First off, I just want to say thanks to everyone for thier detail in thier project logs and posts.

I quit smoking about 10 weeks ago and I didn't know what to do with my time. I remebered seeing this link a year or so and blowing right past it. When I quit smoking, I knew I needed something focus on to keep my mind on something other than the habit. So here I am.

I ordered all of the parts from here and decided on a samsung 512N becuase they had it open box at Best Buy for ~$200 after rebate.

I'd say It cost me $650 total including a cheap temporary screen. It's running about 82 F on the temp right now. I have some tweaking to do but I am pleased right now. The look on my kids face was priceless when they saw the Incredibles last night on the big screen. that alone made it worthwhile.

Also, I am using a makeshift screen because I am moving in ~ 6 weeks. Once I am in the new place I can decide on a screen size. I think I am going 96 " x 54" (16:9) which will also give me 72" x 54" (4:3). I am not sure yet.


NOTE: I have a 7+ year old Canon A50 Digital camera so the picture quality is not true to the image quality. The three dead pixels are on the camera...don't feel bad

I attached some results as well.

More

Last one for now.

Hey Zroth:

It looks good, put some pics of the box when you get a chance I want to see how you set it up.

Later,

pibe75

Thanks man.

I will be taking some pics on the inside of the box this weekend hopefully and i'll post them up. I am giong to start messing with colors, locking items down in thier final resting places, etc;

I'll probably start on the next on the permanent box in the next couple of weeks too. I wanted to get it up and running so I could at least use it while I start working on the "pretty" enclosure.

Box From the Top

Couple of more shots....any DIY camera projects out there

Animatrix and Nemo. I am figuring out the camera a little bit better.

Got to love the effect on the mouse on the last one LOL

Yeah I love that mouse....lol

so the anime and the pixar type stuff seem to be a little more forgiving. I am trying to figure out how to get movies a little brighter though.

It might be my screen is just sucking up too much of the light, dunno.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have tried the bulb both vertical and horizontal BTW.

Your reflector might not be in the perfect spot. Easy way to determine focal point is to hold your finger perpendicular to the focal plane and slowly move it toward/away from the reflector until you can't see anything in the reflector but the tip of your finger. That's your focal point.

Uh ... Not right in this case.

That would be the focal point for a parabolic reflector, and though you can use a spherical reflector in a similar manner, we aren't.

There is one way that works reasonably well. With the bulb on, and the pj case open, look at the shadows that it casts where the edge of the projector case is. With the reflector off-center, there will be a bit of a double-image. You'll get one shadow line from the bulb, and another from the light off of the reflector. With the reflector properly centered, you'll just get a single shadow line. It is normal for the shadow line to be a bit blurred, because this isn't really a point-source light that we're dealing with. It should look fairly sharp. If you move the reflector while looking at those shadow lines, it becomes a bit more obvious.

I'll give it a shot and report back. I appreciate the advice.

I want to get a good understanding of what impacts the overall image quality so that I can design a suitable long-term case for this projector. I have to use it during that process though

I built a PVC frame until after I move. that cost ~$10.

I also took the advice of supra and quad and messed with the reflector.

I think I gained a bit of clarity which was very welcome. the brightness is better and the detail is greatly improved.

I have the XBox adapter so that will be next.

I want to get a camera to take better pictures but $200 is the N6 or a THX card and speakers

Thanks all for the advice and thanks to those that post all the tips and tricks.

This thing has really been an incredible and fulfilling project.

Here is a before/after (still 72" wide) with the same crappy camera (sorry bout that piece).