4:3 Projector - UXGA

[p3eps]

I'm in the process of redesigning my sim room, and going to get a new screen.
Its approximately 3m wide by about 2.7m high - so is much more suited to a 4:3 picture than a 16:9 / 16:10.

Obviously TGC offers 4K images, so the last thing I want is a 1024 x 768 resolution projected image. From what I've read, UXGA is essentially the HD version of 4:3 offering 1600 x 1200 pixels.

The problem is that very few 4:3 projectors offer this as a native resolution. Most are SXGA and are "capable" of taking a UXGA input.

2 questions...

Can anyone recommend a good native UXGA projector?

If I was to buy a WUXGA (1900 x 1200) and set it to 4:3, would it just project 1600 x 1200 pixels? Or would it put black bars down either side with my 1600 wide image in the middle?

Thanks

[goodmatt78]

I use the BenQ ht1085st in 4:3 at 1600X1200 and it works great.

[aja]

Sorry - that projector is 1920 x 1080 native - so it is not projecting a 1600 x 1200 image. The fact that your software is 'telling' it to project that image does not translate into it being capable of doing so.

I can tell my 1024 x 768 projector to project an HD image of 1920 x 1080 and it will try, but believe me it will never be able to utilize more than it's native 1024 x 780 pixels.

[aja]

I'm in the process of redesigning my sim room, and going to get a new screen.
Its approximately 3m wide by about 2.7m high - so is much more suited to a 4:3 picture than a 16:9 / 16:10.

Obviously TGC offers 4K images, so the last thing I want is a 1024 x 768 resolution projected image. From what I've read, UXGA is essentially the HD version of 4:3 offering 1600 x 1200 pixels.

The problem is that very few 4:3 projectors offer this as a native resolution. Most are SXGA and are "capable" of taking a UXGA input.

2 questions...

Can anyone recommend a good native UXGA projector?

If I was to buy a WUXGA (1900 x 1200) and set it to 4:3, would it just project 1600 x 1200 pixels? Or would it put black bars down either side with my 1600 wide image in the middle?

Thanks

Black bars down the side. You overcome this simply by moving the projector further away - increasing the throw distance if all else is equal.

Actually, the 'last thing that you want' isn't that terrible an image at all. I have a 4:3 screen and a 1024 x 768 projector and have been using it for almost 2 years. Not HD, but the trick is, there aren't any other projectors available that will give me the brightness, that are short throw and are reasonably priced. That's also why you are here asking for recommendations. It's tough to find such a beast.

There are no native UXGA projectors according to projectorcentral.

I just did a search on WUXGA projectors and the ones that might work were priced starting from $3,500 and easily went to over $6,000.

Read up on projectors. 4K is not affordable or reasonable at this stage. Nor are WUXGA projectors, for me anyways.

What kind of a projector were you using before?

[p3eps]

Thanks for the replies...

I've found a few native 1600 X 1200 projectors, however they're all £3000+. A tad over what I want to spend.
I thought there must be plenty of people on here using 4:3 screens, so I was wondering what the general opinion was.

My current projector is an Optoma GT760. I'm changing from an archery net screen to the Par2Pro HQ screen, so I thought I might as well try and get a HQ image to match.

I've found a couple of Epson projectors that are native WUXGA that cost about £650. I'd just have to pull it further back so that the black bands are past the edges of the screen.

[goodmatt78]

I am confused. I mentioned that a $900 projector does exactly what you want. 4:3 with no black bars @ 1600X1200. I placed mine about 12 ft back and sized my screen for a 4:3 image (~11.5ft wide)...not 16:9.

I have my GTX980 set to output in 1600X1200 (which properly scales the image), then in TGC I have it also set to the same in the ST interface. This photo is of e6 and before I got TGC...but it looks the same.

No black bars....if I switch the projector to 16:9, it throws the image onto both side walls. I did NOT want black bars.

[p3eps]

See aja's post below your original one.
The $900 projector isn't going to do what I want.
Although your projector is set to 1600 X 1200, it's not physically possible as it doesn't have that many pixels. The software in the projector basically downscales your image to match your projector.
Using a WUXGA would have the right amount of pixels - infact too many. This is why it would give black borders down the edges - but I'd still get 1600 X 1200 actual pixels of the image.

If I'm going to go to the expense of upgrading my current projector, I'd rather do it properly and get the correct resolution. If I was going to use the software downscaling like you do, then I'd be as well keeping my current one.

