Have you been searching for projectors and asked, “Why would they sell a projector without a lens?” You are not alone. So, we thought we’d take a few minutes and explain who buys a projector without a lens, and why it’s actually sometimes necessary.

When Would I Need a Projector with a Separate Lens?

Most of the projectors we sell include a lens, because most people are using a projector in a standard size room. But churches, classrooms, and other large venue spaces run into a problem with a standard lens projector. This is because in tehir space, they might need to mount their projector from over 20 feet back for their screen. Why do you need a special lens at over 20 feet? Consider this technological analogy.

Let’s pretend for a moment that a projector is nothing more than a fancy flashlight – at least in the sense that it follows the rules of physics. If you can, visualize yourself holding flashlight and shining it directly on the wall in front of you. When you are close to the wall, the light you see is bright, and small. As you walk backwards (walking slowly and carefully to avoid injury), the light on the wall in front of you begins to increase in size, and decrease in brightness. That’s pretty much what’s happening when you try and mount a projector (with a standard lens) back more than 20 feet (or so) back from your screen.

Now if your flashlight had a lens on the front of it, instead of plain old glass or plastic, you could dial that light in. You could ‘focus’ the light into a brighter beam, and into the size and shape you need. So, if you have to mount your projector in the back of your room, let’s say from as far back as 100 feet from your screen, you will have to have the right lens to create the image size you want, with adequate brightness.

But Why Are There so Many Lens Options?

Projectors mounting location, obviously, will vary from room-to-room, based on the unique space. And a projector’s lens can only focus the light within a specific range (say 4-25 feet). Depending on the screen size you may only get 2-5 ft of play within the 4-25ft. The flexibility depends on two factors; throw distance and screen size. When you see a specification that says it has a throw range of 4-25ft it doesn’t mean you can do any size screen from that distance, but only the specified screen sizes.

So, from a manufacturers point of view, it makes sense to offer multiple lenses on one chassis rather than sort of ‘pre-building’ several hundreds or thousands of projectors with the lenses permanently fixed to the chassis. Also, different lenses sometimes have varying costs associated with them, so providing the flexibility of multiple lenses is a cost saver in terms of production – less waste and a more agile product line. For the buyer, it can also mean the difference between having to purchase an entirely new projector, versus just a new lens, if the projector has to be re-mounted in the same space.

However, looking at the available selection of projectors in this category can be overwhelming. Take, for example, the NEC NP4100 and NEC NP4100W series product line. In it there are optional lenses that enable the user to find the right lens to cover projection distances between 2.6 – 283 feet. There are a whopping twelve different projectors that appear to be almost exactly the same. But, in reality there are two primary differences, the resolution (widescreen or 4:3) and the lens. You’d simply pick the model with the resolution you want, and the throw distance you need. Below is a chart with the throw distance for each model in the NEC NP4100 and NP4100W lineup.

NEC NP4100 Series (4:3)
Model	Throw Distance
NEC NP4100	ships with no lens
NP4100-06FL	2.6 – 10.6 ft.
NEC NP4100-07ZL	3.5 – 60.9 ft.
NEC NP4100-08ZL	4.7 – 79.9 ft.
NEC NP4100-09ZL	5.8 – 152.3 ft.
NEC NP4100-10ZL	11.6 – 283.3 ft.
[ Quick Specs : XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, 6200 lumens, 2100:1 contrast, 38.6 lbs. ]

NEC NP4100W Series (16:9)
Model	Throw Distance
NEC NP4100W	ships with no lens
NP4100W-06FL	2.6 – 10.6 ft.
NEC NP4100W-07ZL	3.5 – 60.9 ft.
NEC NP4100W-08ZL	4.7 – 79.9 ft.
NEC NP4100W-09ZL	5.8 – 152.3 ft.
NEC NP4100W-10ZL	11.6 – 283.3 ft.
[ Quick Specs: WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, 5500 lumens, 2100:1 contrast, 38.6 lbs. ]

As you can see, NEC gives you alternatives for up to 283 feet of throw distance in this product line. And, the low end of the throw ratio doesn’t change nearly as much as the high end of the distance covered.

Quick Tip : Optimally, you will want to select a lens that fits you squarely in between your distance requirements. So, if you are planning to mount your projector 150 feet back from the screen, you’d do better to choose the “10ZL” model than the “09ZL.” This is because there is slightly more distortion when the light passes through the edge of the lens. A projector has what’s called a “sweet spot” for the distance that provides the optimum image quality through the lens, and that spot is near the mid range of the recommended throw distance. Call a Projector Expert for more information on that.

Why can’t you just use a zoom lens?

Unfortunately, zoom lenses don’t have that much flexibility. Generally speaking, a zoom lens can give you an extra 2-5 feet of “play” in the projector’s throw distance. So, while the extra 2-5 feet is nice, it won’t help you if you need an extra 100 feet. This may change in the future, but for now, the zoom lens is mostly a tool to help the home user install their projector with a little less accurate math.

Quick Tip : The general rule of thumb for throw distance is that your projector creates one foot of image for every two feet back from the screen. So, at 50 feet back with a standard lens, you would have approximately a 100 foot width, and a very dim image.

What if I Need to Mount a Projector Very Close to my Screen?

If you want to set up your projector within six feet of your screen, and you want a large image, you’ll want to find a projector with a “short throw lens.” We have a quick tutorial about those here. You can also call a Projector Expert and find out if a “lensless” projector would be right for you. In some cases, they offer the best solution, but there are only a few made.

