Video Projectors Buyers Guide

Information on Video Projectors and How To Buy the Best Video Projectors.

Many businesses, educational institutes and individuals use video projectors as a visual aid when making a presentation or teaching. There are many manufacturers selling video projectors, using a range of technologies and offering different features. It is therefore important to be clear on the key criteria that are important to you in your purchase.

Please note that this Buyers Guide only includes business and educational video projectors, it does not include projectors for home cinema use. Please refer to the Buyers Guide to Home Cinema projectors if you are looking to buy one of these.

Video Projectors Guide - Table of Contents

• 1 Video Projectors Product Types
  • 1.1 Technology
• 2 Video Projectors Product Advice
• 3 Video Projectors Buying Tips
• 4 Popular Video Projectors Brands

Considering the range of technical specifications that you should consider when purchasing a projector, the prospect can be quite daunting. However many manufacturers make it relatively simple on their websites by splitting their projectors into various categories, which often include:

• Conference Room or large venue
• Meeting Room or office
• Education
• Portable
• Pocket (also called Pico or Micro)
• Home cinema (please see separate Buyers Guide)

Technology

There are several light source technologies to choose from when you are deciding which multimedia projector to buy and each has its own characteristics, advantages and affordability. Out of all the technologies, 3LCD and DLP are currently the most common.

LCD projector - this is one of the older and simplest technologies for projectors and stands for Liquid Crystal Display; it is now usually known as 3LCD. 3LCD trademark is owned by Epson but licenced to other manufacturers.

DLP projector - this stands for Digital Light Processing, a trademark owned by Texas Instruments and licenced to various manufacturers. It uses a light source which is passed through a colour wheel and processed by a DLP chip, which is then reflected through the lens onto the screen. Some manufacturers are also currently launching 3D DLP to display 3D content.

LCOS projector - this stands for Liquid Crystal on silicon.

LED projector - these projectors use Light Emitting Diodes as the light source. An advantage is that the lamps do not need to be replaced.

CRT projector - this type of analogue projector uses cathode ray tubes. The disadvantage of a CRT projector is that it is fairly bulky due to the size of the tubes and it has largely been superseded by other technologies.

Budget is of course a key criterion, and you may have to settle for a slightly lower quality projector if your budget does not stretch that far. However, budget aside, there are many criteria which may affect your purchasing decision:

Resolution

Resolution Info

Resolution is a measurement of how many pixels the projector uses to make the image and has a direct effect on the quality of the image. The higher the resolution, the better quality the image - but generally speaking the more expensive the video projector becomes. It is a question of finding a balance between good quality resolution and your set budget, and most purchasers find that unless they are using the video projector for a specialist application needing extremely fine detail, a lower resolution (and less expensive) video projector will suffice. The actual measure of resolution is specified in one of two ways. Some manufacturers specify the numbers of pixels from side to side and top to bottom respectively. An example of this would be 1024 x 768. However many manufactures of video projectors choose to specify it by a naming convention, similar to computer screens.

Some examples of the levels of resolution available in video projectors today are:

• SVGA (800 x 600)
• XGA (1024 x 768)
• 720p (1280 x 720)
• WXGA (1280 x 800)
• 1080p (1920 x 1080)

The most common resolution for video projectors on the market today is XGA which produces a very acceptable quality at a reasonable price. XGA is suitable for general business or educational use such as power-point presentations and spreadsheets.

An additional factor is the resolution of your laptop or desktop computer. If you have a computer with, for example, XGA resolution, the projector will produce the best and sharpest image with an XGA projector. However, most projectors are compatible with most computers, it is just a question of optimum quality.

Brightness

Brightness Info

Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens, which will always be mentioned in the projector specifications. Some manufacturers state the brightness in 'lumens', others in 'ANSI' and others in the full term 'ANSI lumens'.

A higher lumen specification will mean a higher brightness and usually a higher cost. As with resolution, you should find a balance between brightness and cost and it is important to note that a lower lumen specification may be perfectly acceptable for your needs.

Business and educational projectors below 2000 lumens tend to be light weight portable projectors, designed for training or business presentations. As these are less bright, they are most suitable for use in a darkened room. However, they tend to be the less expensive type of projector and are good value, especially for those with a requirement for a portable or mobile projector.

