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Short Throw Projectors, Short Throw Projector Lenses, and the Pros and Cons of a Short Throw Projector

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There are two major types of short throw projectors – that of short throw and that of ultra short throw.

Short throw projectors are projectors that typically have a throw ratio of between 0.4 and 1.0 whereas ultra short throw typically have a projector throw ratio of between 0.15 to 0.4.  They’re a little bit different in design.

What is projector throw ratio?

The projector throw ratio is the distance from the projector divided by the horizontal size of the screen.  For example, if a projector is 100” from the screen and the screen size is 40” then the throw ratio of this projector is 2.5. 

Separately if a projector is just 50” from the screen size is 100” then this projector has a throw ratio of 0.5 making it a short throw projector.

How is projector short throw achieved?

For short-throw projectors, the short throw project uses a lens design that allows a much larger image.  This is similar to a camera’s “wide angle lens” where a short focus distance allows a larger field of view.  The same is true for projectors.  Generally speaking short-throw optics are more expensive to produce because the lenses need to be larger, the curvature greater, and the precision higher. 

What are the benefits of a short throw lens?

A short throw lens allows the projector to be closer to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, for a fixed distance the image is much larger on a short throw projector.  This is very useful when one’s space is limited, and where one wants to avoid walking in front of the projected image – such as in a ceiling mounted classroom environment.

What are the negatives of a short throw lens?

Generally speaking, there are three downsides to a short throw projectors.  One the brightness of a short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 20% less.  Two the short throw lens is more expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third a short throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.

What is an Ultra-Short throw Projector?

An ultra short throw projector is a projector featuring a throw ratio of less than 0.40.  Today current technology allows for the manufacturing of ultra-short throw projectors up to 0.15 throw ratio.  Meaning one can project a 100” width (~115” screen size!) at just 15” from the screen!  This is typically the throw ratio found in the latest “projection TVs”.  The ultra-short-throw projector is a little bit different from the standard short throw projector as typically the ultra-short throw relies on a mirror and lens system to achieve such ultra short throws.

What are the benefits of an ultra short throw projector?

An ultra-short throw projector allows the projector to be very close to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, one can usually mount the projector right up against the wall without fear of having the image blocked by someone walking by.  Additionally with a little bit of room the projected image can become very large (dark areas needed!).

 What are the negatives of an ultra-short-throw projector?

Generally speaking, there are four downsides to ultra-short throw projectors.  One the brightness of an ultra-short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 35% less.  Two the ultra-short throw lens sets are quite expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third an ultra-short-throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.  Finally, an ultra-short-throw lens is very sensitive to image distortion.  Care must be taken in lens-set production and lens-set installation.  With bad designs sustained vibration or thermal warping can permanently distort the image as some competitors have experienced in the recent past.

Top 3 Short-Throw Projectors for Home Entertainment Setup

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If you are serious about setting up a home theater entertainment system, you should consider getting a short-throw projector. A short-throw projector typically produces a brighter, more vibrant picture than a standard projector. A short-throw projector or ultra-short-throw projector (UST) can cast a brilliant and clear image from only a few feet or inches away. Short-throw projectors have many advantages over traditional standard throw or long-throw projectors. The main advantage of a short-throw projector is the ability to cast an over 100-inch image even in a tight space. If you want a projector in your living room or bedroom, a short-throw projector/ultra-short throw projector is perfect in situations with limited space. 

  1. Optoma X309ST Projector – $599

The Optoma X309ST Projector is the cheapest option out of the three short-throw projectors. The 0.62:1 short-throw ratio, 3,700 ANSI Lumens brightness, and 25,000:1 contrast ratio, enable 100-inch projection from several feet away. This is ideal for small conference rooms, bed rooms, living rooms, and other space-constrained environments. The speaker is a clear, powerful audio 10W speaker, which will sound great in a small room. The main downside of this short-throw projector is the 1024×768 resolution, which is somewhat offset by the amazing 3,700 ANSI Lumens brightness at a short distance. 

  1. BenQ TH671ST– $799

BenQ  is a major player in the monitor and projector space, and its TH671ST gaming and cinema projector is perfect for users looking for a short-throw projector at lower and more competitive prices. The BenQ TH671ST short-throw projector can easily replace a large TV in your living room, and it’s capable of equally delivering a satisfying gaming or cinema experience. The projector has a 1920×1080(FHD) resolution with a 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness and can project up to 100-inch picture at 5 feet away. In addition to the long list of premium features, this unit is lightweight and portable enough to take on the road or game with friends. Best of all, this projector’s price starts at $699 and comes with a three years warranty. However, I wished that the projector would come with USB-C, allowing for different options to connect and play movies from different USB-C devices.  

  1. PowerLite 530 XGA 3LCD Projector – $949

The PowerLite 530 XGA 3LCD Projector from Epson starts at $949. This short-throw projector offers 3200 lumens of color brightness (color light output) and 3200 lumens of white brightness (white light output). This short-throw projector can be mounted 4 feet away from the board or wall, and the projected image can get as large as 108″ diagonal. The PowerLite 530 also features management software which allows users to wirelessly share and play movies/pictures from the computers, as well as iOS and Android devices.