What's your Screen Size vs. Viewing Distance ?

[AmishParadise]

I moved this past summer and am still using my portable projection setup. Saving up for some upgrades. Just dealing with what I have for now. So at present I'm at 120" (16:9) from 15 feet per the below which is what I've been accustomed to for the past several years.

Image Area: 120" (1.78:1), Viewing Distance: 15 feet


Really itching to go CIH though as I find 2.35-2.40 films to be underwhelming at only 113" in contrast to 1.78-1.85 content at 120". Ideally I'd like to maintain the same image height that I have now for all aspect ratios. Zoom method is not possible per my short throw projector sad to say, the BenQ W1080ST.

BenQ W1080ST...my mighty little short throw projector.


So just for kicks I took my portable projector screen off the wall, laid my mains on the floor and re-positioned my projector taking the image up to 163" (16:9). Even with the heavy orange peel and general poor condition of my wall the image quality holds up very well per my 14 foot viewing distance.

Image Area: 163" (1.78:1)


While going wall to wall, floor to ceiling is very cool I'm still thinking I'd prefer to go CIH instead placing the emphasis on scope material. Fired up a 2.40:1 film moving the image to the top portion of the wall providing for just enough room to get my mains up off the floor some. The difference is quite dramatic going from 113" to 154" for scope content. The immersion factor is definitely taken to the next level, much more on par with the feeling I get when going to the cinema. After watching a few scope films using the full width of my wall there's just no going back. :-P

Image Area: 154" (2.40:1)


Maintaining this same height for all aspect ratios would still provide for the 120" 16:9 image that I'm accustomed to, just a much wider image for scope content, so I'm really leaning towards going CIH. Zoom method at first perhaps, then adding an A-lens. If only I weren't so cash poor right now. :-(