Short throw question in a compact space

[Sunset Sarsaparilla]

I'm trying to set up an Optoma UHD38 in a spare bedroom that I'm turning into a mini home theater but the room is only 12' long and I want a 100" screen. The manual says the ideal throw distance is between 9' and 15', so I thought I was safe but when I tested it from 9', the image was way bigger than the screen. I used the zoom to shrink it down but now part of the picture spills over the edges even after adjusting. My neighbor, who has the same projector, said he had to move his screen forward a few inches to make it fit. Can I reliably use this model at the lower end of its range and still get a sharp, full image on a 100" screen? Additionally, what level of flexibility do I have if the projector isn't perfectly centered?

 

[hedgebetter_78]

You're on the right track. 9' should work, but the UHD38's zoom range is limited, so small shifts in placement make a big difference.Try moving the screen forward a bit like your neighbor did. Also, keep the projector as close to the middle as you can. A little side-to-side is fine, but if it's too high or low, the picture can get bent.

 

[Sunset Sarsaparilla]

You're on the right track. 9' should work, but the UHD38's zoom range is limited, so small shifts in placement make a big difference.Try moving the screen forward a bit like your neighbor did. Also, keep the projector as close to the middle as you can. A little side-to-side is fine, but if it's too high or low, the picture can get bent.

Thanks for confirming that! I've been testing different placements and I'm starting to see how sensitive the UHD38 is to small shifts, especially at the lower end of the throw range. I moved the screen forward about 4 inches like my neighbor did and that helped line things up better, though I still had to fine-tune the zoom. I've kept the projector centered horizontally, but I might need to lower it slightly to avoid vertical distortion. Did you end up using any kind of mount with tilt adjustment or just a flat shelf setup? If the image holds steady through the next few days of testing, I'll consider this setup locked in.

 

[Emperor_Barbarosa]

That sensitivity you noticed is normal when you are at the shortest throw distance. Even tiny shifts in position can throw everything off. A mount with tilt and small adjustment options helps a lot so you do not have to nudge the whole projector each time. Keeping it level and square with the screen is what avoids vertical distortion.

 

[Sunset Sarsaparilla]

That sensitivity you noticed is normal when you are at the shortest throw distance. Even tiny shifts in position can throw everything off. A mount with tilt and small adjustment options helps a lot so you do not have to nudge the whole projector each time. Keeping it level and square with the screen is what avoids vertical distortion.

Thanks for confirming the short-throw distortion at minimum distance. You and @hedgebetter_78 both flagged that tiny shifts at the low end of the throw range mess with geometry. I've already tested screen placement and zoom, so I'll recheck level and square next. If that doesn't clean it up, I'll post final results by next weekend.