Non portable or semi-portable business projectors for general use tend to be between 2000 lumens and 4000 lumens. These are brighter than the portable projectors and offer a higher performance. This is type of projector is suitable for small to medium size training or conference rooms.

Projectors over 4,000 lumens are higher performance and suitable for lighter and larger rooms, such as conferences or large-scale presenting venues. Some professional projectors available today are as high as 15,000 lumens.

There are various factors which determine which level of lumen rating is required. Obviously if your need is for a light and portable projector then you will be limited in this and will have to choose a machine with a lower lumen rating (although as stated before, even within the portable projectors on the market, this can range from under 100 to 2000!). You should also consider factors such as

• How much light there is in the room - if the room is dark, you do not need a projector with a high lumen rating. If it is light, you will need a higher lumen rating, probably over 3000 lumens.
• How big the room is - again a larger room will need a higher level of brightness and 3000 lumens or more is recommended.

Contrast

Contrast Info

This is the ratio between the brightest and darkest points. Although less important than the lumen rating it can be an important factor in dark rooms.

Zoom

Zoom Info

This feature enables the user to adjust the image size without having to physically move the projector thereby offering extra flexibility. If the projector is not going to be moved on a regular basis it is probably not worth paying the extra for a higher zoom level, but if it is to be used in multiple locations you may wish to consider it.

Projection Distance

Projection Distance Info

Each projector has a projection distance specified in feet or metres, so make sure that this corresponds with the size of the room it is to be used in.

Short Throw - a short throw (sometimes called ST) projector is able to project onto the screen at a very short distance. This can be very useful for projecting in small rooms, however it does limit the zoom capability.

Screen Ratio

Screen Ratio Info

The standard screen ratio is 4:3, however many projectors are also capable of widescreen (16:9).

Speakers

Speakers Info

Most business and education projectors are equipped with in-built speakers, which are measured in Watts. These can range from 2 Watts to over 10 Watts.

Weight and size

Weight and size Info

This can be an important consideration if the projector will be moved frequently between rooms and even more so if it will be used for travel. Some of the portable projectors on the market today weigh as little as 0.5 KG. These are extremely convenient for business travel, however you can expect some trade off as regards to resolution and the lumen rating. Some of the portable projectors on the market today have a lumen rating of 100 or less. As with other factors you need to decide on a balance of your ideal requirements, so even within the category of portable or mobile projector you could opt for a machine of, say, 0.5KG with SVGA resolution and 100 lumen rating; or a projector of, say, 1.2 KG with XGA resolution and a 2000 lumen rating. The choice is yours according to your most important criteria!

Non portable or semi-portable projectors can weigh between 4 KG to over 15 KG. Size may also be an issue depending on where the projector is to be situated. If space is at a premium and the projector is going to be located permanently in one room, some projectors can be mounted onto the ceiling. Others have a carry handle for easy transportation.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity Options Info

Connectivity Options can include:

• Wireless - some models are specifically designed to offer a connection in seconds after the initial set up.
• Networked via RJ45
• PC free connection, taking the data from a USB stick.

Other features and specifications which may affect your purchasing decision

Noise - noise levels are measured in decibels (dBA) and the average ranges from 20 dBA to 32 dBA. If you are using the projector in a smaller room, this might be a factor.

Lamp Life - average lamp life is usually between 3000 hours and 5000 hours, although LED technology projectors never need replacement. Some projectors are designed to make lamp replacement easier than others. Note also that some manufacturers quote two lamp life times, one in eco mode and one at full brightness.

Remote Control - many projectors have a full remote control which includes laser pointer, mouse and direct source selecting.

Auto Input Search - many projectors automatically search for an input signal thereby reducing set up time.

Remote monitoring - some projectors with network connectivity have a remote diagnostic function to alert users of any problems.

Keystone Correction - many projectors offer this feature which corrects a distorted effect on the screen if the projector is tilted or at a slight angle. There are various levels of keystone correction - vertical and/or horizontal and at differing percentages. Some projectors detect the incline and perform the keystone correction automatically on start up.

Automatic Shutdown - this feature enables users to quickly shut down the projector after use without causing any damage.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) - this feature allows more than one input source to be displayed on screen at the same time.

Eco Mode - this feature reduces noise, extends the lamp life and uses less energy.

High Altitude Mode - this allows use of the projector at very high altitudes/low pressures.

Lens - some projectors have motorised lenses while others are manual.