So I just sold my 4805 as I'm drywalling my theater room. Have an opportunity to pick up a 50HD with 600hrs on it for $300. I'm thinking that's not too shabby at all, and it would definitely help out the budget. Otherwise I'd end up spending about three times as much picking up the Optoma HD72 or Mitsu HC1500.

I'm only working with an 77" screen at the moment with a 11 1/2' throw distance so I know I'll be going to a 100". Just seems like a no brainer. I was pleased with the 4805 and so not concerned with 1080. I don't think the HD72 or HC1500 will be that dramatic of a leap from the 50HD.

Thoughts?

You want to consider the $600 Acer PH530 from Tigerdirect. It will blow the 50hd away and it has $200 lamps. Chek out the under $3k forum

TD doesn't have it anymore and it seems it's going for $700 or so. At that rate, if I was going to spend the money, I'd just go with the HC1500.

I'm not overly concerned with lamp price. I'll put about 400hrs a year on it tops, and I've seen some bulbs for it for a bit under $300 which I'd probably just keep on the lookout for a deal and pick it up when I find one. I should get a good 2+ yrs on the current bulb. I'm sharing time with my 46" Sharp so the theater room won't see as much use as it use to. That's why I was thinking the 50HD would fit well. No real cash outlay except for the larger screen which I'd most likely need (and probably want) with the short throw distance. It'll look that much better than my 4805. It was reviewed pretty well on projectorreviews.com too.

Going the new route I'd be out about $600-700 with the pj and screen - the 4805 money. Here I'm just out the screen cost - the $100 difference between the two pj's.

I'll have an HD-A3 and an OTA tuner for the 46" and the pj. So I'm getting nice HD in both rooms. A Mythos setup for the 46" and M&K for the theater room. So it's easy to share time between the two where I won't feel like I'm lacking anything in the living room. Before I was watching a 32" in the LR so the theater got much more play.
You want to consider the $600 Acer PH530 from Tigerdirect. It will blow the 50hd away and it has $200 lamps. Chek out the under $3k forum