curious to know who still owns a z1 and how many hours they have on their pj. are you still happy with it?

i havn't posted on this forum in ages but thought i would check out whats new. i still have my trusty old Z1 that i bought back in early 2003. not sure how many hours i've logged (can't even remember how to check) but i'm still on my first bulb and it seems to be going strong. as much as the z1 has served me well, i'm almost hoping it goes soon so i can upgrade. not even sure where to start as i havn't kept up to date on the newest budget pj's. oh well i guess i've have to do some reading here and projector central.

If you haven't kept up to date on new projectors you are in for a shocker. The quality per dolllar spent is in another league.

The Mitsubishi HD1000U is pretty much the most popular unit around. Well, that and the Infocus 4805 and Infocus IN72, but those are 480 punits. Still better than the Z1 though.

what about this optoma hd70? my next pj is going to be dlp, are the lcd units equally as popular these days? and what about tom the guitarman. last time i read one of his posts he was testing a new pj every few weeks :)

curious to know who still owns a z1 and how many hours they have on their pj. are you still happy with it?

i havn't posted on this forum in ages but thought i would check out whats new. i still have my trusty old Z1 that i bought back in early 2003. not sure how many hours i've logged (can't even remember how to check) but i'm still on my first bulb and it seems to be going strong. as much as the z1 has served me well, i'm almost hoping it goes soon so i can upgrade. not even sure where to start as i havn't kept up to date on the newest budget pj's. oh well i guess i've have to do some reading here and projector central.

I have just recently purchased the Z5 along with the Toshiba XA2 HD DVD and I am extremely satisfied with the PQ from ALL content input. Purchased the Z5 from Visual Apex & the XA2 from Amazon.

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/sanyo-plv-z5-1029.shtml

http://www.projectorcentral.com/sanyo_plv-z5.htm

The Z5 PQ was outstanding right out of the box with minimal tweaking & no calibration.

Good Luck with your decision ! ;)

Still have my Z1, on my second bulb. Bulb was less expensive to replace. Would like to go to Dlp when this bulb dies though.

If you haven't kept up to date on new projectors you are in for a shocker. The quality per dolllar spent is in another league.

.

No question there. On the other hand, I can still coax a decent CGI image from mine. (if and when I take it out of the closet).

Be careful what you wish for in going to DLP. I started with the Z1 (my neighbors are still using it, they love it), then went to NEC HT1000, HT1100 with lens, BenQ 8700+ and rainbows everywhere with all three. My wife never saw the rainbows but always complained about eye fatigue/strain with our dlp units. We then went the LCOS g10, g15 route with lumagen HDP and the pq was smooth but lacked in the contrast department. So, ended up with a Z3 and still using it with a Toshiba XA2 (best purchase ever) and the pq is great. I will be upgrading to 1080p soon but waiting to see how the new sony vw60 pans out.

That said, you can get a Z5 for near 1K and from what I hear about it's improvements over the Z3, I bet you would be very happy and not risk the rainbow/eye-fatigue risk with DLP.

I am still using a Z1. Approaching 1000hrs. Hold down on the up arrow to display the hours.

I'm still using my Z1! Sde is nonexistent from my viewing distance but I want to get a bigger screen soon so, I'll probably be getting the Z5. I have had good luck with Sanyo products unlike I have had with Panasonic or Mitsubishi.

Here are my suggestions for current Projectors
http://thetechhunter.blogspot.com/2007/03/prey-captured-projectors.html

Sell the Z1 NOW!!!!!

Get $300 on ebay for it and take your money plus a measly $125 and buy a IN72 from Tigerdirect for $425. It is 10 times the projector. My brother who ownes a Z1 is doing this but don't wait because the Z1 will not fetch $300 a few months from now.

I will pack it up and put it in the closet or better yet give it away before I buy a IN72. I might sell it and buy a 720p projector though.

Me too still with one. I figure I bought my last bulb earlier this year (unless they miraculalously drop to $150 or so). It is really amazing what can be had today for what we paid 4.5-5 years ago. I think$1k (maybe 1.2) is the sweet spot these days.

