Just got asked to choose a business projector but I'm only familiar w/ the 720p projectors like HD1000u, HD70 and the like. Budget is unknown just yet but figure up to $2500.

Can anyone recommend a business projector w/ a short throw big pic with very moderate light control capability? Is there something inexpensive? Can the HD1500 double as a business projector? We're running a standard desktop to the projector. Nothing fancy at all.

It would be great to take the business home on the weekend for some football!; )

You just want lumens, lumens and more lumens. Oh, and lumens.

You should probably figure out whether you want 16x9 or 4x3 format.

If you go 16x9, your standard desktop and business presentations are going to be presented with black bars on the sides.

If you go 4x3, your widescreen weekend viewing will have the black bars at the top and bottom.

What kind of numbers are we talking about w/ lumens?
2500+ ?
Again, clueless on BUSINESS projectors.

We do have some light control but mostly flourescent lighting will be in play. Format isn't too much of a concern. I'm leaning to 16x9.

How big a screen, how far away do you want the projector, how much lighting will be on, how much natural light might there also be?

Lighting is going to be flourescent only w/ zero natural light.
Throw will be anywhere from 8' to 20'.
Image size desired is anywhere from 4' wide screen and up.

Would the Mitsu HC1500 make a reasonable business projector @ 1600 lumens?
I'm a penny pincher and can't see spending more $$ then one has to even if it's not "mine".

You just want lumens, lumens and more lumens. Oh, and lumens.

he's right, you know.

1600 lumens?
I'm a penny pincher and can't see spending more $$ then one has to even if it's not "mine".

Probably not enough lumens if the flourescent lights are gonna stay on - although I'm not familiar with that particular projector.

In this case, the way to pinch pennies, is overkill. Otherwise you wind up with an unsatisfactory projector, take a loss and have to get something else.

Beware - Lumens are not "lumens"

Manufacturers take a certain amount of license with their ratings, and they should be taken with more than a grain of salt

Better to waste some of "their" money on a brighter projector by getting one that will do the job, than to waster "their" money by going thru PJ's that aren't bright enough.

Went out to dinner - time for some more comments


Lighting is going to be flourescent only w/ zero natural light.


If you mean that the room only has flourescent lights, and they will remain on, there is no incandescent or ability to use dimmers -

And you're going to be doing business presentations from a variety of sources to a variety of viewers - employees, sales force, corporate visitors,etc.

probably going to need around 3000 lumens to 3500 lumens minimum or so to keep it bright enough to overcome the room light - depending on the size of the screen, audience distance and size



Image size desired is anywhere from 4' wide screen and up.

4' wide and up doesn't really help us much - it's what is the largest image size you will be using -

the size of the image will directly effect the amount of lumens needed - so you're saying will need anything from say 1500 lumens up to 10K

at this point - we don't know if you're talking a small room for 20 people, or a larger room for 50 people or what

You don't do light control with the projector, you do that with the room and room lighting -

For years I have used a 2600 lumens NEC MT1060 - doing presentations in hotel meeting rooms. I usually use their wall for a screen. Even something as small as about 5 by 7 will wash out pretty good unless cut the major overheads and use the incandescent lights around the room and dim the room - I dim the room enough that they can take notes, and see someone else in the room - but not really bright enough for them to say - do lengthy reading of technical papers - if I come up on the incandescents a good bit -image quality suffers.

To help you answer this more accurately - we need to know

Size of room - number of viewers and their distance from the screen

max size of screen

if you will have the ability to dim the lights -

And will you have a good bit of flexibility in where and how you can place the projector - meaning will you be able to set the projector where you want on say a conference table - and can move around to where image is correct - or do you have a limited area in which you can place a projector, and need flexiblity within the PJ?


from your earlier post, I assume you have no external light entering and this is some sort of conference or meeting room.

Sharp XR10X or XR10X-L around 600 bucks and when you take it home you will be happy on the weekends....

BenQ SP831 or SP830. Lumen Monsters and 16 x 9.

I'm looking for a 16:9 (1080p?) projector for a conference room as well

ceiling mounted...11' throw...high ambient light

120" wide screen

and i want PIP!

anything out there? preferably under $5000

thanks!

brad