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 Projectors Guide - How to choose a projector
With so many different projectors on the market it is easy to become confused.
Which projector should you
choose from the over 300 models on the market?
This quick guide has been created to help you choose. We will be answering a few questions to help you
pin point the projector that will meet your requirements.
Projectors are usually compared using four main factors:
Once these factors have been considered, you can narrow down your choice further with secondary factors such as contrast ratio, warranty, lamp life etc. (click here for more info)
Projector Brightness
Brightness is measured in ANSI (American National Standards Institute) lumens: the higher the ANSI
lumens level, the brighter the projector.
So how bright should your projector be? First you need to consider the following factors:
 Can you control the light in the room ?
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The best results, regardless of projector brightness, are obtained in a dark room; however
it is not always possible to control the light.
If you are going to use the projector in a room where there will be lighting or where
there aren't any curtains to block out the natural light, it is recommended to choose a
bright projector.
Home users are advised to use their projector in a dark room to enjoy the home cinema
experience to the full. |
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The more light there is in a room the brighter the projector will need to be in order
to compete. |
How many people will be in the room ?
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The more people in the room, the bigger the picture will need to be to ensure everyone
can see it.
Increasing the size of the picture will typically require the projector to be situated further
away from the screen reducing the image brightness as the light is spread and travelling
over a bigger area. |
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The more people in the room, the bigger the picture, the brighter the projector. |
What is your application ?
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Projecting text, graphs or any other detailed material from PC will require a brighter projector
because of the need to see and read the details of what is being projected. These
applications will also require some amount of ambient light for note-taking and communication.
Videos and TV do not need such a bright projector as they are visually less demanding
and are usually shown in darker rooms, if the projector is too bright for home cinema
this may reduce the image contrast. |
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The more detailed the image/picture, the brighter the projector. |
Once you have decided the factors of room brightness, image size and what you will be projecting, you can
decide what level of brightness is best for your application.
Less than 1000 Lumens
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Most projectors in this category are for home cinema applications as they are used in dark rooms to ensure an optimal picture quality (contrast levels).
Business projectors in this category are to be used in darkened rooms so that the image
isn't washed out by ambient light. |
1000 to 2000 Lumens
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The majority of projectors in this category are for education use, in classrooms or training rooms for example, or for home cinema use when users want to watch daytime television or prefer to keep some lights on while watching a movie.
Projectors between 1000 and 1500 lumens may need reduced lighting for better results;
projectors between 1500 and 2000 lumens do not require a totally dark or dimly lit room
to give a good picture. |
2000 to 3000 Lumens
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These projectors are suitable for large conference rooms, classrooms and portable use.
Most projectors sold to business and education users belong to this brightness range.
They will be able to cope with increased levels of ambient and natural lighting and a larger screen. |
More than 3000 Lumens
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Projectors brighter than 3000 lumens are typically used in large venues such as auditoriums,
churches, concerts etc. where a large screen is required or in very bright environments. |
Projector Resolution
The resolution is the number of pixels that make up an image - e.g. 800 x 600 means the picture is made
of 800 columns of pixels by 600 rows of pixels; for a total of 480.000 (800x600) pixels making up the whole
image. The larger the number of pixels the higher the resolution and the sharper and more detailed the
image is.
When comparing projectors, we are comparing their native resolution: most projectors are compatible with
higher source resolution through the use of compression technology, but the native resolution is the actual
number of physical pixels.
There is a range of resolutions available:
| SVGA |
800x600
480.000 pixels
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4:3 |
Entry level projector reolution which is quite popular thanks to the lower purchase cost. |
| WVGA |
854x480
409.920 px
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16:9 |
Entry level home cinema resolution, also often refered to as 480p |
| XGA |
1024x768
786.432 px |
4:3 |
Currently the most popular resolution as it is compatible with most computers and notebooks and provides good value for money. |
| HD2 |
1280x720
921.600 px
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16:9 |
Mid range home cinema resolution also known as 720p. It is the minimum resolution a projector needs to be to be HD Ready. |
| WXGA |
1280x800
1.024.000 px |
16:10 |
An increasingly popular resolution for use with widescreen laptop computers. |
| SXGA+ |
1400x1050
1.470.000 px
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4:3 |
High range resolution used for very detailed applications such as CAD drawings or video surveillance. |
| UXGA |
1600x1200
1.920.000 px |
4:3 |
High range resolution used for the most detailed applications such as technical plans or medical applications. |
| HD |
1920x1080
2.073.600 px
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16:9 |
High range home cinema resolution also known as 1080p. This resolution is true HD resolution. |
| 2K |
2048x1080
2.211.840 px |
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The highest commercial home cinema resolution. The high cost of these projectors make them accessible only to the wealthiest people. |
What resolution is best for you?