I am still using a Z1. Approaching 1000hrs. Hold down on the up arrow to display the hours.

thanks, i'm at 915 hours, knock on wood!

i'll have to check out the mits and that in72. its great that prices have continued to come down and the technology continues to improve. i know if i start lurking the forum and start seeing some screen shoots of the new pjs companred to the z1 i'll end up buying a new one, so for now i'll stick to the z1 and wait for the bulb to die and just stay clear of those screenshots :rolleyes:

have screens changed much over the years? i have a dalite HP which has served me well.

Check this out.. Bought my Z1 brand new years ago and still use it mostly during major sporting events. Original bulb and only 238 hours total use!

Still have the Z1 I bought from 2003...around 800 hours.... i don't have much time to watch it these days. When the bulb goes, I'll buy a Z5 or Z6

I still watching movies with my ol'faithful Z1 with 1200 hours on the original bulb. Must admitted that I am itching to upgrade to the Mit1000hd for more brightness and better resolution.

I have a dedicated home mini theater and my Z1 is still going strong. HD content still blows away friends that see it for the first time. Its on its second bulb and will probably wait until 08 for a replacement.

4 years, 4 months on my Z1 with the original bulb. Watched 2 movies last night, and was still perfectly happy.

I still watching movies with my ol'faithful Z1 with 12000 hours on the original bulb. Must admitted that I am itching to upgrade to the Mit1000hd for more brightness and better resolution.

12,000 hours, wow thats a lot of hours especially on the original bulb. thats great.

I will pack it up and put it in the closet or better yet give it away before I buy a IN72.
:confused: You're the fella who does not see any SDE on your Z1 right?

so for now i'll stick to the z1 and wait for the bulb to die and just stay clear of those screenshots :rolleyes:

But why would you want to limit yourself? Why would you want to do that when you could sell your Z1 and spend another $100 or so and get a projector that is ten times the projector as the Z1? You would kick yourself for staying with the Z1.

If you don't want to spend the money on a 720P right now than the IN72 is the perfect step up over the Z1. The difference in image quality is ridiculas. I bought the Z1 for my brother as a wedding present. It was great 5 years ago. It pretty much sucks now.

12,000 hours, wow thats a lot of hours especially on the original bulb. thats great.
Oop, It's 1200 hours not 12000. :D I probably pull the trigger on the Mit sometimes before Proj People pull down the discount. Currently the Mit is way cheaper than what I first pay for the Z1 a few years back.

Sell the Z1 NOW!!!!!

Get $300 on ebay for it and take your money plus a measly $125 and buy a IN72 from Tigerdirect for $425. It is 10 times the projector. My brother who ownes a Z1 is doing this but don't wait because the Z1 will not fetch $300 a few months from now.

I want some of what you are smoking! Why would someone want to spend $300 on a used Z1, when they can get a IN72 for $425 - based on your own reasoning? (OTOH, I am sure there are lots of uninformed people buying on ebay you can prey on ...)

But why would you want to limit yourself? Why would you want to do that when you could sell your Z1 and spend another $100 or so and get a projector that is ten times the projector as the Z1? You would kick yourself for staying with the Z1.

If you don't want to spend the money on a 720P right now than the IN72 is the perfect step up over the Z1. The difference in image quality is ridiculas. I bought the Z1 for my brother as a wedding present. It was great 5 years ago. It pretty much sucks now.


a few reasons

a) price - i am pretty sure i can't get it for the price you quoted in Canada. i did a quick search and one place sells it for CAD999 or say US850. if i bought from the US theres a few issues - warranty and additional costs when it crosses the border.

b) warranty - my experience with pjs (in particular my Z1) is that warranty and service are important and if i bought in the US I'm guessing I may not be covered or I would have to send all warranty work back to the US....not great.

c) i'm happy - my Z1 is working great and its set up nicely in my basement home theatre together with my HTPC.

i hear what you're saying but in the end its just not worth it to me to go through the hassel of trying to sell mine on ebay etc. when it breaks down i will likely look for another budget model in the $1k range and go from there.

