Going from 3000 to 5000+ lumens worth it?

[DjPiLL]

I have a 4:3 Viewsonic projector. About 3000 lumens. I want to get a better picture on my homecourse motorized screen. I use it in my garage with my fluorescent lights on. Looking for something that can project a clearer, brighter picture. Thinking of going to a Viewsonic PG800X (or equivalent) or maybe the pro9510l. Need to stay at 4:3 aspect ratio. Is the jump to one of these projectors worth the cost? TIA.

[aja]

Save your money! Brightness is not the issue.

Unless I am mistaken, these projectors are XGA resolution, 1024 x 768. These days that's not the best you can do in terms of resolution.

You don't have to choose a projector that is 4:3 native projection. Widescreen (and HD) can also be used for a 4:3 image.

There's a fair bit of information in the forum about projectors. Just have to look.

[DjPiLL]

So I can get a HD projection that has a widescreen native resolution and have it scale down to 1024x768 resolution? I need 4x3 aspect ratio as I only have about 8 feet of width on my projector screen. If I do widescreen on this the height of the projection will be pretty short.

[aja]

Scaling it down to 1024 x 768 kind of defeats the purpose... the preferable choice would be to use the 1080 vertical lines of resolution that a "true" HD projector gives you. As stated elsewhere, you can get 4:3 from 16:9 projectors.

[StanMI]

I have a BenQ MW632ST now. It can do 4:3, 16:9, 16:10 and quite a few others. All available from a drop down menu inside the projector. ( I can't speak for other as this is the only projector I've ever had) The only draw back of this projector is the lower resolution, roughly 720. I'd prefer 1080, but finding that in a 16:10 is $$$$$$.

To answer your question I believe most if not all projectors will switch between 4:3 and 16:9 quite easily.

Others will correct me if I'm wrong.

[mthunt]

I've got the BenQ 1080ST. I think it's a lot less than 3000 lumens. As for as aspect ratio, mine is automatic. I set the ratio on the PC and the projector displays in that size. Needless to say I'm extremely happy with it. A few more lumens would be nice but not necessary really IMO.

[DjPiLL]

Ok I did some research. Also looked at projector central calculations. It's my understanding that running the calculator and looking at image brightness that tells me how bright the picture would be right? My existing projector is in the 35-40fL range and the projectors I am looking at are in the 80-90fL range. I would imagine this would be a big jump in quality brightness right?

I am narrowing down my search to either a Viewsonic PG705WU or BenQ MH760. Both projectors are 1920x1200 native. The MH760 seems to be a 16:9 aspect ratio where the PG705WU is 16:10. Now can a 16:9 projector also be 1920x1200?

The MH760 in the below link seems to support all of the common video signals like 1080p where the PG705WU doesn't state that.

https://www.projectorpeople.com/proj...r=0&do=compare

I am leaning toward the PG705WU because i project about 14.3 feet from the screen and even without any zoom I am coming off the edges of my homecourse screen slightly. The PG705WU gives me about a 81" wide image where the MH760 gives me 86". I think that 5 inches will make a difference.

If anyone has any insight on any of this feel free to chime in. Oh and since I want to maintain a 4:3 aspect ration for Foresight FR1 software, I want to get WUXGA so it gives me 1200 vertical lines native which allows me to max out at 1600x1200 right?

Thx.

[aja]

I'm more than a little confused about what you are trying to accomplish.

Are you saying that your screen width is 86 inches? That's a pretty small screen to be trying to max out the resolution...

[Trickle007]

Now can a 16:9 projector also be 1920x1200?

well if it is a 4k projector probably but a 1080 projector no. Here is a aspect ratio calculator for you.

[mikestuewe]

If image quality is your concern, I recommend you hit up avsforum.com, specifically the under $3000 projector sub forum. Detail what you are trying to accomplish, and post some pics of how your image currently looks with your garage lights on to mimic typical playing conditions.

i don’t believe lumens should be your main driver for image quality, but the folks on that forum would be better experts for an image quality discussion

[StanMI]

If lumens are a major concern, have you checked out this projector

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/build-your-own/projectors/147127-panasonic-pt-vz-580-or-pt-vz-580u

[DjPiLL]

Just an update, I ended up purchasing a Viewsonic PG705WU projector. 1900x1200 native business class model, so bright in indoors with lights on. Definitely better than my XGA projector, running it at 1600x1200 4:3. It's brighter, higher resolution, and I can throw a slightly smaller picture which allows me to display the full projector screen on my Homecourse golf net without having the edges of the images off the screen slightly. Good deal, thanks all.

[DjPiLL]

Here is a picture of it. Lights are out but it looks good with the lights on. My Homecourse screen is small, only 8x8' i believe but this projector works prefectly with it based on my distance. Mounted about 13' high behind me as my garage has a lot of height.

[String_NZ]

I am interested in getting homecourse screen, would you say they are worth it? Durability ok?