Thread: DG-747 Digital Galaxy projector. Do you own one? Better model for similar price?

Tweet

So far I've only found one other projector maker/model that has inexpensive lamps: FAVI Rio HDV3 HD LCD Projector With Spare Lamp. The replacement bulb/lamps go for around $30. May only have 1500 ANSI lumens. That's significantly less than the Digital Galaxy DG-747 (2200 to 2500 lumens, unless those aren't ANSI lumens--evidently there can be a difference in reported numbers) for Halloween use.

Discussions about expensive replacement lamps seem to suggest it may be a bit of a racket--like relatively inexpensive printers whose replacement ink cartridges may cost the same as or more than the printer hardware itself. Of course the same might be said of the "racket" of video game consoles--sell consoles at cost and make money back on the games and licensing? Dunno.

If anyone finds similar projectors with inexpensive replacement lamps suitable for Halloween use (preferably 2000+ lumens), please post here.

The replacement lamp "FAVI LRIOV3 150 Watt/6,000-8,000 hrs IllumiBright Projector Bulb" I saw on Amazon looks very similar in design to the one used by the DG-747. So far I'm glad I haven't dropped a huge amount of cash on a used projector that may have a $150 to $400 replacement bulb! And I'm still happy with my el cheapo Wonderwall for short distance, lower res projection effects. Probably good to have a variety of projectors anyway with varying lumens output for different Halloween projection applications.

Here's a couple links that might help.

Review from a Hauntforum member of a different model from the same DG company:
http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread...ight=projector

The DG-747 info, including two reviews, from Projector Central (a good source for projector research that also has info on the Favi and many others):
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Digi...and_DG-747.htm

Besides lumens and resolution, also consider throw ratio if your space is limited.

Originally Posted by Demon Dog

Here's a couple links that might help.

Review from a Hauntforum member of a different model from the same DG company:
http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread...ight=projector

The DG-747 info, including two reviews, from Projector Central (a good source for projector research that also has info on the Favi and many others):
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Digi...and_DG-747.htm

Besides lumens and resolution, also consider throw ratio if your space is limited.

Thanks Demon Dog. I couldn't find the non-LED FAVI model on the site you referenced but it looks like a great site!

Sorry, looked too briefly at the Favi model. I had looked into the DG-747, Favi RioHD-2, and BenQ MS500 several months ago (I went with the BenQ). The Favi model you'd mentioned doesn't show up on the Favi website. Favi is also not great about listing their lumen values, for whatever reason.
http://www.favientertainment.com/Projector-s/3.htm

Originally Posted by Demon Dog

Sorry, looked too briefly at the Favi model. I had looked into the DG-747, Favi RioHD-2, and BenQ MS500 several months ago (I went with the BenQ). The Favi model you'd mentioned doesn't show up on the Favi website. Favi is also not great about listing their lumen values, for whatever reason.
http://www.favientertainment.com/Projector-s/3.htm

Thanks DemonDog. What persuaded you to get the BenQ over the DG-747? I think the BenQ replacement lamps are $150 to $200 or so. Did it have more than 2500 lumens? Seems like 3500 lumens would be ideal for a multi-purpose projector.

I was on the fence between getting the BenQ and DG-747, but in the end decided to go with the better name brand (not saying Digital Galaxy is bad, just less well known) and I if I remember correctly its throw ratio was less (not a short throw projector, but decent) and fan noise was reportedly less. That projector I'm only planning to use for Halloween props (singing pumpkins, ghost projections onto a scrim, Hallowindow), so my lamp usage will be very low. Its max brightness is 2500 lumens. When I first got it and was using it to view movies as I checked it out, the 800x600 resolution did show some slight screen door effect, but its fine for use with singing pumpkins. The only thing I wish I could change about it is its contrast. For singing pumpkins the mouth, eyes, and nose are bright and the rest of the image is black. So when you project onto pumpkins at night the pumpkins seem to come to life. But since the black portions aren't totally without some projector light, there is a slight illumination around the singing pumpkins. I can reduce it by putting a mask on the projected light near the projector, letting only the image near the pumpkin faces go outward (if that makes sense).

Depending upon what you want to use it for, I think 2000 to 2500 lumens is generally what folks recommend for Hallowindows, and even less is fine for smaller less distinct projections like singing busts or pumpkins - especially if you're not trying to use it near sundown or close to a street light when there is a lot of background light.

Originally Posted by Demon Dog

I was on the fence between getting the BenQ and DG-747, but in the end decided to go with the better name brand (not saying Digital Galaxy is bad, just less well known) and I if I remember correctly its throw ratio was less (not a short throw projector, but decent) and fan noise was reportedly less. That projector I'm only planning to use for Halloween props (singing pumpkins, ghost projections onto a scrim, Hallowindow), so my lamp usage will be very low. Its max brightness is 2500 lumens. When I first got it and was using it to view movies as I checked it out, the 800x600 resolution did show some slight screen door effect, but its fine for use with singing pumpkins. The only thing I wish I could change about it is its contrast. For singing pumpkins the mouth, eyes, and nose are bright and the rest of the image is black. So when you project onto pumpkins at night the pumpkins seem to come to life. But since the black portions aren't totally without some projector light, there is a slight illumination around the singing pumpkins. I can reduce it by putting a mask on the projected light near the projector, letting only the image near the pumpkin faces go outward (if that makes sense).

Depending upon what you want to use it for, I think 2000 to 2500 lumens is generally what folks recommend for Hallowindows, and even less is fine for smaller less distinct projections like singing busts or pumpkins - especially if you're not trying to use it near sundown or close to a street light when there is a lot of background light.

Thanks Demon Dog. Makes sense.

Before I go ahead and buy a DG-747 (probably not easy to return since I can only buy one online) does anyone else have any other suggestions for a 2000 to 2500 lumens projectors that take inexpensive replacement lamps/bulbs? Inexpensive to me is definitely less than $100 each and preferably less than $50 each. Can't find anything locally meeting that criteria.

Hate buying stuff if I find out it doesn't meet my needs and it's not easily returnable.

Since I don't see much else out there comparable to the DG-747 in features or low cost of lamp/replacement bulb, I may just go for it. I'll post if I get one. Am hoping it would be strong enough to project ghostly footprints onto my lawn from a 2nd story window. We have a street light across the street, so that's always a challenge for ambiance, etc. Would be nice if 2000 to 2500 lumens is enough. Beyond that, we're getting back into insanely expensive replacement lamp territory--at least as far as my research has shown me so far.

This probably deserves its own separate thread, but here goes.

Has anyone ever used some sort of power inverter to run an AC project off a common car battery? Looks like projecting from inside a car could be a great way to project onto a roof or other scene.

Every time I stop for gas at a truck stop like Pilot, I see inverters for using AC devices with DC power. But I have no clue what type of batteries 18 wheelers use. Would these work for a standard, plain old battery like what you'd find in a compact car like a Toyota Corolla?

How long could a typical 2,000 lumens AC projector run without fulling draining the car's battery? I could run a power cord from the garage to the driveway, but that's a potential trip hazard for trick-or-treaters. How would I even go about calculating how long a given projector could run off a car battery? Guessing I wouldn't need the projector to run for more than around 3 hours.

If this should be its own topic, please let me know and I'll try to create one. I couldn't be the only one interested in projecting from a car for Halloween scenes.