Front Projector for ~$2500

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Maximum of $3000. Have no idea what to look for. Lots of help needed.

 

[Aharami]

check out the panasonic PT-AE4000U. supposed to be really good. It is $2k. But there might be other better projectors in the 2k-3k range

 

[Jadow]

You can get a really nice FP for a lot less than 2500 these days.

I really like the Sanyo lcds

 

[Anubis]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

 

[Apex]

How big is your screen?

Do you plan on using an anamorphic lens?

The Panasonic PT-AE4000u and Epson PowerLite 8500UB are both great choices in this price range.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

How big is your screen?

Do you plan on using an anamorphic lens?

The Panasonic PT-AE4000u and Epson PowerLite 8500UB are both great choices in this price range.

Let's go for a 100" screen?

As opposed to a?

 

[vi edit]

How big is your screen?

Do you plan on using an anamorphic lens?

The Panasonic PT-AE4000u and Epson PowerLite 8500UB are both great choices in this price range.

Lots of love out there for the Epson 8500UB. Doesn't have the momentum of the Panny 4000, but many that have done back to back trials of it definitely prefer the Epson.

 

[Apex]

Let's go for a 100" screen?

As opposed to a?

I have a 100" 1.3 gain grey screen and the 8500UB. It's a nice combo. Definitely brighter than the AE4000, so it'll be less of an issue as the bulb ages (brightness drop off). It's even usable with a good amount of ambient light.

The drawback of the 8500UB is you can't really use an anamorphic lens with it, since it doesn't have the stretch mode without an external scaler. To be fair, who is going to spend $2k on a projector and twice that on a lens though?

 

[richardycc]

4 of the top choices in this price range:

LG CF181D for bightness
Panasonic PT-AE4000u for lens memory
Epson 8500- for warranty, jack of trades, master of none(not as bright as LG, shadow details not as good as panasonic, not as film like as Sony).
Sony HW15 - film like picture and adjustable convergence.

 

[vi edit]

Or he could just spend half his budget and get a Mitsubishi 3800 (and free bulb) if he doesn't need the lens shift & placement options of an LCD.

For movies it's an awesome picture for the $$. Sharper and more "film like" than most LCD's twice it's price.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'd pick up a used Barco 808 in that price range.
http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale_Intermediate.shtm

CRT projectors give the best quality in terms of black levels and contrast. Note: this assumes a dedicated theater room with near absolute light control, as CRT projectors are generally much less bright then comparably priced alternatives.

 

[Aharami]

I have a 100" 1.3 gain grey screen and the 8500UB. It's a nice combo. Definitely brighter than the AE4000, so it'll be less of an issue as the bulb ages (brightness drop off). It's even usable with a good amount of ambient light.

The drawback of the 8500UB is you can't really use an anamorphic lens with it, since it doesn't have the stretch mode without an external scaler. To be fair, who is going to spend $2k on a projector and twice that on a lens though?

Apex, is your 8500UB as yellow/green as these screenshots show?
http://www.hometheaterpeople.com/projector-showroom/projector-video-demos.asp (select Panny 4000U for one and Epson 8500 for the other and you'll see the difference)

Or this
http://www.projectorreviews.com/projectors/PT-AE4000_vs_Epson_HC8500UB/8500UB_vs_PT-AE4000.php. Art says his 8500 doesn't look as green as those pics
Panny on left, Epson on right
http://www.projectorreviews.com/ima...000_vs_8500UB_galaxyquest_commander_large.jpg
http://www.projectorreviews.com/ima..._8500UB_5thelement_leeloo_contrast2_large.jpg

The Epson seems considerably more green/yellowish and I like the image of the Panny better. But I do prefer the higher brightness of the Epson (Art claims the Epson is nearly 40% brighter)

With the prices being only $100 of each other now, the Epson is certainly a contender for me. Also 8500's bulb is cheaper and lasts longer than the 4000U. So if I can get the Epson's image more like that of the Panasonic's, I think I'll go the Epson route over the Panny.

 

[RedCOMET]

I currently have a 720p Panasonic PT AE2000 unit.