if on the other hand you are willing to sell mine, buy the IN72 at a good price for me and look after all my warranty issues....lets talk :D

I want some of what you are smoking! You couldn't handle what I smoke. ;) Why would someone want to spend $300 on a used Z1, when they can get a IN72 for $425 - The same reason people spend thousands on a digital when $500 will get you a CRT that will outperform 90% of digitals, IGNORANCE!.
based on your own reasoning? Based on a search of completed auctions for Z1s. Anything else I can help ya with? ;)

(OTOH, I am sure there are lots of uninformed people buying on ebay you can prey on ...) :confused: :rolleyes:
So people who pay $300 for a used Z1 are being preyed on? Check completed auctions. Did someone hold a gun over someones head and say bid $300 on this used Z1 or I'll shoot? Should the seller of the used Z1 contact the high bidder and say, Gee thanks for bidding $300 but I can't take your money since it would make more sense for you to buy a new In72 for a little more. Should the seller limit the amount he will take for his used Z1 so as not to "prey" on the ignorance of the bidders? Should the seller donate a portion of the sale price to a non profit organization which helps inform people of the value of items they bid on?

:confused: You're the fella who does not see any SDE on your Z1 right?

I said I don't see any sde on my 80" screen and that I wanted a new screen for a Z5.
What the hell is your problem with the Z1 and why are you even posting in this thread? The title of this thread is: "who still owns a z1". Not: "why I should sell my Z1 for a dlp". There are many people here that still love there Z1 and I think they know that ebay exists if they choose to sell.

I said I don't see any sde on my 80" screen Then you are blind.
What the hell is your problem with the Z1 I don't' have "problems" with pieces of electronics. and why are you even posting in this thread Ah, because I am a projector owner for the past 20 years... ;) with experiance with the Z1 and counltess other projectors. The title of this thread is: "who still owns a z1". Not: "why I should sell my Z1 for a dlp". Ahh go real slow and try actually reading his post Einstein. He is thinking about upgrading and is looking for advice.

There are many people here that still love there Z1 That would be " their" not there. and I think they know that ebay exists if they choose to sell. That does not mean they know what the going price for a Z1 is. I'm happy to help out. Seabird did a fine job responding to my posts explaining his reasons for waiting. He doesn't need your help. However, I still believe that the moment he sees what an IN72 can do, he will kick himself for settling for the poor performance of the Z1. ;)

I have a dedicated home mini theater and my Z1 is still going strong. HD content still blows away friends that see it for the first time. Its on its second bulb and will probably wait until 08 for a replacement.
This is good to hear about the HD on Z1. I m thinking about doing the same thing, purchase a A20 and pair it up with the Z1 (I know Z1 is not 720P or 1080i) for now while saving more cash for the Mit1000.

I don't have a Z1, but a Panny L200. I believe they came out at about the same time. I have about 1300 hours on it at the moment. I'm still amazed at the picture with most DVD's and HDTV. I'm certainly getting an itch to upgrade to something like the Mits HD1000 or something similar. I keep hoping the bulb will die soon, so it would be easier to justify the upgrade. In the mean time, my family and I will still enjoy the 80" picture.

I don't have a Z1, but a Panny L200. I believe they came out at about the same time. I have about 1300 hours on it at the moment. I'm still amazed at the picture with most DVD's and HDTV. I'm certainly getting an itch to upgrade to something like the Mits HD1000 or something similar. I keep hoping the bulb will die soon, so it would be easier to justify the upgrade. In the mean time, my family and I will still enjoy the 80" picture.
If you gonna pull the trigger on the Mit, just needed to do it before Projector People pull down the coupon save$50. My neighbor has a Mit and I just loved it when playing HD on it .

But why would you want to limit yourself? Why would you want to do that when you could sell your Z1 and spend another $100 or so and get a projector that is ten times the projector as the Z1? You would kick yourself for staying with the Z1.

If you don't want to spend the money on a 720P right now than the IN72 is the perfect step up over the Z1. The difference in image quality is ridiculas. I bought the Z1 for my brother as a wedding present. It was great 5 years ago. It pretty much sucks now.

