Hi.....can you guys with much more experience than me provide me with some advice with choosing the best PJ.
I have a budget of about $15k and looking for a 1080p that can handle 2:35.
The screen will be about 120" (2:35 of course)
I'm so confused and not sure which model/brand would be the best especially with the 2:35 option.
TY for any help you can provide.

with a 15K budget, you can pretty much buy any projector and screen you like and still have enough money for audio equipment. YOu are going to need, a screen something like a Stewart or Dalite, a projector, maybe a Sony, JVC or Marantz and then if you want to go 2.35 you are going to need a scaler like the Lumagen and of course you will need the lens like the Prismasonic, Panamorph or the ISco III. As many factors will determine what you exactly need, why dont you give us a call

with a 15K budget, you can pretty much buy any projector and screen you like and still have enough money for audio equipment. YOu are going to need, a screen something like a Stewart or Dalite, a projector, maybe a Sony, JVC or Marantz and then if you want to go 2.35 you are going to need a scaler like the Lumagen and of course you will need the lens like the Prismasonic, Panamorph or the ISco III. As many factors will determine what you exactly need, why dont you give us a call

Just curious, but with what current new Sony, JVC, or Marantz would he need an external scaler for?

you are right, some of these projectors dont need a scaler but as a Mr. Vern Dias previously posted in the 2.35 section

The only way to have a completely automated CIH system capable of handling all the available aspect ratios is with an anamorphic lens and scaler or HTPC. Any other solution will be a compromise in one or more areas. Even the recently announced projector models with preset zoom and shift settings to handle CIH don't address the multiple AR's out there.

I would suggest skipping the lens/VP now and just do a zoom method until you get a little more knowledge on the pros and cons of everything.
The RS20 seems to be the AVS favorite right now (even though it hasn't been released yet), so you might want to get in on the preorder list.

Thanks Daniel.
So say I opt for the RS20 route, would it not offer me the option of 2:35 and 16:9 preset aspect ratios?
Would i still need to get a scaler, etc to work with this as well or work properly, not sure of the pro's and cons on going straight RS20.
Sorry if this sounds ignorant, I'm at the learning stage.

If you go with the RS20, you can live without the scaler. It would be a great and it does have anamorphic support. At the time I posted about getting the scaler I didnt realize that the RS10 would also have that support but the comment still stands, with an external scaler, you have the most flexibility when it comes to different aspect ratios

do you have any history with carada screens or their masquerade system?
i saw an article that shows their ability to 'mask' but not sure if its any decent and/or very expensive
thinking of going with a 120" stewart 2:35 and just deal with the bars for 16:9, etc AR but wondering if this is a viable alternative

Piratemonkey, just want to throw this out there since your on a budget. You should consider the SMX AT screen or the CMRA S-I-L-V-E-R DIY screen.

The DIY CMRA is probably the most value you will run across, but there is a catch, the DIY part may be a challenge for most.

www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=859818

My budget is similar to yours and I'm leaning toward the SMX AT screen. Take a look at smxscreen(dot)com

You can also go the DIY route with smx as well, thats how is was started after all.