Comments

jbrawn wrote on 7/27/2003, 7:12 PM
I'm not a projector guru, but I'll take a stab at your question.

When you say you want to run video from your laptop to the projector, does that mean you want to show whatever is on your PC screen? Or do you want to display NTSC format video (movies, TV shows, etc.) ? If the latter, use a DV to Analog converter and send a TV signal to the projector, you'll have a compromised display if you play full screen video on the PC and use the VGA connector from the PC to the projector.

Look at the ANSI Lumens rating (this is how bright the image is for a given size), and look at the contrast ratio (how much different between white and black). Here is a rule of thumb: Assuming the room is not unusually bright, doubling the contrast ratio is worth a 25% reduction in brightness. (ie: 1500 lumens at 500:1 contrast is as easy to see as 2000 lumens at 250:1 contrast ratio). There are formulas on the net (use Google) that let you calculate the lumens you need for a given screen size and ambient light level. You may need to borrow a photographer's spot meter to get an idea of the ambient level on your screen.

While talking about screens, they are just as important as projectors. It takes twice as much projector power to get a good image on a typical white painted wall as it does on a high quality glass bead screen.

Resolution depends on what formats you want to display. If you will be showing full screen PC stuff (PowerPoint, etc.) then you should probably look for a projector with a native resolution of 1024x768 at minimum. If you are really planning to show only NTSC video (via S-Video connector) then an 800x600 native resolution projector will give results that are just as good.

If you plan to display HD, (1080i, 720p, etc) then you'll want to look for a projector that can take HD signals directly and display those resolutions natively. You'll also want to look for component video inputs (YPbPr - Green/Red/Blue).

If you want to concentrate on movies, you might look for a projector that has a 16:9 aspect ratio natively -- more and more of these are appearing for the home theater market.

In a fixed installation, I prefer a manual focus and zoom control. I want to set it and forget it. Some projectors with motorized focus and zoom get confused on occasion and have to be reset.

If you've looked at all of the above and still have 2 or more projectors to decide between, pick the one with the longest bulb life. Failed bulbs and chaning bulbs is a pain.

Good Luck,

John.

P.S. I've personally had a great time doing small stuff (up to 10' screen in classroom brightness rooms) with the Hewlett-Packard pv6120. Your mileage may vary.

johnmeyer wrote on 7/27/2003, 8:20 PM
Most (but not all) projectors can take VGA input or NTSC (TV) input. Anything will work. The better ones display better (truer) contrast, and many of them better ones can work well with some ambient light. Most work best in a darkened, or completely dark, room.

I'd recommend renting or borrowing before buying.
smhontz wrote on 7/27/2003, 9:39 PM
Check out the latest issue of PC magazine - Aug 5. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1195057,00.asp
statas wrote on 7/28/2003, 12:28 AM
good link/article.

john, i'm not sure i follow everything you're saying. my intention is to play avi files, to project video art (made with vegas) behind bands, not movies, tv or power point. i'm still looking into specs for what i need.
snicholshms wrote on 7/28/2003, 1:18 AM
Are you going to show something that was rendered in Vegas? Such as an AVI, MPEG1 or MPEG2 video? Then send the image out to the projector via a DV to Analog converter. Sending a signal from the laptop's screen (VGA connection) to the projector will have much less quality.
Get a good bright screen, too. Find a location for the screen that has the lowest possible room light and the image will be easier for your audience to see.
FuTz wrote on 7/28/2003, 12:01 PM

What if he wants to project from *behind* the screen? Would a 12'x12' "silk" like cinema crews use to diffuse light work?
johnmeyer wrote on 7/28/2003, 12:11 PM
"... my intention is to play avi files, to project video art (made with vegas) behind bands, not movies, tv or power point ..."

