Help me to choose: Laser Stage Lighting Projector

[Guyfromhe]

I was going to make a new post, but since this one has some recent activity, I'll just hijack it instead.

Since DinoDirect has their special gift card deal going on through the end of the month, I started looking at the various projectors they sell.

Can anyone recommend a decent (not great) system in the < $175 range? I want something that can at least do basic shapes, not just "stars" and would prefer to eventually be able to hook it up to a PC and load in some additional patterns. I know I'm asking for a lot, for nearly no money. This will be my first purchase above Spirograph level, so it doesn't have to be mind blowing.

A few that caught my eye:
200mW 445nm Star Party Auto Sound DMX512 ILDA PC Single Blue Stage Laser Projector Reke-91B - DinoDirect.com
60mw 532nm Single Green Laser Party Stage Projector KL-A6G60 - DinoDirect.com
DJ Equipment 50mw 532nm Green Laser & 200mw 650nm Red Laser 250mw RGY Animation Laser Light (Autu&Sound & DMX512&ILDA PC) Reke 94RGY - DinoDirect.com

Wow an ILDA projector for under $150 I'm impressed... I wish I went this way -.- I got a Casa RGY and I just bought a DMX interface for it so I can PC control it somewhat I would have loved to got ILDA even on an RG/Y system... I can tell you the galvos are probably not great so you will have a lot of flickering on large or complex patterns but any of those should be decent for a first system... Even my basic one in sound controlled mode is still fun for me and I've had it almost a month.. DMX is super awesome too... I might have to buy either the blue one (to add blue to my existing show) or the RGY one and an ILDA interface -.- (I better get another job )

I was reading about a guy that bought a $650 RGB projector of similar build and he was super annoyed by the flickering he also said the dichros weren't perfectly aligned... I think mine aren't that well aligned either as when it tries to mix yellow it usually fails.

This video is of my laser (with some other effects as well) and will give you an idea of what you'll end up with in the price range... The flickering is about half of what the video shows in real life but mine sticks to simple patterns, no text real graphics or anything...
‪Even more lasers and fog‬‏ - YouTube

In any case I think you will enjoy any of those lasers you linked for your first show (and I very well may too )

 

[Guyfromhe]

Well apparently the board crashed and they restored from backup... I found my old post so here it is:

Thanks! Yeah I assumed the galvos are going to be the worst part in any of these.

I may have to give up on this idea for this month. I ended up spending much more around here then I was planning on. I might still end up with one of these though.

It's really the $60 coupon code for an $80.00 or more purchase that had me really looking at these with DinoDirect though.

I so love my projector even though it can get pretty flickery sometimes and the dichros are off a bit so the yellow only lasts about 3 feet from the projector before it de-converges... And I really don't have the use or the cash for a proper one (even $300 is pushing it for a toy)... I think I am going to grab the RGB one they have it's only like $200... the galvos are 10k on it so I am sure it's going to have a slow scan speed but I don't expect that it is any worse than what I have right now and I will gain a plethora (well 7) of brighter colors and an ILDA interface for when I eventually get a DAC more for my personal amusement / coolness than actually running a real show anyway so I don't care if it's flickery or can't draw complex stuff I am sure easy to please I mean it's a freekin laser show!

I just got a DMX controller and am playing with some software for controlling it and I think having extra colors and stuff would be super nifty.
I am already super jazzed about being able to drag the images/patterns around with my mouse (again easy to please)

I don't know what the story is with that cash card thing but I don't think I am going to be buying anything else from Dino in the near future so if I go through with this laser thing (I DID) and you want to buy my card I'd sell it to you for half the cost if your interested (and I can actually transfer it) just let me know.

Also use the save10 code and you save 10% on your Dino purchase.

Anyway good luck getting it in the coming months, if you have low expectations you will not be disappointed!

BTW the $60 deal ends at the end of the month as far as I understand.

 

[Guyfromhe]

Just wanted to say I got my RGB from Dino and it is so incredible.
Thanks for linking me to that Dino deal I probably never would have found it otherwise and I am enjoying my new unit greatly.

 

[jcranmer]

Cool. Glad you got one. I ended up spending too much money around here to even think about getting one this time around.

 

[Guyfromhe]

Cool. Glad you got one. I ended up spending too much money around here to even think about getting one this time around.

Hehe I know the feeling
Anyway hopefully you can grab a projector soon Their fun and addictive.