 Project yourself!
By Theo Boshoff
Projectors are having a big impact on the way we watch movies, sport or even PowerPoint presentations these days, but how do you know which projector is best for what purpose?
The way we watch movies at home has evolved in a big way. First it was the 8mm reel-to-reel projectors of old, then cathode ray TVs, to the new wave of flat-screen LED TVs - and now back to projectors again. This time around, we are talking digital high definition projectors, which pull the viewer right into the action.
It seems that there is, however, confusion on which projector is best for what, given the fact that there are both data projectors and theatre projectors on the market.
According to Kelvin Reynolds, general manager of Epson Southern Africa, the main differences between theatre and data projectors have to do with contrast ratios and picture noise - when it comes to moving images - as well as the various connections to other home entertainment devices.
Says Reynolds: “In Epson home theatre projectors, you’ll find high contrast ratios, for example 75 000:1, a host of connectivity options including HDMI, and features like DeepBlack technology and customised gamma adjustment.” DeepBlack technology allows for a deeper black (jet black) colour to be displayed and customised gamma adjustments means the user can change the hue and saturation levels of an image to best represent real-life colours.
Contrast ratio
From a business perspective, Reynolds says, projectors are more about portability and easy set-up. In other words, when presenting at a meeting or conference, people need a projector that is compact, light, durable and easy to set up.
Another aspect one should look at is whether a projector is a liquid crystal display (LCD), digital light processing (DLP), or liquid crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projector. LCD projectors have better colour saturation and brightness, and display much more detailed images, while DLPs show less pixilation and are smaller in size. LCoS combines the strengths of both DLP and LCD projectors.
Kalvin Subbadu, LG’s channel manager for IT sales, says: “Theatre projectors provide a much higher contrast ratio and resolution than data projectors. Home theatre projectors also support HD and full HD and have audio allowing for better sound when watching movies.”
Brightness is key when choosing a projector, so one need to look at the ANSI lumens count. The general rule is the higher the lumens, the brighter and better the image, but it also depends on the size and amount of ambient light in a room. An average-sized living room would need at least a 1 200 ANSI lumens count. Larger spaces will need higher lumens.
Projector lamps are fairly expensive and typically last between 2 000 to 4 000 hours. An average household will run a projector for about eight hours a week if they watch movies and run it for the occasional special occasion. Taking this into account, the projector lamp should last just under five years, but with upkeep and regular cleaning, it could be longer.
Native resolution and the pixel count of a signal (the content) are also important to look at, along with aspect ratios. Native resolution refers to the fixed number of pixels on a projector's display chip - basically the highest resolution the projector can physically handle. Pixel resolution deals with the digital content's (signal) pixel count that must be scaled to work with the projector's native resolution. These days, for better-quality movies, higher definition is better. With the growth in HD home theatre equipment and content coming to market, it will also be better to go for the highest resolution you can afford.
WXGA-H projectors with 1 280 x 720 resolution and 921 600 pixels are above average and good choices. HD resolution projectors are capable of 1 080p (1 920 x 1 080) resolution, affording better quality - at a bigger price tag.
The most common aspect ratios for projectors are 4:3, 5:4 and 16:9. The same as most TV and PC screens, 4:3 aspect ratio is currently the average all-rounder for home theatre. The projectors sporting 16:9 native aspect ratio are designed primarily for home theatres, as widescreen DVD and HDTV signals are encoded in this format.
In general, data projectors are more geared towards displaying static images and information to large crowds and are not really made for moving images like HD movies. We recommend you stick with a home theatre device and call in the experts to help you make the final choice. This will depend on your home or room environment, as well as the content you plan to watch.
Epson EH-TW3500 HD Projector
Digital Life says: Not the best-looking projector around and a bit big, but the colour output is very true to life and the images are crystal-clear
- Projection system: 3LCD
- Resolution: 1 080p (1 920 x 1 080)
- Brightness: 1 800 ANSI
- Contrast ratio: 35 000:1
- Native Aspect Ratio: 16:9
LG CF181D Home Cinema Projector
Digital Life says: This is a sexy beast of a projector that is light on its feet. The image quality is fantastic, with no distortion whatsoever. Colours also appear vividly brilliant, but it's very pricy.
- Projection system: Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) or SXRD
- Resolution: 1 080p (1 920 x 1 080)
- Brightness: 1 800 ANSI
- Contrast ratio: 36 000:1
- Native Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Acer H5360 Projector
Digital Life says: It’s not the best-looking of the lot, but does its job well. It's nice and light and perfect for mobility. The colours appear a little dull, and the brightness when compared with the other two is below average. But for its specifications and price, it does a stellar job.
- Projection system: DLP
- Resolution: 720p (1 280 x 720)
- Brightness: 2 500 ANSI
- Contrast ratio: 32 000:1
- Native Aspect Ratio: 16:9
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