Projectors
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Our Picks for Low-Definition ProjectorsSure, HD is great, but not everybody needs it or wants to pay for it. That's where these projectors come in. Typically priced much lower, often with still very good specifications, these projectors are great for the budget-minded. |
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| Viewsonic
PJD5123 If you don't require a projector capable of HD resolution, the ViewSonic PJD5123 is really quite a good value. Classified as a portable projector with a brightness of 2700 lumens and a contrast ratio of 3000:1, the picture it produces is really quite nice. It also boasts a 5000-6000 hour bulb life, so you'll spend less on replacement bulbs over time. The downside, obviously, is that the native resolution is only 800x600 (4:3 aspect ratio) and there is no digital input. We wouldn't really recommend using this for anything other than a DVD player or Nintendo Wii, but for those situations it's really quite capable for the price. The built-in speaker is also handy for backyard theater users, and it's even 3D-ready! If you're looking for the same projector with an HDMI input, check out the PJD5133. |
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| ViewSonic PJD5223 The Viewsonic PJD5223 is very similar to the lower priced PJD5123 above, but for the extra $100 or so you get a nice upgrade: a native resolution of 1024x768 (4:3 aspect ratio). That makes this projector the better of the two if it's going to be hooked up to a computer, as 800x600 is a pretty cramped desktop. Again, if you're looking for the same projector with and HDMI input, check out the PJD5233. |
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| Epson MovieMate 62 Epson's Moviemate projectors are perfect for the beginner backyard theater enthusiast! They include a built-in DVD player and probably the best speakers you can get built into a projector. This particular model has a native resolution of 960x540, making it perfectly capable of getting the most out of DVDs. Unlike the other projectors in this category, it also has HDMI and component video inputs, so you can easily hook it up to high-definition sources, though it isn't quite able to display all the detail of HD video. At 2000 lumens, it's not quite as bright as the others in this category, but the 3000:1 contrast ratio is nice. The bulb lasts up to 5000 hours. |
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Our Picks for 720p Projectors720p projectors are in some ways the best of both worlds. You get the capability of higher resolution images without having to pay the higher cost for 1080p. Further, since 1080p video sources are not all that common (other than Blu-ray discs, there aren't a lot of other 1080p sources out yet), many people have no need whatsoever for a higher-priced 1080p projector. |
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| Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD The Epson 705HD and the Optoma HD66 (below) are both pretty good values with just some small differences. The Epson has a native resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 aspect ratio), which is just slightly different from 720p, but shouldn't make much of a difference for most users. The brightness is rated at 2500 lumens and the contrast ratio at 3000:1. It includes an internal speaker and the bulb life is rated at 4000-5000 hours. Both the Epson and the Optoma include built-in speakers. |
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| Optoma HD66 As mentioned above, the Optoma HD66 is quite comparable to the Epson 705HD with just a couple differences. The brightness rating is the same and the contrast ratio is a little higher at 4000:1. The native resolution is 1280x720 (16:9 aspect ratio), which can come in handy with some video sources. The bulb life is only rated at 3000-4000 hours, though, and the warranty is for 1 year as compared to 2 years for the Epson, which is why we would probably pick the Epson over the Optoma in most cases. Still, the HD66 is a great value and worthy of bing included on the list. |
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| Epson MovieMate 85HD It costs a bit more than the Moviemate model 62 above, but for the extra money you get the advantage of 720p resolution. If you have any interest in HD video, it's a great upgrade from the 62, and with the DVD player and nice speakers built-in, it might be worth a few extra dollars over the Epson or Optoma for that convenience. The native resolution is the same as the 705HD's 1280x800 and the brightness and contrast ratio are 2500 lumens and 3000:1, respectively. The bulb is rated up to 5000 hours. |
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Our Picks for 1080p ProjectorsIf you want to have the ability to see the most detailed picture available, a 1080p projector is your best choice. They have native resolutions capable of displaying the full high definition video sources such as Blu-ray video or the latest-generation of video games. More and more video sources are offering 1080p resolutions, so these projectors will have you best prepared for the future. |
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| Optoma HD20 If having 1080p resolution is very important to you, but you don't want to break the bank to get it, the Optoma HD20 is a great way to do so. As with most 1080p projectors, however, you'll sacrifice a few lumens of brightness. This model is rated at 1700 lumens with a contrast ratio of 4000:1, and the bulb is rated for 3000-4000 hours. |
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| Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 This Epson 8350 is really a nice projector for the money. It's the brightest of our recommended 1080p options at 2000 lumens with a very high 50,000:1 contrast ratio. One very nice feature you get with these more expensive projectors (which the Optoma does not have) is a lens shift. You can have your projector mounted way off to the side of the screen and the lens shift is able to move the picture over without a major distortion of the picture - a very, very handy feature. The bulb life is rated up to 4000 hours and it includes Epson's 2-year warranty. It's a great value in the 1080p category. |
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| Panasonic PT-AE4000U If you're willing to pay extra for a high end projector, the Panasonic PT-AE4000U is probably for you. Sure, the brightness is rated at 1600 lumens, but with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, the lower brightness should be well worth it. The bulb doesn't last quite as long - only up to 3000 hours. Not included in the numbers, however, are all of the features that Panasonic has included to create the best picture. There are too many to list here, so check out the manufacturer's webpage here. |
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Our Picks for Large Venue ProjectorsLarge venues have unique challenges for projectors. Often they do not have the best light control and need large screens. The best solution for those challenges is projectors with high brightness. The projectors in this category will have ratings that are significantly brighter than those in other categories. |
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| ViewSonic Pro8500 Viewsonic has a couple of really great options if you're looking for a projector for a large room without the best light control. The Pro8500 is the less expensive of the two. It features a native resolution of 1024x768 (4:3 aspect ratio), but if you're happy with that, you get an amazing 5000 lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of 4900:1. With built-in speakers and a bulb life of up to 4000 hours, these are pretty amazing specifications for the price. |
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| ViewSonic Pro8400 The ViewSonic Pro8400 doesn't have specifications quite as high as the Pro8500, but for the trade off you get the upgrade to 1080p resolution. This model still has great numbers, however. 4000 lumens of brightness and a 3000:1 contrast ratio are quite nice for a 1080p model, and it, as well, includes integrated speakers. Together with the 3-year warranty from ViewSonic, these two models are fantastic choices for your large venue. |
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The Do-it-Yourself Option |
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 DIYProjectorKits.com |
DIYProjectorKits.com A lot of the people who come to Carl's Place looking to build a projector screen can surely appreciate the fun and potential savings of building your own projector as well! DIYProjectorKits.com has a great forum for helping people do exactly that, as well as a store to supply all the parts you might need - even DIY projector kits to make it super easy. We definitely recommend checking them out if you're the do-it-yourself type. |
