INDEX  F.A.Q.  SEARCH  LATEST POSTS     Rules  Register  Profile  Private messages  Login


Login:   Username:  Password:   Log me on automatically    
Register I forgot my password I forgot my username Resend the activation key

looking for some clarification on current projectors
Forum Index -> Video -> DVB / HDTV Printer-friendly version
Reply to topic
Author Message
Seeker47
Member


Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Location: A State of Mind, USA
Post Posted: Oct 25, 2009 14:40 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I posted this
http://forum.videohelp.com/topic374732.html
because I will be needing a couple display solutions for a new location. With the exception of an lcd panel I got for a bedroom a year and a half ago, I had not purchased any sort of tv for something like 14 years. Just trying to survey all the options.

The standard wisdom I've seen dispensed here is that projectors are even way more for well-controlled low-light situations than plasma. I recently saw a home where they'd set up a projector (probably your typical Optoma or HP) and a pull-down screen. It was very likely inadvisable there -- although I think they only used it at night -- but it was in a rented house, and the tenant did not have a lot of good options for that particular space.

[What Consumer Reports considers a viable option, and what passes muster here are apt to be two very different things !]

Here's my question: getting a very sharp picture for HDTV and dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues. If so, what might they be ? Are we talking about fancy commercial gear that very few could afford for a home setting ?
_________________
When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum ( http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ ) (http://lasvegas.wikia.com/wiki/Las_Vegas_Pinball_Hall_of_Fame_Museum ) -- over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this gradually disappearing American art form.

redwudz
Mod Neophyte


Joined: 07 Sep 2002
Location: AZ, USA
Post Posted: Oct 25, 2009 16:23 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I have a couple of projectors and neither are really usable for daytime lighting. I use blackout curtains for occasional daytime viewing and there's no problem. But not all rooms are suited for that.

But having a 12' screen is worth it to me. biggrin.gif I use a Sony Bravia projector with HDMI and it looks great with HD video. DVD or lower res video is a bit disappointing, though. smile.gif The choice of a screen helps also. A video type gray screen will give you a bit more contrast if your room isn't totally dark, but they can get expensive. If you opt for one of those, go for a electric model and you won't regret the extra cost.

Maybe a $6000 projector would work better in brighter lighting, but not worth it for most people.

Here's one projector site that has a lot of info: http://www.projectorcentral.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/ is another place to look.

jagabo
Member


Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: none
Post Posted: Oct 25, 2009 21:12 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Seeker47 wrote:
dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues.

Front projectors will never be as good as CRT, LCD, plasma, etc when it comes to lit rooms. The reason is simple: look at the screen of a CRT, LCD, plasma, etc in a lit room. It's nearly black. Now look at the projection screen. It's white or silver. The darkest part of any image projected on that screen will never be any darker than the room lighting. The projector can't subtract light from the screen. Ie, the black level is determined by the room lighting. If they made the screen black, so as not to reflect room lighting, you wouldn't see the projected image either. End of story.

Seeker47
Member


Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Location: A State of Mind, USA
Post Posted: Oct 26, 2009 11:59 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
jagabo wrote:
Seeker47 wrote:
dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues.

Front projectors will never be as good as CRT, LCD, plasma, etc when it comes to lit rooms. The reason is simple: look at the screen of a CRT, LCD, plasma, etc in a lit room. It's nearly black. Now look at the projection screen. It's white or silver. The darkest part of any image projected on that screen will never be any darker than the room lighting. The projector can't subtract light from the screen. Ie, the black level is determined by the room lighting. If they made the screen black, so as not to reflect room lighting, you wouldn't see the projected image either. End of story.


Thanks for that. I wasn't expecting anyone to repeal the laws of physics. But, every so often, there are some advances, and one wants to know about them if and when they happen.
_________________
When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum ( http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ ) (http://lasvegas.wikia.com/wiki/Las_Vegas_Pinball_Hall_of_Fame_Museum ) -- over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this gradually disappearing American art form.

Seeker47
Member


Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Location: A State of Mind, USA
Post Posted: Nov 01, 2009 19:37 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
O.K., what do you think of this puppy ?

eBay Item # 150383764782

Looks formidable.
_________________
When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum ( http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ ) (http://lasvegas.wikia.com/wiki/Las_Vegas_Pinball_Hall_of_Fame_Museum ) -- over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this gradually disappearing American art form.

jagabo
Member


Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: none
Post Posted: Nov 02, 2009 06:36 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Looks like a 14 year old CRT projector. I'm sure it was nice in its day but I wouldn't blow five grand on it today.

Seeker47
Member


Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Location: A State of Mind, USA
Post Posted: Nov 02, 2009 10:09 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
jagabo wrote:
Looks like a 14 year old CRT projector. I'm sure it was nice in its day but I wouldn't blow five grand on it today.

Yeah, and originally much more expensive than that, but wasn't he claiming the performance would run rings around most of the ones on the market today ? I kind of doubt that, but this is what caught my eye.
_________________
When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum ( http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ ) (http://lasvegas.wikia.com/wiki/Las_Vegas_Pinball_Hall_of_Fame_Museum ) -- over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this gradually disappearing American art form.

jagabo
Member


Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: none
Post Posted: Nov 02, 2009 10:48 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Seeker47 wrote:
wasn't he claiming the performance would run rings around most of the ones on the market today

Sure. And since most projectors sold today are lower quality 720p models with poor optics, he's right.

Reply to topic All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Forum Index -> Video -> DVB / HDTV Page 1 of 1





You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Jump to:  
Display:   
DVDFab DVD to DVD lets you backup DVDs to DVDr, AVI or MP4 for portable devices. More info or download trial!
About   Advertise   Forum Archive   RSS Feeds   Statistics