I am trying to put together a very short throw rear projector system for an arcade cocktail cabinet style project. The constraints of the cabinet are quite severe, the projector and throw distance must total to around four feet or less, and as little a projection angle as possible, preferably dead-on. Overall, the other main project constraint is that the lens and projector should cost less than $3000 in total.

I checked out NEC's WT610, it has an awesome wide angle projection, 40" image at a 2.5" throw. Unfortunately, the projector has a 55 degree projection angle, so even at 2.5", it's 14" from one end of the canvas. I've since been looking at other projectors, but without much success, can anyone recommend any other extremely short throw projectors?

I've also tried looking for a more traditional short throw projector, that is a projector with a throw ~3'. To this, it was my intention to add a high end wide angle lens. I've seen the FUJINON COPY LENS, 240MM FL over at surplusshed referenced at the lumenlab forums, but this seems to be more of a camera lens (it's 3.22" wide). I've also seen a "Wide Angle 8mm Projector Lens f/1.6" over at Anchor Optics recommended elsewhere. Does anyone have any advice regarding these lens or can recommend another lens that provides extreme short throw?

I am trying to put together a very short throw rear projector system ...[/b]

I think you want the front projector part of this forum. Rear-projection TVs project the image onto the back of their screen.

I wrote rear projector because that would be preferred, but a front projector would work too. That part is not so critical.

I wrote rear projector because that would be preferred, but a front projector would work too. That part is not so critical.You need to be in the front projection forums even if you put the projector on the back side of the screen. :)

There is a misunderstanding. A rear projection unit is perfectly suitable. If it makes the description less ambigous, please think of the application as a rear projection television.

I am trying to put together a very short throw rear projector system... Does anyone have any advice regarding these lens or can recommend another lens that provides extreme short throw?

I wrote rear projector because that would be preferred, but a front projector would work too. That part is not so critical.

There is a misunderstanding. A rear projection unit is perfectly suitable. If it makes the description less ambigous, please think of the application as a rear projection television.


Wow, you're right niedzielski, there does seem to be quite a misunderstanding. You say, "I wrote rear projector because that would be preferred" and yet everything that you talked about in your original post had to do with front projector systems and seems to have nothing to do with rear projection units (as defined for the purposes of this forum). The description of what you wanted in a "rear projection" system wasn't "ambiguous", it was completely inapplicable to discussion of rear projection systems. No wonder we're so confused, eh? Are you sure that you understand that rear projection units are stand-alone "TV's" with the entire unit in one box? Their "throw" is fixed by the size of the TV, the lenses come inside the TV unit and are not user selectable/changeable, and there is no separate "canvas" since the screen is an integral part of the unit. Right? Most people would consider the difference between front and rear projectors "critical" since they are so intrinsically different.

If you decide that you do indeed want help selecting a rear projection display, then let us know what screen size would suit you, the cabinet depth you need, the display technology (DLP, LCoS, LCD) you prefer, viewing angles you require, etc., etc.- you know, things that we can help you with on a rear projection forum. If you decide that you really did want help with front projectors (even if you're putting the "front" projector behind the screen) with separate projectors/viewing screens, "throws", and lenses (as others have suggested) then the front projector forum for projectors under $3000 can be found here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68).

Good luck in your search for information.

kelpie

kelpie,

Thank you for the descriptive response, I was mistaken.

kelpie,

Thank you for the descriptive response, I was mistaken.

No problem. It sounds like an interesting project. I hope that the front projector gurus can help over on that forum.