Golf Projector Shootout – What Are the Best Alternatives to the Panasonic VZ-580?

In 2020, the market for golf simulators exploded as the newest cameras and projectors enabled people stuck in their homes to easily convert bedrooms and basements into St. Andrews and Augusta National.  Panasonic and BenQ are the most popular projector brands that develop projectors for golf simulators – which are used by players around the world.   Both brands offer projectors with both traditional projector lamps and the latest laser light technology,  so what should you be looking for when evaluating the best projector for your simulation space?   Here are four key factors to consider:

·         WUXGA vs. 4K UHD Resolution

·         Traditional projector lamps or laser engine

·         Sealed Engine Design vs. Open Design with Paper Filters

·         Color Accuracy specifications

·         Throw Ratio & Lens Shift

For a high-end golf simulator setup, the 5000 lumen Panasonic PT-VZ580U lamp projector is a popular model used for simulation setups with larger impact screens.   BenQ is the leading brand in the world using DLP technology, and both companies have outstanding reputations for high-quality, reliable projectors.  For mid-range and higher-end simulators, here are the most popular golf simulator projectors from Panasonic and BenQ:

·         Panasonic PT-VZ580U

·         BenQ LU930

·         BenQ LU935ST

·         BenQ LK953ST

 To make sure you get the right projector for your setup, you may want to consider these factors when selecting choosing projector:

Most people only look at the brightness specification for a projector – but if you want the fairway grass on your impact screen to look the same as on your monitor, make sure to check the color accuracy of the projector.  This ensures that your greens and sand traps look realistic, and not like a Nintendo game. The best way to ensure this is to look at the color accuracy measurements of your projector.

The Panasonic uses an 8-bit color engine that creates over 16 million colors but does not provide any color accuracy specifications.   All the BenQ golf simulators use a 10-bit color engine that can render over 1 billion different colors.   BenQ uses this to create a highly color-accurate projector and provides a specification of 92% color accuracy using industry-standard specifications such as Rec.709.  

Throw ratios measure how far the projector has to be placed away from the impact screen to properly fill the screen.   Lens shift enables the projector’s image to be moved up and down – or side to side to enable it to match the screen – even if the projector is mounted off-center.

The Panasonic PT-VZ580U and the BenQ LU930 use a standard throw lens (throw ratio greater than 1.0) and both have excellent horizontal and vertical lens shift capabilities – enabling them to be used on a cart or ceiling mount.   The BenQ LU935ST and LK953ST feature short throw lenses that enable the projector to be mounted closer to the screen – nearly eliminating the risk of the player casting a shadow.   These models also have lens shift – making them ideal for ceiling-mounted setups above and behind the player.

Compared to the cost of the camera and impact screen, this is one of the less expensive components – but can make a big difference in how your simulator looks, plays – and how much the room is used for watching Tin Cup, live or recorded tournaments, and streaming golf content.  Here is a breakdown of the cost and features of the four models mentioned in this article that have the right throw ratios for golf simulation placement.