Help with picking a projector

[Dtruitt2@yahoo.com]

I am building my simulator room and having issues with finding a suitable projector for my space!!!
my screen is from par2pro SQ 12x9.
My depth from screen to back wall is 16.5’
I have been looking at 16:10 ratio but can’t find one that will fill my screen. I would like to have one that has around 5000 lumens. Can anyone help suggest a projector that would work?
Thanks!

[3on3putt]

Why are you looking at 16:10 when your screen is 4:3?

The reason you can't find a projector to fill your screen in 16:10 is because your screen isn't 16:10. You need to be looking at 4:3 ratios. Two popular ones for golf sims are below:

https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-TH671ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

https://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-GT1090HDR-projection-calculator-pro.htm

My projector:

https://www.projectorcentral.com/InFocus-IN138HDST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

[Dtruitt2@yahoo.com]

Thanks for the response. The reasons I didn’t originally start looking at 4:3 is because there are soooo many different recommendations. I’ve read that 4:3 doesn’t give a great picture that I need to stay at or above 5000 lumens. The problem is I can find a 5000 lumens projector that works with my distances. Ideally I would like to mount the projector on the ceiling and I have 16.5’ from screen to back wall. My screen is the Par2pro SQ and is 12x9.
I’ve tried the calculators and am lost. Too many options for someone who has no experience with projectors. I can pay a consulting fee but that is another $150 😩
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

[Dax]

suggestions above re 4:3 are accurate. However, if you are looking at the 1920x1200, then...

Have you looked at the Eiki 308u? The front of the lens will need to be 15.5 feet from your screen to fill 108 inches, which might not give you enough room to your back wall? You would also need to do a custom resolution for the width. Worth consideration though as it is a good projector. I now have this projector and like it a lot.

if you do go this route, please take my $150 and put it towards your projector.

mothers are the Panasonic PT-vz570 and 580, but those would give you than same issue re custom resolution as noted above.

[GarnetGolf]

I am building my simulator room and having issues with finding a suitable projector for my space!!!
my screen is from par2pro SQ 12x9.
My depth from screen to back wall is 16.5’
I have been looking at 16:10 ratio but can’t find one that will fill my screen. I would like to have one that has around 5000 lumens. Can anyone help suggest a projector that would work?
Thanks!

It might be helpful to state more information so that people can help you; you stated 5,000 lumen and fill the screen. The 5,000 lumens desire implies you may not be able to control ambient lighting and/or want to have a fairly bright room.

Ceiling height would be helpful to know as well as budget. You could put the projector at the back of the room but that may cause unacceptable shadowing. A short throw 3000 lumen image would look better than a 5000 lumen obscured image.

Anyway, if you have to fill every bit of the 9ft screen, you would need a throw ratio of 1.1 at the maximum. The Panasonic PT-VMZ50U could work and it has horizontal lens shift so you could mount it to the side to minimize shadows. There is also the BenQ LK953ST which would work. It's 4K and $$$$.

[Dax]

I just came back to post on the ceiling height as well and see someone has already just asked. This will be an important consideration as well given the need for the ones noted above to be 15 feet from the screen. If you hit at ten feet, the there may be shadowing.

[3on3putt]

Where are you reading that 4:3 doesn't give a good picture? A standard 1920x1080 projector in 4:3 casts a 1440x1080 image, which is really good. And 1920x1200 projectors will cast 1600x1200 in 4:3 which is even better. There are also some projectors that are 1600x1200 native. I think you went down the path that you did based on some bad information.

You can run 16:10 (or 16:9) on your screen and get a slightly crisper image but you'll be sacrificing some screen space. So it's either a slightly better image with blank screen space or filling the screen with what will still be a very good image.

What is your ceiling height?

How far away do you anticipate you'll be hitting?

Are you hitting from center or offset?

The answers to those 3 questions will go a long way toward helping you out.

[GarnetGolf]

Where are you reading that 4:3 doesn't give a good picture?

