Pardon a newbie question, but at one of the other DIY Projector sites I noticed that a lot of people are using a condenser lens after their light source. But I don't see a lot of people here using them, yet their results are fantastic.

1. What is the function of a condensor lens?

2. Will using one produce a better picture, more even lighting?

3. Is it overkill?

rgb

1. To focus light to a tighter point
2. Depends
3. Some say yes, some say no but design can also dictate the use of one.

As always, YMMV

John

The precondenser would act to spread the light evenly across the condenser fresnel lens. Read the thread on reflection where use of a precondenser is discussed.

I think that a condenser lens also redirects more stray light towards the LCD.

see this german thread asking the same question.
http://www.diybeamer.ch/forum/topic,588,-w...h%3F%3F%3F.html

I discover this lenses, I don’t know if it’s good or not, or if I post in the right place, so, moderators, fell free for delete this post.

http://www.apogeeinc.com/scopeoptics.html#31

Thank you

[edit] I moved this to the condenser lens thread because the miniscus lenses might work as precondensers, I think that the focal lengths are wrong, but I can't say for sure.