I use a DIY black out cloth screen The whole cost me less than $100 to construct. I had to buy a staple gun & staples, so that increased the cost a bit. I had other tools i needed to complete the job.

I'm not sure if the budget you list is strictly for the projector or not.... but you will need to pay attention to other incidentals too while you implement a front projection system.

1. Screen
2. Video cables to the projector.
3. Mount for projector, whether it be a bookshelf, or a cieling mount.

I use a simple book shelf mount for my unit and I just bough some long component and vga cables from monoprice to hook my projector up to my gear.

 

[Apex]

Apex, is your 8500UB as yellow/green as these screenshots show?
http://www.hometheaterpeople.com/projector-showroom/projector-video-demos.asp (select Panny 4000U for one and Epson 8500 for the other and you'll see the difference)

Or this
http://www.projectorreviews.com/projectors/PT-AE4000_vs_Epson_HC8500UB/8500UB_vs_PT-AE4000.php. Art says his 8500 doesn't look as green as those pics
Panny on left, Epson on right
http://www.projectorreviews.com/ima...000_vs_8500UB_galaxyquest_commander_large.jpg
http://www.projectorreviews.com/ima..._8500UB_5thelement_leeloo_contrast2_large.jpg

The Epson seems considerably more green/yellowish and I like the image of the Panny better. But I do prefer the higher brightness of the Epson (Art claims the Epson is nearly 40% brighter)

With the prices being only $100 of each other now, the Epson is certainly a contender for me. Also 8500's bulb is cheaper and lasts longer than the 4000U. So if I can get the Epson's image more like that of the Panasonic's, I think I'll go the Epson route over the Panny.

Holy smoke, I definitely wouldn't have been happy with that much green bias.

No, it doesn't look even close to that off (though to be fair, my computer screen isn't color calibrated, so who knows how off it really is). I'm even using the same screen as Art (Stewart Firehawk).

I've tried his calibration settings too:

http://www.projectorreviews.com/epson/home-cinema-8500ub/calibration.php

 

[Aharami]

video i found comparing the epson with the panasonic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4v94cv0du4

 

[manimal]

ae400, mits or the epson.


I have one of the less expensive Sanyo's from last year and its fantastic buy for the money. I payed 900 for it.

make sure to keep some money in your budget for a real calibration. !! Will make a decent projo look fantastic. Or a fantastic projo look even better.

 

[RedCOMET]

make sure to keep some money in your budget for a real calibration. !! Will make a decent projo look fantastic. Or a fantastic projo look even better.

Also, the OP needs to put money aside for a replacement bulb. My PJ's replacement bulb cost $400.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Also, the OP needs to put money aside for a replacement bulb. My PJ's replacement bulb cost $400.

How often do you have to replace the bulbs?

 

[RedCOMET]

How often do you have to replace the bulbs?

Its rated for 2,000 hrs. I've had it since May 2008. I use it for my primary display since I don't own a tv. However, I work offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, so its not like i'm home every night using it. Also, the projector sat in storage for 3.5 months while i was moving.

EDIT:

I have yet to replace my bulb yet. i have almost 2,000 hrs on it. I think it was like 1950 and change before i went offshore this time around.

 

[Apex]

For the Epson 8500UB, the 4000 hour bulb (full power and econ) costs about $200, though it can usually be found for less.

 

[squirrel dog]

I was gonna say , which bulb costs the less.I got a trade mag the other day and it had epson bulbs in the 100 ish range .Others were way more.

 

[Aharami]

FYI, Epson 8500 on sale this weekend at projectorpeople for $1999. I'd buy one now except I dont even have my basement finished yet. Hopefully when I get around to buying it in a few months, the normal price will be at 1999

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Bought a projector. Was on sale at BB for $2000. I got an Mitsubishi HC6800. Thoughts on it? Compared to the Sony HW15, Panasonic PT-AE4000u or Epson 8500?

 

[Aharami]

i think for 2K, the Panasonic and the Epson are much better buys

 

[wiretap]

The Epson 8500.. calibrated properly, it is better.

I'm using a Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 right now, and even though it's an older unit, the picture quality is pretty amazing. They make some great projectors. But, if I had the money at the time, I would have gone with a DLP unit.