HOW TO CHOOSE A VIDEO PROJECTOR

When choosing our projector we will have to consider some important aspects and characteristics, such as the utility that we will give to the projector. Since it is not the same if we are going to transport it constantly in a bag or it will be fixed in a support. It is also necessary to consider, if applicable, the place where it will be used: the size of the room, the light it has, the height of the ceiling, etc. On the other hand, we must know the size of the projected image we want, this depends on the space we have but also the power of the projector. 

With these and other clear aspects, we can see which equipment meets the desired characteristics, and compare them to choose the one that best suits us.

There are some technical characteristics of the projectors that should be clear when deciding. Here we detail the most relevant

Resolution

The resolution is the level of detail with which the image is displayed, in greater detail better visualization. The resolution is calculated by the number of elements of the image (pixels). 

The different resolutions that are currently handled are:

  SVGA, 800 x 600 pixels (600 lines on the screen with 800 pixels per column).

  XGA, of 1024 x 768 pixels.

  WXGA, of 1280 x 768 pixels.

  SXGA, of 1280 x 1024 pixels.

  UXGA, of 1600 x 1200 pixels.

  WUXGA, 1920 x 1200 pixels. 

The important thing to keep in mind is that the higher the resolution, the more it can be projected on the screen and you will get a more defined, clear and clear image, but also the cost of the projector increases.

(if you do not understand any pixels ... visualize the image that will be projected, divide it into a grid as if it were a checkered notebook, each frame represents a pixel, how many squares are there? depends on the resolution, in 800 x 600 we have 800 frames of horizontally and 600 frames vertically, the higher the number of frames the image will look better)

Brightness

The brightness of the projector is called the amount of light projected by it, in other words, the intensity of the brightness of the lamp. This brightness is measured in lumens: the greater the brightness of a projector, the better the projected image will look.

The number of lumens necessary to project correctly will then depend on the space where it will be projected since it will be necessary to take into account the ambient light and the distance between the projector and the screen.

It is important to keep in mind that each manufacturer uses a different method to determine the lumens, so they do not correspond to each other. Each manufacturer provides a table to calculate the optimal projection distances. For home-theaters (home theater) and home cinema will be enough with a luminosity of 1000 lumens. For medium-sized rooms or meeting rooms with low light in general, a 2000 lumens projector is enough, for large auditoriums and rooms or with artificial light, a projector of 3000 lumens or more is necessary.

(As good as the projector is if it gives direct sunlight, the image will be lost a bit, so do not think about using your projector on a sunny field day waiting to be seen like in the cinema.)

Size

The size and weight of the projector are related to the user that will be given to the equipment. There are three defined ranges to be able to differentiate them:

•    -Ultra-light projectors: Up to 2kg in weight, of reduced dimensions, ideal to carry with the laptop. Its cost is high.

•    - Portable projectors: They are the most common, used for small rooms or home theaters. With a weight of up to 3.5kg and a varied range of brightness.

•    -Big projectors: Used in auditoriums and large spaces, of great weight and size. They are usually placed on fixed supports.

(Why among smaller more expensive? Because they are more resistant, support the trip and the small patter of the transport to differences of their larger relatives that at the slightest movement can hurt the lamp, besides that they are easy to transport)

Contrast

The contrast is the relationship with which the comparison between blacks and whites of a projector is measured. The higher the contrast ratio, the better the image that the projector is capable of producing. If we use the projector for presentations and conferences, with a contrast ratio of 500: 1 it will be sufficient, but for videos and home-theater a ratio of 1500: 1 or more will be necessary.

(What is that of 500: 1 and 1500: 1? They are the number of stages of a white turning to black, imaging a gradient from white to black or from black to white, the more stages the image will look better)

Connections

If you plan to use your projector as a PC projector, in addition to DVD, video, television, and consoles, it is worth thinking about the number of connections you can accept. Expensive models will have several connection points, sometimes in a separate unit. The cheaper models can restrict your access or force you to be plugging in and unplugging. Wireless projectors can reduce the number of connections but at the moment there is not much to choose from.

