InFocus Screenplay 4805 vs Panasonic PT-L500U

www.projectorcentral.com for the throw distance calculator of each projector

yep, www.avsforums.com/avs-vb . see the sub-$3500 digital front projection forum. that forum is the defacto definitive source about low cost digital projectors like the ones you are considering. I'm actually a little both surprised and impressed that you narrowed it down to those two projectors without using the AV Science forums. You have prety good instincts. I feel ANY projector choice you make will be OK.

also consider THROW distance. some pjs need a LONG throw (big room) some need a SHORT throw (ok in little rooms). and if you room is reasonably light controlled, any thing over 750 LUMENS will be "OK."

www.avsforum.com is the one he is referring to.

Thanks for the advice. You're right, I'm just not into buying things sight-unseen. I might just have to!

Do you know of any good AV forums out there?

Either is a save buy and should be an excellent front pj. have you been researching on the avforums? Waht you need to do is post on avs and see if someone local to you has the panny and would be winning to host you for an evening. that way you could see it in person.

many of the purchases of these entry-level digital pjs ARE a LEAP OF FAITH, most of the buyers tend to buy one on faith of the rave reports in the avs forums. basically if the pj is either raved about on avs (by a lot of posters, especially respected ones) or on the projectorcentral.com's top 10 list, it is likely that that PJ is not a stinker. ''

it sounds like these purchase is just expensive and buying sight unseen is just freaking you out a little. :-)

I was in the same boat last march and took a leap of faith on the Optoma H30 DLP projector. colors, brightness, and black levels are out of this world. I ditched my direct view CRT TV and never looked back. 92 diagonal hear. Rock on!