BenQ AH500ST vs. Optoma GT2100HDR: Best Short Throw Laser Projector for Golf Simulation

The two leading 0.5 short throw lens golf simulation projectors go head-to-head. Which one is right for you?

If you want to create a big image in a small space, a short throw projector with a 0.5 throw ratio is the easiest way to make sure you have enough room to safely mount the projector. Traditionally these have been used in smaller meeting rooms where they sit at the end of a table near the screen, but these models are now becoming popular in golf simulation, 3D virtual reality rooms, and for projector mapping applications. We’ll look at the two most popular short throw projectors from BenQ and Optoma and break down the differences between them so you can decide which one would be best for your facility.  Here are the top five things we’ll look at in this article.

• Ease of Setup

• Color Accuracy & Golf Mode

• Aspect Ratio Support

• Auto Focus Technology

• Brightness

Both projectors use DLP technology and can support larger screens than similar LCD short throw projectors. In addition, both are rated for 24/7 use, have sealed laser engines that eliminate having to constantly clean filters like on other models, and have smaller cases that enable them to easily fit into popular floor mounting boxes. So, let’s take a closer look at what separates the BenQ AH500ST from the Optoma GT2100HDR.

According to a national survey of simulator owners and buyers the #1 thing they want is a projector that is easy to set up. With short throw projectors, it is more important to get the projector mounted in the correct location to ensure that the image properly fills the screen or space properly. To get started, the BenQ AH500ST has a 3D golf simulation planning tool that will enable you to calculate the projector mounting location based on your screen size and shape, location of your golf simulator launch monitor, and also make sure the projector doesn’t generate a shadow on the screen from your hitting area. Optoma has a traditional online calculator without any shadow calculator feature.

The BenQ AH500ST has the advantage of being able to create a larger image on a wall or screen without tilting the projector. This is due to the way the projector lens is “offset” or shifting the image up/down on the wall. The Optoma GT2100HDR has a higher offset which is better in meeting room use, but a disadvantage when used in a golf simulator. In a room where both projectors are ceiling mounted 8 feet from the ground, the BenQ AH500ST can create an image around just over 7.2 feet high, while the Optoma GT2100HDR can only create an image 6.9 feet high without any tilting.  Both projectors have keystone correction to enable you to tilt the projector to fill the screen, but this will reduce the sharpness of some details in the image.

Unlike televisions, many projectors are optimized only for brightness and sacrifice color accuracy to achieve a higher lumen rating. The BenQ AH500ST is designed for color accuracy and uses the Rec. 709 color standard specification that is required in flat screen televisions. This ensures that a golf course or simulated image on the screen looks realistic and immersive, since many of these colors are complex organic hues like sand, grass, and clouds that we see every day. The BenQ also has a built-in “Golf Mode” setting that optimizes the picture for golf simulation engines such as GSPro, FSX Play, TGC2019, and other popular software platforms. Optoma doesn’t provide any color accuracy specifications on the GT2100HDR, but the review on the Tom’s Hardware website called the color performance “disappointing” and we couldn’t find any mention of golf mode in the online projector manual or online data sheet when this article was written.

Both projectors use a 1080p DLP chip to create a sharp 16:9 aspect ratio image, but what if you want to use it with a different aspect ratio screen, such as a narrower 4:3 screen or even a square 1:1 aspect ratio screen? For a home theater, doing this is practically blasphemy, but in golf simulators about 75% of golf simulators use a non-native aspect ratio impact screen – and 1:1 screens are the fastest growing segment. The BenQ AH500ST has the ability to natively support all the common non-native aspect ratios used in simulators including 16:10, 4:3, and even 1:1.  What is really nice is that the projector reconfigures the picture to eliminate any distortion on the new aspect ratio (no squished pictures) and will tell your PC exactly how to feed it the resolution it needs, so you don’t have to waste your time re-programming your graphics card.  The Optoma GT2100HDR doesn’t support 1:1 aspect ratio and doesn’t update your PC when you change the aspect ratio of your picture. So, with the Optoma, you’ll have to reprogram your graphics card to the correct resolution to avoid a distorted image.

Figure 1- The BenQ AH500ST can easily support 4:3 and 1:1 aspect ratios without squishing the screen.

Just like wide angle lenses on cameras, short throw lenses on projectors can be trickier to focus. To make it easier, the BenQ AH500ST has an integrated camera sensor that enables you to re-focus the projector with a touch of the button on the remote. The projector will display a test pattern, then use its AI engine to automatically make the tiny adjustments needed for a crisp sharp picture in just a few seconds. This is especially helpful in a commercial golf simulation setup with multiple projectors, or if the projector is mounted in a difficult to reach or hidden location. The Optoma GT2100HDR uses a traditional focus ring that requires you to physically adjust the focus manually, which might require you to climb a ladder. Bad ladder joke – why should you never trust a ladder? They are always up to something. OK – let’s move on to brightness.

At first glance, both projectors look to have similar brightness ratings when you look at the “lumen” specification.  But in 2024, lumens can mean different things to different brands. Until recently, every projector brand used the conservative ANSI lumens that measured the average brightness on the screen. Then a few years ago, brands started to come up with other lumen measurements, such as ISO lumens, which isn’t as conservative and measures fewer points of the screen so some projectors using this standard have higher lumen specifications. But the Optoma GT2100HDR doesn’t reference any industry standards when rating their lumens.  The BenQ AH500ST is specified at 4000 ANSI lumens, and the Optoma projector is specified at 4200 “lumens” but the online review on cNet thinks that these might be “optimistic.”

It depends on what you want in a projector.  The BenQ AH500ST is purpose built for simulation applications, and is designed for color accuracy, easy installation, and has an integrated camera that enables you to refocus the projector right from the remote whenever it’s needed.  The Optoma GT2100HDR has a lower street price than the BenQ and uses a power brick instead of a standard power cord. The BenQ AH500ST has a 3-year warranty, while the Optoma GT2100HDR has only a one-year warranty. Here’s a table of how these two projectors stack up.

BenQ has trained staff that can provide you with the tools you need to find the perfect home theater or golf simulator projector – within your room constraints and budget. Just give us a call – or open the chatbot box.