Projector buying guide

Posted on 14 Dec 2009 at 12:41

 

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Find out all you need to know about choosing the right projector.

Recommended minimum specifications

Native resolution: 1,280x720

Brightness: 1,000 ANSI lumens

Contrast ratio: 500:1

Lamp life: 2,000 hours

Check: Weight, throw distance, noise

Follow the steps to find your ideal specs

1. Low-cost projectors make two main sacrifices. The brightness, measured in ANSI lumens, will be relatively low and you'll be limited to the lower 720p HD resolution. Neither drawback need be serious, as a darkened room will be fine for the low brightness and HD movies will still look great.
2. Image quality is obviously important, but this is hard to assess from specifications alone. A high contrast ratio (over 500:1) adds depth to the picture and is usually a benefit of digital light processing (DLP) projectors rather than those using LCD technology. Many projectors use a dynamic contrast ration, which adjusts the lens's iris to adjust the brightness of the screen. This greatly improves most scenes, but dynamic contrast ratios struggle when there are both light and dark images on screen. The quality of the optics and colour balance can't be gauged without consulting a review, though.
3. Consider where you'll be using your projector; size and weight are important if the unit will be moved around a lot. You should aim for under 3kg if portability is an issue. Small rooms demand a quiet (sub-33dB) projector and a flexible throw distance; this tells you how near or far away the screen can be. Almost all projectors can mirror or rotate their image to cope with ceiling-mounting or rear projection. Look for a projector with lens shift, as this will give you the most flexibility in projector positioning, allowing you to move the projected image without distorting it.
4. Check that the projector can cope with all the signals you might want to feed it. Common video formats are supported by almost all projectors, but high-resolution VGA signals and HDMI may not be. Highly detailed images will display at their best only on pricier projectors with a 1080p (1,920x1,080) resolution.
5. The brightness of the projector will depend on where you need to use it. Projectors with 1,000 ANSI lumens are fine for darkened rooms, but for meeting rooms you should get a minimum of 1,300 ANSI lumens. Remember that brighter projectors will cost more to run as their bulbs need replacing more often. An ECO mode increases bulb life, but reduces the brightness of the projector.

Author: Expert Reviews Staff