OK Give me your thoughs and oppions on the following before I start this is my goal. I have a large 18x20 room with 8 foot celings and two windows in the basement. Before I start my build I wanted to create a small stage in the front and two tierd seating area. My intention is to get the biggest picture possible but I don't know the formulas for calculating this. I was also going to use drapes all around the room and paint the ceiling black. This is a very low budget project. I've already got the audio equipment just need a projector.

Questions:
I want to project a an image greater than 120" u know keeping up with the jones's type thing. So I'm not sure how far I need to mount the projector away from the wall. I would like 240" screen or something a little smaller how do I achive this? Do I have enough room the Length is 18" the Width is 20"

Oppionins on Projectors: These were the one's I was considering because of cost. But if you feel there are better deals out there please let me know I was just going to shop at Costco.

1) Panasonic PTAX200U HD Projector Resolution: 1280 x 720 Contrast: 6,000:1 Brightness: 2,000 lumens

2) Optoma HD7100 Home Theater...Contrast Ratio: 2200:1 Brightness: 1600 ANSI Lumens $899

3) BenQ W500 LCD Home Cinema Projector Contrast Ratio: 5000:1
Brightness: 1100 lumens 720P $899

4) Sony VPL-AW15VPS Resloution 1280x720 Contrast Ration Up to 12,000:1 Aspect Ratio 16:9 40" to 200" Diagnolly $1299

What are your thoughts and oppions is there another projector I didnt mention that I should be considering?

The Panny for a 240" screen. At that size you you can view 2.35:1 films with an 8' ceiling, but you will have to lower the zoom for 16:9 material, because the image will be taller than 8' fee by a good margin; about 22" taller, infact.

You will need 24'6" for 240" diagonal. If you don't have that length either lower your screen size a bit or project backwards onto a mirror on the wall from a few extra feet away, preferrably a first surface mirror (though both will work fine).

Could I get away with a 200" screen? What size room do I need to be able to project a 200" picture? Is the Pany better than the Sony?

Could I get away with a 200" screen? What size room do I need to be able to project a 200" picture? Is the Pany better than the Sony?

About 20'4" from lens to screen.

I don't know if it's better, but the Sony won't be as suited for a screen that size.

Could I get away with a 200" screen? What size room do I need to be able to project a 200" picture? Is the Pany better than the Sony?

Go to projectorcentral.com's calculator...Select the panny and you'll see how far back you need to go...

If you want an image that big do not get the Sony. I have it and love it but 100 inches is probably about it with it, the panasonic has the brightness you need.

You said you have 8 foot ceiling - 96". You said you want a stage up front and two tiered seating in the back. A 200" diagonal screen is 98" tall. NOT POSSIBLE. You should consider a 168" screen, 14 feet diagonal. The AX200u will get the job done, you will have a huge screen, your back row viewers will be able to see the whole screen, and it will be brighter. You can put it on a shelf on the back wall and still get enough lumens to see a good image.

Yeah good point. When looking at a projector and I'm going to try and make the biggest picture possible what should I consider to be the most important factor? Lumes or contrast or some other factor?

You said you have 8 foot ceiling - 96". You said you want a stage up front and two tiered seating in the back. A 200" diagonal screen is 98" tall. NOT POSSIBLE. You should consider a 168" screen, 14 feet diagonal. The AX200u will get the job done, you will have a huge screen, your back row viewers will be able to see the whole screen, and it will be brighter. You can put it on a shelf on the back wall and still get enough lumens to see a good image.