Cheap Short Throw Rear Projector

[welby]

Hi Can anyone recommend a decent, cheap short throw projector?

Im currently using 2 x 17" LCD screens for video and karaoke, attached to my dj stand which is fine for small venues, but lacks the big look in a large venue.

I did think about putting up two 21" or 22" LCD Screens, but maybe they would still look small.

Im thinking about using Spandex to make a screen as outlined in other posts, but the projectors seem a tad pricey, unless some sharp eyed person has spotted one on "special offer".

Many thanks

[Vectis]

£430 (http://www.avitav.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=3617&category_id=31&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33) is a pretty good price - they were over £700 last time I looked.

I'm now using standard PJs with a selection of different sized spandex screens - so rather than having two fixed screen sizes and therefore two fixed depth requirements, I can now get a 30" picture from 1m and then anything after that is a bargain. Spandex gives you a whole host of mounting arrangements too - I've been known to hang a small piece in the "window" of a standard deckstand right up to a 3x3m piece stretched curtain pole to base board on a large stage.

[visualdjmax]

BENQ are pretty cheap and realible.

[welby]

BENQ are pretty cheap and realible.

How about this one?

http://protechstore.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3960

Slightly lower resolution I guess, 2000 lumens but a great price?

[visualdjmax]

How about this one?

http://protechstore.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3960

Slightly lower resolution I guess, 2000 lumens but a great price?

I have the older version of these. They are really good. A couple of things to bear in mind though, you won't be able to use them during the day for weddings in marquees they are not bright enough and natural daylight thru Marquee canvas will kill them. They are a fixed lens so so are limited to projection distances based on the size of screen that you are using. I had some flying frames made for mine so that I could put them on trusses and get them out of the way. They have a good bulb life. They are a good price. I have mine out for £75.00 per projector as a guide if that helps, so happy days after x4 hires etc. Give me a shout if you need any more info. Cheers MAX

[Dynamic Entertainment]

£430 (http://www.avitav.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=3617&category_id=31&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33) is a pretty good price - they were over £700 last time I looked.

I'm now using standard PJs with a selection of different sized spandex screens - so rather than having two fixed screen sizes and therefore two fixed depth requirements, I can now get a 30" picture from 1m and then anything after that is a bargain. Spandex gives you a whole host of mounting arrangements too - I've been known to hang a small piece in the "window" of a standard deckstand right up to a 3x3m piece stretched curtain pole to base board on a large stage.

You have any piccys Martin?

[Vectis]

Sadly not as yet. Just not had time the last few outings to whip the camera out.

[welby]

Give me a shout if you need any more info. Cheers MAX

Thanks Max and Martin for your advice.

Just one thing...

what is the difference between:

BENQ MP522ST @ £282.42 (inc VAT)

http://protechstore.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3960


Image Brightness 2000 ANSI lumens
Image Contrast Ratio 1000:1

and the

BENQ MP512ST @ £354.15 (inc VAT)

http://www.ballicom.co.uk/projectors/projectors/mp512-dlp-svga.p396707.html


Image Brightness 2200 ANSI lumens
Image Contrast Ratio 2500:1

In layman's terms..

I'm guessing the Luminence is what the bulb brightness operates at and the Image Contrast Ratio is the difference between the bulb brightness and the projected brightness after passing through the lens.

Is that how it is?

If that's the correct then the MP512ST will have roughly twice the projected brightness as the MP522ST. :cool:

[welby]

In layman's terms..

I'm guessing the Luminence is what the bulb brightness operates at and the Image Contrast Ratio is the difference between the bulb brightness and the projected brightness after passing through the lens.

Is that how it is?

If that's the correct then the MP512ST will have roughly twice the projected brightness as the MP522ST. :cool:

Oh lordy lord..think Iv'e just opened up a can of worms....:bang:

Just found this interesting article about Contrast Ratios....

http://www.projectorcentral.com/contrast_ratios.htm

More confused now then ever! :eek:

[Vectis]

Yeah, pretty much.

It depends where you want to use them. Dark corners of function rooms for evening events - the cheaper one will probably suffice. Marquees in daylight and the dearer one will be a better fit.

Depends on the budget :o

Also consider replacement lamp costs - with some of the budget PJs it's sometimes more cost-effective to replace the whole unit :eek: and shift the old carcass on fleabay to someone "with access to cheap lamps" nudge nudge wink wink.

[welby]

Depends on the budget :o

Also consider replacement lamp costs - with some of the budget PJs it's sometimes more cost-effective to replace the whole unit :eek: and shift the old carcass on fleabay to someone "with access to cheap lamps" nudge nudge wink wink.

I blame you Martin for getting me into this screen thing in the first place! After seeing your images in the gallery. lol

But seriously....Yes budget is an issue and to be honest I only want to do a screen size of say 4ft x 3ft as a starter.

I was thinking of using stretching the fabric across the truss that you recommended in another post.

http://images.maplin.co.uk/300/gt6217792cr.jpg

Also I was thinking of getting a grommet kit and using bungee chords to fix the cloth to the truss.

Is this the best way?

[Vectis]

That's exactly what I use for bigger screens, but without the extra T-bars unless I want to hang a few LED PARs to light up the spandex when not being projected onto (actually set to very low say 10% blue it enhances the picture I find). The only problem I've found is that without a horizontal bar across the bottom, just above (or below) tripod leg height, the elasticated screens tend to pull the feet together slightly which makes the whole thing look a little odd. A couple of strategically-placed empty flightcases also does the trick ;)

I tried spandex with large tarpaulin rings but found that there wasn't enough 'grip' around the lips of the rings considering the material is quite thin and frays easily - they begin to tear after a couple of uses if bungees are used.

What I do now is stitch a short piece of white webbing every couple of feet along all 4 double-hemmed edges to create tabs, and then hook the ends of bungee cords around these. Much more resilient.

[djandy]

Welby, the link you posted for the Benq 512ST takes you to the 512 which is the same without the short throw lens, the 512ST from that website is £408, thought it sounded a bit cheap.

[welby]

Hi Martin,

thanks for the advice on the fittings - seems a better way of doing it.

In terms of the stand I did think about getting a pair of photographers lamp stands and using 2 pieces of lightweight alluminium bar going across the top and bottom making it more rigid.

I'm sure there is a marketplace for this type of product in the UK if it could be made at the right price. lol

[Vectis]

Just don't underestimate the pulling power of 3 square metres of lightly stretched spandex! :o :p

[welby]

Welby, the link you posted for the Benq 512ST takes you to the 512 which is the same without the short throw lens, the 512ST from that website is £408, thought it sounded a bit cheap.

ah well spotted - thank you.

[djandy]

I've been looking at the same model, looks quite good spec for the money.

[welby]

I've been looking at the same model, looks quite good spec for the money.

http://protechstore.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3960

at £280.80 it's very cheap compared to a lot of others

WARNING:

THIS WEBSITE IS A SCAM

according to this post:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-televisions/1024410-protechstore-legit.html


thought it too cheap to be true!