Business Markets

Guide to Choosing a Projector for Presentations

Editor

When choosing a projector, you have to take into account different aspects that are very important. Here, we describe the most important points so that the choice of a projector is easier given the number of models that are on the market. it works similar principle like prescription sunglasses at Designer Optics

1. Format

There are two formats: 4:3 and 16:9 (panoramic). The choice of format we need is very simple: if we want the projector for home use (cinema, TV or video games) the most recommended is a projector with 16:9 format since it is the same format as the content we are going to project.

If we are going to use it for the projection of photographs, power points or presentations, being the most common use in education or business, we will have to choose a 4:3 projector since this will be the same format as the content that we are going to project.

To clarify, any projector can project in either format but if the content format is different from that of the projector, the projection will be of inferior quality.

2. Brightness

We must bear in mind that a projector is projecting light and therefore the most advisable is always that the projection place is completely dark or as dim as possible. If this is not possible, we need a projector capable of projecting with a lot of light (a very powerful projector) and therefore the price will be much higher. The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens. Take into account the following:

  • Projections in absolute darkness: any brightness would suffice.
  • Projections in a room with some light: it is recommended that the projector have between 2500 and 3000 lumens of brightness.
  • Projections in very bright places (always with electric lighting, not natural): between 3500 and 4000 lumens of brightness are recommended.
  • Very distant projections or with natural lighting: projectors of professional range with 6000-7000 lumens are recommended.

It must also be taken into account that the greater the distance of the projection, the more brightness is lost.

3. Projection size and projection distance

We must consider the projection distance and the size of the screen since both will depend a lot on each other. The greater the distance of the projection, the greater the screen size we can achieve, but also the more brightness we will lose and, if the resolution is not adequate, we will have a poor-quality projection.

The height of the projection will always be defined by the width and format in which we project (4:3 or 16:9).

In order to know the projection distance we need for a screen size or the projection width that we will obtain at a specific distance, we need to calculate the projection area; that is, if you know the distance between the projector and screen, you can calculate what screen size will be obtained from a particular projector. Most manufacturers supply this data, or an app for such calculations.

The correct positioning of the projector should be in the exact center of the horizontal of the screen (from left to right), the optics of the projector must be exactly in the middle. And it should be placed parallel to the top or bottom white part of the screen with respect to the vertical, (from top to bottom), the optics of the projector must be at the same height as where the white part of the top of the screen begins (if we have the projector on a ceiling projector mount) or at the same height as the white lower part of the screen (if we have the projector on a table).

If the projector is not positioned in this way, the projected image will be distorted and trapezoidal.

4. Budget

The budget that we have in mind can also be a very important fact when choosing a projector, since we do not want to exceed the budget, but we want to make sure we have all the features we are looking for.

A projector with very high technical specifications and quality will logically also have a higher price tag than a basic projector designed for simpler projections.