My first dedicated home theater - on a budget

[Texitura]

If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, can I ask if you've considered a 2.40 AR CIH (Constant Image Height) screen?

[jdlivestrong]

Originally Posted by Texitura

If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, can I ask if you've considered a 2.40 AR CIH (Constant Image Height) screen?

I haven't considered that...to be honest, I don't really know much about the subject at all. I wanted to go 16:9 so that I could also watch TV. Is there a good place to go to read more about 2.40 AR CIH?

[Brain Sturgeon]

Originally Posted by jdlivestrong

I haven't considered that...to be honest, I don't really know much about the subject at all. I wanted to go 16:9 so that I could also watch TV. Is there a good place to go to read more about 2.40 AR CIH?

Definitely something to consider in any dedicated theater, although it may add a bit of cost to your theater. To limit cost, you would probably want to use the "zoom method" which is zooming your projectors image and readjusting the lens offset to fill your scope screen with the image and leave the black bars outside (above and below) of the screen area. If you use a 720p projector, you may run into issues with screen door effect if you should zoom onto a large scope screen. This will obviously be less of an issue with 1080p projectors.

Here is a good thread with some basics on scope FP setups:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=554901

You can also learn a fair bit from Panamorph's site on on CIH systems:

http://panamorph.com/

Also, here is something I posted re: scope systems on another thread:

The "zoom" technique is simply using the zoom lens on any projector to fill a 2.35:1 screen, with the black bars falling above and below the screen. You can do this with any projector as long as you are within the appropriate zoom range for your given throw length.

The "lens" technique places an anamorphic lens (typically a 1.33 horizontal expansion lens) in front of your projector's lens. Your projector, or your outboard video scalar, would then need to vertically stretch the projected image 1.33x so that the black bars are excluded from your image panel. As the vertically stretched image passes through the anamorphic lens, your image is reconstituted into the correct aspect ratio onto your scope screen.

There are good and bad things about both:

"zoom" technique
pros: cheaper, easier projector setup, no pincushion introduced into the image.
cons: Reduced horizontal resolution, need to rezoom when switching between 1.85:1 and 2.35:1 material

"lens" technique
pros: Uses the entire imaging panel (full horizontal resolution) to create the image, brighter image (up to ~20% brighter than using the zoom technique), quicker and more elegant switching between aspect ratios (can be done by moving lens in/out using manual/automated sleds and turning the vertical stretch on/off, or by leaving the lens permanently in place and adjusting the aspect ratio electronically using your projector or an outboard scalar, or by using one of Prismasonic's lenses that leaves the lens in place and switches between anamorphic and non-anamorphic "pass through" modes)
cons: introduction of pincushion distortion into the image, reduction of MTF and subsequently ANSI contrast by introduction of another lens into the light path, more expensive, more complicated projector set-up.

HTH

[jdlivestrong]

Thanks for all the info, fellas! What I really need is for someone who lives closer to come over and scope things out. Right now, the limiting factor for me is budget. But at the same time, I don't want to have a bunch of regrets once I have it all set up. I guess that's what learning is all about though...you can only plan so much...I think I just need to pull the trigger and get started. I'll eventually find out what I like and don't like so that I can keep a list to integrate into my next try.

I'm hoping to order the Epson HC720 package from ProjectionGuys tomorrow. I just can't seem to find any better deals that give me the flexibility that this package offers.

Again, thanks to everyone for your thoughts/advice. I really enjoy this forum!

[leov36]

I have this same projector, and I am very happy with it. i definitely spent along time pondering whether or not a projector would fit right in my room, or if I’d be happy with the end result. Well, its the best decision I made regarding ht, and gl with your purchase.

[jdlivestrong]

Originally Posted by leov36

I have this same projector, and I am very happy with it. i definitely spent along time pondering whether or not a projector would fit right in my room, or if I’d be happy with the end result. Well, its the best decision I made regarding ht, and gl with your purchase.

Very cool...just checked out your setup. If you get around to it, you should take some more screen shots to show your HC720 in action. What are your thoughts on the picture quality? If you're 10' away at 84"...I might be pretty close to the same 12' away at 106". I'm very interested in hearing more about the picture quality!

[leov36]

Originally Posted by jdlivestrong

Very cool...just checked out your setup. If you get around to it, you should take some more screen shots to show your HC720 in action. What are your thoughts on the picture quality? If you're 10' away at 84"...I might be pretty close to the same 12' away at 106". I'm very interested in hearing more about the picture quality!

well, im very happy with the pic quality of this projector. when i purchased it, i went to several ht shops to compare with other projectors in this price range and found this the best for me and my needs.
i have some more screen shot on my computer, ill post them up when i get home tonight.