Zoom Power:

A zoom lens to zoom in and out controlled by a motor, usually adjusted from the control panel of the projector and also from the remote control (remote).

Zoom Lens:

Most projectors come with a lens that allows adjustment of focal length (image distance compared with size) instead of physically moving the projector.

Projector Lenses can allow for greater versatility so that you can go from a small conference room to a large auditorium with a quick projector lens change. Manual or digital zoom is a feature on many standard, long, or short throw lenses. The zoom feature allows for larger or smaller images from the same distance, much like a zoom lens on a 35mm camera.

Manual Zoom:

The extent of the diagonal image is adjusted manually with the lenses. Some zoom lenses are operated manually, which require you to be near the unit as you adjust the image.

Motorized Zoom/ Power Zoom:

Power, or motorized, zoom lenses let you adjust the image remotely. The extent of the diagonal image can be adjusted via remote control regardless of the location of the projector. Most projectors have a zoom lens, allowing the adjustment of the image size without moving the DLP or LCD projector. A projector with a zoom factor of 1.2x will allow you to adjust the picture by only 20%. Look for a DLP or LCD projector with a higher zoom, as it will allow you to present an image that will match most any screen size.

A common misconception is that a projector's zoom lens can create very large minimum and maximum throw ratios. It is important to remember that all factory zoom lenses will only allow for small variations in throw ratios.

Many projectors for the home, (mostly 3LCD and LCoS types) now offer 2:1 zoom lenses. That is a placment range from closest to furthest, of 2 to 1. Now, most of the DLP projectors have limited zoom lens (1.1:1 to 1.3:1), so there isn't much to concern ourselves there, but with the 3LCD, and LCoS projectors, where all of them seem to have at least 1.5:1, and most are around 2:1, where you place the projector can matter a lot.

Consider, the reason you get a 2:1 zoom on most of these projectors, is to allow the flexibility not just to ceiling mount the projector, but to give you the option of mounting the projector on the rear wall of your room.