EmailBusiness projector buyers are confronted with a sometimes bewildering array of features and functions to sort through. Some are more important than others. Before you buy, you'll want to consider the types of projectors discussed in greater detail on our "Types of Projectors" page. In short, think about LCD vs. DLP, widescreen vs. non-widescreen and contrast ratio. Here's what experts say to consider when buying an office business projector:
- Remember to figure replacement lamps into long-term cost. All projectors use replaceable lamps. Average lamp life is between 2,000 and 4,000 hours, and replacement lamps are not cheap. Most cost $300 and up.
- Consider the resolution you need. SXGA+ is currently the highest resolution available for portable projectors, but these models cost considerably more than other projectors, and many PowerPoint and video presentations don't need such a high resolution. XGA projectors provide plenty of resolution for most business purposes and cost less. SVGA projectors are even lower resolution, but can fill the bill for business buyers on a tight budget. Widescreen projectors are growing in popularity. Widescreen versions of SVGA and XGA have more horizontal pixels to achieve a 16:9 aspect ratio (or close to it).
- Match brightness to the types of room. Take into account that manufacturer specs are nearly always higher than actual performance. Experts say 1,000 to 1,500 lumens is fine for a small room with a lot of ambient light. For larger rooms, you'll want 1,500 to 2,000 lumens or higher.
- Consider contrast ratio. Again, manufacturer specs are often very different from tested performance, partly due to vague standards by which that measurement is taken. In general, business users can get by with a contrast ratio of 400:1.
- Make sure you have all the connectors you need. VGA connectors are a minimum requirement for an analog connection to a laptop or PC. DVI connectors keep the connection all digital for improved signal quality. Composite (good), S-video (better) or component (best) video connectors are used to connect to a component DVD player or another video source. HDMI- or HDCP-compliant DVI inputs are used by more and more HD components as well as some computers and laptops.
- Smaller and lighter is better. Weight and size are important issues if you travel frequently.
- Most projectors come with a zoom lens, a speaker and a remote control. Projector speakers are usually unremarkable, but most include audio ports so you can plug in speakers.
- You'll get the best image if you buy a projection screen for your projector. A wall works too, but most reviewers prefer a screen. Of course, this can add as much as a few hundred dollars to the cost and is one more thing to lug around when you travel.
Image size and brightness
Image brightness is determined by a number of factors, most notably projector brightness, screen gain, image size and the distance between the projector and screen (the throw distance). For a projected image to look first rate, it needs to have "sufficient brightness," which is defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) as between 12 and 22 foot-Lamberts (fL), with an ideal of 16 fL. That recommendation is for a dark room such as a movie theater or a home theater room with good to great light control. You'll of course need a much brighter image for a living room or conference room with more ambient light -- at least 35 fL or likely much more.
Fortunately, there are a number of good calculators on the Internet that tackle the math and make specific recommendations on optimal screen size. One of the best we've seen is at ProjectorCentral.com.
That calculator includes a database of essentially every past and present video projector. You can add information about the grain of your screen, aspect ratio and the application (movies, data, games or presentations), then see the recommended screen size and throw distance. The calculator lets you easily experiment with different throw distances and diagonal screen sizes to see how the two interact to influence screen brightness. It also reports other important information such as maximum room lighting levels for the intended use, recommended seating distances from the screen and more.
As an example, we used ProjectorCentral.com's calculator to figure maximum screen size for the Toshiba TDP-PX10U when used for data/text in a dimly lit conference room (13 foot candles). Under those conditions, the maximum screen size is roughly 106 inches diagonally. Over that, the image will not be bright enough to be viewed comfortably. By comparison, the Dell 2400MP, a brighter projector, can support a screen as large as 130 inches under the same circumstances.