Front or rear projection?

Question

Am planning to put on film night in a local hall that can sit up to appx 100 people.

What's best - front or rear projection?

NB: The projector won't be permanently mounted (eg slung from the ceiling).

Answer 1

If you are showing for 100 people, I would suggest front projection all the way, jsut be aware the you will need to control the lighting in the room for a decent picture.

I think a RPTV would be too small for 100 people (even a 72" RPTV)  with front projection and a good screen, you could easily buy a 106" screen and projector for around 2,000

Answer 2

Go with a front projector since it gives you the biggest picture measured diagonally.  Check out a refurbished Infocus SP4805 4X projector at amazon.com which sells for around $570. Here's the URL:

http://www.amazon.com/InFocus-Screenplay...

It comes with a built-in speaker. Read the 15 Customer Reviews.

And here's an actual 96" diagonal movie image [A Good woman].

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/...

Good luck!

Answer 3

You can ONLY use a front projector, and for that many people (and large size of room) you will need a very bright, "large venue" projector.

By front or rear I think you mean do you project from the back of the room (front) onto a screen, or do you project onto a translucent screen from a second room on the side away from the audience (rear). While in theory you could do the latter there is no advantage -- you would require a much larger building/hall, a special screen and a projector capable of relatively short throw distances.

There is no reason not to sit the projector on a high shelf at the back of the room. You don't need to permanently mount it .. although you may have to build a shelf on some form of scafolding.