Turn your home wall into a real cinema or give a presentation in the classroom – all this can be done with a projector. However, how it will satisfy your needs depends on the characteristics. When buying a projector, you can make several critical mistakes – we will talk about them in detail.
Select wrong projector type
If you have studied the range of devices, you have probably noticed an incredible range of prices and even sizes. In an attempt to save money or vice versa, to get completely unnecessary functions, users order the wrong projector.
A common mistake is to buy a portable projector to watch movies at home. Users are guided by the opinion that such models are light, compact and inexpensive – a great option for the home. But in practice, they have very low brightness, low resolution, and most importantly, a limited list of interfaces. You will not be able to get a high-quality picture or connect your gadget to advanced acoustics.
Portable projectors with high-quality images are sold, but their cost is several times higher than typical models designed specifically for home cinema. Don’t be fooled by the modest price tag of portable projectors if you’re looking for a home theater machine.
Another mistake is, on the contrary, to order a device that is too advanced, the capabilities of which will be redundant. For example, an office or school projector can be forgiven for poor color reproduction or low contrast. Such models are usually designed to show a static picture at close range, so inexpensive LCD models can be purchased. But 3LCD and especially LCoS devices for office presentations are usually an unjustified luxury.
Projector Cactus CS-PRE.09B.WVGA black
[LCD, 800×480, 350:1, 1200 lm, 1.5 kg]
6 099 ₽ *
44
3
The only exception will be projectors for large conference rooms, especially if you plan to show graphic content or videos. In this case, color reproduction, contrast and high resolution matter.
Underestimate the dimensions of the projector
Choosing the right projector according to its characteristics and price for your tasks is important. But against the backdrop of all this, do not forget about its weight. This applies to those users who care about portability.
1Z0-078
1Z0-076
C1000-074
JN0-451
C_IBP_2211
H35-460
C_TADM_22
C_TS450_2020
C_SAC_2221
1Z0-811
QSSA2021
C_HCMOD_03
1Z0-1110-22
RCDDv14.1
DEA-2TT4
QSDA2021
SAP-C02
AgilePM-Foundation
C_TS460_2021
LRP-614
For example, you buy a projector for your own use for presentations and often walk around classrooms, lecture halls, and so on. In this case, you have a choice between pocket and portable models. The first ones weigh no more than a kilogram and are suitable for those who do not pursue picture quality. They are about the size of your palm and really fit in your pocket.
Philips PicoPix Nano projector black
[DLP, 640×360, 500:1, 100 lm, Wi-Fi, 0.136 kg]
18 999 ₽ *
Portable models usually weigh no more than three kilograms and are the same size as a laptop. Many of them come with handy bags that make transporting the projector a breeze.
But the heaviest projectors weigh up to 10 kilograms, and it is clearly inconvenient to carry them on an ongoing basis.
Compare brightness of projectors
Projector specifications indicate brightness in lumens. However, there is a slight nuance here. For example, you can meet ANSI-lumen and just lumen – what’s the difference?
The ANSI lumen measurement method has been standardized. This value reflects the brightness of the image projected onto the screen. Measurements are taken in nine different zones, after which the final result is displayed using a special formula.
And how are ordinary “lumens” measured? It all depends on the manufacturer. Someone indicates the peak brightness in the center, the most unscrupulous brands even name the brightness of the light source, and not the projected image.
Accordingly, only ANSI lumens can be compared with each other, since their measurement is standardized. Many do not know this and try to evaluate the brightness by the characteristics when they have models with ANSI lumens and “regular” ones in front of them. The same value absolutely does not guarantee the same luminous flux.
Okay, so how do you convert ANSI lumens to normal lumens then? There is no exact formula, since the measurement of the latter for each brand is carried out according to its own methods. However, on average, 1000 LED Lumens corresponds to 415 ANSI Lumens (a factor of about 2.4).
Select a low brightness projector
The previous mistake usually leads users to buy a projector with poor light output. Since not all manufacturers indicate ANSI lumens, it can be very difficult to estimate the actual brightness. As a result, the purchased projector creates such a dim picture that it is almost impossible to see the image.
The solution to the problem is to focus on ANSI lumens first of all. For bright rooms with lots of windows and no dimming option, you will need projectors from 3000 ANSI Lumens. If there are few windows and they can be covered (curtains, blinds), a 2000-2500 ANSI Lm model will suffice. But for dark rooms without bright extraneous light sources, 1000 ANSI Lm is enough.
If ANSI values ​​are not specified, then two options remain. Either evaluate the brightness of the picture in practice, or use an approximate conversion to ordinary lumens using the previously described formula.
Obsess over lamp life
Many buyers are afraid of projectors with lamps – supposedly they are short-lived, and instead of replacing the lamp, it’s even easier to buy new equipment. First, the cost is actually not that big. On average, a new lamp will cost you in the worst cases up to 30% of the cost of the projector, and for most inexpensive models – in the region of 10-15%.
Secondly, the minimum lamp life of the cheapest projectors is from 6000 hours. Let’s assume that you use the equipment eight hours a day, which even for office use is considered harsh operating conditions. In this case, the resource will last for 750 days! That is, two years without days off, and even at maximum power.
Projector Rombica Ray Box W1 white
[LCD, 1280×720, 2000:1, 2500 lm, Wi-Fi, 1.42 kg]
9 999 ₽ *
159
5
In practice, users often set the eco mode (half power), and this doubles the resource to 12,000 hours – about four years. Simply put, for home and even office use, you definitely don’t need to worry about the accelerated consumption of the lamp resource.
Choose a projector with the wrong focal length
One of the most common mistakes. To obtain an image of the desired size, the projector must be placed at a certain distance from the screen. So if you choose the wrong focal length, then the technique will have to be placed, for example, outside the room. And if the place for the device has already been determined on the ceiling, then such errors are unacceptable.