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Top 5 Things you should consider when purchasing a Video Projector!
Video Projection Tips
Kingdom has put together this free buyer’s guide to help you learn more about video projector features and what to look for. Here are the Top 5 things you should consider when purchasing a video projector.
 | Kingdom has put together this free
buyer’s guide to help you learn more about video projector features and
what to look for.
Here are the Top 5 things you should consider when purchasing a video projector. |
1. ANSI Lumens
 ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute. ANSI Lumens is the standard for measuring the brightness of video projectors.
The brightness of a 4000 lumen video projector can be reduced to 3000, but it doesn’t work the other way around. Because of this it is always better to buy a projector with a little more power than you need. This is also helpful because as projector bulbs are used over time they lose some of their brightness. Starting with a brighter projector may allow you to use your bulbs longer.
How bright do I need?
Projectors under 3000 lumens are only recommended for use in churches which are able to block light from windows and dim or turn off their lighting. To simplify, here is a general guide for choosing the proper brightness. The following chart is based on the average amount of ambient light found in most churches.
2. Contrast
 
Contrast ratio is the ratio between the brightest and darkest areas of any image. Your room light substantially impacts contrast ratios by rendering blacks less black. With typical church lighting, a projector with a 400:1 contrast ratio and one with 1500:1 contrast ratio will look almost the same.
In most churches with the lights on, the resolution and the lumen output will be more important than contrast. However, in a darkened room, contrast ratio will become more important giving you a more realistic representation of images and video.
3. Resolution
| Resolution refers to the number of
pixels that a projector can display and can be referred to by numbers
or name. For example, 1024 x 768 resolution is also referred to as XGA.
The greater the resolution the more detail that can be shown in an
image or video.
Higher resolutions make text easier to read for
things like PowerPoint® and make pictures and video more realistic
looking and less blocky.
Let’s take a look at the three most common resolutions.
Low Resolution
• SVGA
(800 x 600) – SVGA resolution has been around for a long time and is
starting to show its age. In comparison to higher resolution
projectors, SVGA projectors produce text that can be difficult to read
and images and video that look blocky. Many manufacturers have
discontinued these projectors. I strongly recommend investing just a
little bit more and purchasing a much better XGA or even better SXGA+
projector.
Medium Resolution
• XGA
(1024 x 768) – XGA is the most common resolution you will find on most
of today’s business and presentation projectors. It works well for most
applications in today’s churches.
High Resolution
• SXGA+
(1400 x 1050) – If you want image and video quality that matches the
quality of the HDTV sets that your congregation probably has in their
homes, you want to consider an SXGA+ projector. SXGA+ projectors
display video and images that are so lifelike you feel like you can
reach out and touch them.
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4. Features
 
• Keystone Correction – If you are unable to place the projector at the exact height needed for your screen, you then need to angle the projector up or down to get it to project onto the screen. When you do this the image looks more like a trapezoid than a square (see illustration).
To fix this, projectors have what is called keystone correction. It allows you to change the shape of the image back into a square.
This can be done manually, which may take a while to set up, or on some high performance projectors automatically at the touch of a button.
 | • Zoom
– A zoom lens gives you the ability to set the projector at a
convenient location, and adjust the projected image size. The greater
the zoom the more setup flexibility you will have. Manual zoom is
physically adjusted by hand, but power zoom can be adjusted by remote
control. |
Helpful Hint: It is important to note that the more zoom you use, the more lumens you will need. The greater the distance between the projector and the screen the more light that is lost in the room. Try to place your projector as close to your screen as possible for the best looking images.
• Auto-focus – At the touch of a button, auto focus automatically measures the distance from the projector to the screen and perfectly focuses the image. This makes set-up quicker, easier, and more accurate.
• Wireless Capabilities – Some video projectors have built in wireless capabilities allowing you to send images and text wirelessly from a computer or laptop that has wireless networking capabilities. Currently wireless projector technology does not allow you to transmit video, only text and images.
 | • Inputs
– Make sure you have the inputs you need. Most projectors include
composite, S-video and VGA inputs. Other inputs may include component,
DVI or HDMI. Ask your sales representative if you have any specific
questions about what you may need.
5. Display Technologies
Now
that we understand projector specifications a little more let’s talk
about the 3 different types of technology that are used to create a
projector’s image. We’ll also look at the benefits and disadvantages of
each.
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 LCD – LCD was the first digital video projection technology created. It uses a small chip that is like a transparent screen to create the image. Light is then shot through the LCD chip and magnified by the lens.
• Benefits – Wide range of colors. Sometimes quieter fan noise than DLP™ projectors.
• Disadvantages – Pixelation is the most noticeable of these 3 technologies. Statistically lower life span than DLP™ or LCoS™ projectors. Image quality can degrade over time.
 DLP™ – DLP images are created by the lamp reflecting off of millions of tiny mirrors that are hinged on electrons. That image is then shot through a spinning “color wheel” which adds the color to the image.
• Benefits – High contrast ratio. Low pixelation. Statistically long life span.
• Disadvantages – Sometimes more fan noise than LCD or LCoS™, but not noticeable in most situations. A small percentage of people may see what is called the “rainbow effect”. Most people cannot see this.
 LCoS™ – LCoS™ is the newest and most advanced video projector display technology. Using a breakthrough technology in reflective image panels LCoS™ is able to achieve picture and video quality that was never before imaginable with LCD and DLP™.
• Benefits – High contrast ratio. No visible pixelation. Long life span. Most realistic colors of all of the display technologies. Usually higher resolution than most LCD or DLP™projectors.
• Disadvantages – Slightly larger and heavier than LCD or DLP™ projectors with similar lumen output (but once mounted you’ll never notice.)
If you have any more questions call today for professional advice and assistance! 1-800-788-1122
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