Short Throw, More Lumens

[mkizer]

Projector Central doesn't list a solution to this, so this might be a moot question.

I'm doing a rear-projection installation for a regional theatre. I have a short-throw projector that only produces 3000 lumens. I've made this work for a 12' x 16' image in the past, but only when I have fairly tight control over the lighting; not sure this venue is going to allow that for us.

By "short throw," I want to mount the unit no more than 10' / 3m behind the cyc, and get an image twice that wide.

Does anyone know of a short-throw unit that might produce 5000+ lumens, with at least a 2000:1 contrast ratio? I'd like to find one under $3K, and less is better of course. Looks to me like I would need a unit with changeable lenses, in a higher price bracket.

[Anders]

You cant really trust contrast, apparently they test it in way different ways, but use the same measure for it :/

[sleepytom]

A 0.5:1 throw is "ultra short" - basically you don't get projectors which are designed to do big images with ultra short lenses.

0.8:1 is the widest lens you'll find for a standard projector. $3000 is enough to buy the lens without a projector (and only just enough for the lens). Realistically you need to think about hire (rental) rather than purchase.

[mkizer]

Thanks. That's just what I was expecting.

For theatre, hire/rental is not a real option. This unit will run shows in rep for two months. I'm going with the 3K lumen with a second 3K lumen collaged into it for intermittent effects. I am putting a little distance between the screen and the acting space to keep light away. It'll look good.

[Thelooca]

Perhaps try to get a deal with a company that rents out projectors to buy one and then sell it to them if the show is over?

[mkizer]

Thanks, but I am in a rural part of New Hampshire. There aren't many companies around that would buy it.

I'm running with my 3K lumen Ultra-Short ViewSonic. I'm going to put it in a ceiling-mount position backstage, probably to a wooden structure I will build for the purpose.

The digital position adjustment on the ViewSonic PJD7583W is pretty good. I'm considering buying a second unit and stacking the two by mounting both to the same wooden beam.

We're going to test a black scrim in front of the rear-projection screen (which is white), to make it act like a black R.P. Lower lumens, better contrast. As this develops, I'll post here.

[stickygreen]

you won't be able to stack those machines. short throw is a pain to stack, plus these machines don't appear to have lens shift needed to get the images to align.