Panasonic Projector & Display has added a new optic to its 1-Chip DLP line-up. The Panasonic ET-C1U090 is an L-shaped, ultra-short-throw lens that folds the light path through 90 degrees, giving installers more freedom in tight spaces and immersive environments. With a throw ratio of 0.308:1, it can fill a 200-inch screen from just 1.3 metres away, according to Panasonic.
That combination of a very short throw and a rotating head is aimed squarely at museums, experience venues, projection mapping and other installations where the projector has to hide close to the wall, floor or ceiling.
Panasonic ET-C1U090: an L-shaped design for flexible installs
The defining feature of the Panasonic ET-C1U090 is its folded, L-shaped construction. The head of the lens can be rotated by 90 or 180 degrees, which Panasonic says makes floor and ceiling projection much easier, as well as setups with several projectors working side by side.
In practice, that means the projector body can stay flat on a shelf or in a ceiling void while the image is sent straight down onto the floor or up onto a surface above. For immersive rooms that wrap images around visitors, that flexibility can save a lot of custom rigging.
A 0.308:1 throw ratio
On paper, the optics are impressive. The Panasonic ET-C1U090 is a fixed-focal-length lens with a focal length of 5.4 mm and an aperture of F2.13. Its 0.308:1 throw ratio is what makes the 200-inch-from-1.3-metres figure possible. Panasonic’s provisional specifications list screen sizes from 100 inches upwards.
There is no zoom, as you would expect from a lens of this type, but there is plenty of adjustment. Powered lens shift covers ±50% vertically and ±23% horizontally, focus is motorised, and a lens memory function lets operators recall saved positions. According to Panasonic, a hex-head screw kit also allows the lens to be installed without a separate bracket.
Built for the PT-REQ and PT-REZ projectors
The new lens is designed for Panasonic’s 1-Chip DLP laser projectors. It is compatible with the PT-REQ15, PT-REQ12, PT-REQ10 and PT-REQ80, and with the PT-REZ15, PT-REZ12, PT-REZ10 and PT-REZ80, including their L variants, and is recognised automatically through Auto Lens ID. Panasonic adds that it expects compatibility with future 1-Chip DLP models as well.
Panasonic projectors are no strangers to large immersive projects, as shown at Factory International in Manchester. A lens like the Panasonic ET-C1U090 should make such installations easier to plan in smaller rooms.
Pricing and availability
The Panasonic ET-C1U090 will be available from December 2026, according to the press release from Panasonic’s PR agency. Panasonic has not announced a price, and availability may vary by region. Specifications such as weight and dimensions are still marked as tentative on the official Panasonic ET-C1 Series page.
Key specifications
- Lens type: fixed-focal-length ultra-short-throw lens, L-shaped
- Throw ratio: 0.308:1
- Example: 200-inch image from 1.3 m
- Focal length / aperture: 5.4 mm / F2.13
- Rotation: 90° or 180°
- Lens shift (powered): vertical ±50%, horizontal ±23%
- Focus: powered, with lens memory
- Compatible projectors: PT-REQ15/12/10/80, PT-REZ15/12/10/80 (incl. L variants)
- Dimensions: approx. 338 x 128 x 243 mm (tentative)
- Weight: approx. 5.1 kg (tentative)
- Availability: December 2026, price not announced
Could the Panasonic ET-C1U090 be the missing piece for an immersive room you have in mind?
