Longevity of Optoma Projectors

I've had an HD70 for three or four years now, I can't remember which, and I've gone through three bulbs. The first was almost 3000 hours, the second actually lasted over 4000 hours (I reset the timer) and the third also neared 3000 hours before going. I have used the PJ as a TV for all of this time. I actually bought a fourth bulb but I am now getting another lamp failure warning after less than a month with the new bulb. It could be the bulb as I had some issues with shipping, but I've decided to upgrade to a 1080p projector in the next couple of weeks.

The projector has been mostly trouble free for the time that I've owned it. I did have to disassemble it to clean the color wheel and I've had to unplug it a few times when it failed to turn on, but those are relatively minor issues (for me) considering how long I've used the projector vs. how much I paid.

I'm considering an Epson 8350 because the 3010 and 5010 have too much input lag, but I don't know if I want to go to LCD from DLP. If I can get solid numbers on the input lag for the LG CF181D I might go that route instead. Otherwise I'll pick the best 1080p DLP I can afford with low input lag stats.

Pretty much the same here except I only went through two bulbs.

My HD70 has held up for about 5 years now on 1 bulb. Hasn't been an all day primary screen during that time obviously, but has gotten significant use.

Did have to disassemble to clean the color wheel when I started having some weird green shifting going on, but after that it was back to performing as usual.

Looks like I'm about to have to replace the bulb though, I'm noticing a flicker in the image.

Anyone that's replaced the HD70 bulbs have a recommendation of a safe place to buy bulbs from?

I've been real happy with my Acer H5360. Its been 13 months and about 800 hours with no issues yet. Still real bright, and fans are quiet on low and high mode. Picture is excellent in 2D and 3D once you find the right settings. The best part is it can be had for $500 or less.

I view a 100" screen size from 11' away and can't see any pixel structure or screen door effect, so I wouldn't benefit from 1080p unless I got a larger screen (no desire for bigger screen, this size seems perfect to me).

The real kicker is the 3D is outstanding! Like a hologram in some of the better movies and PC games.

No, no messages about the bulb. My only indicator is the flicker. I had an Infocus originally, and it started the flicker just before the bulb popped. Scared me when it went lol, wasn't expecting that.

I suspect the hour timer on my projector doesn't work. The first few months I had it I noticed the count was much lower than real world use. At the time it was my primary TV, so I would easily have it on for 5-6 hours at a time. I'd watch the counter on a few occasions and it might only register part of the time actually used.

I'll check it tonight and see what it says.

Just afraid to get a bulb from somewhere and have the bulb only last a short while because it was some bargain bulb and not an official bulb or something.

Might look into some low price 3D projectors and see how they stack up compared to a new bulb.

I have an Optoma H76, that is over 6 years old now, but only has about 2400 hours on it. The projectors itself has been a brick, totally reliable. I have had one odd issue happen twice. It lost the DDC data and my computer failed to see it on the DVI port. It still worked fine on a Dish network box, but would not work on a BLu Ray player. I had to ship it back to Optoma, and for just the cost of shipping it, they did reload the rom withthe DDC data and it worked fine. After it happened a second time, they only charged me like $40 and the dud a full internal cleaning and updated the firmware and it now reports it is an H77, but I don't think I got any of the contrast improvement.

Main reason I am writing... I am in need of a lamp. I am about to order a factory Optoma at about $375 which is pretty steep considering I can pick up a brighter 1080P projector for under $1000 now, but the picture on the H76 is wonderful, pixel count is certainly not the only spec when it comes to picture quality, this 720P looks so good, and it displays my PC at 120 FPS in full 720P resolution. I did buy a pair of copy cat lamp assemblies a while back at just $185 each, but they both failed in very short order. The supplier took them back and gave a full refund. Has anyone else tried a gneric lamp and had good luck?? The first bulb had a dual failure, the lead on the end of the bulb away from the reflector just burned off, and it went out, but when it was cooling down, the UV filter shattered. The second lamp ran a full day, but when I turned it on the second time the light was crap, and when I pulled it out, the UV filter on that one was shattered. My original Optoma lamp module UV filter is much thicker, and it is also fairly discolored and looks very stressed. I do not want to just put a bulb into the module because of this issue. Does anyone sell replacement UV filters??

In any case, I am very happy with my Optoma, and will be racking up the hours much faster once I have a new bulb in it. It had an easy first 3 years because I did not have much HD content, but now with my upgraded Dih Net and Blu ray, it is on several hours a day, and at over 2400 hours on the original lamp, it is making me nervouse, especially since the lamp hours have been reset, the projector thinks it only has about 300 hours now.

I bought an Optoma DLP EzPro 732h a few weeks ago and the bulb burnt out after 112 hours :| I am very disappointed, I feel like reselling the projector now.

Purchased HD70 new in April 07. After 2500 hours, replaced bulb in March 09. About 2200 hours on that 2nd bulb right now. Zero issues. This bulb is starting to dim, but is still acceptable at night. Its only gets used 3-4 days per week, but when it gets turned on, it stays on for 8+ hours. No on/off several times a day ever.

Any issues in your house? Dust? Cats? Smoke? If I had issues like you and wanted to stay with projectors, Id consider some sort of air purifier in the room the projector lives in.

Hope it all works out. A projector should not be the only display in the house for all the reasons discussed in this thread. They are delicate, fragile, and tempermental, just like women.

Which is why I keep more than one of those around too. When one acts up and you dont feel like dealing with it, you got something else to fall back on.

That's why I own a Viewsonic Pro8200 DLP as well as a JVC RS-45, well that's just one reason, it acts as a backup projector, but it also keeps me from putting too many unnecessary hours on the JVC such as happens with gaming, TV, and other activities. Save the expensive projectors for movies.

That's great if you can afford a TV and a projector, but for the 99% we can only afford one.

I'm not willing to go down in size from a 86" screen, so I'm going to get a new projector even with the risks that it will burn its polarizer or optical block in four years like my PT-AX200 did. At least I can get an extended warranty on an Epson 8350.

Having said that, I'll keep the old projector as backup unless I can sell it for parts on eBay for a reasonable amount.

I had failure with an HD65 within 100 hours of use. Sent it in for repair, sold it when it returned. I will never buy another Optoma again..that's just me though. All my other projectors have been great, those being Benq, JVC and Infocus. One of my friends has had good luck with Epson. The higher end Optoma's are probably better as they are designed with larger chassis to help keep the unit cooler. These small entry level optoma projectors just don't seem large enough to have any real longevity. The heat of the lamp has to be wrecking havoc on the electronics inside.

Our HD80 is still going strong (installed in August, 2007). Been through at least 4 lamps but that is because we like bright and pull them at about 2000 hours. It is our main "TV" and it has been trouble free. The one exception is that the color wheel died a year ago but it was replaced under the extended warranty we had and all is fine. When we first got the PJ we had some issues but Optoma customer service took care of it quickly and with no hassles. Yes, we would certainly buy another Opotoma projector.

you may have different issues with the HD66 other than the bulb. This is what my picture currently looks like: