Widescreen or projector?

[Action]

Hi

I am about to purchase either of the above. My budget is less than $3000.
I mainly watch DVD's (40% of which are 4:3). FTA tv or digital tv for that matter is not a prioritey (as I don't won't be watching either on what ever unit i purchase)
Any feedback (models where to purchase etc.) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[Michael K]

Why not get both in 1? Get a widescreen projector if you want a cinema
experience for your DVD's.

IMO get a Sanyo Z2 or a Panasonic AE500 (both LCD). Both are around the 3K
mark with the Sanyo being a little more expensive. Benq also have 2 good
projectors out at the moment being the 6100 and 6200 however these are
native 4:3 pj's but can display 16:9 also.

If your prepared to wait, get the Infocus 4805 (16:9 DLP) which will be
released in the coming months. This also sounds like another good option.


"Action" <Action.16w6ub@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Action.16w6ub@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Hi
>
> I am about to purchase either of the above. My budget is less than
> $3000.
> I mainly watch DVD's (40% of which are 4:3). FTA tv or digital tv for
> that matter is not a prioritey (as I don't won't be watching either on
> what ever unit i purchase)
> Any feedback (models where to purchase etc.) would be greatly
> appreciated.
> Thanks.
>
>
> --
> Action
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Action's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=13083
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=49992
>

[Action]

Thanks for the advice Michael.
Having further considered my options (I don't think will be watching any TV, just DVD's), I am leaning to a projector which is native 4:3 as 60% of my DVD's are 4:3 (music and docos), however i will be watching a few 16:9 format.
How well do the native 4:3 projectors display 16:9?
Thanks

[Keith]

They display 16:9 very well - mine does anyway. You will have black bars
above and below the picture of course. If these offend you then it is easy
to make up some blinds to hide them.

I went for a 4:3 projector (BenQ 6100) because the 16:9 DLP ones are far
more expensive. Like you I have quite a few 4:3 DVDs and they are just
superb on the BenQ.

Another point that doesn't get mentioned much is that not many DVD movies
are in 16:9 anyway, they are generally a wider format than that so on a 16:9
setup you'd still get black bars.

Keith

"Action" <Action.16yyub@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Action.16yyub@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Thanks for the advice Michael.
> Having further considered my options (I don't think will be watching
> any TV, just DVD's), I am leaning to a projector which is native 4:3 as
> 60% of my DVD's are 4:3 (music and docos), however i will be watching a
> few 16:9 format.
> How well do the native 4:3 projectors display 16:9?
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> Action
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Action's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=13083
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=49992
>

[Paul Walker]

> Another point that doesn't get mentioned much is that not many DVD movies
> are in 16:9 anyway, they are generally a wider format than that so on a
16:9
> setup you'd still get black bars.

This wider format is the 2.35:1 ratio and seems to be increasing popular in
cinemas these days. Yes its true that you get (small) black bars (at the top
and bottom) even on a 16:9 projector. However, it is also true that watching
these format movies on a 4:3 TV or Projector means that you lose about 40%
of your screen space to black bars!

I prefer 16:9 because it is in the middle between 4:3 and 2.35:1 and
displays 16:9 format DVDs in full screen.

Paul

[Action]

Thanks guys.
In the case of the 16:9 projectors, how well do they display 4:3?
Is there a good < $2000 16:9 projector, or would I be wasting my time?
Just one more thing, is there some way of calculating the ideal screen size, as i will be setting up in quite a small room ie. distance from seating to screen will be about 2.5 meters?
You help is appreciated.

[Keith]

You can have a 4:3 screen and use blinds to hide the black bars on 16:9,
2.35:1 or any other format. Works for me anyway.

Keith

"Paul Walker" <c_o_m_p_h_e_l_p@i-i-n-e-t.net.au> wrote in message
news:40b7e84d$0$8119$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> > Another point that doesn't get mentioned much is that not many DVD
movies
> > are in 16:9 anyway, they are generally a wider format than that so on a
> 16:9
> > setup you'd still get black bars.
>
> This wider format is the 2.35:1 ratio and seems to be increasing popular
in
> cinemas these days. Yes its true that you get (small) black bars (at the
top
> and bottom) even on a 16:9 projector. However, it is also true that
watching
> these format movies on a 4:3 TV or Projector means that you lose about 40%
> of your screen space to black bars!
>
> I prefer 16:9 because it is in the middle between 4:3 and 2.35:1 and
> displays 16:9 format DVDs in full screen.
>
> Paul
>
>

[Keith]

I don't think there is a good 16:9 projector for <$2000. With LCD the
Panasonic AE500 is nice but costs around $2,900, personally I didn't like
any LCD projector cheaper than this when I looked. With DLP the projectors
under $2,000 are the BenQ 6100 (about $1,600) and the Infocus X1 (around
$1,900) which are both 4:3. Try to have a look at one of these or the
Infocus 4800 which is basically the same as the X1. There is a new
(widescreen) Infocus 4805 due out sometime but street prices here remain
unknown. Have a look at the Panasonic too and compare it to other LCDs.

For me a screen width of half the viewing distance works well but you could
go wider. You'll need to consider how big a picture the projector can throw
given how far it is from the screen. There is a calculator on
www.projectorcentral.com

Have a look at www.avsforum.com for ideas too, it's an excellent site.

Keith

"Action" <Action.1702nm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Action.1702nm@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Thanks guys.
> In the case of the 16:9 projectors, how well do they display 4:3?
> Is there a good < $2000 16:9 projector, or would I be wasting my time?
> Just one more thing, is there some way of calculating the ideal screen
> size, as i will be setting up in quite a small room ie. distance from
> seating to screen will be about 2.5 meters?
> You help is appreciated.
>
>
> --
> Action
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Action's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=13083
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=49992
>

[Arcadia]

for less than $2000 lcd you cant go wrong with the hitachi pj-tx10. Its widescreen and has lens shift and a massive zoom. Looks great.

