Short Throw vs Long or Standard Throw Projectors?

Purchasing a projector for office use might be one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make.

Choosing between brightness, zoom range, contrast ratio, resolution, and other specifications makes selecting a projector quite challenging.

Moreover, one of the most crucial considerations you will make when purchasing a projector is whether your projector has a short throw or a long throw.

What is a Throw?

The majority of people have no clue what a throw is, which is entirely understandable. Throws are almost always overlooked by customers because they aren't the most visible features of the projector unless you turn it on in the store.

A throw is the distance required for the projector to "throw" a picture to the screen or the wall. Throws are classified into three types: short throws, long throws, and ultra-short throws.

You can usually tell what type of throw it is by looking at the model number of the unit. It's most likely a short-throw if it concludes with an "ST." But keep in mind that the throw letters aren't always present.

What’s the Difference Between Short Throw and Long Throw Projectors?

Short Throw Projectors

Short-throw projectors can produce 100-inch picture sizes from four feet away. Beyond four feet, the image becomes slightly hazy. If you set the projector within four feet of the screen, the image will be sharper and bigger.

Short-throw projectors are ideal for small office use because they function well with short distances between the projector and the screen. They may also be used in bedrooms and living rooms, depending on the size of the room and the amount used.

If you need a projector that can fit in a tiny office space, a short-throw projector is probably a better choice. Furthermore, they are much smaller and more compact.

Pros

There are several advantages to owning a short throw projector. To begin with, a short-throw projector will save you room.

A four-foot-wide screen may be projected at 1'7" from the projection surface using short-throw projectors with a throw ratio of 0.4. This means no bothersome shadows when that watching get up to use the restroom.

Short throw office projectors are useful for projecting from behind a screen since they can project from such short distances, reducing the possibility of the projector being knocked by someone walking by.

Cons

Short throw projectors can become too hot due to the extra processing power necessary to transform rectangular pictures into trapezoids capable of displaying a rectangle at an angle. When this occurs, internal fans kick on to cool the machine, generating unpleasant noise.

Furthermore, because the projector warps the picture to be projected at a specific angle, projecting on an uneven surface will result in greater image warping than using a long throw projector.

Long Throw Projectors

Long-throw office projectors are used for longer distances. It's best for distances of six feet or more. If you set the projector closer than six feet away, you'll receive a smaller image, which isn't ideal if you're projecting in a huge space.

Long-throw projectors are less expensive to manufacture and feature more cheap lenses. When comparing short and long throws, the latter will always be less expensive. Of course, this comes at a cost.

Because long throw projectors should be set at least six feet away, there is more room between the projector and the screen for people to move about.

If the projector is placed on a table, you can expect someone to obstruct it as they leave the conference room.

Pros

Long-throw projectors can project pictures over greater distances, making them a good alternative when the screen is not in the same room as the power source. They can also be useful if your room's foot activity is concentrated near the screen.

If you are projecting in an open area, a long throw projector will provide less picture distortion if it is mounted on an uneven surface. The same is true when projecting onto an uneven surface.

Because long throw projectors do not need to geometrically modify the picture in the same manner that short-throw projectors do, they are typically more reasonably priced when other specifications are comparable.

Cons

Shadows from individuals obstructing the screen are likely the most vexing aspect of projectors in general, but long throw projectors in particular.

Because long throw projectors are designed to project across vast distances, they are especially susceptible to being blocked by something in the path.

In a Nutshell

Choosing the right office projector is a matter of balancing your preferences, which will come down to personal preference. There is no such thing as a perfect way to set up a meeting room; there is only the perfect way for you and your employees or colleagues.

LEARN MORE