I'm looking for recommendations for a projector for low ceilings. I have about 6'7" clearance thanks to a stepped down family room above and a dropped ceiling in the space I'm going to use it. I'm trying to be as economical as possible, so I would like to keep it under a grand but closer to $700 would be ideal. By the way, I'm looking to project a 100" diagonal and need to ceiling mount it.

I was originally looking at the Mitsubishi HC1600 based on good reviews but then I realized that would leave my screen about 10" off of the floor. I'd like it be a little higher. Then I was looking at the Panasonic AX200U that has lense shift, but that it at the high end of my budget.

A couple of others that I have been considering are:

Optoma HD65
Epson Home 720

Do you guys have any recommendations based on my above selections, or is there a great projector out there I am completely missing out on.

On a side note, I am only going to use the projector for movies or when I have people over to watch sports or something. I have an LCD that will be behind the screen that will be used for everyday TV watching. I'm having a hard time finding a receiver in my budget with two HDMI outputs (or even one HDMI and one DVI). So my question is, will I see significant video loss if I hook up the projector using component vs HDMI or DVI? I will be using a PS3 for Bluray if that matters. I know everything I'm looking at is 720 but I just can't afford 1080p right now.

If you think waiting for a year or so and 1080 projectors will come down to my price range, I could do that as well.

Thanks for your input.

Scott

you'll get a similar offset with the HD65. You are going to have to try and find a bargain (maybe refurb) on a 720P LCD to hit your price point and have lense shift to put picture flush w/ ceiling

Get the Panny Ax200u or the Epson 720. Don't wait a year for 100" home theater goodness.

Get the Panny Ax200u or the Epson 720. Don't wait a year for 100" home theater goodness.

I second this^^^. If you can gather a few hundred dollars more ($1350 total), you can get an Epson Home Cinema 1080 projector. You would have to act this weekend though.

Ok I'm going to shoot for the AX200U or the Epson 720 (wife just won't let me swing the 1300 bucks for the 1080, dysfucntion although I would love to).

Did anyone have any feedback about the HDMI vs Component?

You may want LCD, but some DLPs could work. I think that my Marantz vp8600 would work (still refurbs at $800). What is your throw distance and exactly where woudl teh center of your lens fall relative to the top of the screen? I think I have mine set about 20% screen height or so below the top of the screen.

Component quaility shoule be fine, but make sure that either:

1. your sources are at the resolution you want to pass to the pj, or
2. your receiver can upscale at least to 720p over component


EDIT: Here are the exact #'s top of screen 78" off floor, Bottom of screen 24" off floor, Screen 54" tall, Lens 64.5" off floor -so 13.5" below the to of the screen (25% of screen hight). This is pretty close to max lens shift.