Bread Pitt
Member
As most people do not hesitate to invest sometimes a lot of money in the projector, the quality of the projector is often overlooked! But, we must be aware that what conditions the result is the weakest link in the video chain. So, this buying guide aims to help you choose your projector better, in particular the projection screen, because you have to recognize that it is a real jungle!
1. The brightness decreases as the projector moves back
This idea has been propagated on the Net, in particular on specialized forums, but it is very bad to know the laws of physics to assert this! The confusion undoubtedly comes from the comparison with the sound, but a luminous flux (in lumens) does not behave in the same way. Indeed, in a transparent medium the luminous flux is preserved. In other words, if a screen placed 5 meters from the projector receives 2000 lumens, it will receive the same luminous flux at 10 meters. Of course, this physical law only applies if the propagation medium is perfectly transparent, and if you throw a smoke into the room, or if you smoke, the light flux will be attenuated.
For the anecdote I happened to install projectors more than 10 meters from the screen, the light flux received on the latter was exactly that expected, without attenuation.
2. All white canvases are the same
It is very wrong! There is really "food and drink" in the market for white projection screens. It goes from very bad, it is quite common, with a very "dirty" image, to the excellent, but obviously the price is not the same! You do not know what to choose ? Well ask me !
3. Darkness is enough to have a good contrast
It is necessary but not sufficient. You only have to look at how cinemas are made to be convinced. Admittedly, they all benefit from fairly good darkness (no windows in the room), but in addition their ceiling, floor and walls are made up of dark colors. In addition, they never contain white, so those who believe they will have good intra-image contrast with a white ceiling because they project in the dark, delude themselves.
4. Video projection is expensive!
Some people use a projector at 500 € and project on a white wall, with a fairly correct result and often better than at the cinema, so we can't really say that video projection is overpriced. Of course, prices can go up quite quickly according to your level of requirement, but with a little luck, or with good knowledge in this field, we can achieve remarkable things with relatively little means. On the other hand, you must avoid relying on the big names because the sellers know nothing about it! Call in the specialists, and you will not be disappointed.
5. Video projection will disappear in favor of giant TV screens
Above 65 inches TVs often become overpriced, and in my opinion this is not about to change! Admittedly, I am not a soothsayer, but we can legitimately think that in the short or medium terms, video projection will remain the best way to have a giant image at a reasonable price. In addition, we must be aware that in the field of image size matters! Indeed, one can have the impression that a 65 inch TV is almost the same as a 2 meter wide projection screen, and yet the image area (in 16: 9) goes almost simple double! And believe me, in terms of immersion it changes everything!
6. Video projection is made for large rooms
I often hear: "I can't do video projection at home because my room is too small". Of course, I'm not saying that you can do video projection in a broom closet, but a 10 m² room can do the trick, whether with an ultra short throw projector or standard focal length.
7. The quality of the projector is crucial for having a good image
I am not saying that the quality of the projector does not matter, but the most important point in video projection remains the couple environment / canvas. For example, in a room with a white ceiling and light walls, there is no point in investing crazy sums in the projector if you are projecting on a white canvas.
8. A technical canvas is made to project in the presence of ambient light
"If you project in the dark then you don't need a technical canvas", how many times have I heard this stupidity that each time makes me curl my stroke? Admittedly, a technical canvas will withstand ambient light better than a white canvas, because it will better preserve blacks, but having a white ceiling is generally sufficient reason to use this kind of canvas. This error (of beginner) undoubtedly comes from a bad interpretation of the English term: "ambient light rejection". This is why I prefer to use the term "light control fabric" since its role is precisely to control light in an environment where light is not controlled.
9. With a technical canvas the piece is plunged into darkness
Some people are disappointed after buying a technical screen, thinking that it would plunge the room in the dark as if they were in a dedicated black room from floor to ceiling. It is a lot to ask of a technical canvas, which allows to have almost the same intra-image contrast as a white canvas in a dark room, and that is already a lot! Admittedly, the room will be much less lit than if a white canvas was used, but in no case will it plunge the room in the dark.
10. You must have a dedicated room to have good contrast
As long as the projection is done in the dark, we obtain roughly the same intra-image contrast thanks to a technical canvas, even in a living room with a white ceiling and light walls, so no need to have a dedicated room to have fun! In addition, I have very often seen much more beautiful images in the living room than in certain dedicated rooms badly designed, so you have to be careful with projector .
