replacement bulbs could be very hard to come by, and can be very expensive. The projectors take two bulbs each, which could add to the cost. It would be worth finding out about cost and availability of bulbs before making a final decision. If you can't get bulbs, the projectors will be scrap sooner rather than later.

 

I guess the real question is "how fast can you make the money back?". If you can spend a grand on the kit, then charge a few hundred extra per gig for having it there, then it's a reasonably good bet. But if it's going to be a long-term payoff, you may well end up out of pocket.

[bricummo]

Great feedback guys!

 

Yeah they will only be used by me for like 20 shows a year, but the alternative is to hire two more modern, smaller, and brighter projectors for around £600 a week?

 

The lamps I have found on the net and they are expensive but I've seen these units working and they seem bright enough, and I expect with the little use I will be putting them through, they should last a fair while? The other scrap units included in the deal are the same model, so I will have a load of spares and same lamps.

 

I appreciate the feedback guys, I'm just trying to weigh it all up but it kinda seems like I have to go for it as on tour we play a big variety of stages, some really large and deep which would be great for rear projection, and then some smaller and not very high etc. so it's the lens variety which is kinda selling it to me.

 

Cheers,

 

Bri.

[Shez]

Make sure you see them in operation before parting with cash. Check for remnants of burnt-in images/logos, evenness of brightness, dust on the LCDs (shows up as coloured blobs if you shift it far out of focus) and general colour rendition. Such problems can plague projectors of that age and won't make your clients happy.