I am planning on purchasing a projector unit for my simpit PLUS for use in my business. (It is the business use that justifies the simpit use.) The unit I have chosen below FOR SURE will meet my needs for Powerpoint type presentations of ceramic art images. So the business use is taken care of.
The other situation is that the projector will spend time "stored" in my pit for use as the front captain's side windscreen view ;). I have a specific size for the projection that I need to to accomplish and a specific throw distance that I cannot exceed. That was a prime criteria for the selection of this particular unit.
The issue in the pit is the "short throw" I have available in my "compact" pit layout. I will have between 4 feet 6 inches and a maximum of 5 feet for the throw. From the image size calculators I have found for this unit, it will give me a 32" wide image at 4'6" with no zoom and a 38" wide image with 1.2 zoom. This 38" wide format is the perfect size for what I need. 32" is too narrow. I am not yet sure if I can "squeeze out" the 5' distance... the 4'6" is for sure.
The unit I am looking at is the Epson Powerlite 77C. 1024 x 768 XGA native, 2200 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 3LCD $630 delivered, new.
Any thoughts? What is the exact impact of using the zoom function?
The one alternate choice I have found to deal with the short throw is the Sanyo PLC-XW55. It gives a 34" wide image at the 4'6" throw. It has NO zoom function though.
Again.....your thoughts?
best,
........................john
PS: Budgetary issues do not allow the use of the really short throw [projectors on the market that are in the $2500 range. We're talking well under $1000.