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Camera Club Projectors
ProjectorPoint can help you select the right projector for your camera club or photographic society.
As slide transparency projectors become obsolete, the image quality and clarity of digital projectors becomes paramount for digital photographers looking to show their images. There a number of factors worth considering before you make a decision on which projector to purchase.
Just give us a call to find out just how easy it is to select the right
projector package along with projector screens, projector mounts and cables to make your installation professional but also cost effective.
When choosing a projector for your camera club you will want to take the following points into consideration:
|
Colour Accuracy Screen size Brightness Keystone Correction Contrast Connectivity Resolution Bulb Life |  |
If you want to do your photos justice, they need to be projected as true to the original colours as possible.
There is a still a significant difference between projectors when comparing colour accuracy. The three main projection technologies (DLP, LCD and LCoS) render colours in completely different ways which may be seen as positives by some but as negatives by others.
DLP, for instance, is traditionally strong on contrast but weak at displaying certain colours, such as yellow, accurately. LCD is generally better at colour accuracy, but only a handful of LCD projectors produce high contrast to rival DLP, and those projectors tend to be more marketed towards home cinema than photography as well as being bulkier and more expensive than high contrast DLP models. LCoS may represent a good middle ground between the two, but is by far the more expensive option, so we find most camera clubs tend to opt for DLP.
For information on specific models to consider, please contact a Projector Point sales advisor
If your preferred projector can't produce the right size image for your screen within the required throw distance then you can eliminate it from your shortlist straight away. See our screen size calculator for help on screen sizes. If the projector you're considering is not listed, please call us with the dimensions of your room, and we'll check the screen size for you.
If you only project in darkened surroundings then brightness is a less vital factor in selecting the right projector for displaying photographs. However in some cases you may need to use your projector in different environments, and need the flexibility to display images in dim and bright environments. If this is the case, we recommend that you choose a bright projector that will be able to cope with the environment you will be using it in. Please use our brightness tool to help you decide.
Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. Projectors suitable for photographic work are typically rated from 2000 lumens to 3500 lumens.
If you have very low ambient light...
If you can control the light entering the camera club, you save money buying projector with a low ANSI lumens rating. As a guide, 2000 lumens is generally suitable.
If you can't control the ambient light…
If you've got a lot of ambient light in the room and can't do anything about it, you could opt for a high brightness, high contrast projector. In really bright conditions, though, we would recommend you opt for a projector over 4500 lumens.
Keystone Correction / Lens Shift
Nearly all of the projectors at Projector Point have a keystone facilty.
('Keystoning' is the name given to the effect on the projected image when the projector sits below or above the centre of the screen. Keystone correction counteracts this effect by digitally compressing the image at the bottom or top, resulting in a more rectangular image.) .
Contrast is another major factor when deciding what projector you need for your camera club. It is measured as a 'contrast ratio', e.g. 2000:1. This tells you the difference in brightness between a 'fully on' pixel and a 'fully off' pixel. For instance, on a projector with a 2000:1 contrast ratio, and (for simplicity's sake) a 2000 lumen brightness rating, 'fully off' pixels would actually be 1 lumen in brightness.
(Incidentally, you may be wondering why a 'fully off' pixel has any brightness at all. Unfortunately there is some 'leaking' of light with all projectors which means black is not actually pitch black, which is why we keep putting quotation marks around 'fully off'!) .
So that's the technical explanation over. What does contrast actually mean to you?
Essentially, the higher contrast on a projector increases the perception of depth in the image, and means subtle colour variations show up more clearly. Hence subtle textures are more visible. It also means that darker photos don't look washed out.
Nearly all of the projectors we sell come with the following 'essential' connections:
- VGA (for connecting a PC)
- S-Video
- Composite
DVI and HDMI are less common but as more and more projectors come onto the market these inputs are starting to be included as standard.. Most digital photo enthusiasts will use the VGA output from their PC to connect to the projector and be happy with the results. However you can take advantage of digital connections such as DVI and HDMI to get even sharper images. So look out for them in the product specification sheets.
See our Connections article for more information on this subject.
Some times it may not be convenient to trail long wires from your PC to the projector so you may be interested in wireless projectors
When looking through the specifications of projectors available at ProjectorPoint, you'll notice they're generally classified as having either SVGA, XGA or SXGA+ resolution. The resolution you opt for determines how many pixels the projector can display at one time, which in turn affects the smoothness of the image.
SXGA+ resolution is superior to XGA resolution which in turn is superior to SVGA, as it displays about 63% more pixels. Of course, this also means it's more expensive.
As a minimum we would recommend a XGA projector but for photographic work you could opt for a SXGA+ projector if your budget allows it.
See our article 'Projector Resolution' for more information on this subject.
You might have noticed how expensive replacement bulbs are for projectors. With
this in mind, a long bulb life is a definite advantage.
2000 hours is about average. Some projectors go up to 6000 hours. With a lamp
module costing about £250, a 2000 hour bulb works out under 15p an hour of usage,
relatively cost effective, but may be a price consideration.
We should also stress that bulb lives quoted are typical and there does tend to be
variation in how long they last.
Your Budget...
| Budget |
Manufacturer |
Model |
Specifications |
| £400 - £600 |
Epson |
EB-X8 |
|
| £600 - £1000 |
Canon |
LV-7380 |
|
| £1000 - £2000 |
Canon |
XEED-X700 |
|
| £2000 and over |
Canon |
XEED-SX80 Mark II |
I would like a projector that..
| Features |
Manufacturer |
Model |
Specifications |
| is affordable |
Canon |
LV-7280 |
|
| is light and portable |
Optoma |
EX7155e |
|
| is wireless |
Hitachi |
CP-X2 |
|
| has a USB memory stick port |
Epson |
EB-X8 |
|
| is ideal for detailed photos |
Canon |
XEED-SX80 Mark II |
Still confused? If you need help, we're here to deliver it. Just give us a call for expert advice on choosing a projector suitable for your camera club.