projector for large venues? [Archive]

View Full Version : projector for large venues?

Douglas Underdahl

01-03-2009, 03:24 PM

Does anyone have suggestions for large venue video projectors? I see a lot of short throw projectors for home theaters and board rooms with good specs, but I'm in search of something that can throw 80 feet or better. Anyone had any experience with the Barco Reality 6400 or the Proxima Pro AV DP9320? These look like machines that were $15k and above about 8 years ago and are capable of long throws, and can be had for about $1,000 or less now.

Thanks in advance.

Marcus Olsen

01-03-2009, 03:38 PM

Go Christie digital, there's nothing better than that for large venues. We have one Roadster 6000 w/ 3 DLP, 6K ANSI Lumens, capable to display an amazing image up to 10.5 meters wide w/ impressive quality. It's 6 years old and we've paid over $40k when new, but now prices are much lower than that.
We also had a Panasonic 7500 a few years ago and its very close to Christie in every aspect but is 5000 ANSI
An eBay search may worth for you.

Cheers!

David Rasberry

01-03-2009, 06:14 PM

What is your intended screen size Doug? Screen size and ambient light conditions will determine how bright a projector you need.
For moderate cost projectors we use Sanyo's mostly. They have interchangeable lenses and both factory and aftermarket long throw lenses are available. Sanyo is the OEM for Christie's LCD line. Projector installations of all kinds are what I do for a living. Anything from small classrooms to performing arts facilities. If I can help you put a package together let me know.
Digital Projection also makes fine high end 3-DLP projectors

Peter Majtan

01-03-2009, 08:03 PM

SONY SXRD CineAlta 4K - You can't go wrong with that one - especially at that price point. It cost less then most 2K projectors from the competition. This might be the only time I would recommend SONY... :devil:

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/SXRD/index.shtml

Joseph Ward

01-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Peter Majtan

01-04-2009, 09:50 AM

@ $114,000? I will wait for Red 9K Projector.

Joseph, You pick the most expensive model. Two things - the "basic" 4K model is $65K USD. Second - even that most expensive model is half the price of competing 2K models... Also it includes the processing computer and storage in one enclosure certified by DCI. You only need this for d-cinema applications. If they need the basic projector only for data projection (including "unprotected" movie files) for large venues - the $65K model is sufficient...

Now that is a steal...

:) Peter

M Most

01-04-2009, 01:28 PM

Joseph, You pick the most expensive model. Two things - the "basic" 4K model is $65K USD. Second - even that most expensive model is half the price of competing 2K models...

It is also less accurate for color correction purposes, particularly in the blacks, than the DLP Cinema 2K models.

Peter Majtan

01-05-2009, 05:52 AM

It is also less accurate for color correction purposes, particularly in the blacks, than the DLP Cinema 2K models.

How exactly is that? Would You mind sharing any official comparison test results? The 4K SXRD's (2xx series) are 100% DCI compatible for theatrical projection. Heck - I am getting pretty good results from the $3.5K HD-SXRD models, when calibrated with Xrite's EyeOne XT...

:) Peter

Douglas Underdahl

01-05-2009, 06:11 AM

Peter Majtan

01-05-2009, 08:14 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the suggestions. How about this question - if I have to project DVCpro HD footage from a hard drive via a Macbook pro in a venue with 200 seats and a 80 foot throw, what would be my best option for under $5,000?

Ouch! For under $5K? The best I can think off is the new SONY VPL-HW10 ($3495):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/582192-REG/Sony_VPLHW10_VPL_HW10_BRAVIA_SXRD_1080p.html

It is only 1000 Lumens, but it has 30000:1 contrast and is FULL-HD 1920x1080. Providing that the venue is pitch black - You will be alright. If Your footage is however only 720P - then I would recommend the VPL-FE40 ($4499):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/471072-REG/Sony_VPLFE40_VPL_FE40_SXGA_LCD_Multimedia.html#spe cifications

This is not SXRD ("only" LCD), but it has 4000 lumens at 1400x1050 resolution (more then enough for 720P) and it is designed for large venues...

What is the diameter of the screen?

Just my two pesos...

:) Peter

David Rasberry

01-05-2009, 08:20 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the suggestions. How about this question - if I have to project DVCpro HD footage from a hard drive via a Macbook pro in a venue with 200 seats and a 80 foot throw, what would be my best option for under $5,000?

Does the venue have a screen already? If so, what are the screen dimensons? What is the distance from screen to the farthest seat? What is the ceiling height? I will do a theater calculation for you and see what works out to meet minimum SMPTE guidelines and give you a range of choices, lens and projector.

Douglas Underdahl

01-05-2009, 04:42 PM

Hey David -

Thanks for the help.

Well, the first theater has about a 100 foot throw. It's half of a theater built in the 1920's and was twinned in the 1970's. So it's long and skinny, probably about 35 feet wide. I'll find out what the screen size is. My friend runs it and it has a silvered screen that he says was originally put there to show 3D movies in the 1950's. Pretty reflective, as I recall. The other theater has a perforated white screen, I think.

The thing is, I'd like a projector that I can put in the booth of this theater, and others like it. If I 4 wall this theater and some in the future, I'd like to be able to set up my own projector in the booth, likely aiming out the sight window, adjusting the image size with replaceable lenses or a zoom.

This first theater has no video projector. I know others may have video projectors installed but they are often just low res, poorly performing units. I've used short throw home cinema type projectors in the past and been quite impressed by their performance, but they usually have maximum throws of 30 feet, so you have to put them in the 8th row on a stand, which is less than ideal.

David Rasberry

01-05-2009, 08:23 PM

I'll PM you some screen calculation spreadsheets for recommended screen (image) size vs projector brightness. Lumen output is going to be more important to you than extremely high contrast specs. Beyond about 1000:1, projector contrast specs have very little effect on actual screen contrast, ambient light and screen gain vs brightness determine actual on screen contrast ratios.