I don't think it matters. Regardless of what you are playing (AVI, MPEG, Powerpoint), there are only two ways (generally speaking) that a computer displays an image: as a native computer image or, through a converter of some sort (inside or outside the computer) as a "TV" (NTSC) image. Projectors can accept the "computer" image in various ways, but the lower end projectors typically simply use a VGA connector that mates with the 15-pin connector on the back of your laptop. Every laptop (that I've ever seen) has such a connector. This type of connection lets you show on the big screen exactly what you've got on your computer screen.

The second type of connection requires a composite (RCA jack) or S-Video connection, either on the back of your laptop (definitely not found on all laptops) or through an adaptor. You can also go out though Firewire, and from there go through your video camera. This connects to the composite video inputs on the projector. If you are showing "real video" (and it sounds like you are) as opposed to PowerPoint presentations, then this will probably produce a display that looks more like standard video.

Having said all that, if you know what you are doing (and people in this forum definitely know what they are doing), you should be able to get a better looking result if you create everything as non-interlaced and display it through the VGA output. However, the process will not be straightforward. You'll have to keep track of resolution, interlacing, and a bunch of other factors.

Maybe someone who has actually done it can comment.
statas wrote on 7/29/2003, 12:55 AM
hm, points taken and questions raised. will post again later after i look at a few projectors. connections are something i need to keep in mind.
jyarb wrote on 7/29/2003, 6:58 PM
Check out these two great forums. www.avsforum.com and www.projectorcentral.com
farss wrote on 7/30/2003, 2:51 AM
I've shown a few movies over the last few years in cinemas which is a bit different to what you're trying to do as you'll have a lot more ambient light.

Most of what's been said is true enough, but I'd say you need to look for something with plenty of light o/p, you're going to have a fight with the stage lighting.

My personal preference is for DLP projectors, I've come accross many LCD projectors where the LCDs have faded or have color blemishes.

Also look carefully at the cost of lamps, they are not cheap and don't last a long time.

If your going to be using it in venues where people are smoking think about additional air filtration, once tar gets into the LCDs or DLPs you cannot get it off.
statas wrote on 7/30/2003, 12:36 PM
thanks mucho.
p_l wrote on 7/30/2003, 8:48 PM
I've been very pleased with my InFocus X1. I would not hesitate to recommend it as an amazing entry-level projector.




starixiom wrote on 7/30/2003, 10:17 PM
Ive been doing live video mixes in clubs for a couple months now and the general consenous is that <1500 lumens is a waste of money. Projector technology is progressing at such a rate that to lay down that kind of cash flow is foolish because in less than a year you probably could have purchased that same projector for 3/4 the amount. Here are my recommendations:

-Try renting a projector to see if it will work in your club setting. Not all projectors are created the same. Some work in certain situations and might not work in another.

-Do you have to own a projector or is this a side project? If you need to own, then 2000 ansi lumens would be the minimum. However this is not set in stone.

-Dont worry about pal/ntsc. Most modern projectors handle both with no hassle. Standard connections include. SVGA, Svid, and Composite and i think SCART.

-Maintanance is crucial. Club elements such as smoke, vibrations, ventalation play a major role is projector longevity.

-IF you do buy make sure you have a spare lamp (expensive but essential) and insurance is a very good idea.

Mounting is a different story. That is when things can get tricky if not done properly.

Brands to check out:

NEC
Infocus
Toshiba
Iiyama (sp?)

Hope this helps.

starixiom wrote on 7/30/2003, 10:23 PM
Oh, I almost forgot. You can run a connection from your laptop to projector but i wouldnt recommend it. I like using a video mixer, a scan convertor, and a signal distributor. Scan convertor allows for underscan and overscan from the laptop. Video cards supposedly do this but i have had problems with drivers in the past. Video matrixes are also nice if you want to spend a few hundred dollars more. The thing that is going to be the deciding factor is distance between you and the projector and the strentgh of the video signal.

If you are thinking of doing club visuals or similar hit me up at:

star_ixiom at hotmail dot com

statas wrote on 7/31/2003, 12:34 PM
yep, also doing club visuals. i'll email you.