Tips for buying a good value projector

Yugioh

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy my very first projector.

Unfortunately I don't have a huge budget so I'm looking to get a refurbished or good second hand one. Other than the obvious Amazon are there any good sites to buy from?

In terms of the hardware are there any common pitfalls when it comes to choosing one?

In terms of usage it will just be for the odd football match/movie every week.

unklerosco

Whats ur budget? I've a Infocus IN78 for sale... It will need the bulb replaced in the next 500hrs of use.

Adverts has a good few projectors listed... Are you looking for HD ready or full HD, 3D?

Yugioh

My budget's only about 200 quid. As my laptop will be the main source it will mostly be 720p (streams etc) that I'll be projecting so anything too much more than that will be wasted. I would obviously prefer a HDMI connection so I don't want anything too old either.

Unfortunately I'm living in Germany atm so any adverts from Ireland wouldn't really suit me.

Hifi Keith

Bulb life is important as the bulbs can be as expensive as the projector or impossible to source

Think what connections you need, obviously if you need HDMI make sure it has HDMI.

There is a big jump from a DLP to a home cinema projector, if you can manage with a dlp they are effective enough

unklerosco

Ur a bit incorrect there with the DLP statement... Home cinema projectors can be DLP and can be damn good projectors, I've a Optoma HD82 which is DLP and is a damn good home cinema projector.. The main choices for projectors are DLP and LCD. LCD is catching up with DLP, is a better choice if you suffer from the rainbow effect...

Bulb life does matter but I've found, after having projectors for the last 6yrs that I change the projector before I change the bulb... U usually get around 2-3000hrs easy.. If u use it 4hrs a day every day of the year a bulb will last you around 2yrs. They're not as expensive as they used to be, new bulbs can be got for €100-150.

For €200 ur best bet is ebay I'd say... U wont get anything half decent, that'll do 720p for €200 new.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Optoma-HD73-DLP-Projektor-/251054136472?pt=DE_Computing_TV_Video_Audio_Videoprojektoren&hash=item3a73fe1c98#ht_750wt_1139

http://www.trustedreviews.com/Optoma-ThemeScene-HD73-projector_TV_review

Something like that would be a good start...

Hifi Keith

Sorry had meant to specify SD DLP projector in the above. I have a small Sharp one I use from time to time and its fine for what the OP is looking for, decent lumens so I don't have to sit in complete darkness only drawback is the 4:3 output isn't ideal but none the less its fine for movies and football, at 6 years old it owes me nothing

Yugioh

Thanks for the advice guys; it gives me a much better idea as before I really knew nothing. I'll be patient and I'll keep my eye out for a good one.