We're shopping for projectors for our video bridge project in Lithuania with the Atzalynas club.

What are good prices for these? What might be better models that we might buy? Where are there links to reviews? Sasha: I am researching projectors for video bridging project. Here I will put all the info I find usefull concerning this.

Advice

Very good site explaining what is important: http://www.tvspecialists.com/corporate/guide_proj.php

I think you should read it Andrius.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/resources/lumen-guide.asp comparing lumens/size of screen

This is the link for a search engine which can be used to find projectors with needed features. http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm Very Useful I was only afraid that this was not updated regularly and have contacted them by e-mail. They responded: "We fully update every manufacturer every sixty days, and we post new products as soon as they are announced. Pricing is updated monthly."

Desired Features

• Brightness: 2500-4000 Lumens
• Resolution: XGA 1,024 x 767 pixels or higher SXGA 1,280 x 1,024, SXGA+ 1,400 x 1,050, UXGA 1,600 x 1,200
• Contrast ratio 1500:1
• Video Signal Standards: HDMI, DVI-I, or DVI-D (I am not sure how much this is important but it is said that newer computer graphic cards are supporting this standard)
• Zoom lens
• OpticalLensShift eliminates the keystone effect
• Aspect ratio 4:3 (this is ratio for computers, it is the ratio of screen size width / height )
• There are two competing technologies DLP and LCD, and some reviews suggest that DLP is better for video displaying and LCD for general computer use [1]
• Audio

something more about features

Brightness: Things to consider

• How many people will typically be in the room?
• How much light is in the room?
• What kind of projection screen is available?
• What is your application?

Weight? - should this projector be movable or not?

Contrast: Contrast is the ratio between the brightest and darkest areas of the image. Contrast ratios should be high (1500:1 or higher) to get the best video or photo image. . Contrast ratio is more important for dark rooms because in well lighted rooms lumen output is more important than contrast ratio. So I think this is not too important

Video Signal Standards (Sasha: This is something I don't understand well so will just copy and past for you to check): Most business projectors accept composite video, S-video, and computer/RGB signals as three types of signal transmission. Most projectors also recognize YPbPr/YCbCr component video as well. However, there are two all-digital standards known as DVI and HDMI. Many new computer video cards feature DVI or HDMI output, which allow the user to keep the signal in the digital domain and eliminate analog to digital conversions. If you are interested in optimizing video performance and you have a video source that offers DVI or HDMI output, check to see which of the projectors on your list possess a digital input. The spec sheet may say HDMI, DVI-I, or DVI-D.

Multiple Computer Ports: If you want to connect multiple computers or video sources to the projector simultaneously, you will need multiple input jacks to accommodate this. For example, you may want to connect a notebook computer and a desktop computer to support two consecutive presentations, or two different presenters. If your projector only has one computer source, you'll have to unplug the notebook and plug in the desktop between presentations. Check to make sure the projector has enough connections to support your typical use. some of the additional features

Keystone Correction: This is the ability to make a digital change to video signal because of position of the projector toward the screen. This is good and bad. It can make things easier but it can also lower the quality of video signal. SashaMrkailo June 12, 2007 10:33 CET Comments: BENQ MP721 does not have “Optical Lens Shift “ , that means this is a possible trouble if you want to keep the projector movable. This is especially important if your projectors should be mobile.

Under normal circumstances, a projector, when set up, will create a "perfectly" rectangular image from only one angle, relative to the projector screen. We all have been in rooms with overhead projectors in use, and recall that the image is always much wider at the top than the bottom, that trapizoidal shape is usually referred to as Keystoning. ... Many projector shoppers (both business projectors and home theater projectors) have been aware of Digital Keystone Correction which allows you to project a rectangular image instead of a keystoned image. This is accomplished by using a "compression "compression technology" to modify the image, so that the top line of pixels isn't fully utilized. ... While this is virtually unnoticeable on a business Powerpoint presentation with really large type, it can easily degrade your video image when viewing movies, etc. ... So the bottom line, variable Lens Shift, is the best way to keep your image rectangular, unless you can place the projector right where it needs to be in terms of height.' http://www.projectorreviews.com/advice/general/opticalkeystone.asp

Zoom lens: A zoom lens gives you the ability to set the projector at a convenient location, and adjust the projected image size. Many of the micro-portables have zoom lenses with limited range. A unit with a zoom factor of 1.2:1 will only let you adjust picture size by 20%. You can often move the projector a foot or two either way and accomplish the same adjustment. If you have a fixed screen size you are trying to fill, even a limited range zoom will make it easier to fine tune the image size to the screen. If you plan on projecting in many different environments, you may wish to invest in a projector with a more versatile zoom range, which will allow for more placement flexibility. Zoom lenses range from 1.1:1 up to 2.0:1 or more. The higher the number, the greater the zoom range.

Models

Here are some models we're looking at:

4000 Lumens

Optoma EP780, 4000 Lumens, 3000:1 contrast, DLP, XGA, 3.6 kg, 32 db, lamplife 2000 hrs.

