Need 720p projector that can throw 35'

[cutterfilm]

I'm looking to buy a projector and I have particular size needs. It's for screenings at an art gallery. It has to be able to throw 35 feet and produce a 25 foot wide image. Of course I want it to look decent and focus at that size and distance. I've been researching all day, but I'm finding it hard to find one I could trust and afford. Anybody have any suggestions? I haven't bought a projector in ten years and the numbers of specs, features, and reviews are daunting. My budget is less than $3,000.

Any help is super-appreciated!

sean
track16.com

 

[BMXTRIX]

You aren't being realistic.

Projectors are designed to deliver video to average size screens. In the business world, this is a fairly lousy image up to about a 10' diagonal for under $2K. For home theater, it tends to be a somewhat darker image, but higher quality video, for under $2K and about the same video size.

If you get out of these specifications, then costs go up significantly.

If you are in a completely dark room (100% dark) then you may be able to go with a double stack of the AX100U projector from Panasonic and get about a 20' diagonal for about $3,500 and with that, I would still use a decent 1.4 or so gain screen.

That's probably what I would recommend.

A better bet would likely be something like the Sanyo PLV-WF10 projector. Which is getting further from your price point.

Keep in mind, a 60" plasma still tends to run well above your budget for quality units, so what you are talking about is about 5 TIMES that size in diagonal and about 25 times the surface area! For the same price, it becomes more clear that it isn't realistic - even in perfectly dark conditions.

If your situation isn't completely dark, but may have some typical indoor lighting, then you will need a projector that delivers, real world, over 12,000 lumens. I would recommend closer to 20K lumens.

 

[cutterfilm]

Thanks for the advice. By double stacking you mean two projectors as one? If so, how hard is it to calibrate those and split the signal? The AX100U is listed as having a 20' throw. Our space may be dark enough to deal with this drop off is light, but can it focus at 35'?

With a $13k msrp, the Sanyo is way out of my league. We do control the light and the space gets completely dark. We have a pro screen, but I don't remember the gain. We've been using a Sanyo PLC-9000NA for many years that we got used, but we need a third projector and I'd hoped to upgrade to 720p. The 9000NA was never perfect. At 2000 lumens it actually was okay.

Maybe I need to adjust my budget. If I could spend more, say $4,000. Are there any 720p projectors with 2000 lumens or more that can focus at 35 feet in that price range. I maybe unrealistic but I'm trying to see what I can accomplish on a limited budget.

thanks for you comments.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I am pretty strong on the AX100U. You can look at the manual here for details...

http://www.projectorcentral.com/pdf/projector_manual_3432.pdf

But, it does appear that it can throw a 300" diagonal and it will definitely do that from 30 to about 60 feet from the screen surface.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Panasonic_Home-PT-AX100U-projection-calculator-pro.htm

errmmm... actually, looking at the manual, it may not allow for more than a 200" diagonal.

Hard for me to say. I did recently setup one of these units on a 160" diagonal screen and it really did look much better than I expected. Kind of pushes me back towards the WF10.

There are definitely some business models that will cost less and deliver a few more lumens which wouldn't be horrible as well. I would use the 'FIND PROJECTORS' section at projector central to try to locate one. And remember, MSRP is likely a great deal more than online pricing.

 

[cutterfilm]

I've heard good things about the AX100U, too. That was what I was going to go with then I double checked the tech stuff and realized the throw limit. Yeah, of course it COULD throw bigger than 200", but will it focus. For 16:9 on our screen we'd need 350" diagonal. But I'd settle for 300".

The Sanyo is tempting, but a bit out of our league. The cheapest I could find was an open box for $4600 with no lens.

If it doesn't work out we'll have to get another standard def projector, but not exactly a forward thinking move.

thanks again.

sean

 

[cutterfilm]

Also, ever use any of the bigger Panasonics? I was looking at the Panasonic PT-DW5000U tonight. It's 4500 lumens. It can easilty handle the throw.

Also, these bigger industrial ones have DVI but no HDMI. Is it easy to convert HDMI from an upscaling DVD player or an HD-DVD player to DVI?