New to Projecters. Best online sources???

Hi everyone. I'm new to laser projectors and I am planning on building or buying my first one...but I have a few questions if anyone can help...For one, I'm looking to spend between 500 to 1000 overall, and am trying to figure out if it is more cost effective to build or buy...and also, as far as bang for your buck, who are some of the better online sources? I found a few on ebay, and I dont really trust them, has anyone else had luck? Also for laser strength. For balenced colors and white...For every 100mw of green do I need 200mw of blue and 300mw of red?

With laser projectors you get what you pay for, cheaper will have worse beam quality and poorer scanners.

Quality costs money. But the software to run a projector will be around $500 alone.

Hi Dan,

You probably would do well to read this thread:

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...pinions-please!

This is not an inexpensive endeavour. Use that $500-$1000 initially towards attending a few laser enthusiest meetings before buying ANY equipment if you can. You'll get to enjoy a lot of lasers, some really great people and learn a lot about what and what not to buy.

Also if you fill out your location there might be someone near you that can walk you through the basics.

Thanks for the advice. I updated my profile. As far as software I was going to try my best going open source. I was looking to spend up to around $1000 with beginners equipment that I will upgrade down the line.

Oh hell... if you're in West Deptford, you're right around the corner. I live in Wilmington and where I work (and have all my laser gear) is in Newark, right off I-95 near University of Delaware. So, you're maybe 35 -40 minutes away. I'm more than happy to have you come down sometime and check out the "playground" and give you some pointers/information. I um... maintain a few toys. >:)

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Originally Posted by steadydan99

Thanks for the advice. I updated my profile. As far as software I was going to try my best going open source. I was looking to spend up to around $1000 with beginners equipment that I will upgrade down the line.

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Your lucky to have Brad so close. Ya should take him up on that offer as he has about one of everything. :)

I'll also answer your first question regarding green, red and blue... "It entirely depends." And that's an official answer.



But seriously... it does in fact, depend on things like wavelengths, what YOU perceive as white, beam quality, things of that nature. The ratios vary and everyone with a hole in their backside has their own opinion of proper ratio.

And John... in some cases two or three or seven of everything. *retardo

Hey Dan.

With Brad as a neighbour you might be able to build your first PJ out of the sweeping of his storage room floor! ;)

Definitely take him up on the offer of having a look round! :)

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Hey Dan.

With Brad as a neighbour you might be able to build your first PJ out of the sweeping of his storage room floor! ;)

Definitely take him up on the offer of having a look round! :)

Wow, you only live 30min down the road.. Ill definitely take you up on that offer. It Looks like you have quite the setup!

I manage a large banquet and conference center and in that capacity, I have the ability to market lasers (and other dance lighting) to weddings, proms, sweet 16's and other events and, over the past few years of getting into this insidious hobby (now business), to say that I have accumulated a bit of gear is an understatement. I have a wide variety of software packages and DAC's (what is hooked up between a computer and projector to "talk" to the lasers), and a large array of various types of lasers - maybe around 25-26 projectors, plus beam tables, lumia rigs, effects lasers and Lord knows what else. Sick, sick disease this whole laser business is!

What's your day look like Sunday?

Dan, Your in for some major mind blowing things on this visit... Be warned, your wallet will never forgive you!!!

Baahahahaahaahaaa ( In my Boris Karloff voice ) >:) >:) >:)

fyi Greg M told us at the LSO class that 1W of 445 blue equals the 'brightness' of ~50 mW of 532 green.

yeah going to see BRAD MAY BE A MISTAKE- He is heavily infected and the addiction is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!

you are very lucky to have him so close- learn from him as much as you can- both the smart moves and the mistakes.+you will never find another gent as cool as Brad!! If I were you i would offer to help him with his set-ups lots to be learned by that!! BUT your budget is kinda small and you may wish you waited and spend more on gear to use longer before youy need a bigger 'fix'--
hak

Hey Dan,
Another New Jersey-an here. You'll save money by building, but the learning curve is steep. I started with a $500 Chinese projector with the intention of eventually building my own. I figure it's easier to have a working model to tinker with and learn from while building a bigger projector with better components. Paired with some high quality software, the chinese projector has been satisfying, but I still want more.

You should take Brad up on his offer, he'll definitely show you some amazing stuff!

Well... Dan made it down for a bit today and ImageLight and I were able to scratch the surface a little. Hopefully it was beneficial. Covered some basics and ran some shows. I think we're going to have another LSX contributor on our hands soon!