Jan Klug

for a project, i'm looking for a reasonably priced projector; main 

criterium (next to acceptable power & contrast of course) is the 

i'm back-projecting on 2 screens, each 3m wide, and have to deal with 

limited stage sizes - so the projector should not be much further 

for the premiere, i had access to 2 sony beamers with extra wide 

angle lenses, but for the tour i'll have to buy - with a budget less 

and as the combination of a projector-that-has-the-option-to-change- 

the-lens *plus* a wide angle lens is ridiculously expensive, i was 

hoping to find a native wide angle projector.

unfortunately, none of the comparison charts i could find online 

the only that projectorcentral.com spit out was the Sanyo PLC-XU58, 

http://www.sanyo.de/produkte_eng/projektoren/lcd/

produkt_techdata.asp?IAD=0&AID=0&P_ID=128&ptyp=2 )

although my ideal throw ratio would be 1 : 1, this one may work in 

- does anybody have experience with the sanyo? (not much reviews or 

- or is there another native-wide-angle-projector with a throw ratio 

- is there a nice source of information on wide angle projectors?

- any other tips, maybe on not *that* expensive combos of projector 

for a project, i'm looking for a reasonably priced projector; main  
criterium (next to acceptable power & contrast of course) is the  
short throw distance it should have.
i'm back-projecting on 2 screens, each 3m wide, and have to deal with  
limited stage sizes - so the projector should not be much further  
than 3m away from the screens.

for the premiere, i had access to 2 sony beamers with extra wide  
angle lenses, but for the tour i'll have to buy - with a budget less  
wide than the lens angles, I'm afraid.
and as the combination of a projector-that-has-the-option-to-change- 
the-lens *plus* a wide angle lens is ridiculously expensive, i was  
hoping to find a native wide angle projector.

unfortunately, none of the comparison charts i could find online  
offer lens angle as search criterium.
the only that projectorcentral.com spit out was the Sanyo PLC-XU58,  
witch has a throw ratio of 1.2 -1.9 : 1
( http://www.sanyo.de/produkte_eng/projektoren/lcd/ 
produkt_techdata.asp?IAD=0&AID=0&P_ID=128&ptyp=2 )

although my ideal throw ratio would be 1 : 1, this one may work in  
most cases.

so my questions are:
- does anybody have experience with the sanyo? (not much reviews or  
so out there...)

- or is there another native-wide-angle-projector with a throw ratio  
of between 1 : 1 and 1.25 : 1?

- any other tips, maybe on not *that* expensive combos of projector 
+wide angle lens?

advice-on-short-throw-projector

I guess reasonable is a relative term as I've heard this projector

http://www.projectorcentral.com/NEC-WT610.htm

throw you're going to find by far. It doesn't even uses lenses but

instead uses a series of mirrors to create the projected image.

I guess reasonable is a relative term as I've heard this projector
called "reasonably priced"
http://www.projectorcentral.com/NEC-WT610.htm .  It's the shortest
throw you're going to find by far.  It doesn't even uses lenses but
instead uses a series of mirrors to create the projected image.

On 06.02.2006, at 22:25, Wesley Smith wrote:

had seen that one, but i mean the *other* reasonably priced... ehm... 

> It's the shortest throw you're going to find by far.

apart from the fact that this sentence is close to poetry, i have to 

say that the short throw distance of this thing frightens me a bit....

i guess for back projection, the material that is projected on has to 

be taken into account, too; and with this toaster, lightbeams will 

but on the other hand, with a throw distance that short, i could use 

front projection, as the box could stand directly in front of the 

but before actually seeing it projecting, i don't believe that it 

works, and i meant that other 'reasonably priced' anyway ;-)

> instead uses a series of mirrors to create the projected image.

ah, apart from the NEC-wt610, wouldn't it be possible to use a 1- 

mirror system to shorten throw distance of a standard projector a bit?

> I guess reasonable is a relative term
true, very true ;-)

> as I've heard this projector
> called "reasonably priced"

had seen that one, but i mean the *other* reasonably priced... ehm...  
the cheaper one...

apart from the fact that this sentence is close to poetry, i have to  
say that the short throw distance of this thing frightens me a bit....

i guess for back projection, the material that is projected on has to  
be taken into account, too; and with this toaster, lightbeams will  
come almost from beneath the screen.
but on the other hand, with a throw distance that short, i could use  
front projection, as the box could stand directly in front of the  
screens...

but before actually seeing it projecting, i don't believe that it  
works, and i meant that other 'reasonably priced' anyway ;-)

> It doesn't even uses lenses but
> instead uses a series of mirrors to create the projected image.

ah, apart from the NEC-wt610, wouldn't it be possible to use a 1- 
mirror system to shorten throw distance of a standard projector a bit?