You shouldn't see in my comments a formal attack on dedicated rooms because I like it too, but there are effective and more affordable alternatives, so quality video projection is not synonymous with dedicated room.
1. The brightness decreases as the projector moves back
This idea has been propagated on the Net, in particular on specialized forums, but it is very bad to know the laws of physics to assert this! The confusion undoubtedly comes from the comparison with the sound, but a luminous flux (in lumens) does not behave in the same way. Indeed, in a transparent medium the luminous flux is preserved. In other words, if a screen placed 5 meters from the projector receives 2000 lumens, it will receive the same luminous flux at 10 meters. Of course, this physical law only applies if the propagation medium is perfectly transparent, and if you throw a smoke into the room, or if you smoke, the light flux will be attenuated.
For the anecdote I happened to install projectors more than 10 meters from the screen, the light flux received on the latter was exactly that expected, without attenuation.
2. All white canvases are the same
It is very wrong! There is really "food and drink" in the market for white projection screens. It goes from very bad, it is quite common, with a very "dirty" image, to the excellent, but obviously the price is not the same! You do not know what to choose ? Well ask me !
3. Darkness is enough to have a good contrast
It is necessary but not sufficient. You only have to look at how cinemas are made to be convinced. Admittedly, they all benefit from fairly good darkness (no windows in the room), but in addition their ceiling, floor and walls are made up of dark colors. In addition, they never contain white, so those who believe they will have good intra-image contrast with a white ceiling because they project in the dark, delude themselves.
4. Video projection is expensive!
Some people use a projector at 500 € and project on a white wall, with a fairly correct result and often better than at the cinema, so we can't really say that video projection is overpriced. Of course, prices can go up quite quickly according to your level of requirement, but with a little luck, or with good knowledge in this field, we can achieve remarkable things with relatively little means. On the other hand, you must avoid relying on the big names because the sellers know nothing about it! Call in the specialists, and you will not be disappointed.
5. Video projection will disappear in favor of giant TV screens
Above 65 inches TVs often become overpriced, and in my opinion this is not about to change! Admittedly, I am not a soothsayer, but we can legitimately think that in the short or medium terms, video projection will remain the best way to have a giant image at a reasonable price. In addition, we must be aware that in the field of image size matters! Indeed, one can have the impression that a 65 inch TV is almost the same as a 2 meter wide projection screen, and yet the image area (in 16: 9) goes almost simple double! And believe me, in terms of immersion it changes everything!
6. Video projection is made for large rooms
I often hear: "I can't do video projection at home because my room is too small". Of course, I'm not saying that you can do video projection in a broom closet, but a 10 m² room can do the trick, whether with an ultra short throw projector or standard focal length.
7. The quality of the projector is crucial for having a good image
I am not saying that the quality of the projector does not matter, but the most important point in video projection remains the couple environment / canvas. For example, in a room with a white ceiling and light walls, there is no point in investing crazy sums in the projector if you are projecting on a white canvas.
8. A technical canvas is made to project in the presence of ambient light
"If you project in the dark then you don't need a technical canvas", how many times have I heard this stupidity that each time makes me curl my stroke? Admittedly, a technical canvas will withstand ambient light better than a white canvas, because it will better preserve blacks, but having a white ceiling is generally sufficient reason to use this kind of canvas. This error (of beginner) undoubtedly comes from a bad interpretation of the English term: "ambient light rejection". This is why I prefer to use the term "light control fabric" since its role is precisely to control light in an environment where light is not controlled.
9. With a technical canvas the piece is plunged into darkness
Some people are disappointed after buying a technical screen, thinking that it would plunge the room in the dark as if they were in a dedicated black room from floor to ceiling. It is a lot to ask of a technical canvas, which allows to have almost the same intra-image contrast as a white canvas in a dark room, and that is already a lot! Admittedly, the room will be much less lit than if a white canvas was used, but in no case will it plunge the room in the dark.
10. You must have a dedicated room to have good contrast
As long as the projection is done in the dark, we obtain roughly the same intra-image contrast thanks to a technical canvas, even in a living room with a white ceiling and light walls, so no need to have a dedicated room to have fun! In addition, I have very often seen much more beautiful images in the living room than in certain dedicated rooms badly designed, so you have to be careful with projector .
You shouldn't see in my comments a formal attack on dedicated rooms because I like it too, but there are effective and more affordable alternatives, so quality video projection is not synonymous with dedicated room.
