projectiondesign GP3 Lens Replacement (F3, F30, F32, F35)

Written By: Dan C

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projectiondesign GP3 Lens Replacement (F3, F30, F32, F35)

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

1 minute

Introduction

The F35 is a DLP projector made by projectiondesign out of Norway. The GP3 series includes other projectors including the commercial/professional models F3, F30, F32, F35, FL32 and FL35 (LED light source), and is similar to the consumer/home theater models Action! model three, cineo3, and some Avielo models.

There are almost a dozen lenses made by PD that are compatible with the GP3 projectors. Some are zoom while others are prime/fixed throw ratio. All of them have a PCB and chip on them which lets the lens identify itself to the projector.

Step 1

PD manufactured many different lenses that fit these projectors. Some that zoom, others that have fixed throw ratios. There are even extra-high-quality ones for the projectors with the most pixels.
The website projectorcentral.com lists a few ones for the F35:
EN41 Standard Zoom Lens Throw Ratio 1.69:1-2.50:1
EN43 Wide Zoom Lens Throw Ratio 1.20:1-1.69:1
EN44 Short Tele Zoom Lens Throw Ratio 2.50:1-4.61:1
EN45 Ultra Wide Zoom Lens Throw Ratio 0.80:1-1.21:1
But these are only some of the ones available from the factory.

Step 2

Begin by pressing and holding the lens-release button with your right hand (or have a helper do this).
Apologies for the very dark picture!
Grasp the outside barrel of the lens with one or two hands, and start to rotate it counter-clockwise. Be prepared to support the weight of the lens as it is released from the locking mount.
It will rotate about 45 degrees -- watch the mark on top of the pictured lens for the start and end points.
After rotation stops, slide the lens out of the projector.
Be careful again that the back end doesn't drop as it slides out! The lenses are made of many heavy pieces of glass -- the weight can be surprising.

Step 3

This picture shows the view inside the lens cavity. Normally there's a shutter that closes here to protect the optical elements, but that was removed in my projector.
You can also see the pogo pins that contact the lens ID PCB here. That will help you find the right orientation when re-installing a lens.

Step 4

Before installing a lens, make sure there are no obstructions inside the projector (like the original plastic lens mount protector), and remove any back cover or rear cap on the lens itself.
Look at the metal mounting flange inside the projector, and at the tabs on the lens itself. There should be three tabs/slots visible.
Two tabs/slots are about the same size -- they'll be on top when the lens slides in.
One slot/tab will be about 2/3 the length of the others. That one goes "down" as the lens is inserted.
Insert it such that the smallest tab of the lens mount "foot" faces down, make sure the lens is completely seated "in-plane', then gently rotate clockwise about 45 degrees -- you should hear and feel a definite tactile click when it locks into place.
Don't force it! If it isn't rotating easily, something must be in the way.

Conclusion

That's it! Not much reason to remove a lens unless you're servicing the projector, or repurposing it. Be careful -- if it's heavy, it's probably expensive. And, cover up the projector's lens mount hole to keep dust and debris out.

Author

Dan C

Member since: 11/07/20

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