Choosing a Projector

Before buying a projector, you need to know two things:

  1. How much room you have

  2. Whether you’re using the Standard Throw Camera or the Short Throw Camera

Your camera type determines how far your projector needs to sit from the screen.

1. Standard Throw vs. Short Throw Camera

Standard Throw Camera

  • Must be placed 1.6 × the width of your screen away.
    Example: For an 8-ft wide image → 8 × 1.6 = 13 ft from the screen

Short Throw Camera

  • Must be placed 0.5 × the width of your screen away.
    Example: For an 8-ft wide image → 8 × 0.5 = 4 ft from the screen

➡️ Once you know which camera you’re using, choose a projector whose throw ratio matches that distance.

(Click here to see our FAQ on the Standard Throw camera vs the Short Throw camera.)


 

2. Projectors That Do NOT Work

Do NOT use Vankyo LED projectors.

They are not compatible.

LED Projector Warning

Avoid cheap, non-brand LED projectors (often found on Amazon/eBay).
They commonly:

  • Fake their brightness ratings

  • Are far dimmer than advertised

  • Do not work properly with the Smokeless Range

More about misleading brightness claims:
https://www.personalprojector.co.uk/blog/2017/10/covered-in-confusion-when-it-comes-to-understanding-lumens-and-brightness/

3. Projector Brands That We Recommend

These brands work well:

  • ViewSonic

  • Epson

  • BenQ

  • Optoma

  • Hitachi

  • InFocus

4. Minimum Required Specs

Your projector must have:

  • At least 2000 ANSI lumens
    (Bigger screens may need 3600+ lumens.)

  • Minimum resolution: 1280×720
    (1080p is recommended.)

  • Input that matches your PC (HDMI or VGA)

  • Input lag 50 ms or lower

Important Warnings

  • USB → Projector will NOT work. USB cannot output video to the projector for Smokeless Range.

  • HDMI-to-VGA adapters are risky. Some may work, others cause calibration issues or fail completely.

5. Projectors for the Standard Throw Camera

Choose any projector that meets our minimum specs and has a throw ratio close to 1.6:1.
Most projectors list a throw ratio range (e.g., 1.55–1.73:1).
As long as 1.6 is inside that range, the projector will sit in the same location as the camera.

Examples (Standard Throw)

1280×800 Resolution

  • ViewSonic PA503W

  • Optoma H184X

  • ViewSonic PX700HD / PX701HD

  • Optoma W335

1920×1080 Resolution (Recommended)

  • ViewSonic PX701HD

  • BenQ TH585

  • Optoma HD28HDR

6. Projectors for the Short Throw Camera

⚠️ Do NOT use Ultra Short-Throw 4K Laser Projectors

Examples: Optoma CinemaX P1/P2, VAVA 4K
These have very high input lag, which prevents proper calibration with our tracking system.

Compatible Short-Throw Options

1280×800 Resolution

  • ViewSonic PS600W

    • 3700 lumens

    • 0.5:1 throw ratio (perfect match)

  • Optoma W319ST

    • 4000 lumens (good for 10–12 ft screens)

    • 0.52:1 throw ratio (works with our 0.5:1 camera)

1920×1080 Resolution

  • Optoma GT1080HDR

    • 3800 lumens

    • 0.5:1 throw ratio

  • Optoma EH412STx

    • 4000 lumens (ideal for 10–12 ft screens)

    • 0.5:1 throw ratio

Summary

  1. Choose Standard or Short Throw based on your space.

  2. Match the projector’s throw ratio to the camera’s required distance.

  3. Avoid cheap LED and ultra-short-throw 4K laser projectors.

  4. Use a projector with 2000+ lumens, 720p minimum, and HDMI/VGA only.