OP is talking about 4:3 native projectors which in general will have a lower resolution than running a widescreen projector with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Looking into 16:10 projectors buys you another 120 vertical pixels (compared to a 16x9 1080p) which may or may not be that noticeable. I don't think he is working off of bad information; just is admittedly overwhelmed with the options/features.

[3on3putt]

OP is talking about 4:3 native projectors which in general will have a lower resolution than running a widescreen projector with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Looking into 16:10 projectors buys you another 120 vertical pixels (compared to a 16x9 1080p) which may or may not be that noticeable. I don't think he is working off of bad information; just is admittedly overwhelmed with the options/features.

A projector that is 1600x1200 native (4:3) projects a 1600x1200 image in 4:3.

A projector that is 1920x1200 (16:10) projects a 1600x1200 image in 4:3. It's the same.

16:10 is irrelevant because he has a 4:3 screen. So whether his 4:3 image is coming from a projector that is 4:3 native or 16:10 native doesn't matter. He's still looking at 1600x1200 or 1440x1080 no matter what the original source is.

[Dtruitt2@yahoo.com]

Wow, you guys are great. Thanks!
Screen to back wall is 16.5’
Screen to ball is 9-10’
Screen is 12x9
Ceiling is 10’
Yes, I now believe I was told the wrong information so I’m super happy I double checked before I just purchased something and was unhappy!
To be clear, I am not opposed to having the projector (in front on the ground, or behind on the ceiling) whatever works best.
My budget is $1000 but could stretch to $1500 if it makes a big difference. I’d also be ok with a used unit.

Also I’m considering E6 Connect or TGC. My buddies have E6 but the price is making me consider TGC. Is it possible to purchase used software from someone? Not sure if that’s even possible.

[Dax]

The software does come up second hand every once and a while. For the cost of TGC license though I would just go and buy new as there is a transfer fee that you need to consider. Bouxy was selling an e6 for TrackMan license and could still be trying to sell it. It was listed on this site. I know the TM license might not work for you, but I would contact e6 and see what they would charge you to switch the license and hardware platform.

[GarnetGolf]

A projector that is 1600x1200 native (4:3) projects a 1600x1200 image in 4:3.

A projector that is 1920x1200 (16:10) projects a 1600x1200 image in 4:3. It's the same.

16:10 is irrelevant because he has a 4:3 screen. So whether his 4:3 image is coming from a projector that is 4:3 native or 16:10 native doesn't matter. He's still looking at 1600x1200 or 1440x1080 no matter what the original source is.

UXGA projectors effectively don’t exist so that’s not a great example. There are a few SXGA projectors but the vast majority of 4:3 native are XGA. So he may have received the advice to not buy a 4:3 projector because the resolution would be lower than that of a widescreen projector. In general, for someone that may not be that knowledgeable on the subject, it is good advice.

EDIT to say that you obviously are knowledgeable about these things and you advice is surely appreciated. I’m probably coming off as argumentative but it is the internet after all

[3on3putt]

Lol no worries I see where you're coming from. To me, resolution is really the focal point because a 1440x1080 (4:3) resolution is a far better image than a 1280x800 (16:10). You are correct about 1600x1200 natives being limited in selection (which is a shame because I think they would sell like hot cakes in the sim world).

[GarnetGolf]

One thing I’m not sure of is the effect of sensor cropping on total light output. I assume that when cropping, the effective light output is reduced. It’s kind of a moot point as a widescreen projector is the way to go.

[GarnetGolf]

Wow, you guys are great. Thanks!
Screen to back wall is 16.5’
Screen to ball is 9-10’
Screen is 12x9
Ceiling is 10’
Yes, I now believe I was told the wrong information so I’m super happy I double checked before I just purchased something and was unhappy!
To be clear, I am not opposed to having the projector (in front on the ground, or behind on the ceiling) whatever works best.
My budget is $1000 but could stretch to $1500 if it makes a big difference. I’d also be ok with a used unit.

