Hey all. I'm hoping to get some input here. I'm in a band Moving Rushmore (google us) and part of my role is going to include live video mixing of the VJ type, not necessarily live camera feeds, but maybe. Since we're just getting started I'm looking for 1 or 2 projectors hopefully in the sub 2k range that would suit us well. My main concerns:
Adequate brightness - if we're playing in less than ideal conditions there could be lots of ambient light bleeding onto the screen from the stage lights
Throw distance - We'll be playing in all sorts of venues, including bars which tend to be small and...
Smoke damage? - from playing bars
And as far as logistics would rear projection or front projection be the way to go? Thanks in advance for any input.
-T

Sanyo PLV-70

For your application, I would forget about HT projectors. What you'll need is Lumens Lumens Lumens - especially if you have to compete with stage lighting. Don't worry about contrast ratio, as if you're competing with ambient light, you're CR is going to be in the double digits no matter what projector you get.

Here are a couple of 4000 lumen LCD business pj's that would be in your price range.

Sanyo PLC XU110 (http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLC-XU110.htm)

EIKI LC-XB40 (http://www.projectorcentral.com/EIKI-LC-XB40.htm)

Here is the only 4000 Lumen DLP that comes close to your budget ( about 1.5x street ). It MAY have sealed optics, which would be better for a smokey enviornment.

Optoma TX780 (http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-TX780.htm)

Even with these projectors, you'll be limited to a reletivly small picture if you have to compete with significant stage light spill.

To do this properly, you really need to use a staging class projector. You can get 5-10 year old models on EB for your budget, but, they're huge and heavy ( 200lbs), and replacement lamps will probably cost more than the projector ( if they're still made at all ). If you want to go this route, search on Barco, Christie, Digital Projection.

Jonathan

Thanks for the input. I'll shop around a bit.