Facts to be aware of before buying a projector [Buying Guide]
Are you planning to buy a projector? If you are, then you should definitely read this content as it contains a lot of information that may prove useful to you when you are shopping for one.
TV or Projectors, which one will you choose for your home? The most obvious answer will be a projector, with the TV still on the back of your mind, largely due to the cost of buying a projector. It's everybody's dream to build a theatre-like viewing experience inside our home, and the only thing that will be stopping us will be its cost. Yes, projectors are very expensive compared to TV, but the experience it offers gives us full value for the money. It doesn't mean you can attain that experience by buying any kind of projector. That's where this article comes in handy for you. This article will make you understand certain things you should be aware of when you go shopping for buying a projector.Types of projectors
DLP and LCD are the two types of projectors out there, and they are entirely different in terms of the technology behind them. In DLP, light is employed from a light source to pass through a combination of Colour wheel and a group of mirrors to produce the image, whereas, in LCD, the light is directed to pass through two dichroic mirrors, and then to three LCD screens to finally produce the image. When projectors of both technology are compared, LCD offers a better contrast ratio, providing a much more detailed picture than DLP, and they are less expensive. But, it has more maintenance needs compared to the other.Choosing the light source
You can choose the projector with one of the light sources such as UHP lamps, laser or LED. Among these, UHP lamps are able to produce more light when compared to the other two at the same price range, meaning, a thousand-dollar UHP lamp produces more light than that of the laser and led at the same price. But, the intensity of light will never be as same as when you turned it on for the first time, as it progresses through its days. Still, it's not a reason to worry as ageing doesn't happen overnight, and takes a fair amount of time. Also, it's not very expensive, enabling you to change it very easily. When it comes to laser and LED sources, they are far more costly but last longer than UHP lamps.Few warnings
Projectors having high resolution is desirable, but it's better to choose a projector which is very bright and shows good contrast than choose one which is dim and with lower contrast. It's all about the experience, if the projector doesn't give enough quality to the details of the scene, showing grey instead of pure black, then the resolutions don't matter. We shouldn't be blown away by just checking the resolution, instead of looking at its contrast ratio and how bright it is. Another thing, you should be aware of is its zoom range, projectors which are inexpensive often carry this demerit of the limited zoom range. Most of them are only good at limited distances.Lens shift, short throw and long throw projectors
If you are going for a high-end projector, you should look for the one with a lens shift. Lens shift allows you to move your picture horizontally and vertically without altering the position of your projector. It's a good feature to have as it gives many placement options without changing the position of the projector at all. Another thing you should keep in mind is that there are two types of projectors, short throw projectors and long throw projectors, you have to decide which one is that you are going to buy. In short throw projectors, you can place the device closer to the wall and still get a full-sized image. It means you can watch the content even if you are in a cramped room. Also, you don't have to get irritated by seeing shadows of people walking in front of the projector as it is placed closer to the wall. When it comes to large rooms, you can opt for long throw projectors as there is no problem of space, and also, it is less expensive compared to short throw projectors.Summing up
When you look for a projector, you have to look beyond its resolution, and focus on the things like its contrast ratio, how bright it is, and how accurate its colours are. Do not make the mistake of buying the projector for the sake of its resolution. Also, go through your needs, whether your viewing environment is cramped or large enough, then decide on the type of projector you need, a short throw projector or long throw projector.
