720p Projectors

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Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Odeen
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I went from a 540p to a 720p projector, and I really see the benefit. Of course, 1080p would be even better, but you would pay literally twice as much.

It's literally twice as many pixels:
1280x720 = 921,600
1920x1080 = 2,073,600

2.25 times as many pixels, actually.

And 4 million pixels would be almost twice as many as that...and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Don't let the numbers trick you into assuming that your eye will see a difference just because the numbers are so drastically different. There is a point of diminishing returns here.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,289
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Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
A select few are under 2k, after rebates, and quite a few 720p projectors can be bought for well under $1000. I personally would love to have a 1080p projector, and if I were buying today, I'd get one. But I also know that not everyone has 2 grand to spend on it, and 720p looks awfully good. So just because it is cheap compared to what they were a year ago (6 months is an exagerration), they are not dirt cheap compared to what you pay for a 720p projector, which can get you over 90% of the way there.

HC4900 is 1900 from projector people, no rebate. Compared to big lcd panels, it's a bargain. I just heard about sharp's 65" LCD at 10K...
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,289
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Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
Originally posted by: Odeen
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I went from a 540p to a 720p projector, and I really see the benefit. Of course, 1080p would be even better, but you would pay literally twice as much.

It's literally twice as many pixels:
1280x720 = 921,600
1920x1080 = 2,073,600

2.25 times as many pixels, actually.

And 4 million pixels would be almost twice as many as that...and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Don't let the numbers trick you into assuming that your eye will see a difference just because the numbers are so drastically different. There is a point of diminishing returns here.

I traded up from a 720 (Optoma HD6800) and I can tell the diff, mind you I am shooting 5'x8'
 

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,194
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Originally posted by: sdifox
I traded up from a 720 (Optoma HD6800) and I can tell the diff, mind you I am shooting 5'x8'

No doubt. I should have said "the actual difference in appearance is not as dramatic as the difference that the numbers seem to indicate when comparing the number of pixels."

There is most certainly a difference, and a noticable one. I wish I had a 1080p projector. It's just not as dramatic as one might think when they hear that it is "twice the pixels".

If it were $500 difference, I'd pay it in a heartbeat. If I were buying new, I would have to think about it, because the difference is going from about $900 to about $1900.

 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,289
17,904
126
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
Originally posted by: sdifox
I traded up from a 720 (Optoma HD6800) and I can tell the diff, mind you I am shooting 5'x8'

No doubt. I should have said "the actual difference in appearance is not as dramatic as the difference that the numbers seem to indicate when comparing the number of pixels."

There is most certainly a difference, and a noticable one. I wish I had a 1080p projector. It's just not as dramatic as one might think when they hear that it is "twice the pixels".

If it were $500 difference, I'd pay it in a heartbeat. If I were buying new, I would have to think about it, because the difference is going from about $900 to about $1900.

well, if your budget is in 720p territory and you want it right now, I would agree get a 720p. But I would rather save up and buy the 1080p.
 

Odeen

Diamond Member
Aug 4, 2000
4,892
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76
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
Originally posted by: Odeen
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I went from a 540p to a 720p projector, and I really see the benefit. Of course, 1080p would be even better, but you would pay literally twice as much.

It's literally twice as many pixels:
1280x720 = 921,600
1920x1080 = 2,073,600

2.25 times as many pixels, actually.

And 4 million pixels would be almost twice as many as that...and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Don't let the numbers trick you into assuming that your eye will see a difference just because the numbers are so drastically different. There is a point of diminishing returns here.

I'm not saying whether the difference is visible or not. All I'm saying is that the doubled price results in a doubled spec, which is entirely reasonable. After all, something like a CPU that runs at twice the MHz is likely to be more than twice as expensive.

4 million pixels will kick ass, incidentally as soon as the projection surface covers your entire visual field. You'd need an IMAX theater-type setup, though.