recommended projector and setup

[tonyg]

I'm puchasing my 1st projector for use in a 14 x 20 family room. the projector needs to be mounted on the far wall above a doorwall approx 20 feet from the screen. my price range is $1500 or less and I've narrowed it down the InFocus 4805 or the Optoma H31. These seem to be the best rated. I have a couple ?'s

1) will these projectors work for what I'm looking to do from that distance?
2) Which one would be the best?
3)what size screen would be recommended?

 

[Buckle-meister]

Hello Tonyg,

I can't help much with your projector question I'm afraid; best leave that to others. I just thought I'd be the first to say welcome!

By the way, have you by chance heard of our ratings system of green squares....

Regards

 

[jaxvon]

I would personally go for the Optoma. I plan on getting it if I have the budget in the next few months. Just be sure that you can view DLP projectors. Some people get motion sickness from them.

As far as screen size, use this to calculate that, as well as other set-up aspects.

The Optoma can be had for $1029 shipped from Visual Apex, with full warranty, AND an extra bulb.

What kind of screen are you looking at?

 

[Buckle-meister]

As far as I can tell, both seem like good projectors within their price range. I don't know whether you know of projectorcental.com, but it's pretty good. Here are it's reviews of your two projectors:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/optoma_h31.htm

http://www.projectorcentral.com/infocus_screenplay_4805.htm

I'd say the answer to question 1 depends upon how big an image you want. Impacting heavily upon this will be the distance you will sit from the screen.

I really can't help with question 2 I'm afraid. I wouldn't wish to give you unsound advice.

As for question 3, again, it will depend upon how far from the screen you will be. The links above will help you out there.

Regards

 

[Buckle-meister]

Just be sure that you can view DLP projectors. Some people get motion sickness from them.

I know Rob Babcock (I think) mentioned about this when playing computer games through his projector, but apart from the rainbow effect (which, by the way, I can see even with my 5x, 6-segment colour wheel), I've never heard of motion sickness.

Is it honestly common?

Regards

 

[jaxvon]

I don't think it's that common, but I know one member here said that he checked out some really high end projectors and both he and his wife started to feel kinda sick. The rainbow effect is more common.

 

[tonyg]

I don't know how big of a screen I should get. I was thinking of setting up the projector then based on how it looks on the wall buying a screen to fit. Any recomendations?? Seating area will probably be about 10 ft from screen. Will I have trouble with either of the projectors seeing that they'll probably be mounted from the ceiling almost 20 feet away?

 

[jaxvon]

According to the calculator that I posted above, the recommended screen size (diagonal) for a widescreen at a viewing distance of 10 feet is about 89 inches to meet THX standard viewing angle. Here's a great 88" screen from Carada. They're pretty highly rated for value and performance. Of course, your projector would probably need to be closer than 20 ft away to do this. Have you thought about a ceiling mount?

 

[Buckle-meister]

Seating area will probably be about 10 ft from screen. Will I have trouble with either of the projectors seeing that they'll probably be mounted from the ceiling almost 20 feet away?

tonyg, here are projectorcentral's links to calculate the sizes you require (just fill in the relative information):

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-H31-projection-calculator-pro.htm

http://www.projectorcentral.com/InFocus_Home-ScreenPlay_4805-projection-calculator-pro.htm

Hope this is some help.

Regards

 

[tonyg]

unfortunately the way the room is set up will probably only permit me to ceiling mount the projector at the far end of the room. It is a vaulted ceiling with a beam and a ceiling fan in the middle.

It seems like if I mount it that far away it will generate a much larger picture. do these projectors have a setting to shrink the picture? If not, does anyone have an idea if/how the further throw distance will negatively affect picture quality?

 

[brian32672]

unfortunately the way the room is set up will probably only permit me to ceiling mount the projector at the far end of the room. It is a vaulted ceiling with a beam and a ceiling fan in the middle.

It seems like if I mount it that far away it will generate a much larger picture. do these projectors have a setting to shrink the picture? If not, does anyone have an idea if/how the further throw distance will negatively affect picture quality?

Ok, I'll jump in. Yes there are lenses that can be bought for your particular projection distance. However, it would be a extra cost. I use 4:3 material more. My projector does 120" at between 18'2" to 19'5". There are other projectors you can find for the long throw distance you are looking for.
I will go look for some for you now.....

 

[brian32672]

The cheapest I am finding would be a Sim 2 Domino 20H.
That would do a 20' throw into a 96" image. The image at these sizes are very clear.

However the Sim 2 is way out of your price range. The one listed probably could be had for 4,000.00
Here is a link.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/SIM2_Multimedia-DOMINO_20H.htm

I'll keep looking........

 

[brian32672]

Not sure if this link will come out. But here are 43 projectors that will do a 20' throw into a 120" image....
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?mfg_id=any&res_id=any&ar=0&td=20&is=120&bll=any&bul=any&cll=any&cul=any&wll=any&wul=any&prll=any&prul=any&an=0&dvi=-1&trig=1

Here is a link that will do a 20' throw into a 100" picture. (7 projectors)
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?mfg_id=any&res_id=any&ar=0&td=20&is=100&bll=any&bul=any&cll=any&cul=any&wll=any&wul=any&prll=any&prul=any&an=0&dvi=-1&trig=1

 

[brian32672]

The Panasonic listed is LCD, but it has gotten great reviews. And it would be closer to your price range. I have seen it bundled with a screen and extra bulb for about 2400.00

What type of screen are you looking for. A DIY. Something like the Goo System. This way you paint on your own screen onto the wall. And put your own size black border.

Would you want a manual pull down, or a electric screen.
Or would you want a manual pull up screen.
Or a fixed screen with a material that is put on like a picture frame.

 

[Phantomguy]

tonyg

I have spent the last 2 years researching inter alia projectors for my cinema room and came across as many long throwprojectors (around 6m/20ft) as short throw (around 3m/10ft). I eventually settled last week on a BenQ8700HD2+ (a short throw). Its prob a bit above the price you want to to pay. As far as I recall the picture sizes were about the same for each. However if your are planning on locating a short throw at about 20 ft you will have no way (that I know of) to get the picture of about 92" diag which is about what I suspect you are trying to achieve.

Have you loooked at either buying a Long throw projector OR custom making an extension pipe to the standard ceiling bracket so that your projector can mount low enough from your cathedral ceiling (My son has to do just that for his room). The weight of the projector is not enough to need stabilising the extension pipe if the bracket allows you to make use of a rigid yet light extension pipe (presumeably black anodised alloy or black powder coated steel). get back to me if you need any further clarification on these choices.

 

[BMXTRIX]

There is no question: If you require long throw and your budget is fairly tight, and you are a newbie projector owner who wants some leeway in the setup there is one projector that really meets your needs:

Panasonic AE-700U

If you haven't looked at any of the links yet then you need to. You keep asking "Well, will it throw a 90" image from 20 feet?" - There is a LINK TO THE PROJECTION DISTANCE CALCULATOR! The projection calculator and spending a few hours at Projector Central will really help you get an idea of what is available to you that will work. You are seriously limited in your options because you are making requirements for the projector to fall into.

This may end up with you not being able to put a projector in the room and needing to try something else.

Otherwise, do some reading over there, narrow down some choices that work in your situation, and then ask more specific questions if you need to. If you have a white wall to work with in the room, then I would project on that first, then move up to a screen. You could make one if you wanted for far less than buying one.

Don't forget the audio and the light control!