• http://www.projectorpoint.co.uk/projectors/Optoma_EP780.html 1071 GBP Andrius: We almost bought this for 1486 EUR but I decided for our video bridge work I wanted the functionality to show two screens at once.

Toshiba TDP-T355 3500 Lumens, 2000:1 contrast, 1024 x 768, DLP technology, Trapezoid correction - automatic vertical, also horizontal, component and composite video. 1772 EUR This is the model we bought in Lithuania. The main reason is that - aside from showing well - it can show views from two computers at once, either side by side or picture in a picture. This should help us integrate video and chat, for example.

Optoma EP773 3500 Lumens, 2200:1 contrast, 1024 x 768, DLP technology, color reproduction RGBYW, noise 30/34 dB, lamplife 2000-3000 hours, standard ratios 4:3/16:9, Trapezoid correction, weight 3.2 kg, ports (DVI-D HDCP, VGA D-Sub 15 pin IN-OUT + VGA through SCART, S-Video, Composite 1xRCA, Stereo Audio in 2xRCA, control port RS232 Mini-DIN), carrying case, 3 year warranty. Quoted price: 1216 EUR (PrezentacijuSpektras)

• Optoma EP773 at AboutProjectors
• Optoma EP773 919 GBP says 3500 Lumens
• Optoma EP773 799+VAT GBP says 2500 Lumens though! but other sites say 3500 Lumens

Optoma TX775 3500 Lumens, 2300:1 contrast, native 1024 x 768 maximum 1400 x 1050, noise 31/33 db, lamplife 2000-3000 hours, weight 3.3 kg Projector Central, FirstShipped: January 2007, StreetPrice: 1896 USD

NEC NP1000 3500 Lumens 1024x768 4,000 USD

3000 Lumens

Dell 2400MP, 3000 Lumens, Contrast 2100:1, 1024 x 768, Weight 2.5 kg

• http://markt.pcwelt.de/dell/DELL-2400MP_p__6853563_c__1050.prd 1400 EUR
• http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/proj_2400mp?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1 1067 GBP

Casio XJ-S35 2000/2500 Lumens, 1800:1 contrast, 1024 x 768 XGA, extra lenses (2x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom), weight 1.8 kg, lamplife 2000 hrs. / 3000 hrs., can show presentation from USB drive. Andrius: I'm considering buying this for 1181 EUR.

Optoma DX733 2500 Lumens, 2500:1 contrast, 1024 x 768 XGA, DLP technology, noise 28 dB, lamplife 4000 hrs, standard ratios 4:3/16:9, Trapezoid correction, weight 2.0 kg, audio 1 x 2W, ports (SCART RGB <-> VGA, PC/Video: DVI-HDCP, 2 x 15 pin D-Sub VGA (RGB/YPbPr/SCART), 1 x S-Video, 1 x Composite, 1 x 3.5mm mi) Quoted price: 959 EUR (PrezentacijuSpektras)

• AboutProjectors says it is out of production

2000 Lumens

Andrius: This is the model that I bought for DavidEllison-Bey in Chicago: Optoma EP719 DLP Portable Projector 2000 on sale for 620 USD (after rebate) in the US.

HITACHI ED-X20 XGA (1024 X 768) 2000ANSI 3X LCD 500:1. 1,8kg, 2 year warranty http://multi.gnt.lt/Pages/brochures/Hitachi/ED-X20.pdf Suggested by PranasLaurinavicius of http://www.gks.lt 695 EUR

EPSON EMP-X3 - 2000ANSI XGA (1024 X 768) 3XLCD 400:1. 2,6kg. https://multi.gnt.lt/Pages/brochures/Epson/V11H177040.pdf Mentioned by Rytis Umbrasas, PranasLaurinavicius of http://www.gks.lt 804 EUR

MP611C 2100 2100 Lumens, 800x600, 666 EUR at BMS Megapolis in Vilnius, Lithuania

PANASONIC PT-AX100U 2000 ANSI Lumens High Definition Home Cinema Projector Contrast 6000:1 HDTV 1080p/60 Warranty 1 year 2000 US$

Inexpensive projectors

Torpedo projector: $180, Odd resolution - 920 x 240. the 60” image can be displayed from a little over eight feet from the wall surface LucasGonzalez, November 1, 2007

Reviews

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/projectors/0,39037572,39272222p,00.htm

This is a projector "editors choice" Panasonic PT-AX100

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/office/portable-digital-projectors/index.html great review, easy to read easy to understand. http://www.consumersearch.com/www/office/portable-digital-projectors/review.html same

expotv.com Homemade video reviews of projectors

Buying in Lithuania

In Lithuanian, look for the word projektoriai.

• http://www.prezentacijos.lt/christiedigital/

Make your own projector

• DIY Projector on the Cheap
• Home Theater for under $500

thoughts

Examples

EES Video Conferencing Center, they are using suspended from the ceiling a Mitsubishi Model X490U 2600 Lumens digital projector which is out of production. Just an example how thinks are arranged, although it seems that this room is more for presentation than for videoconferencing. http://www.ees.nmt.edu/equipment/msec202.html