Replacing Epson 2045 with 4K laser projector for garage setup

[subwooferina]

I've had an Epson 2045 in my garage theater in Tucson for about six years. My brother helped me build it out with a 110" screen and a basic ceiling mount. I'm ready to upgrade to a 4K laser with 3D but want to stay under $4,000. Is the UHZ65LV overkill for a semi-lit space or should I look at something smaller?

 

[mercoal_89]

The UHZ65LV throws out a ton of brightness, which might be overkill unless your garage gets a bunch of light during movie time. You could go with something in the 2,500 to 3,500 lumen range and still get sharp 4K and solid 3D. Are you sticking with the same screen and mount setup?

 

[subwooferina]

The UHZ65LV throws out a ton of brightness, which might be overkill unless your garage gets a bunch of light during movie time. You could go with something in the 2,500 to 3,500 lumen range and still get sharp 4K and solid 3D. Are you sticking with the same screen and mount setup?

Since I’m still on the same 110” screen and ceiling mount, I’ll test light levels in the garage at night and during the day this week to see if I really need the extra output. Did you notice any tradeoff in black levels when running a higher lumen projector in a darker space?

 

[PencilBoxLite]

Thought I'd jump in.
Your $4k budget for a 4K laser with 3D is solid and I don't think the Optoma UHZ65LV is an overkill for a semi-lit garage.
That brightness fights ambient light beautifully.
Just the trade-off is that high lumens mean a higher black floor in a totally dark room.
However, since the Optoma is laser, you can run it in a low power or Eco mode to significantly reduce light and improve black levels for those dark scenes.
It's smart to test your light levels first. That will confirm if you need the daylight power of the 65LV or better dark-room contrast from a unit like an open-box Epson LS.
What's your throw distance?

 

[subwooferina]

Thought I'd jump in.
Your $4k budget for a 4K laser with 3D is solid and I don't think the Optoma UHZ65LV is an overkill for a semi-lit garage.
That brightness fights ambient light beautifully.
Just the trade-off is that high lumens mean a higher black floor in a totally dark room.
However, since the Optoma is laser, you can run it in a low power or Eco mode to significantly reduce light and improve black levels for those dark scenes.
It's smart to test your light levels first. That will confirm if you need the daylight power of the 65LV or better dark-room contrast from a unit like an open-box Epson LS.
What's your throw distance?

Thanks for the info on Eco mode, @PencilBoxLite. My throw distance is about 12 ft. After testing the light levels in the garage as planned, I've confirmed the extra brightness is necessary for daytime viewing, so I'm moving forward with the UHZ65LV.