> ah, apart from the NEC-wt610, wouldn't it be possible to use a 1-

> mirror system to shorten throw distance of a standard projector a bit?

Yes, just remember that any vibrations in the mirror will be amplified

in the video image. The amplification will be proportional to

distance as well. So, use a very very sturdy mount.

> ah, apart from the NEC-wt610, wouldn't it be possible to use a 1-
> mirror system to shorten throw distance of a standard projector a bit?

Yes, just remember that any vibrations in the mirror will be amplified
in the video image.  The amplification will be proportional to
distance as well.  So, use a very very sturdy mount.

i've worked with the wt610 and would recommend you first heavily 

study the installation guide before deciding... it has very stringent 

requirements and throw angle distances. because of its nature, there 

 throw distance which must be accounted for.

there are many projectors with changeable lenses that you won't find 

on the projector search engines because they don't account for 

optional lenses. F: .8 fixed is the most common wide angle lens 

option, for example this Sharp maybe just what you're looking for:

http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelDetailedSpecs/0,1161,1

both of these places will take the time recommend available 

projectors based on your wide angle needs, rather than do all the 

i've worked with the wt610 and would recommend you first heavily  
study the installation guide before deciding... it has very stringent  
requirements and throw angle distances.  because of its nature, there  
is also a vertical throw distance which must be accounted for.

there are many projectors with changeable lenses that you won't find  
on the projector search engines because they don't account for  
optional lenses.  F: .8 fixed is the most common wide angle lens  
option, for example this Sharp maybe just what you're looking for:

  http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelDetailedSpecs/0,1161,1 529-,00.html

a good prosumer projector reatiler is  http://projectorpeople.com/
or a good pro house (rents and sells) http://www.subrent.com/

both of these places will take the time recommend available  
projectors based on your wide angle needs, rather than do all the  
searching yourself.

> I have been checking out the projectors you have mentioned, as you say,

> 0.8:1 is almost the shortest throw ratio. However, does the ration means

> the "distance vs diagonal length" or "distance vs width" ?

>
> I have been checking out the projectors you have mentioned, as you say,
> 0.8:1 is almost the shortest throw ratio. However, does the ration means
> the "distance vs diagonal length" or "distance vs width" ?

Sanyo venue projectors are worth a look, alot of options & standard 

Sanyo venue projectors are worth a look, alot of options & standard  
lens mounts across the line.


> - any other tips, maybe on not *that* expensive combos of projector 

I have used the Hitachi CPS210W with a 200$ wide angle converter lens 

with good results. we had a projector-to-screen distance of 240 cm 

250 cm (150x200cm). The distance for this installation was fized at 

zoom out completely to get our screen size. I never measured the min 

From the notes I made back then, I calculate that 215 cm distance 

The CPS210 is the only model from Hitachi that accepts this wide 

We found this combination of projector and lens after a long search 

phone calls to dealers, and there are not that many reasonably priced 

On 6 Feb 2006, at 22:15, Jan Klug wrote:
> - any other tips, maybe on not *that* expensive combos of projector 
> +wide angle lens?

I have used the Hitachi CPS210W with a 200$ wide angle converter lens  
(also from Hitachi)
with good results. we had a projector-to-screen distance of 240 cm  
and a screen diagonal of
250 cm (150x200cm). The distance for this installation was fized at  
240 cm, and we did not have to
zoom out completely to get our screen size. I never measured the min  
distance for that screen size.
 From the notes I made back then, I calculate that 215 cm distance  
still would produce a 250 cm diagonal.

The CPS210 is the only model from Hitachi that accepts this wide  
angle conversion lens.
We found this combination of projector and lens after a long search  
and many many
phone calls to dealers, and there are not that many reasonably priced  
combos around.

yep.
explained with nice images on http://www.optomahometheater.com/howto/ 
b2_2.asp


I have used sanyo xu55,a predecesor of xu58, for many different installation and stage projects. I have been very happy with the image quality and the wideanglezoom. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

I have used  sanyo xu55,a predecesor of xu58, for many different installation and stage projects. I have been very happy with the image quality and the wideanglezoom. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

advice on short throw projector?