Looking for a unicorn

[Scott Tallal]

Does anyone make a DCI-compliant 4K RGB laser projector with relatively low lumens (4-5K range)? Everything we've been able to find seems to be way too bright for our needs (30' 1.8 gain screen).

[Tim Reed]

NEC used to make (or maybe they still do?) a little mask you could insert before the light pipe in their projectors, to cut down the illumination level.

[Ryan Gallagher]

A lower gain screen might also be a component of a solution, as would running a brighter projector at lower output power, although I’m sure costs were perhaps your primary reason for asking.

[Scott Tallal]

I didn't think NEC had any RGB lasers. Everything I've seen on their site is B or BR -- not RGB.

[James Gardiner]

From my understanding, all low lum projectors are Phosphor based, as its better suited for price performance.
There is the NC607, and the barco, DP2k7s (From memory, ON the run sorry. Cannot look up exact codes right now.)

[Marco Giustini]

ditch the 1.8 gain screen immediately!

Re-do your calculation for a matt white screen ? Your picture will thank you a lot!

If you think a 1.8 gain screen is increasing the light on screen, think twice!

[Steve Guttag]

At the moment, in a 4K RGB, the Barco SP4K-12C with a High Contrast Lens will get you down to the low lumens (remember, it can run down to 20%).

Remember, any screen over 1.3 in gain is not SMPTE compliant with respect to uniform illumination. So, like others, I'd recommend a matte-white screen (1.0) gain.

[Leo Enticknap]

At the moment, in a 4K RGB, the Barco SP4K-12C with a High Contrast Lens will get you down to the low lumens (remember, it can run down to 20%).

And you also have the option of a ND filter in front of the lens if you need to go down further. Agreed completely on the 1.8 gain screen being a problem.

The SP4K-12C is definitely the lowest powered (in terms of light output) projector currently on the market that is 4K, RGB laser, and DCI compliant.

[Scott Tallal]

Much appreciated, all -- but one more quick question: I once heard that "Friends don't let friends buy Barco." Any truth to that?

[Leo Enticknap]

I would speculate that you heard that from someone who had a bad experience with a Barco, and that this experience may or may not have been of a broader known issue, or a one-off case of bad luck. I have heard the same prejudice expressed against all of the others, in most cases honestly, and (from the perspective of the prejudiced individual) for a good reason. As the representative of a dealer for all three brands of DCI compliant projector, plus parts and service for them, I'm not about to opine that any one is "better" than the others. All I would write is that each manufacturer, and indeed series and model within a manufacturer's offering, has a different profile of strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, an individual feature will determine a choice, because it is absolutely needed, and all the other issues have to be worked around (for example, the physical dimensions of a projector pod, which cannot be changed). In other decisions, the up front purchase price is the deciding factor. The availability and cost of on site technical support could also influence your choice. And so on and so forth.

In your case, if the projector has to be 4K, true RGB laser, DCI compliant, and with low enough light output to work on your size of screen, Sharp/NEC is ruled out, because they simply don't make a projector with all three of those characteristics. So you're down to Barco and possibly Christie (I don't know off the top of my head if they have something comparable to the SP4K-12C).

I would suggest that you open up conversations with two or three dealers. It would not be in their interests to sell you something that isn't going to work for you. On a public forum or by asking around friends and contacts informally, your question is likely to elicit responses from people who have had a good experience with one product, or a bad experience with another, without necessarily having seen the broader picture. Someone who actually wants to do business with you, however, will be motivated to ensure that you have a good experience and come back again, and therefore will use their knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of all the product lines they represent to recommend the one that is likely to work best, within the constraints of what is possible in your use case.

[Scott Tallal]

Very good to know.

[Steve Guttag]

Christie's smallest RGB 4K is the CP4415-RGB but has an Ultra-High Contrast lens to get it out to about 6000:1 contrast ratio. You ARE starting out with more lumens than the Barco SP4K-12C (especially with a High-Contrast lens).

As for Barco reliability, being a small dealer/service company, we couldn't afford to be constantly chasing down problems. We've sold a lot of Barco. Without a doubt, Barco has the others beat in terms of serviceability (how fast you can be in and out of the projector, on any given repair/service).

I agree with others...given your criteria, Barco SP4K-12C (with B-lens holder and HC lens) and the Christie CP4415-RGB with UHC lens are your prime candidates. Both will do VERY well. Sharp is ruled out due to lack of product in your category. I don't think they even have a true RGB projector anymore (they used to have one but the NC-3541L is the big gun Sharp projector now but it is RBB, as is the NC-2041L...both WAY too big for your application and don't use a green laser.

[Scott Tallal]

Thanks, Steve! Very helpful to know. One more thought/question to add: are there any discontinued projectors worth consideration? Or have all of those been retired for a reason?

[Leo Enticknap]

The only discontinued RGB, 4K laser projector line that I know of is the Barco DP4K-xxL. But the smallest in that line is the 30L, and for your screen you'd need a ND filter like the ones that Oppenheimer had in his glasses in order to look at his nukes being tested, to be able to bring the light level down enough!

[Scott Tallal]

The future's so bright...!