Kevmann,

i'm sure the new pjs have nicer pictures, better blacks etc, but i would be surprised if they are 10x better then my Z1. even back in 2002 when i first started looking, budget pjs like the z1, panny ae200, sharp x90 and x1 held their ground pretty well compared to the likes of higher priced units like the ht1000. its really when you put things side by side that you really notice the difference and even when you do, people see images differently and whats good to you may not be great for me. part of me wants to upgrade, but the other part says time is on your side and 3,6 or 12 months from now the pjs will be even that much better for less money.

anyway, the purpose of this thread was to touch base with some z1 owners and to also find out more about the current budget pjs. i would be interested to see some screen shots of the IN72 or mits compared to the z1 in similar conditions/screens, just to get an idea of the 10x better picture you speak of.

btw, i must be blind too because i don't any sde on my z1 and ii'm around 16' from a 100" screen. i should rephrase, because if i really look hard and look for it, yes i can see it, but to be honest thats not something i normally do when i'm watching a dvd, hdtv or my pc for that matter. i'm still blown away by the quality of HDTV on a pj with 4 year old technology.

anyway it would be great if you could post up some side by side images of a z1 and today's budget pjs. thanks

Then you are blind.
I don't' have "problems" with pieces of electronics. Ah, because I am a projector owner for the past 20 years... ;) with experiance with the Z1 and counltess other projectors. Ahh go real slow and try actually reading his post Einstein. He is thinking about upgrading and is looking for advice.

That would be " their" not there. That does not mean they know what the going price for a Z1 is. I'm happy to help out. Seabird did a fine job responding to my posts explaining his reasons for waiting. He doesn't need your help. However, I still believe that the moment he sees what an IN72 can do, he will kick himself for settling for the poor performance of the Z1. ;)

Thanks for correcting my typographical errors. :rolleyes:

Hey Fake Wrestler fan.
You have a response in the Z1 thread. :D :eek: ;)

My user name has nothing to do with wrestling. It is the name of the company that I own. Why all the insults? You seem to have anger management problems. You better get it taken care of before you hurt yourself or someone else. I only have anger "issues" ( not problems) with people like you who don't understand what they read and then direct their ignorant opinons to me, which have nothing at all to do with the discussion that I was having with other members. ;)
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the forums. You were the one who came out of nowhere and insulted me. I did not seek you out. You pointed at me and demanded answers.. So I'm answering you!

Kevmann,

i'm sure the new pjs have nicer pictures, better blacks etc, but i would be surprised if they are 10x better then my Z1. even back in 2002 when i first started looking, budget pjs like the z1, panny ae200, sharp x90 and x1 held their ground pretty well compared to the likes of higher priced units like the ht1000. its really when you put things side by side that you really notice the difference and even when you do, people see images differently and whats good to you may not be great for me. part of me wants to upgrade, but the other part says time is on your side and 3,6 or 12 months from now the pjs will be even that much better for less money.

anyway, the purpose of this thread was to touch base with some z1 owners and to also find out more about the current budget pjs. i would be interested to see some screen shots of the IN72 or mits compared to the z1 in similar conditions/screens, just to get an idea of the 10x better picture you speak of.

btw, i must be blind too because i don't any sde on my z1 and ii'm around 16' from a 100" screen. i should rephrase, because if i really look hard and look for it, yes i can see it, but to be honest thats not something i normally do when i'm watching a dvd, hdtv or my pc for that matter. i'm still blown away by the quality of HDTV on a pj with 4 year old technology.

anyway it would be great if you could post up some side by side images of a z1 and today's budget pjs. thanks
Seabird,