Noise

All the projectors produce heat and have fans to cool them. However, the fans can be noisy and interfere with viewing. Try it before you buy it or check the decibel level in the specifications. As a reference, a normal conversation usually reaches about 60 decibels.

Duration of the lamp

The light source of a projector can last between 750 and 2,000 hours depending on the use. You usually have to change the lamps of the LCD projectors more often than those of other projectors. There are spare bulbs available for all models and tend to wear slowly, work or not.

(The lamp is expensive, it can also be damaged if the projector has just been used and moves abruptly, not to mention the small accidents of blows to the projector, or accidents with liquids ...)

Comparison of technologies

LCD

•    -Brightness and better price compared to other devices.

•    -Good results are not obtained for moving images because the response time of change is low.

•    -The lines of pixels appear on a large screen.

LCOS

•    -The response time of the Hitachi LCOS panels is quite good for moving images.

•    -Various resolutions and panel available at a competitive price due to a large number of manufacturers.

•    -In 3 panels it is less bright than LCD.

•    -In 1 panel is less bright than DLP.

DLP

•    -The overall weight/size is lower.

•    -The contrast ratio is greater.

•    -The brightness is less than LCD (however, the catalog data is superior)

•    - More brightness to the detriment of color

Other features

Modern projectors have features that can be useful:

•    -Lighting duration of the lamp, (by experience the DELL projectors after a certain time of use are self-protected and turn off to let the lamp rest, this is a bit annoying if you are in the middle of a presentation)

•    -Projection depending on the background, we will not always have a screen to project as they are sold separately (although in some promotions are given together with the projector), and what is worse, sometimes our office does not have a white wall either, there are Nowadays projectors that can be adjusted to the color of the wall so as not to distort the colors of the projected image, obviously not all colors and those that handle are almost always pastel colors, so do not expect that if your wall is blood red, the image looks excellent, but if your wall is a green or light yellow it can be adapted.

•    -Distance, some projectors (I've seen it in BENQ projectors) are short-throw, what does this mean? that you can put the projector one meter away from the wall and still give you a wide image compared to the "normal" projectors that have to be far away to see a large projection.

Brands

Some brands that handle projectors:

•      Sony

•      BenQ

•      Panasonic

•      ViewSonic

•      Epson

•      Samsung

•      InFocus

•      NEC

•      Acer

Of these brands, I have seen BenQ, Samsung, Epson, DELL, ViewSonic and Infocus in operation, and sincerely I have worked with the BenQ without any problem (besides being aesthetic), but your choice will depend on the characteristics you need and the budget with which you count.

Recommendations for the proper use of the projector

At the end of each presentation or film, the projector must be left to cool down with the lamp off and the fan on (in most cases the cooling process is automatic). Some projectors no longer require the cooling process. Consult the equipment manual for specific recommendations.

Avoid leaving loose cables in areas of circulation of the audience, because if someone stumbles you can throw the projector and/or melt the lamp.

Firmly connect the power cord to the power outlet and the projector, as a false contact may momentarily turn off the projector and damage the lamp. In addition, you will lose time because the projector will not turn on immediately. Do not use low-quality extensions.

If the power supply is not reliable (low voltage or blackouts) it is advisable to use a regulator, a "no-break" or better yet a "no-break" with an integrated regulator. Consult the equipment manual to see the consumption. A bad regulator can be worse than not having it.

The projectors generate a lot of heat, so it is normal that its surface is very hot. Leave enough space around the equipment for the air to circulate. Avoid cables or equipment coming into contact with the projector. Do not use the projector on fine furniture whose varnish could be damaged by heat.

Avoid looking directly at the light output of the projector because the brightness of some projectors can hurt the view.

See More:

• How to connect your Mac to an external display or projector via HDMI or VGA
• Keys to choose a good projector