Digital projector - what to look for?

[theflyingpig]

Hi all,

complete novice here, looking for a basic projector to project photos/video onto a white wall. doesn't need to do sound . .

any tips / reccomendations?

thanks!

 

[ChrisFrost]

For business or home use?

 

[theflyingpig]

well, I want to put it into my coffee shop to project photos onto a wall (that is only 1.8 metres from where projector would be . .. .)

thanks

 

[ChrisFrost]

size of screen required?

lighting conditions? - i.e. near window & in full glare of sun (in which case forget it) or towards back of store away from windows

how long on per day? - special occasions only / an hour or so a day / all day every day?

 

[OwainDIYer]

Have a look at whiteboard projectors, they have lenses designed for mounting close to the screen and high up - will minimise people getting between the projector and screen.

You have to consider access for filter cleaning and bulb changing.

 

[theflyingpig]

size of screen required?

lighting conditions? - i.e. near window & in full glare of sun (in which case forget it) or towards back of store away from windows

how long on per day? - special occasions only / an hour or so a day / all day every day?

near patio doors, but there will be a blind. on for special occasions - evening exhibitions.

ta

 

[ChrisFrost]

If you have anything less than £700-£800 budget then I'd say go with a flatscreen TV. A 42" or 50" LCD will be brighter, easier to install and offer lower running costs.

Most standard "basic" projectors in the sub £500 price bracket are designed for 4:3 projection i.e. not widescreen. They'll give a 4:3 picture of about 70cm-80cm wide (4:3 diagonal of 32"-36"). TBH, the flatscreen TV is a better option.

Short throw projectors start at roughtly £700-£800. Some will give an image as large as 2.4m wide (108" 16:9 diagonal) at a throw distance of 1.8m. The trade off is that you might not have a zoom lens - so the image size is controlled purely by the throw distance, there's no adjustment - and the second trade-off is image brightness. Making an image that large means spreading the light over a big area - hence the light per square inch of picture may well be lower than a cheaper and less bright projector making a smaller image. If you decide to go short throw then budget around £1000 to include bracket, cables, signal amp. Installation would be extra.

Lamps - No guarantee on lamp life - so take the manufacturer's estimate and halve it for budgeting purposes.