[ncube]

See aja's post below your original one.
The $900 projector isn't going to do what I want.
Although your projector is set to 1600 X 1200, it's not physically possible as it doesn't have that many pixels. The software in the projector basically downscales your image to match your projector.
Using a WUXGA would have the right amount of pixels - infact too many. This is why it would give black borders down the edges - but I'd still get 1600 X 1200 actual pixels of the image.

If I'm going to go to the expense of upgrading my current projector, I'd rather do it properly and get the correct resolution. If I was going to use the software downscaling like you do, then I'd be as well keeping my current one.

p3eps,

I am a little confused based on this post and the one you made as part of your V2 simulator build out. Here you seem to be agreeing with aja's statement that a full HD projector (1920x1080) would down scale an image input of 1600x1200 to the max pixels available based on the projector's native resolution. Yet, in the later post referenced, you stated that you're projecting an image of 1600x1200 with your BenQ HT682ST, which based on my research (this model is not listed on projector central) has a native resolution of 1920x1080. Is the image you're now projecting not limited by the native resolution of your new BenQ, such that it would not be possible to project an image greater that 1080 on the vertical lines? I understand that the BenQ might have a maximum resolution of something greater or equal to 1600x1200, but doesn't that just mean the projector is capable of down scaling an image with that high of a resolution to something it is capable of projecting based on it's native resolution?

In reading other posts by aja, who seems to be the expert on this issues, you're likely projecting something close to 1440x1080, which, from what you've posted, appears to be a very good image. Thoughts?

Also, as mentioned above, I cannot find your particular model on projector central. Given the zoom feature you referenced, I'm very interested in that projector, but have no way of knowing how far back I'd need to place it to get an image size of 142"x107". How far away is yours from the screen and what's your screen size? Any help here is much appreciated.

I am in the process of trying to select a projector for my build that's currently underway. I want to make sure there is value in purchasing an HD projector where I plan to project a 4:3 image. I also want to make sure I buy a projector with the best possible image.

[p3eps]

Correct. The simple fact was that I couldn't find a 1600 x 1200 native projector that had high brightness and was a reasonably price. Most 1600 x 1200 projectors are designed for board room presentations, and have very low lumens. Also, I couldn't find one that was short throw - which is important for my small room.

I'm not sure how the projector downscales? Whether it downscales the entire thing, or whether I get a genuine 1600 across and a downscaled vertical picture as I only have 1080 pixels, but need 1200?
My Benq is still projecting a lot more pixels than my 720p Optoma was, and looks much better. Perhaps that's down to the massively increased quality of my screen... and the fact that it actually fits better because it's 4:3

[V8burble]

Oh, a resurrected thread that might help me Can I just check a couple of things with you experts out there that understand all this?

I have a 4:3 ratio hitting screen and a widescreen TV (1080p) and need to buy a projector. The TV is the main interface for setting up/aiming so I do want a good resolution there and I have an archery baffle impact screen so brightness is important for the projector, but resolution not critical so I'm not expecting to spend more than £450.

1) If I go for a 4:3 native projector(1024 x 768 XGA) to match my impact screen and mirror the image in windows, am I correct that the TV resolution also reduces to 1024x768? (which I think will make the software experience poor).
2) If I do what goodmatt78 has suggested - Use a 1080p projector but set it up to display in 4:3 (1600x1200) then it is the same as above, both TV and projector display 4:3 but at least the resolution is a little higher on TV (and probably projector if scaling is good)?

3) I think my preferred option - If I leave the graphics card settings output to 1080p, then the projector would simply squash/scale the image to 4:3 (so I would end up with everything looking a little thin/tall, but at least not lose any projected image outside the edges of the screen?

I'm sorry these may be basic questions, but I just want to make sure I'm not making a silly mistake.
Thanks.

[p3eps]

I can only speak from the experience I have (which is not a lot!).

My monitor is 16:9, my projection screen is 4:3, and my projector is 16:9.
I have the resolution on both my monitor and projector set to 1600 x 1200, and the projector forced to be 4:3.
My monitor looks like it's a bit less sharp than it should be (although not much)... but it's the easiest way of getting the same display on both. I'm more worried about the image looking good on the projector to be honest. The monitor is just for aiming and choosing clubs etc. Sometimes its easier to read the green on the monitor too.

When I turn my projector on with nothing attached, it starts up with the BENQ logo splash screen - which ends up off the sides of my screen. Once it realises it's set to 4:3, it blacks out the extra bits so that only my screen is lit (if that makes sense?!).

[V8burble]

yes, that makes sense. The key thing is, it sounds like a 16:9 projector will be the best way forward and I can then decide what I prefer in terms of resolution on monitor versus picture on screen. Thanks!