I am looking for a decent projector for as little money as possible. I would like to spend around 700-800 dollars.

I went and picked up a Optoma 65. I know it is only 720P but I thought it would be fine for a few year. I have been running a Pansonic AE20 for the last seven years. The bulb finally went out and I wasn't going to pay 400 for a bulb for that old thing.

The AE200 was a short throw projector. So my ceiling mount is 12 feet back from the wall. When I put up the Optoma 65 I am going to have to move it back 4 feet to get the same size of screen. I am not looking forward to it, but I guess I can do that.

I have been looking at this Sony VPL-BW5 because I have a guy at CDWG that can get me no tax and a small discount. Best Buy has it for 1000 but I know it is around the net for less. I even see on Ebay that i can probably get one for about 650. I am just not sure if I want to go ebay on this purchase. For example I am already probably going to return this Optoma to Best Buy.

Does anyone know of a good home theater projector for as cheap as possible. Are there any media projectors out there that can go 16:9 for super cheap (400) that would just get the job done for a few years. Or, what is the best buy in the 720P in the 500-1000 range.

I hope I am not wasting everyone time. I just dont' have a ton of money to spend right now. In a few years the bulb will go out and I can get the 1080P projector for like 700 bucks. That is my plan.

Did you buy a hd65 or planning to do so? It's in your lower end budget and will look very good. If you are willing to spend 500-1000 in the 720p market you can get 1080p for 999 msrp or less. My suggestion -$700 hd65 720p, $999 hd20 1080p. Bulb cost about the same for both. What size screen are you using?

Awesome, I actually went to Best Buy and got the HD65 on Sunday for 760 after tax. But now I found out I can get it from a work hookup of mine for like 685. So I think I am going to return it to BB and save the money.

I had my Panny AE200 set at like 9 feet. I have two rows of seating in my theater. The first row is 12 feet back and the second row is about 20 feet back. I believe the room is 19 by 27 feet. I like to have the 10 foot screen, so since my Panny was a short throw, my mount and power outlet and all my cords come out of the ceiling at 12 feet. So now I have to move everything back 4 feet.

Anyways, it seemed like the Optoma was the way to go, but I wanted to make sure the Sony LCD wouldn't zoom a lot more and solve my space issue. Also, it goes 3000 hours on a bulb. I can't believe this Optoma only goes 2000. That is pretty marginal I think, and the new bulb is 300. Boink! I guess it will get me by for a few years and then I can get a 1080 PJ.

I was just wondering if this one was really considered the best for the money?

Thanks!

Well I think you're nuts not spending the extra $300 now and getting 1080p. Makes zero sense to me. So instead of saving another $300 you'll suffer for years because you couldn't wait till you had just another $300...

Humm - Well I tell you what. It isn't that I don't have the money. I could spend 1500 - 2000 if I thought it was worth it. I think it is just how much you really value the better picture. Both of them are only going to last 2000 hours. My panasonic AE200 lasted just about 5000 hours. So I plan on getting another one in 3 or 4 years since I am not going to pay 325 for a lamp on any projector. Now if the Optoma 20 had a lamp life that was much longer, or replacement lamps for 100 bucks or something. This is the information I am lookign for. Or, by chance if there is another budget projector in the same price range that is comparable, with a bulb life that is 4-5K hours, that is the info that could really help me out.

So you say that the 720P is just WAY worse that the 1080P? Most of my directv channels are going to be in 720, right? I don't have a blue ray player but I am thinknig abotu getting one so I can stream netflix. So there is maybe some 1080P content. I also bring in some football over the air, 720P should be just fine there. If all my content was 1080P, I think that I would really be able to realize the difference in projector. Of the 2000 hours of lamp life, I bet less that 300 hours will be using content in 1080P. The rest of the time I would just be wasting money per hour of viewing.

I guess I am a little more budget minded than most?

You can get a bulb around $170 from provantage for the HD65. Not just because I own one now, but I'll tell you for this price range I haven't seen anything better than the HD65. I've installed a few high end projectors in the past including the low end Sony you mention. The Sony isn't even close in picture quality to the HD65.. It has a very washed out look to it. I'm surprised that they would sale them at their current prices.

I have a blu ray player but rarely use it. Most of my content is 720P. The HD65 is outstanding in colors and black levels. I wouldn't upgrade from it unless it was to a $2000 pj..I feel it would be a waste to go up $300..I doubt you'd notice the difference when veiwing anything other than 1080P content.

www.legendmicro.com sometimes has execellent deals on PJs.

With that logic why bother even getting a 720p projector. You seem to care less really. Get a 480p one save yourself even more money. You/Most people would never notice a difference at all. So why not lower your standards even farther.

PS The optoma HD20 has 4000 hour bulb life and bulb is $200 I bet when its time for you to buy a new one. But since you don't care about quality at all it seems. Get an infocus used from someone for $100 I say.

With that logic why bother even getting a 720p projector. You seem to care less really. Get a 480p one save yourself even more money. You/Most people would never notice a difference at all. So why not lower your standards even farther.

PS The optoma HD20 has 4000 hour bulb life and bulb is $200 I bet when its time for you to buy a new one. But since you don't care about quality at all it seems. Get an infocus used from someone for $100 I say.

Oooo..... There is a helpful response. It is obvious to me that the OP has done what any smart buyer has done, decided how much Home Thatre is worth to him, and set a budget.

The following is not based on personal experience, as I am new to the game. It is based on research, not knee jerk reaction. I can't provide a link, but, during my own research, I came across several websites that discuss when a difference between a 720 and 1080p projector will be a factor. It is based on screen size and viewing distance, and makes sense. Basically, what it boils down to is that the farther away you are, the less you will notice the difference in resolution. This would be, of course, based on both projectors being of good quality and delivering comparable picture quality.
From my own experience, there are no words that are adequate to describe moving from a 1024X768 data projector to the HD65. I have a 95" (or so) picture, and sit 9' away, and the quality is awesome. Blu-Ray is incredible, and I cannot believe moving to an actual 1080p projector will improve what I am seeing now. It probably will, but I cannot imagine it getting any better.

What's funny is I think the exact same thing about my Infocus IN72 - which is only 480P! Sit 9.5 feet for an 80" screen (small room). Resolution is only one piece of the video experience...and not always the most important one.

Blu-Ray is incredible, and I cannot believe moving to an actual 1080p projector will improve what I am seeing now. It probably will, but I cannot imagine it getting any better.

I too am moving from 480p on an 80" w/ a 10-11 ft viewing distance to 1080p not bc of the rez numbers...but the price. The 480p had great wow factor. "Why not," I tell myself as my budget is up to 1.5k...sure, it will look better overall but my seating distance average will remain the same but moving up a bit to a 90-92" screen. So it will prob equal out. The main advantage I suspect is br playback or my hidef sat which I doubt will ever get viewed bc that's not my viewing habits. I use a tv for tv and pj for disc based content most always at night/dark. I have considered a nice 720p but for about the same money I can get 1080p and be set for some time.