I'm a little confused because you already responded point by point to the above post of mine so I don't understand why you are responding again but just to let you know, I understood your first response. I did not realize you were from Canada and I am not very aware of the price differences between our countries.
As far as the differences in quality between a Z1 and something like an IN72. Put it this way, You would not need to see them side by side. The moment you turned on a Z1 and pressed play on the DVD player you would see what I mean.
At this point I do not own either projector but have experience with both, I use CRT projectors and own a Sony G70 and Marquee 8500. Both of which outperform even very expensive digital projectors. However, that does not mean I do not appreciate what a lowly IN72 can do.
I'll give you a very qick exmaple of why I think you would be very impressed with the IN72. My buddy who spent $2000 on a Optoma HD72 a few months ago invited me to help him set it up. After about 2 hours of messing around with it, He asked for my opinon (I've owned many projectors for many years) I told him, I thought regular DVD looked terrible at least compared to my CRT and I told him HD sources looked much better but still no match for my CRT projectors. I also told him that I bet a good 480P projector like the IN72 would perform as good or better on non hd signals and since they were below $500 shipped we decided to get one to compare.

Long story short. With the exception of HD signals Everything else looked BETTER on the $450 IN72. He did'nt return the Optoma because he had already mounted it and because he is a fairly wealthy guy so money was not a huge issue but he did say that had he seen the IN72 first he would never have spent the $2000 on the Optoma.
Now just to be clear, The optoma looked better for HD signals and had less SDE but overall, The IN72 performed so well, even on HD signals thta it seemed a waste to pay $2000 for the Optoma.

At any rate, You are the one who asked for opinions so I offered mine. My brother still has the Z1 I bought him and I see it all the time and it is not in the same league as the IN72. Having said that, none of them aproach the performance of my CRTs so my opinion is meant only to encourage a step up in quality. If you want the best (or near the best) skip all the digitals and get an 8" or 9" CRT.

"You're the fella who does not see any SDE on your Z1 right?"

Me either...unless I stick my nose right up on the screen...but of course it's damn hard to watch a movie that way!!!!

I Still LUV my Z1!
LeeB

"You're the fella who does not see any SDE on your Z1 right?"

Me either...unless I stick my nose right up on the screen...but of course it's damn hard to watch a movie that way!!!!

I Still LUV my Z1!
LeeB
My brother owns a chain of optical stores. Perhaps you guys, who see no SDE on your Z1s should make an appointment for a check up. ;) :D

I'm glad all you Z1 owners still enjoy your projectors. That's what it's all about but at some point you are going to realize the quantum leap that's been made in affordable projectors and kiss your Z1 good bye.. and you won't miss it. :p

Actually, if you are going to correct other's grammar, why not get it right? It is not "their." Try again...


Then you are blind.
I don't' have "problems" with pieces of electronics. Ah, because I am a projector owner for the past 20 years... ;) with experiance with the Z1 and counltess other projectors. Ahh go real slow and try actually reading his post Einstein. He is thinking about upgrading and is looking for advice.

That would be " their" not there. That does not mean they know what the going price for a Z1 is. I'm happy to help out. Seabird did a fine job responding to my posts explaining his reasons for waiting. He doesn't need your help. However, I still believe that the moment he sees what an IN72 can do, he will kick himself for settling for the poor performance of the Z1. ;)

While we're still on the Z1 topic, I would like to ask this question relating to LCD panels need converging after thousand of hours. How can you do this "converge" on the LCD for improving PQ???

I still have my Boxlight 1HD, which is a re-badged Z1, and I'm still happy with it. I just recently used it as back-up in our main theater while the Sony was in the shop and it filled in nicely. I am putting together an outdoor theater this summer using the 1HD. It's on it's 3rd lamp and probably between 5-6K hours and still going strong. I did send it in just before the warranty expired to have some minor issues taken care of. Other than that it's been a solid unit but nowhere near the PQ as the Sony. All of us Z1 owners know that HD looks pretty darn good with this PJ but if you can locate a DVD player that upconverts over component, jump on it. I recently bought a Zenith DVB-318 from an HTF member and DVD's never looked so good on this PJ before, IMO.

Seabird,

I'm a little confused because you already responded point by point to the above post of mine so I don't understand why you are responding again but just to let you know, I understood your first response. I did not realize you were from Canada and I am not very aware of the price differences between our countries.


