The World's Leading Home Cinema Conversion Lenses

Panamorph User Guide - Setup Basics

Throw ratio (or sometimes "native" throw ratio) is defined as the distance (or "throw distance") between your projector lens and screen, divided by the width (in the same units) of your projector's image before the addition of a Panamorph lens.  Anamorphic lenses always perform best with higher throw ratios.  Residual aberrations, especially edge distortion, can become unreasonable at throw ratios below about 1.65.  Residual edge distortion at higher throw ratios is minor enough to become masked off even with a thin screen border.  At 2.0 and above distortion becomes very difficult to see.  To determine a projector's range of throw ratios most accurately, use the manufacturer's stated maximum and minimum image width for a typical throw distance. 

A small throw ratio means that the beam entering the lens is expanding quickly and could be cut off by the size of the lens.  The model UV200 lens will accept a beam size of up to 1.5" high x 2.25" wide.  However, model UH480 will accept a beam up to 3.1" wide at throw ratios down to 1.6.  Smaller beams may also be used with the UH480 down to throw ratios of approximately 1.4.  However, you may wish to use a curved screen to compensate for edge distortion with these very small throw ratios.  You can find out your beam size by putting a piece of paper in your beam where the Panamorph lens would be positioned.  Use a bright scene that uses the full pixel array of the projector and then zoom to the largest image size for the most challenging case.  Note that a longer throw ratio can decrease the beam size.  Consequently, even larger projectors may work fine at longer throw ratios. 

Panamorph patented lenses are optimized to substantially correct for astigmatism for a throw distance of between about 12 to 26 feet.  A throw distance beyond this range will begin to show the slight softening of partial astigmatism at the pixel level.

In general, The UV200 lens is ideal for creating 2.35:1 images at longer throw distances because projector beams are typically smaller in these cases.  The UV200 lens takes advantage of Vertical Compression (VC) optical technology for a simple, high performance design at relatively low cost.  Consequently the final 2.35:1 image will have the same width as the 16:9 image before the lens is used.  Alternatively, the UH480 lens is suitable for a broader range of throw distances due to its larger apertures.  Since the UH480 uses Horizontal Expansion (HE) optical technology, the final 2.35:1 image is 33% wider than the 16:9 image before the lens is used.

Proper use of Panamorph lenses requires electronic scaling either by the projector itself, an external scaler, or by input devices such as DVD players or HDTV receivers that may have the proper scaling modes.  Check with your projector or scaler manufacturer for compatibility.  Virtually all major projector manufacturers are familiar with Panamorph lenses and the requirements for their use.  Note that projectors and other devices may offer scaling modes that achieve the correct result but may use different terminology to describe them. 

Scaling Mode II:  Content is horizontally squeezed by 25%.  This mode is only necessary if the lens is permanently positioned in front of the projector lens.  It is not needed if the lens is moved away from the beam for non-2.35:1 content.

Panamorph, Inc. assumes no liability and makes no warranties regarding the suitability of mounting suggestions.  If you are uncomfortable with mounting your Panamorph lens please consult with a qualified home theater installer instead.

Pan-2 UV200/M85 lens mount by Chief Manufacturing

Panamorph lenses (and their transport options) come with their own mounting bracket.  Instead of mounting directly to a ceiling, the simplest approach for the UV200 lens (or the M85 transport) is to use a projector ceiling mount by Chief Manufacturing with a Panamorph mount adapter.  The next simplest approach is to use a sheet of rigid material as a common plate.  Make a first set of holes in the plate that match the ceiling-mount holes on the projector while allowing enough plate area to extend beyond the front of the projector for mounting the fixed or moveable Panamorph lens model.  Now position the lens appropriately and make holes for mounting the lens or transport bracket using screws, nuts and other common hardware that makes sense.  Note that even with the mounting plate you may need to make some type of vertical extension block if the projector lens is far below the plate.  Now make any appropriate openings in the plate to allow for projector intakes, vents or connection ports that would otherwise be covered by the plate.  Finally, trim the perimeter of the plate to a shape that makes it look nice but retains its strength.  To install, insert the ceiling mount screws through the appropriate holes in the ceiling mount, through the matching holes in the plate, and finally into the threaded projector mounting holes.  Caution One - you may need to replace the screws that came with your ceiling mount with longer screws to make up for the added thickness of your plate.  Caution Two - the UH480 lens is so heavy that you should connect some sort of cable or chain system from the front of the assembly to the ceiling to prevent the assembly from tilting forward.  Now install the Panamorph lens.  It is really not that difficult of a project.  But when assembled and installed this arrangement typically results in a very professional configuration that you can be proud of and looks very "meant-to-be".  Just make sure you use common sense in the choice of material and how you assemble and mount for sufficient strength and safety.