[Stooble]

Consider this:

"Most people will install the widest possible screen they can fit into the space available, regardless of its format. Screen width is almost always the limiting factor. For example, in my theater space I had two choices. I could install a 16:9 screen that was 8 feet wide, or a 4:3 screen that was 8 feet wide. If I installed a 16:9 screen it would be 8 feet wide and 4.5 feet high. But if I installed a 4:3 screen, it would be 8 feet wide and 6 feet high. The 8-foot width is limited by the room; the screen height is my option.

Now between these two options, how big is my 4:3 image? On the 4:3 screen it is 8 x 6 = 48 square feet. On the 16:9 screen, it would have been 6 x 4.5 = 27 square feet. That's almost half the size! And that's the difference between being at the Eagles concert and seeing it on television.

Meanwhile—and here is a key point—my 16:9 image size is the same either way— 8 x 4.5 = 36 square feet. So the only variable is how I want to display 4:3. Do you want to maximize the use of your wall space? The 4:3 screen gives you more viewing area since it uses more vertical space on the wall.

I would never give up seeing the great classic films or music videos in the largest format I can manage. Especially if it was for a reason as nonsensical (to me) as making sure that all of my 4:3 material was displayed in a "smaller" format than a widescreen movie. So the bottom line is this: I personally don't believe that a 4:3 image should be smaller than a 16:9—I'm a Big Picture guy and I want them both as big as I can fit on the wall. In my case, that means they are both eight feet wide."
http://www.projectorcentral.com/formats.htm

And since

"...60% of my DVD's are 4:3 (music and docos), however i will be watching a few 16:9 format."

You might consider this

"At first the idea of choosing a 4:3 projector with a 4:3 screen sounds a bit old-fashion. After all, 16:9 is the future, right? Why would anyone go this route? Well, there are plenty of reasons. If you want to view material such as classic films, or music videos, or IMAX specials in very large dramatic format, the 4:3 set-up lets you do this in a way a 16:9 system does not."
http://www.projectorcentral.com/formats.htm


And, "... How well do the native 4:3 projectors display 16:9?
"

"Time to think out of the box here for a moment. Personally, I prefer a big 4:3 screen. Here's why. I want to watch widescreen movies in their widescreen glory, no doubt about it. So I have a 4:3 screen that is wide enough to give me the 16:9 display I want, which in my theater is 8 feet wide...

Now let's say I change my viewing material. I want to watch Casablanca. But more than that I want to see it like it was originally shown in commercial movie theaters in 1942, which was in large screen 4:3 format. Frankly, there is nothing more irritating to me than having to shrink down a 4:3 format film just so it fits in the middle of a 16:9 screen. Even worse is using any of the distorting and butchering modes. But I don't have those problems. Instead, I've got a great big 4:3 screen hidden behind the masks. I press a button, open the masks and view Casablanca in its historical 4:3 theatrical presentation."
http://www.projectorcentral.com/formats.htm

I think it goes like this, 16:9 on a 4:3 native is easy, looks good and can be big. 4:3 on a 16:9 will be smaller or distorted etc. On a flat white wall with no screen borders you do not see the black bars in 16:9 mode and dont need masking etc.

[Action]

Thank you Stooble, you are the voice of reason.......this whole projection thing has been very confusing, so many different opinions and confusing explanations. You have made some very valid points.
If I may ask for one more piece of advice, i'm considering the Infocus X1 or the Benq6100......do you have an opinion on these units or do you suggest another. (i'm leaning to the X1 as it seems to be a very popular choice amoung the avsforum, i think it easily tops there pole for 'who owns which projector), plus i have a limited budget.
BTW, I have quite a small room (throw distance would be 3.5m)
Thanks again.

[Arcadia]

the 6100 is heaps better than the much older x1. since the x1 has been around a lot longer of course there are more peoples opinions of the x1 around, but the 6100 is cheaper and better.

[Stooble]

...If I may ask for one more piece of advice, i'm considering the Infocus X1 or the Benq6100......do you have an opinion on these units or do you suggest another. ...Thanks again.


I have the BenQ 6100. It has done all I have asked of it and the picture is fine.
My setup http://forums.eyo.com.au/showpost.php?p=498546&postcount=2

Cant comment on the X1

[Nick]

A small piece of advice, if considering a DLP projector, make sure you
actually sit an watch a movie being projected by it for at least 10-15
minutes. Many people don't just see the rainbow effect but are also
physically affected but the projection method. Essentially a DLP is a high
frequency strobing light and if you are sensitive to this kind of effect, it
can make you nauseaus and cause headaches. I was set on a DLP until I took
my wife to look at one and with 15 minutes she was feeling very green
indeed. ( a know pre-existing medical condition resulting from a rear end
car accident). So in short, don't just buy on spec and don't just watch for
a couple of minutes either.

Regards,
Nick.

"Action" <Action.1729to@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Action.1729to@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Thank you Stooble, you are the voice of reason.......this whole
> projection thing has been very confusing, so many different opinions
> and confusing explanations. You have made some very valid points.
> If I may ask for one more piece of advice, i'm considering the Infocus
> X1 or the Benq6100......do you have an opinion on these units or do you
> suggest another. (i'm leaning to the X1 as it seems to be a very
> popular choice amoung the avsforum, i think it easily tops there pole
> for 'who owns which projector), plus i have a limited budget.
> BTW, I have quite a small room (throw distance would be 3.5m)
> Thanks again.
>
>
> --
> Action
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Action's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=13083
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=49992
>


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