I guess my first response was to answer your questions on why I wouldn't replace my z1 right away and when I re-read your post and you mentioned 10x better, I was curious to hear more about your experience with the IN72 because who knows my z1 may call it quits tomorrow and i would then be in a position to buy.



As far as the differences in quality between a Z1 and something like an IN72. Put it this way, You would not need to see them side by side. The moment you turned on a Z1 and pressed play on the DVD player you would see what I mean.



Hmmm, i would be interested to know how my z1 with HTPC compares to the IN72 vs dvd. When I first bought my z1 I had no intention of going HTPC. But then I was in a HT shop in Hong Kong and saw the z1 set up with the HTPC, I was sold.




I'll give you a very qick exmaple of why I think you would be very impressed with the IN72. My buddy who spent $2000 on a Optoma HD72 a few months ago invited me to help him set it up. After about 2 hours of messing around with it, He asked for my opinon (I've owned many projectors for many years) I told him, I thought regular DVD looked terrible at least compared to my CRT and I told him HD sources looked much better but still no match for my CRT projectors. I also told him that I bet a good 480P projector like the IN72 would perform as good or better on non hd signals and since they were below $500 shipped we decided to get one to compare.

Long story short. With the exception of HD signals Everything else looked BETTER on the $450 IN72. He did'nt return the Optoma because he had already mounted it and because he is a fairly wealthy guy so money was not a huge issue but he did say that had he seen the IN72 first he would never have spent the $2000 on the Optoma.

Now just to be clear, The optoma looked better for HD signals and had less SDE but overall, The IN72 performed so well, even on HD signals thta it seemed a waste to pay $2000 for the Optoma.



interesting...too bad the IN72 isn't offered in Canada at the US price equivalent, then I just may be interested. But as mentioned in my last post, time is always on your side when it comes to electronics/price/technology. what i may do, is look into the warranty issues with the IN72 to find out if Infocus Canada would honour a US purchased machine.



At any rate, You are the one who asked for opinions so I offered mine. My brother still has the Z1 I bought him and I see it all the time and it is not in the same league as the IN72. Having said that, none of them aproach the performance of my CRTs so my opinion is meant only to encourage a step up in quality. If you want the best (or near the best) skip all the digitals and get an 8" or 9" CRT.

Hey, right on, appreciated. Thats what these forums are for. I know nothing about CRT's so couldn't even comment. From what I recall (but i could be totally wrong), they are big, can be a bit finicky in the set up and need very controlled lighting....but pq can be impressive.

Actually, if you are going to correct other's grammar, why not get it right? It is not "their." Try again... Lol. I don't know what grammar you learned smarty pants but you can trust me that "their" is correct and that "there" was incorrect in the context it was used. If you think it's incorrect, feel free to elaborate with all of your great understanding of English grammar. :D

Actually, if you are going to correct other's grammar, why not get it right? It is not "their." Try again...


Yes, I meant to type their and not there. It was a typographical error. I could be petty and talk about all the errors in post #36 ;) but let's get back on the topic of the Z1.

While we're still on the Z1 topic, I would like to ask this question relating to LCD panels need converging after thousand of hours. How can you do this "converge" on the LCD for improving PQ???

I am not sure if convergence can be adjusted in the service menu or if you have to take the projector apart. I have the service manual but I have never looked through it. If you would like it, send me a private message. I take no responsibility for any damage that might incur though.

Yes, I meant to type their and not there. It was a typographical error. No it was not. A typographical error includes errors due to mechanical failure or slips of the hand or finger, but excludes errors of ignorance and grammar. You used the wrong word, wrong spelling. This is not a typo. It is poor grammar. ;)
Straight from wikipedia ;)

I am not sure if convergence can be adjusted in the service menu or if you have to take the projector apart. I have the service manual but I have never looked through it. If you would like it, send me a private message. I take no responsibility for any damage that might incur though. Convergence can not be adjusted in any LCD projector via the menu. If convergence is off it's because the LCD panels are misaligned. In order to fix it you have to physically move the panels.

Kevmann -

Title of the thread is "who still owns a Z1?"