Also I’m considering E6 Connect or TGC. My buddies have E6 but the price is making me consider TGC. Is it possible to purchase used software from someone? Not sure if that’s even possible.

For $1000, I think you’ll need to make some sacrifices in the brightness and use a 1080p short throw projector: the Benq and Optoma are recommended frequently.

[Dtruitt2@yahoo.com]

If I were to go up to $1500 what would you recommend?

[Dax]

I believe the ones I suggested can be found within this price range. The 570, has been replaced with another more expensive option now I believe, but you might be able to locate one.

[Dax]

Also, I think the Panasonic has a better lens shift option than the Eiki (might want to check this), but this may allow you to have greater flexibility on set up.

[3on3putt]

I think the throw distances of those will be a bit too long for his setup, especially with only 10 foot ceilings.

[3on3putt]

Wow, you guys are great. Thanks!
Screen to back wall is 16.5’
Screen to ball is 9-10’
Screen is 12x9
Ceiling is 10’
Yes, I now believe I was told the wrong information so I’m super happy I double checked before I just purchased something and was unhappy!
To be clear, I am not opposed to having the projector (in front on the ground, or behind on the ceiling) whatever works best.
My budget is $1000 but could stretch to $1500 if it makes a big difference. I’d also be ok with a used unit.

Also I’m considering E6 Connect or TGC. My buddies have E6 but the price is making me consider TGC. Is it possible to purchase used software from someone? Not sure if that’s even possible.

9 foot screen with a 10 foot ceiling, so you'll have to consider the vertical offset of any projector you buy. Vertical offset is the distance from the top of the image to the middle of the lens (for a ceiling mount) or the bottom of the image to the middle of the lens (for a floor mount).

For your hitting distance and screen width, your throw ratio will be in the neighborhood of 0.6 to 1.0. With only 10 foot ceilings, you probably don't want anything too close to the screen (golf balls, follow throughs) or too far behind you (shadows). Mounting directly over the ball or pretty close to it is always safe.

What's your lighting situation? Lumens is less important if you have the ability to totally black out the room. Brightness is relative to room light, so the 5,000 lumens you spoke of earlier may not be totally necessary if you have ample control over the lighting.

At a $1,500 budget, you're probably looking at 1920x1080 projectors.

The BenQ I linked to earlier is used quite a bit for golf sims and a number of people here have it. For your screen size it would mount 12 feet away and fill the screen in 4:3 (giving you a 1440x1080 resolution). It only has 3 inches of vertical offset, which would work well for your space. Best part is its under $700 new.

https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-TH671ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

A lot of BenQ projectors have short vertical offsets, so you could browse their selection and see the throw distance for each. This one for example would also work for you =

https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-HT2150ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

Optomas for the most part tend to have longer vertical offsets which would make it a little tougher for you. The one I linked to earlier requires 16 inches for your space, which obviously doesn't work when you only have 12 inches to work with (screen to ceiling).

As far as E6 or TGC ... TGC offers better graphics, more courses, and a bigger online community for less cost. In your case, E6 might make sense if you figure you probably want to play with your friends who have E6. But aside from that, I think you would have a hard time making a case for E6. Just my two cents. You do occasionally see people selling their TGC license that you can buy for slightly less than what you would pay new. So yes it's possible. But those offers don't come by too often.

[Dtruitt2@yahoo.com]

Is this the 570 you are referring to?
Panasonic WUXGA Full HD Projector PT-VZ575N 4800 Lumen 4600

[Dax]

Nope that is a slightly different one. The one I am speaking of is the PT-vz570. If you do a search for that or just Panasonic on this forum you will see a few people that have one in your sim. However as noted in my post and from another this might not fit your room the best. The replacement of this projector is the PT-vz580 which sells for about $1300, but is back ordered on b&h’s site. Again the mount for what you are looking for will be 15’9 from screen to front of projector which does not leave enough room to your back wall.