Any recommendation for a midrange 720p Projector?

[greenwar]

I am thinking about getting a projector to quench my hunger for large screen movie viewing. I have never owned a projector and most projector lamps tend to be outrageously expensive. So I am looking for suggestion on a 'best bang for the buck' type projector that would at least do 720p.

Any suggestions, please?

Otherwise I will just end up with a panny 720p 50" plasma ....

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What's your budget for this?

 

[greenwar]

Max 1k. I would like to keep it within 900 if possible.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Right at the $1000 mark there are now a couple entry level 1080p units (Optoma HD20 and Vivitek H1080FD).

I've been keeping up more with the 1080p units, so I don't know what the current best bang for the buck in 720p is.
Projector Central has a list of popular ones to start your research though.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm

Epson and Optoma might be a good place to start.

There are a lot of other considerations in addition to what model of projector you want to buy.

Contol over ambient light in the room is probably the biggest concern. If you have a room with a lot of windows in it that you can't cover up, and will not be limited to nighttime viewing, then you might be out of luck. In general, projectors are getting brighter and more accurate at those brighter settings, but ambient light is still a big detriment to picture quality.

You'll also need to be able to set up your projector in the room somewhere opposite your screen area. This could mean mounting it to the ceiling or simply placing it on a shelf. Depending on what screen size you want, the location of the screen relative to the mounting height, and the throw distance from the mount to the screen are going to determine if a projector has the right capabilities to give you the screen you want.

Other costs in addition to the projector itself include a screen (not totally necessary if you have a flat white wall to project onto... and there are several other affordable options), mounting hardware if needed, and long cables may be needed to get the signals to the projector. Also, if you don't have one already, a sound system of some kind will be necessary (hopefully you have this covered).

Before you get too wrapped up into the specific product research, make sure you know about the basic considerations to decide if front projection will actually work in your room.

If you can set it up, it's likely to be a very positive experience for you.

 

[greenwar]

Thanks a lot for the tips. This helps a lot. I will mostly be using the projector at night as I have a 42" plasma to use for regular tv.

Ambient light is also not a problem. I will take measurements of the room and see if a projector will work out for me.

 

[AnandTechTEC]

I would check out the Sanyo PLV Z60 for $700 at Amazon.com

 

[greenwar]

I am leaning towards the Optoma HD65. Bulb price is reasonable and from what I can see in Youtube HD, video quality is great. Amazon and web reviews seems to be quite satisfactory as well.

 

[sivart]

I have the HD72 and my brother has the HD65, both are good choices for projectors. The HD65 has more lumens so works well when you don't have a totally light controlled room.

If the projector is mainly going to be used for watching movies and sports (I.e. not used everyday), I wouldn't worry about the bulb prices. I've had my HD72 since August 2006 and only have about 1000 hours (half life of 3000 hours). I might use it 2-3 times a week for a couple of hours. I figure when the bulb goes out, it will be time for an upgrade

I did see this Optoma Projector while looking at the Fry's ad. Don't know all of the specs, but would be something to consider.