Projectors are compatible with different resolutions, converting different input resolution to the native output
resolution. This process is called 'scaling'.
However, scaling always causes a loss of picture quality: it is not as sharp and detailed. This happens not
only when the projector is of lower resolution than the source but also when the projector is of higher resolution.
Therefore it is always advised to match the projector resolution to the source's resolution (e.g. if you are
using an XGA laptop you should if possible use an XGA projector). This will ensure you are getting the
sharpest and cleanest image.
Another factor in choosing the right resolution for your projector is the typical application:
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If you are using the projector for 'Powerpoint' type applications, you don't need a very high resolution;
SVGA should be enough. |
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If you are using the projector for numeric data presentations, 'Excel' spreadsheets etc. where the
image needs to be clearer, XGA is recommended. |
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If you are projecting highly detailed technical data such as engineering drawings, or high end photography,
SXGA or UXGA resolutions would be best. |
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If you are using a widescreen computer or are buying a projector for home cinema, choose a widescreen projector that will match the computer resolution or the quality of video you would like to have. |
Projector Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of an image to its height.
Projectors are divided between 4:3 (computer monitor shape) and 16:9 (widescreen TV shape) aspect
ratios.
The 4:3 projectors are mainly used for business purposes to use with a computer.
The 16:9 projectors are used for home cinema or to project DVDs.
There is also a 16:10 aspect ratio seen in widescreen business projectors. These projectors have been designed for use with widescreen computers, although they are also used by home users.
Most projectors, whether they are 4:3, 16:10 or 16:9, are compatible with other aspect ratios. A simple option in
the projector menu will switch the picture between formats. It is however not recommended to use a projector
in a format other than its native aspect ratio as it will stretch the image or it will miss parts of the
picture.
The ideal aspect ratio depends on the application:
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If you are going to use the projector mainly for business presentations, training, classroom application
etc. with a standard computer it is advised to choose a 4:3 projector. |
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If you are using the projector with a widescreen computer it is recommended
to choose a 16:10 projector. |
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If you are using the projector for home cinema or to project DVDs to an audience, it is recommended
to choose a 16:9 projector. |
Projector Weight
The more advanced and powerful the projector, the heavier it is.
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If you are planning on using your projector on the road, you might need to consider its weight. A
lighter, more portable machine around 1 - 2 kg would be more suitable. |
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If you don't intend to move the projector a lot but still want the option or it is more important to
have a more powerful projector, you can look at projectors between 2 and 5 kg. |
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If your projector is going to be installed, the weight is not an issue and you should ignore it and concentrate
on other cost or performance factors. |
Once you have answered these four questions (brightness, resolution, aspect ratio and weight), you should
be able to shortlist a few projectors.
To determine which one is best, you can also consider the following factors:
Technology
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There are two types of technology - LCD and DLP. Both can be used for any application
and give good results.
However DLP projectors are usually preferred for video applications because they give
a smoother/softer image while LCD projectors are ideal for data/computer application
because they are sharper and often brighter.
To learn more about DLP and LCD technology and help choosing between the two, check our guide on DLP projectors vs LCD projectors here. |
Contrast Ratio
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This is the ratio between white and black. The larger the contrast ratio the greater the
ability of a projector to show subtle colour details and tolerate extraneous room light. |
Inputs and Outputs
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If you are planning on using multiple computer or video inputs it is recommended to
choose a dual input projector. This will save you switching input every time you want to
change the source which can be difficult if you projector is installed out of the way or
can be inconvenient during a presentation. |
Warranty
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Each manufacturer has a different warranty policy. It is important to know which level
of warranty you expect in case your projector develops a fault. It is worth paying a little
bit more to know that if you have a problem the manufacturer will come within 24hrs
to pick up your projector while giving you a loan unit while your machine is being
repaired rather than having to send the unit yourself and wait a few weeks without a
replacement. |
Lamp Life and Price
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Depending on the use of the projector, the lamp will have to be replaced from every few
months to every few years. Most lamps last on average 2000hrs but some claim to last
up to 5000hrs. Prices vary but some lamps cost around £300. It is therefore
important to take into consideration the price and life of the projector lamp. |
Audible Noise
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Projectors produce noises because of their fans. Most projectors are no louder than a normal
computer, but some are very quiet producing a low 25dB. This is an important factor
for home users as fan noise could distract from the movie. |
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