New VJ. Projector help(short throw lens)

[pschlitzer]

Hey everyone,
My friend and I are looking to start doing audio visual shows. Since I am doing the visual side of things I though I mite ask for advice here. I have been looking at projectors to buy. Someone mentioned to me too look into short throw lenses being that you always do not have a lot of space to set up. My questions are 1. Is a short throw lens necessary and does having one inhibit you from setting up from far away? 2.What projectors would you guys suggest in the 800-900 dollar price range. Anything beyond that price mite get difficult to afford. To start out we probably would be without a screen so I am also wondering how bright I should go for and also if anyone has any good ways to rig a screen up.

Thanks for your time!

[madsmeskalin]

I can recommend the optoma gt750 for that price. Short throws are great, especially for smaller indoor venues. I rarely use my normal distance projektors anymore ;-)

[pschlitzer]

Thanks! this looks great. So what is the minimum or maximum throw ratio that's considered short throw?

[madsmeskalin]

There is also the Optoma EW605ST, who have a shorter throw ratio. But I kinda like my short throws to not be that extreme, makes it a little more flexible. Just remember short throws dont have zoom (at the least not the ones I´m familiar with)

As for min max of what is considered short throw, I dont know. But google the projection distance calculator, might shed some more info.

[sleepytom]

anything below 1.5:1 is short throw.
anything below 1:1 is extreme short throw.

Do you actually need to own a projector? I would do a few gigs with rental gear before you decide what to buy.

[many2]

Different places, different names I suppose. I am more used to a definition of short-throw that goes from 1.5:1 to 0.8:1, while extreme short-throw is anything that allows you to project from even closer than that, with a wacky lens system that isn't very flexible. Extreme-short-throw projectors allow you to project from really close, but that's the one and only thing they will ever do.