The days when projection systems were only meant for the boardroom are long gone. The technology is continually improving and with it, prices are dropping as well. Today, portable projection systems are gradually finding more space in homes. In this piece, we take a look at tips that will help you make the right choice as you go about buying your portable projection system.
Consider the Lumens
The lumens count is the first place you should look when you are buying a portable digital projector. Lumen is the unit for measuring brightness in portable projection systems. This means that higher numbers equates to higher pictures. Many portable projectors offer between 300 and 1,500 lumens of brightness. If you intend to use your projector in dark rooms only, you should consider buying projectors with lower number of lumens. If you intend to use it in a fully lit room or a larger projection surface, a portable digital projector with 1,500 lumens or more will serve you better.
Consider the Display Type
Portable projection systems generally come in different resolutions and make use of different technologies to create the images. The two main projection system display technologies are LCD and DLP.
DLP is a better choice if you intend to view videos through the projector. It also has deeper black levels than LCD making presentations look sharper. However, none of these will present image that can rival what is produced on HDTV. HDTV ensures you won’t have to deal with blur or ghosting as seen when viewing fast-moving images over projection systems but it is very costly especially for people that really can’t tell the difference. Here is more on choosing between DLP and LCD.
Consider the Lens Type
On a portable projection system, the lens can have a strong effect on the sharpness of the image projected on screen. In smaller spaces however, most projector lenses can provide very sharp images. The main options available when choosing a lens type is a plastic or glass lens. Even though a glass lens makes the projector heavier, it delivers sharper images and it is more durable. Regardless of what type you go for, make sure you choose a lens that has a manual focus wheel. The wheel should be easy to adjust but stiff enough to stay in position when adjusted.
Other Important Considerations
If you will have your projector with you are on your travels frequently, you need to make sure it is lightweight and very easy to set up. DLP projection systems weigh less than their LCD counterparts but they cost more. However, it is still a good idea to allow image quality and connectivity to influence your decision making before weight is considered.
Again, you need to watch out for projectors that have buttons placed on top of a portable digital projector. It will be easier for you to reach these during a presentation than those placed under or by the sides of the projector. Make sure connection ports include VGA ports for computers, composite video, HDMI and analogue video. This will give you flexibility.
A portable digital projector should have a durable and shock resistant case that won’t be affected by airport screenings or unintentional drops. If the projector features remote controls, watch out for a built-in laser pointer.
