Projector help

Systems

I am in the process of finishing up my basement for a HT and I have spent a LOT of time analyzing projectors. My questions are now more based on calculations. I've used the calculator on a few sites extensively. I have an electrician coming in next week so I need to be clear on a few things. Right now my ceiling is ready for a projector to be installed at the 14 to 15 foot range.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Panasonic_Home-PT-AE1000U-projection-calculator-pro.htm

When I look at numbers for say the Panasonic PT-AE1000U:

If I want a 8 foot screen (horizontal), at optimal settings the projector needs to be mounted 22ish feet back?

Now, I can start zooming up but that has a negative effect on image correct? Meaning at 1.5% zoom, I can mount it at 15 foot but this would create a lesser quality image?

Should I just try to get the projector back to the 20 foot mark. That’s just odd to me, wouldn’t the image look better at 2.0x zoom with the projector closer to the wall? But it would then need to angle down (9 foot ceilings).


So If I keep it at 15 feet I have to:

96” screen (110 diagonal)
15’ mounting
Screen gain 1.5
Zoom at 1.44x


Any advice would be appreciated. I have a lot of flexibility right now… for the next 2 weeks ?

66chevyIISS

I'm shooting 134" diagnol screen with my AE900 mounted at 13.5' feet. at 2.0 zoom. The only thing that changes when I shrink the screen down is it will become a little brighter. In complete darkness 2.0 zoom looks the same as 1.0zoom. See my screen shot at 2x zoom. My wall paint is the same as Carada's 1.0 gain screen.

At 15 feet you can shoot a 149" diagnol screen, I wouldn't mount it any farther back then that. The only thing you might do is extend the projector down from the ceiling a little bit depending on where you want to mount your screen. angling it down will cause a Keystone. The projector has a keystone option to correct it, but if it takes a lot to adjust it I would rather lower the projector. You will love the Lens shift option though on that projector.

Why 110" screen though? Sounds like you have a pretty big room. What are the dimesions? how far back will the seating be? I would advise mounting the projector at 14-15 feet and then play with the zoom for screen sizes before you make your final decision.

engtaz

I have the Mitsubishi HD1000U 720P project 106" 16 X 9 screen at 13.6' on the backwall. projectorpeople.com have it for around $1021.00 w/3year lamp warranty and shipping.

scottvamp

Silverti, zooming has absolutely no effect on picture quality. You may even gain brightness. Try to set the projector as far away as possible in most cases. And go as big as you can, that is what front projection is all about.
Also check out the Sanyo PVL-Z5. The price is amazing. Running rebates. 2 to 1 zoom means you can mount it anywhere. The bulbs are some of the cheapest. Sanyo has one of the best warranties in the business. Contrast is awesome. Filters and cleaning are a cinch.
Room dimensions?
And i have a screen for sale that i picked up on the forum.........
Scott

Dennis Gardner

I wouldn't have electrical installed until you have the projector in hand and have tried it in a number of trial positions. Projector placement should also consider overhead noise at your seating too. Very important if you haven't experienced FP for yourself.

Systems

The dimensions of the room are something roughly like 15 foot wide and 40 feet long. Seating can really go any where. I want to pick up about 4 nice leather seats that I can move anywhere I want in the room. I personally wired if for 7.1 in the walls. The rear speakers will be on the complete opposite side of the room (old RT12's)


Thx for all the good info so far.

Systems

Right now my power supply is set at exactly 14" from the wall. Im also thinking about getting a pull down screen becasue what I want to do is get a 40ish" LCD or somehting when Im not using the projector.

Dennis Gardner

My point was that hard-wiring speakers, projectors, etc. without trying them in the room ahead of final placement leads to extra work/cost, when the first plan doesn't work.

Just my experience..............

Dennis Gardner

Before I got my first PJ, I thought I would like an second smaller video source too. I soon found that once I saw that giant image, 40" would never cut it. I watch even casual TV on my projector day and night.

scottvamp

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Before I got my first PJ, I thought I would like an second smaller video source too. I soon found that once I saw that giant image, 40" would never cut it. I watch even casual TV on my projector day and night.

Yep, after 8 years with FP, i use mine everyday. Video games, standard/HD tv and of course movies. I play pool and have my metal videos rocking away. I have an HD shark tank video and it not hard to turn the place into a night club for entertaining guest. My 65" HDTV in my bedroom seems small to me now.
Projection Candy!
http://www.plasmawindow.com/?gclid=CK72zdHoh40CFR1BggodSV4Cow

Systems

Seems to me that 1000-2000 hours of play till the bulb is 50% is pretty expensive to just run the projector!!!

Dennis Gardner

Silverti wrote: »

Seems to me that 1000-2000 hours of play till the bulb is 50% is pretty expensive to just run the projector!!!

Bulb expense is small compared to depreciation of the PJ itself. If you can't afford to throw the entire investment away after a couple years, you have no business going front projection. Just my experience........

engtaz

That why I consider an extra bulb as part of the purchase price.

scottvamp

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Bulb expense is small compared to depreciation of the PJ itself. If you can't afford to throw the entire investment away after a couple years, you have no business going front projection. Just my experience........

Ya, taking the family to the Movie Theater at at least $50 a trip. Having a Movie Theater in your house. PRICELESS!
Not not to mention better sound and picture quality.

I was just calculating bulb cost and i am getting about $.15 cents a hour average. With the Wii, having a Bowling Alley and a Golf Course in your house at that price is a steal.

engtaz

Gears of War is unbelievable on a 106" screen using VGA input and running @ over 1300 line of resolution on the Xbox 360. The last big upgrade on the 360 gave it more options for output lines of resolutions.

Systems

I think this is a good time to get in it. Seems to me that jumping to 1080p right now with 1080p media and harware is going to last for a good amount of time.

Dennis Gardner

Silverti wrote: »

I think this is a good time to get in it. Seems to me that jumping to 1080p right now with 1080p media and harware is going to last for a good amount of time.

I can't disagree with that.

From a consumers prospective, PJs have come down to affordable levels faster than any other electronic item in history. 40% profit margins 4 years ago, are now around 6-9%. Sellers are carrying them as a add-on item now, not as a staple of their business. It is very hard to make $$$ selling them as standalone items without installation for the small guy. I really think that true HD DLP/LCD stuff will be under $1000 before long across the board until the next new technology comes along to push pricing back up some.