Buying first digital projector

[linesider]

Help needed please

I have had a good look on the internet at reviews, advice etc and am still confused.

Projectors seem to be based on resolution i.e. VGA, SVGA, XGA, WXGA.
Today I was talking to a gentleman in PCworld and he said I should get on a forum and ask the question on resolution as he said that projector's resolution is quoted at "base standard" and some can have a much higher output. He showed me an Optoma DVD100 which had a stated VGA resolution and was HD ready. This seemed contradictory to me.

I know little about DLP, LCD and D-ILA.

My main use is for projecting digital photographs, digital slide presentations and widescreen DV from a Canon MV890 . This will be in controlled ambient light conditions mostly at home but occasionally in a hall. Max projection distance at home would be 8-9 feet. I suppose I might watch the occasional DVD.

My budget is around £500 but could be stretched a bit for the right projector.

My only contact to date has been with Projectorpoint at Kingston who suggested Optoma EP719R or Infocus 26+. Having not heard of either manufacturer I didn't commit myself.

Has anyone out there the time and patience to guide me in the right direction?

Thanks
John

[dalar]

Originally Posted by linesider

Help needed please

I have had a good look on the internet at reviews, advice etc and am still confused.

Projectors seem to be based on resolution i.e. VGA, SVGA, XGA, WXGA.
Today I was talking to a gentleman in PCworld and he said I should get on a forum and ask the question on resolution as he said that projector's resolution is quoted at "base standard" and some can have a much higher output. He showed me an Optoma DVD100 which had a stated VGA resolution and was HD ready. This seemed contradictory to me.

I know little about DLP, LCD and D-ILA.

My main use is for projecting digital photographs, digital slide presentations and widescreen DV from a Canon MV890 . This will be in controlled ambient light conditions mostly at home but occasionally in a hall. Max projection distance at home would be 8-9 feet. I suppose I might watch the occasional DVD.

My budget is around £500 but could be stretched a bit for the right projector.

My only contact to date has been with Projectorpoint at Kingston who suggested Optoma EP719R or Infocus 26+. Having not heard of either manufacturer I didn't commit myself.

Has anyone out there the time and patience to guide me in the right direction?

Thanks
John

Hello!

its funny you should mention the optoma E719R - I have the optoma DX605R - which looks identical to the E719R in looks and specs! - this was the first thing that came to mind when I read your post - its an ideal budget projector especially if your using it for stills.

Dont be fooled by the brand name, they are a very good make and known for their high quality projectors! http://www.optoma.co.uk/ .

Infocus are very good from what Ive heard from the users here but I have no personal experience of them.

[linesider]

Thanks Dalar for at least commenting on the two projectors which had been suggested by Projectorpoint.

My query might be too wide ranging for the technofiles on this forum but I really do need help to avoid making an expensive mistake.....especially on the question of how a native res VGA can also be HD ready.

[Yandros]

Linesider, you're right to question that 'HD ready' rubbish. At least the PCworld chap did the right thing and point you to a forum

That Optoma is 800x800, ie not 4:3 aspect (not widescreen) and not 'HD ready' by any stretch of the imagination. High Definition comes in two flavours - 720x1280 pixels or 1920x1080 (aka 'full HD'). Projectors broadly fall into 2 camps, bright, usually 4:3 aspect data projectors, designed for presentations in rooms with some ambient light, and 16:9 aspect home cinema projectors, which are better in darkened rooms.

Home cinema projectors will give you a higher resolution (720 lines at your target price), widescreen aspect, and a better contrast ratio. Data projectors are normally MUCH brighter, but lower contrast, and 1024x768 4:3 resolution. This doesn't stop you using it for movies, or widescreen video from a camcorder - it's just not optimised for it.

My advice would be to phone Ken at Ivojo

http://www.ivojo.co.uk

I got both my office data projector, and my home cinema projector from them, and their advice is second to none. They have a superb range of all flavours of projector, so will give you impartial advice. (They're also normally one of the cheapest places around).

[linesider]

Thanks Yandros

Will phone Ken tomorrow & see if he can help.

Your comments re-projectors optimised for specific purposes has raised another point - which is best LCD or DLP for digital photo's - I will ask Ken

[linesider]

Thanks to everybody who has helped - I've had a long chat with Ken at Ivojo and he has suggested an Optoma 727 as a good start point. I can recommend Ken as a contact especially for first time buyers like myself.

Has anyone any experience of this projector used for photographs and/or DVD's produced from a DV camcorder?

Thanks
John