Long Throw, Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw: Which Projector to choose?

Nowadays, projectors are gaining popularity primarily due to their increased usage in offices and home theatre systems. Although they are used today on a wider scale, people still have doubts about the different projector types. They also don’t know how to choose the best projectors for themselves.

The first and foremost thing that you must know before buying a projector is the throw distance. It is a measured expanse which the light travels when it leaves the projector lens and reaches the screen. In terms of throw distance, there are three types of projectors i.e. long throw, short throw and ultra-short throw projectors. Here is a detailed study of projectors, its types, and tips to choose the best projectors:

1. Long Throw Projector or Standard Projector

A long throw projector is the most commonly used projector. A projector like this needs the largest distance to create an image on the screen. For instance, in order to make an image that is a 100 inches, it would normally need a throw distance of 8 to 10 feet. Additionally, these projectors are cost-effective and versatile, and prove to be useful both in the office and the home.

2. Short-Throw Projector

Short-throw projectors came into being mainly to help presenters to work at a close proximity with the projector screen without the projector’s glare in the eye. Another reason these projectors were crafted was to use them in confined spaces of classrooms and other training facilities because of lack of adequate throw distance.

Short throw projectors find their application in commercial and professional settings. These projectors can create a 100-inch image at a throw distance of 3 to 4 feet. Hence, they succeed in delivering high-res projections even in close confines.

3. Ultra Short-Throw Projectors

Ultra short-throw projectors have been a revelation in projection technologies. These projectors come with an inbuilt reflector lens that spreads the light signals over a minimalistic amount of distance. For instance, to create a 100-inche image, it will need a throw distance of about 3 to 20 inches. These projectors prove to be advantageous because they eliminate the formation of shadows on the screen because of a minimal distance between the screen and the lens.

These projectors are used in educational institutions and various businesses. Moreover, they are becoming popular in residential settings as well. A good example of a good short throw projector is the Epson ultra-short throw projector. It offers crisp full HD resolution.

Tips to Choose the Right Projector

Apart from picking the projector with the right throw distance depending on the place you want to use it in, your projector:

• Should have a good light source. Use the ones with an LED projector as they are safe for the eyes.
• Must offer useful features like adjusting the image or deciding screen orientation.
• Must have productive ports in order to use USBs, HDMI port, etc. For instance, the Epson short throw projector has a port for USBs.
• Offer a good amount of brightness.

Use these helpful tips to decide on the type of projector you want. If you do not buy a projector that gives you a good experience, you will really have a hard time working with it. Hence, invest your time in some research before you buy one.