Yes, thats right. In the 40 to 50 inch range.

(pics attatched of my current setup)

My current situation I will only be sitting apprx 6 and a half feet from the screen. My living situation will probably change in the next year and then I plan on upgrading to a larger screen, so I'd like to get something affordable in the above size range to tide me over.

What I really wanna do is put a screen in front of my old CTR TV pictured below. Just use a simple stand for the screen on my stand pictured below. Then for daytime (it gets bright in my room during the day with the window) and casual viewing still use my old school TV though I rarlely watch TV during the day but on occasion.

Does anyone sell a 16x9 screed in the above size range? Anyone know if it would be pretty easy to just build my own screen and if it would be difficult?

Also in my second picture, you can see how far back I am with the reflection. With that, do any of you know how high the projector would need to be be mounted above me? (The stand seen for the TV that I would put the screen on is 19 inches high)

I would just make your own screen out of a piece of white foam board painted a neutral gray (to cut down brightness and increase contrast).

thanks for the reply, gwlaw99.
anyone else care to answer more of the above question?

Why not just get a 42" LCD for about a thousand bucks? You could always just sell it next year.

And then next year you could buy a better projector. Or do you already have the Optoma?

Why not just get a 42" LCD for about a thousand bucks? You could always just sell it next year.

And then next year you could buy a better projector. Or do you already have the Optoma?

I agree.

No need to even bother with a projector if that's all the screen you want right now.

Agreed on buying/selling LCD (something low cost), then buy the projector when ready - the technology changes yearly and you will be paying too much for not using it now.

why not just buy a 92 inch screen or something like that. its not like you have to use the whole screen

id save the pj for when u can properly set it up. in meantime, use screen $ for cheapo 37/40/42" lcd/even plasma set to tide u over.

No offense but trust me, compared to what you have now, a 42 inch lcd will be worlds better.

Here is a great place to get a good screen at a low price,I also own a Draper v and it has a 5 year warranty.
And I have the same type of setup.


http://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_family_info/cPath/CAT1_CAT20/pfam_id/PFAM1680

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/louthewiz/f4af1e3f.jpg

No offense but trust me, compared to what you have now, a 42 inch lcd will be worlds better.
None taken! The Proscan 27 incher was superb in its day (the 1990's) but is now quite dated LOL.

Anyway, I can get the HD70 for a insane low price. Much cheaper than a quality flat panel in the 37-42 inch range. Thanks for the great responses, but I just cannot pass up the deal on the HD70.
So I'm probably gonna go for the HD70. I re-measured and the distance from the screen. It would be apprx 7 feet and 2 to 4 inches aka the throw distance.
Can anyone tell me how high I would have to mount the projector from this distance? I would like the screen to be anywhere from the lowest 19 inches above the floor to at the very maximum 30 inches above the floor.

I believe the Optoma website has a placement calculator that will indicate the offset. I know Mitsubishi does for its projectors as does BenQ. I seem to recall seeing one on the Optoma site as well when I was doing research for myself.

Mounted at 7 feet 2 inches, you can easily project a 60 inch screen.

Image height is 26 inches
Offset will be about 9 inches
Ceiling mount to PJ center of lens about 6 inches

If your ceiling is 8 feet - (96")

96" - 6" - 9" - 26" = 55" above the floor.

if you want 30" max then you will need a 2 feet extension pole to drop the HD70 down far enough.

OR,

Put it on an 18" tall table.
18" + 3" to center of lens + 9" offset = 30" up the wall.

Thanks for all the great replies!!!
Any more recommendations for a 50-60 inch screen?
I would like to be able to push my standard def 27 inch TV a few inches back and put the screen in front of it. I would like the screen not to be a pulldown, but have a sturdy stand the I can just put on top of the cabinet (pictures at the very top of this thread), so I can easily remove and put it back up.

It's a bit larger than than you want at 80 inches, but the new Sony Dynaclear might fit the bill. It's designed to be moved in and out of position, and to be used in ambient light.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=843953

You could always trim it to size if you want it smaller.

Thanks for all the great replies!!!
Any more recommendations for a 50-60 inch screen?
I would like to be able to push my standard def 27 inch TV a few inches back and put the screen in front of it. I would like the screen not to be a pulldown, but have a sturdy stand the I can just put on top of the cabinet (pictures at the very top of this thread), so I can easily remove and put it back up.
http://www.visualapex.com/accessories/accessory_details.asp?chPartNumber=94128&MFR=Da-Lite&Type=Home_Theater_Screens

reconlabtech!!!!
The Da-Lite 94128 looks like exactly what I need!!!

ANy other alternatives, keep them comming all!!!

reconlabtech!!!!
The Da-Lite 94128 looks like exactly what I need!!!

ANy other alternatives, keep them comming all!!!

I have a Deluxe Insta-Theater screen and it works quite well. The lift system used holds the screen up easily and the Wide Power screen material will really punch up your image.

The problem with this setup is that the image would just be too bright, since the light intended for a larger screen is being focused into a much smaller area. Your black levels would really suffer. You can turn down the brightness, but there is a limit on how dark the blacks can get. It's not like a CRT TV where you can turn down the brightness to get deep blacks. Even at zero brightness, the projector still puts out light, and the brightness setting is just the level at which it un-blocks that light.

Thanks for that headsup SirDrexl.
Interesting. Even though the recommended screen size lists it as low as 40 inches by Optima I would run into this problem? That may keep me from going the projector route for now :(

There are filters you can put on the PJ to cut the brightness without affecting the image quality. They are discussing them in the AX200u owners thread since the AX200u is such a light cannon that it can be too bright for screens twice the size we are talking here.

Not familiar w/ "filters"
Are they affordable and/or easy to use?
I'm a total newbie to the front projector thang, someone please tell me more...

If your going to have to BUY a screen then the great deal comes void on the HD70, just get a 42" plasma, can be bought for well under $1000, even walmart is selling a 50" for $998.....today.

You better have a light controlled room, you cant beat a good plasma or LCD...i say forget it.

Ok, I'm an idiot.
I just realized, all I have to do is re-arrange my room and I will have a 10.5-11 foot throw distance, which means I can view a around an 80 inch image!!!
Someone please recommend a cheap 16x9 90 to 100 inch screen (for future use when I have more room)...preferably with a adjustable bottom stand that can be placed almost against the wall and easily moved.

check craigslist...there is some guy in my area selling a 92" screen that retailed for 1500 for 200. i'm going to build one though....

Ok, I'm an idiot.
I just realized, all I have to do is re-arrange my room and I will have a 10.5-11 foot throw distance, which means I can view a around an 80 inch image!!!
Someone please recommend a cheap 16x9 90 to 100 inch screen (for future use when I have more room)...preferably with a adjustable bottom stand that can be placed almost against the wall and easily moved.

The model I recommended comes in larger sizes...

you can do a search for homemade screens, which work excellent. Many guys buy that hardboard from home depot for 10 bucks, and it can be cut down from its 4 x8 size. Also look into budget blackout material from jo ann fabrics its 5.99 yard so you could get two yards and have about an 80 inch screen, or cut it down for smaller. I've been watching movies at my friends house on some painters cloth that is framed and it looks terrific. you could also buy a piece of plywood and paint it, but I think the other solutions would work better.