Looking for best short throw Projector!

[KPaas]

Hey all!!,

Sim season is back around for me. I’m interested in what is the best short throw projector out there.
I have the Optoma EH200st. I think either my screen is a little dirty(which I know it is honestly) or my bulb has maybe dimmed. It’s only 2 years old.
I just feel it’s not as bright as it used to be. But I have some extra cash and I want the best, bright, clear. The big thing I love is the 0.5/1 throw ratio of my current. Info, help, suggestions all welcome. Thanks guys.

PS: TGC 2019 is freaking awesome. Cabot Cliffs LiDst was amazing for my first course so far

[Wonko]

KPaas - I have the exact same question! I’ve got a new sim build in a shed, and I need a short throw projector with high lumens because of ambient light. I’ve tried the Optoma 1080gt Darbee, the Optoma EH412 (not short throw), and a used Christie LX450 so far. The darbee wasn’t bright enough (3000 lumens), and the Christie was too hard to use and bulky. The EH412 was a good brightness even during the day (4500 lumens). It does have a ~1.5x zoom, but it still needs about 19’ throw to fill my 14X10 screen at 4:3, which is too far for my room. I’ve spoken with a few dealers, and they both agreed that the Optoma EH412ST might be the best projector at the price point (about $1,000), but I have been unable to find one online (Amazon says they may be available at a later date). I have also purchased a “Yaber 1080 5500 lumens” projector on Amazon for $269. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m expecting to be under-whelmed because of the low-price point.

I’d be very interested to hear if anyone has a suggestion for something that would fill the following needs...

4500 lumens or better...
short throw projector...
1080p...
I’m using 4:3, so any aspect ratio...
Optical zoom preferable...
$2k or less...

thanks, all!

[Jason Penner]

The Christie is a great projector. You can get a short throw lens for it FYI.

[Putt-For-Doe]

The best out there in my opinion after doing a month of research on my current build led me to the Optoma WU515TST. As I said this is the best not anywhere near the cheapest

https://www.optoma.com/us/product/wu515tst/#

[Gman17]

I purchased a demo Optima EH515TST for $2K from https://www.projectorpeople.com/. It's surely bright enough and the colors are good. I am projecting a tad under 14' wide at 9.5' from the impact screen.

[PittsburghRed]

I have the optoma WU515tst. Once calibrated properly the picture on a Carl’s premium screen is pretty good. I ended up calibrating the HDMI port using sRGB for Movies for the kids and it’s pretty good. I use display port for the sim and it’s fine.

[KPaas]

You have said pretty good a couple times there.
You think it’s worth forming out $3600 cdn plus tax for it??? I have the EH200ST and it works pretty but I just want brighter. But it’s a steep price to go 2500 more lumens. Almost a dollar per lumen if I sell my other projector for $1000
Which is what I paid and probably won’t get

[Gman17]

PR, can you explain how you "calibrated" the projector? Maybe I expect more than what I am seeing from mine, but maybe it just needs to be tweeked a little.

[PittsburghRed]

Calibration was done using a chromapure device and software, it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. You could always pay somebody to do it for you.

[ColoradoRob]

I had an EH412ST on backorder so long I took a chance and switched to an EH515TST. The 515 came in two days from Optoma.

I have a 13ft wide screen so will be just over 10 ft from the impact screen which puts it just behind my mat; ceiling is 10ft high. Before buying I spent some time swinging clubs to determine if shadows could be an issue now that throw is .79. Seemed to me will be fine, anyone have experience with the projector over the back of the hitting area?

[WoodlandHills]

Just to throw another brand in the mix, I purchase a reconditioned BenQ TH671ST directly from BenQ for only $559. I have it setup a couple of feel further from the screen then where the ball sits and it works very well I used this page to be sure that it has the proper throw for what I needed:

https://projectorcalculator.benq.com/

[Wonko]

I received my EH412St from ProjectorPeople on Friday, as it’s finally off backorder. I still have my GT1080HDR, so I will compare and post some pics. So far, the EH412ST is better than any of other projectors I’ve tried recently. It has some digital zoom, some easy settings for brightness, and some vertical and horizontal adjustments. The brightness is good - not great (4000 lumens). I have blacked out windows and one spot light over my tee box. The graphics from TGC 2019 (and even from my QED refine software) look awesome. I just wish it was a little brighter. The only pain is the manual focus, and of course, lack of optical zoom. It was also a little tricky to get my “universal” projector mount to fit on the EH412ST’s holes, but that may be my supposedly universal mount’s fault. I’ve got it mounted 8’8” back from my screen in 4:3 (13’ wide by 10’ high). All-in-all, I’m very happy. This may be a keeper!

[Solstice72]

Download ReShade and use "HDR" or " Levels" it will bounce up your apparent luminosity

[pwade3]

Where you ever able to do a comparison?

[Wizard of Coz]

I have benqth671st and it looks great but I don't have much ambient light. I believe it's 3200 lumens. Lot of bang for the $ and easy to set up.

[Golfstrongia]

https://www.benqdirect.com/benq-outlet/refurbished-projectors/ht2150st-refurb.html

Always have good luck with these