Need advice for d.i.y. screen

[HDJK]

If Dezi or anybody with experience could help me out with the following:

I'm about to build my own screen (once I'm done I'll get a Sanyo PLV Z2000) and I'm still undecided on two things.

- Constant height or not

I don't have the money to get a projector that can support an anamorphic lens right now, so I'd have to manually zoom the picture in and out. Since I've never had a projector: how much trouble is it to zoom the picture and adjust focus?

By going CH I could make the screen wider (height is an issue at my place), so that would be a plus. And masking is easier on the sides than on the top and bottom (I was thinking of a dark curtain for masking).

- 21:9 (2.33:1), 2.35:1, 2.40:1

If you buy a screen, some offer masking for 4:3, 16:9 and 21:9 for scope. For the sake of convenience I'll use the metric system for my calculation; so if I make a screen that is 1 meter in height, what would be the best width? 21:9 would suggest 2 meters and 33 cm, 2.35 obviously would mean 2 meter and 35 cm and last but not least there is the option for 2 meters and 40 cm.

What is the usual approach for this? 3cm to each side is quite noticable with a white screen. So should I go for the golden middle and just crop off the sides when watching 2.40:1? Should I go for the widest and crop off the top and bottom when watching 2.35:1?
Now of course I can just use the zoom for each change and use the curtains to mask the couple of centimeters (never mind that this would be sort of annoying), but what if you use an anamorphic lens? I kind of want to build the screen for many years to come, and I might upgrade the projector some day...

Any help on this matter is greatly appreciated

[yellowblanket]

if you're like anomorphic lens, you can't go wrong with the optoma HD80, it's have the len built inside and it's 1080p. It's the same price for what you would pay for the Sanyo PLV Z2000. Built in lens are alot better.
I think anormorphic is awesome, i wish i could afford the HD80.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by yellowblanket

if you're like anomorphic lens, you can't go wrong with the optoma HD80, it's have the len built inside and it's 1080p. It's the same price for what you would pay for the Sanyo PLV Z2000. Built in lens are alot better.
I think anormorphic is awesome, i wish i could afford the HD80.

Thanks for the tip, but according to this review here...

The HD80 is configured with the necessary scaling to accommodate an anamorphic lens for a 2.35 constant image height set up. Optoma offers as an optional accessory a completely independent anamorphic lens with automated track to deploy or retract it depending on when it is needed. This option is priced at an additional $3,999, so it takes the entire projection system into an entirely different price class.

... this is not an option for me.

[ryoohki]

IMHO you should do a 1.77:1 screen, with Black mask on top and bottom for 2.35:1 movies.... Either motorised or by hand (strip)

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

IMHO you should do a 1.77:1 screen, with Black mask on top and bottom for 2.35:1 movies.... Either motorised or by hand (strip)

Projectorwise that would be the easiest solution. But due to height limitations I'd be limited to 2 meters width. With CH I could go 2.30 meters. Plus the masking is much easier on the sides.

So how about the manual adjustment for different aspect ratios on the PJ? Any comment?

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by HDJK

Projectorwise that would be the easiest solution. But due to height limitations I'd be limited to 2 meters width. With CH I could go 2.30 meters. Plus the masking is much easier on the sides.

So how about the manual adjustment for different aspect ratios on the PJ? Any comment?

If you do that i watch a movie with sub in the bottom, you're screwed because i assume you'll Overzoom to get the Black bar projected on nothing and with 1.85:1 material you'll have to Unzoom manually each time. Without a proper Anamorphic Lense and options inside the projector it's a time consuming process... That's why i resorted to a 1.77:1 screen. Cost less and it's less hassle (i have a Z4 from Sanyo)

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

If you do that i watch a movie with sub in the bottom, you're screwed because i assume you'll Overzoom to get the Black bar projected on nothing and with 1.85:1 material you'll have to Unzoom manually each time. Without a proper Anamorphic Lense and options inside the projector it's a time consuming process... That's why i resorted to a 1.77:1 screen. Cost less and it's less hassle (i have a Z4 from Sanyo)

I was thinking of a permanent black mask at the bottom for subs. But your right with the hassle. Not an easy decision...

[HDJK]

I did some more research over the weekend. So subtitles with Blu-ray that are put in the black bars are lost when you stretch the picture in the PJ. That's one point for 16:9.

But, thanks to the 'useful part of AVS' I found out about this:

CAVX

That's a reasonable price and the lens now comes with a sled.
This also answered my other question; the screen would have to be 2:37 to 1 since the anamorphic lens stretches the 1.77 by 33% --> 2.37

The more I find out about it the more I want to go with a CIH setup. But the subtitles are an issue (especially when watching with the wife and kids). Off to more digging...