Help with Projector

[Joedirt]

Need some help here this may be something I overlooked, I got the Optoma 412ST and I got one of those cases for the floor but it doesn't fit right on the picture and from what I am seeing it has to be well below the screen, and as far as mounting to the ceiling that is an issue too because it is supposed to be 16" above the screen but my enclosure is in the way. Is this projector worthless for what I am trying to do? I am starting to think so and if that is the case can someone recommend another projector that I can switch out with this one in a similar price point.
Thanks,
Joe

[GarnetGolf]

The 412ST has quite a bit of "offset" which is shown as the 16in in the attached image. This lens offset is not really standardized so it can be difficult to compare. You can reduce/increase offset changing the vertical angle of the projector or aiming it. You then can square the image with vertical keystone adjust. Keep in mind digital keystone reduces your effective resolution as it is cropping the image. You may or may not notice the image quality difference. The BenQ TH671ST may work better as it has less offset but it has a slightly longer throw.

Aside from that, I would definitely want to ceiling mount the projector. A setup as nice as that would be much better with the projector off the floor.

[Joedirt]

Looking at the Benq it is 11’ away and 2” above my enclosure height, would me hitting between 8-10 feet cause there to be shadows on the screen at times? That is something else I want to avoid.
thanks,
joe

[3on3putt]

What's your ceiling height?

[Joedirt]

11’ roughly

[3on3putt]

Joedirt --- what are the screen dimensions and how high is the enclosure?

[Joedirt]

See screenshot should have everything you need, appreciate the help.
joe

[3on3putt]

Have you actually tried mounting that Optoma on the ceiling yet? Or were you just speculating that the enclosure would get in the way? I think it should be just fine.

Your ceiling height is 132 inches. Screen and image height is 98. Vertical offset is 16 inches.

So that means the Optoma lens would need to be 9'6'' high (114 inches) in order to drop the top edge of the image down to the screen height.

The frame is 107 high. The Optoma would only be 7 inches above that. And at more than 7 feet back, I wouldn't think the enclosure roof would be in the way. (Is the enclosure overhang 5 feet?)

Now, obviously if you've already tried it and the overhang does indeed interfere than I am dead wrong. But just running the numbers in my head I would think it would work just fine.

[Joedirt]

I tried it by holding it on a ladder but I will try again tonight, what distance should I be away from the screen roughly 7.5 feet and based off what you are saying will it fill the full screen? The enclosure is 5’ yes.
thanks,
joe

[3on3putt]

From 7'4'' away it will cast an image 131 inches wide by 98 inches tall. According to the specs listed in that screenshot you posted, that would fill the screen. (The screenshot shows the "viewable area" of the screen being 131x98).

As I look at it closer, it looks like there is a border of a few inches on bottom and a few inches on top of your screen. According to the specs listed, that border is probably about 4 inches. So starting from the floor, you have 4 inches of border and then 98 inches of "viewable screen." So the top of the "viewable area" would be 102 inches from the floor.

So at 16 inches of vertical offset, that now puts the middle of the projector lens 118 inches high. The enclosure roof is 107 high, so we have 11 inches between the enclosure overhang and the projector.

At 7.5 feet away, it's only 2.5 feet back from the enclosure. So 2.5 feet back and 11 inches above ...... it's hard to say if it would interfere. But if you said you already tried and it did indeed get in the way than I'll certainly take your word for it.

A previous poster mentioned the BenQ671ST. That would sit almost 11 feet away. If you're hitting from 10 feet away I think you would be safe from any shadows. There are a number of people here who use the BenQ. Might be worth reaching out to them to see what their hitting distance / mounting height and distance is.

That 5 foot overhang definitely complicates things a bit. How easy would it be to shorten it?

[GarnetGolf]

To continue the good advice from 3on3putt , if you mount on the ceiling and the enclosure interferes slightly, you can always mount the projector a bit lower and angle it upwards. This would require a minimal amount of vertical keystone correction.

[3on3putt]

Yup, good advice. You want to avoid using too much keystone but you can get away with a little bit while not really noticing any loss of image quality. So if the enclosure overhang is only just barely interfering, you can mount it slightly lower, tilt upward and keystone correct from there.

Another thing you could do is mount it further back and then zoom out. Mounting it further back will cut off a little bit of image on all sides. But then if you zoom out you can shrink the image to fit inside the screen. (And mounting it further back should get it under the enclosure overhang).

[Joedirt]

Is the keystone a setting on the projector I have and i don't think the projector has zoom but i could be wrong. I will admit i am new to this projector thing.
Thanks,
Joe

[3on3putt]

It has both vertical keystone and digital zoom. Using too much of either one can degrade the image quality, but using a little bit is okay. How close does the image come to sneaking under that front enclosure bar? Would you have to mount it a lot lower or a lot further back? Or is it pretty close already?

[Sixmudd]

Is the keystone a setting on the projector I have and i don't think the projector has zoom but i could be wrong. I will admit i am new to this projector thing.
Thanks,
Joe

I have the exact same projector, and keystone and zoom are setting in the menu options

[Joedirt]

It will work I can make it work. The BenQ TH671ST is a lot cheaper is there any real benefit to the Optoma one, checking the throw and where i would be hitting i believe the Ben would work as well. Just going to be pissed if I spent the extra money on the Optoma and the Ben would have worked just fine. Thanks for all the help guys.
Joe

[GarnetGolf]

It will work I can make it work. The BenQ TH671ST is a lot cheaper is there any real benefit to the Optoma one, checking the throw and where i would be hitting i believe the Ben would work as well. Just going to be pissed if I spent the extra money on the Optoma and the Ben would have worked just fine. Thanks for all the help guys.
Joe

The BenQ would likely work a bit better than the Optoma. Image quality and brightness is comparable if I'm not mistaken. It has less vertical offset and is unlikely to interfere with the enclosure. You can do the math/geometry to check.