If you don't "still own a Z1" then go annoy members somewhere other than this thread.... jeez!

Kevmann -

Title of the thread is "who still owns a Z1?"

If you don't "still own a Z1" then go annoy members somewhere other than this thread.... jeez!Oh, Is that a new rule? Only people who still own a Z1 Can respond? Do you own a Z1? What about the other part of the equation where Seabird asked about upgrades? Am I allowed to respond to that or should I consult you first? It's funny because Seabird seemed happy to discuss my suggestions and the only people who seem annoyed are people like you who are overly emotional and spend their time directing comments towards me but than ask me not to respond. If you can't stand the heat. Get out of the kitchen. ;)

Convergence can not be adjusted in any LCD projector via the menu. If convergence is off it's because the LCD panels are misaligned. In order to fix it you have to physically move the panels.
"

Well, if you knew this then why didn't you answer "their" question?
Instead, you are "qick" to call me ignorant.
I'll give you one "exmaple" of why you shouldn't rely on Wikipedia for your information. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2956026

Seriously, I love the fact that I have my own grammar and spelling checker!
Kevmann, I am heading over to the HD-DVD thread to spread more of my ignorance. :D

So,

Who wants to sell me a Z1 lamp real cheap??? :cool:

When your guys' lamps have gone out, did the projector do the following:

Press power
Fans power up
No light
Fans shut off
Ready light goes off for a period??

I obviously think my lamp has gone south and I hate tot hink of the expense of a new one (mine didn't even have that many hours)

curious to know who still owns a z1 and how many hours they have on their pj. are you still happy with it?

i havn't posted on this forum in ages but thought i would check out whats new. i still have my trusty old Z1 that i bought back in early 2003. not sure how many hours i've logged (can't even remember how to check) but i'm still on my first bulb and it seems to be going strong. as much as the z1 has served me well, i'm almost hoping it goes soon so i can upgrade. not even sure where to start as i havn't kept up to date on the newest budget pj's. oh well i guess i've have to do some reading here and projector central.

Seabird:

Getting back to the original title.....

Although I have an older Panny 300 (1800 hours, same vintage as Z1) and not the Z1, I think understand what you are looking for.

I was facing the same thing you are with respect to pricing problems between the US and Canada when I looked to upgrade earlier this year. If you are looking to go to 720p DLP, there is some great pricing available even on a DC3 Optoma 7100 at the place we can't mention. The new BENQ W500 720p LCD can be had for an absolutely amazing Canadian price from online Canadian retailers.

I did upgrade to an Epson 1080. But, big $ for Canadian customers. If the BENQ was available three months ago I would have gotten that one.

Is the lens shift on your current Z1 important? That will certainly narrow your choices.

I hope this helps.

My brother owns a chain of optical stores. Perhaps you guys, who see no SDE on your Z1s should make an appointment for a check up. ;) :D

I'm glad all you Z1 owners still enjoy your projectors. That's what it's all about but at some point you are going to realize the quantum leap that's been made in affordable projectors and kiss your Z1 good bye.. and you won't miss it. :p


Is this the same brother that owns the Z1?

Seabird:

Getting back to the original title.....

Although I have an older Panny 300 (1800 hours, same vintage as Z1) and not the Z1, I think understand what you are looking for.

I was facing the same thing you are with respect to pricing problems between the US and Canada when I looked to upgrade earlier this year. If you are looking to go to 720p DLP, there is some great pricing available even on a DC3 Optoma 7100 at the place we can't mention. The new BENQ W500 720p LCD can be had for an absolutely amazing Canadian price from online Canadian retailers.

I did upgrade to an Epson 1080. But, big $ for Canadian customers. If the BENQ was available three months ago I would have gotten that one.

Is the lens shift on your current Z1 important? That will certainly narrow your choices.

I hope this helps.

appreciate the feedback, my z1 is still going strong. when it comes time to repace, i may shoot you a pm to find out more about the cdn retailers. thanks

ok folks. reviving my old thread.

could be in the market for a new pj to replace the Z1.

looking for a 720p DLP for around 1k, suggestions?

thanks rob