Coolest. Gaming Set-up. Evar.

[Blakey]

Yeah, I checked out the 2140 and the 6210 and they have the same throw distance and screensize, so the single issue is only resolution. I'd love to see some pictures of the difference in resolution.

I am now about 90% likely to buy the PB2140, especially as I 'm likely to upgrade the PJ in a year or so, and no doubt technology will have moved on loads by then.

Thanks for your help, Jupp.

Does anyone reading this have a PB2140 and what are your comments on this projector for this purpose? And if at all possible, could you test it from a throw distance of 4'6" and tell me what it's like? I'm going to go back and read the whole thread again, searching for any comments on the PB2140 now.

Also, does anyone with the BenQ PB2140 have it set up with a stand rather than hard fixed - as this is the approach I am going to take. So, what stands are you using and how are they working out?

Thanks all!

Cheers
Blakey

 

[Blakey]

I think the jury is still out on the [Mitsubishi] Pocket Projector. My expectation is that it will be much too dim to be of practical use - but I will be very happy to be wrong. Current specs on Mitsubishi's site is approx 250 LUX which translates to about 700 ANSI (LUX is a measurement dependent upon surface reflectivity and is a term rarely used when discussing projector units - a sign that they don't want to talk about the brightness of the image AT ALL. Not good.).

700 ANSI? Sorry man - that's too dim. 800 is the bare minimum cut off - and for that you must be playing in a dim basement with led lighting bars. Incandescent or flourescent lights are out. If it was free? Well ok. But shelling out 400 quid for one of these? Nah..

You want 1000 at least - 1200+ ANSI preferably for playing under normal conditions. Mine are 1500 and 1600 respectively and I would not want to go much lower than 1500. 700? No way.

Just a crazy thought, but do you think this amount of brightness would work if you put this projector in a box, under the table, projecting up onto a surface on the table? i.e. use it for under table projection, with a custom built table designed with the projector in mind? Clearly it's a top quality projector with the single issue of brightness - but if you effectively box it in the dark and have it project up from underneath, would this illiminate the problem of brightness? Or would the fact that the room was bright mean you'd still not be able to see this image?

I suspect I'll stick with the BenQ PB2140 choice, but if you think this might work, I might consider building a custom games table for my games room...

Thanks!
Blakey

 

[Boredflak]

It's my understanding that rear projection generally results in LESS brightness than front projection. There are of course several factors, but I think this is generally the case.

Maybe our resident projector expert (Steel_Wind) could chime in here.

As for resolution, 800x600 has been fine and dandy for our map projection needs. I'd definitely concentrate on brightness over resolution.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Just a crazy thought, but do you think this amount of brightness would work if you put this projector in a box, under the table, projecting up onto a surface on the table? i.e. use it for under table projection, with a custom built table designed with the projector in mind?

No. I don't think it will work and I am not persuaded this is a "top quality" projector either. I am persuaded it is a technological item with grave practical engineering problems - so much so that it is a toy in search of a practical application.

It's too dim. Every projector manufacturer in the world leads off about how bright their unit is and how clear their units are.

This one? ANSI? "To be announced." A major electronics mftr bloody well knows how bright their units are they are about to put into mass production next month. They have said "needs a dimly lit room", but have not announced the ANSI brightness. That is not an accident. It is not because they don't know - but because they don't want you to laugh. They know that people will be seriously unimpressed by it.

This thing is not ready for prime time. Not yet.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

It's my understanding that rear projection generally results in LESS brightness than front projection. There are of course several factors, but I think this is generally the case.

This is true.

 

[Steel_Wind]

On the issue of SVGA vs XGA... a few points:

1 - In terms of home cinema, there is no comparison. XGA blows SVGA away. I have a projector in both resolutions, a DLP native SVGA and a LCD native XGA. The higher resolution wipes the floor with the SVGA. It's not even close.

2- In terms of gaming applications, the higher resolution produces a much sharper and more detailed picture. However, in order to really get use out of this - you need to consider what you will be showing with it

• If you are showing NWN1 (or in the future, NWN2) layouts, it is definitely worth it and the higher resolution shows up on your tabletop in unmistakable eye-candy. Advantage: XGA
  
• If you are showing scanned maps, it will show up on your tabletop if you take the time to scan your maps in at 400dpi or so. Advantage: XGA
  
• If you are showing low resolution scanned maps, the details is not going to be there if you are showing 100-200 dpi maps. Advantage: Draw
  
• If you are just going to use pre-generated art from Dungeon Magazine available in the online supplements - you are not going to notice much at all. As I have started to run some adventures from Dungeon lately, namely Age of Worms 1: "The Whispering Cairn", I used pics from the online supplement and Tabletop Mapper. The Dungeon online supplement pics are deceptively attractive at first as they require no work and the numbers have been removed from the maps; however, when you zoom in digitally on the map using Tabletop Mapper, the jpg resolution is MUCH too low to support the level of zoom you will need to get one grid square on the jpg to one inch in size on your tabletop. You can do it - but it's UGLY. Advantage: Draw

3 - Resale Value: If you are planning on upgrading a projector in the near future, investing in a new SVGA is a little dicey. These things are on the low end of the market and will vanish soon as all moves to XGA or better. Selling a SVGA unit second hand is going to fetch a much lower price as the tech is now obsolete for home cinema. (Even if you plan to use it for gaming - most prospective purchasers are not).

 

[Steel_Wind]

I bought a BenQ PE5120 ( http://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-PE5120.htm ) some weeks ago for my home cinema setup and I plan to use it for my gaming group as well.

Hi ya Jupp. LTNS.

When you get it up for using with your group - I'd love some pics. I can think of a few areas in Sigil that could be shown off nicely.

And like magic - .wok issues are no longer a problem

 

[Jupp]

Hey Steel, LTNS too

I'll try to make pics for sure. Though our group has a longer break until we game again (long holidays for two players) I'll try to come up with something when I test the whole setup.

And yes...yeeehaw! No woks! No shadow issues! Woot!

I am just not sure about what software I should use. It will either be Photoshop, TableTop Mapper or the NWN toolset. Since I have a Wacom Cintiq it would probably be quite easy to work with Photoshop, we'll see.

 

[Boredflak]

Hmm, but the trouble with that is that you have to doctor the maps first to take out secret doors and other information which the players shouldn't see.

Paizo is currently publishing downloadable maps of their adventures that have all DM-only info removed. No editing necessary.

 

[interwyrm]

Mitsubishi's LED DLP Projector that is coming out at the end of this year should be ideal for this sort of project. It is small (hand sized) and uses led's (no $500 lamps, also longer lamp life.)