How Much Will a Projector and Lens Cost Me?

Lenses are typically around $1500-$2000. It’s usually easier to buy the manufacturers lens, for compatibility and inventory reasons. There are some other lens makers out there in a pinch, but prices are usually about the same for a business projector lens.

Projectors that accept multiple lens options are usually in the large installation category. They are high brightness, and higher resolution units, so they start at around $2000 and go up from there. So your lowest priced scenario would be around $3500-$4000 and the prices go up from there. You’ll pay a little more for brightness and features like network monitoring, filter free design, 24/7 useage, lens shift, and other good stuff.

Our NEC series featured here is a premium line, and it retails for around $7,000. But call a Projector Expert, or get a Quick Quote for a significant discount.

Quick Tip : Keep your eye out for installation projectors that sell without a lens. A lower price is usually a tip off. There are some high brightness units that look like a great deal, but that actually will need a lens to work. The NEC lineup we feature here does have one base unit featured, but the rest of the line up ships complete.

Well that’s about all we have for now. Please call a Projector Expert if you have any more questions about any of your large venue projection needs!

[ This is a re-post from our September Projector People Post Business Edition Newsletter ]

We’ve been talking a lot about new $999 entry level home theater projectors lately. But projection innovation is not limited to the home theater frontier. Business projectors now include more brightness for less cash, broader feature sets on entry level projectors, and a big trend towards adding affordable widescreen technology. Wider aspect ratios have been making their way, slowly but surely, into the world of business presentations, churches, schools, and other large venue applications. But what are the advantages of widescreen technologies for business? Is it time to convert for business too?

Why Go Wide?

As home televisions have been stretched to 16:9 resolution, viewers are becoming more and more used to the widescreen image. Back at work, the 4:3 image is starting to look a little square. But there are more reasons than familiarity to change your perspective. Here are just a few :

• Meatier messages – More words and characters bullet point
• More image in tight spaces – Particularly offices with 8-foot ceilings and 3-foot tables
• Waste less image space when used with widescreen laptops
• 4:3 images still work nicely in the 16:10 frame so older tools don’t have to be replaced
• Widescreen weekend – Crossover projecting for weekend HDTV projection fun

If any of these benefits appeal to you, then you will also be happy to know that your selection of 16:10 (and 16:9) products has been increasing, slowly but surely, each year. Price points have also been reduced as competition increases in the widescreen space.

Some Well-Priced Widescreen Business Projectors

• NEC NP500WS – $849* [ WXGA (1280 x 800), 2100 lumens, short-throw lens, 7.3 lbs. ]
• Sanyo PLC-WXE45 – $1395 [ WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, 2000 lumens, 7.5 lbs. ]
• NEC NP3151W – $3,499* [ WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, 4000 lumens, wireless capable ]
• Mitsubishi WL6700U – $7995** [ WXGA (1366 x 800 pixels) resolution, 5000 lumens ]

* Prices are after rebate.
** Additional discounts may apply.

Find more here with our Projector Finder tool!

As always, if you have more questions about 16:10 projectors, or any projectors, call us today

[ Repost of our Projector People Post Business Edition Tech Newsletter ]

If you’ve been shopping on auction sites for a low priced projector, it’s time to wise up. Right now you can get a new projector for the price of a replacement lamp or a dim old clunker on an eBay. But how do you know if you’re getting a deal with your low priced projector? Here’s what you need to know..

Business Projectors Under $999

So what are your options now for under $999? You can expect to find a wide range of options under $999 these days. Just to give you an idea of how far your money can go, here are a few of the specification ranges you can expect for your business projector dollar. You can also do your own product filtering using our Projector Finder tool. It will help you search by resolution, brightness, price, and a number of features.

What You Get For $999 or Less

• Brightness : 1000 – 3000 lumens
• Weight : as light as 2.4 lbs. (typically in the 4-10 lbs. range)
• Contrast : Up to 2000:1 (for business projectors, 10000:1 or less in Home Theater under $999)
• Keystone Correction : Available on many models
• Short Throw Lens : Available on select models
• HDMI 1.3 connection : Not common
• Component video : Available on many models
• Widescreen Format : Available on many models

So that’s a quick look at features to expect in a $999 projector today. If we haven’t covered something of specific interest to you, call a Projector Expert for more information. We have over 100 options in sub $1000 projectors. In fact, our projector options at $999 were so vast, we created a Projectors Under $699 page for the serious bargain seeker.

Pico Projectors

These are a category of projector that did not exist until a year ago. These tiny low-priced projectors lack the brightness of a true presentation projector, but they may be the direction of presentations future. They range around $200-$350 and they are small enough to fit in your pocket, though they will be a touch bulky in your tight pants. Here’s a list of pico projectors we sell.

New Home Theater Projectors Under $999

And if you haven’t heard the news yet, there are some true HD (1080p) home theater projectors coming soon. These new $999 home theater projectors make front projection a more affordable option for restaurants, sports bars, and other entertainment facilities. There is also an opportunity for those who have slipped behind after the digital transition to get up to date for less.

Vintage Projector People Deals

Just for fun, let’s take a look back at what a similar projector would have cost you a few years ago. We’ve run a number of stories about how much brighter, cheaper, and better projectors are now compared to “just a few years ago” so here are some examples for you. Each of these examples below were (I promise) competitively priced projectors at the time of the deal.

October 1999

• Proxima DP6810 [ XGA, 900 lumens, 200:1 contrast ]
• $4,999.00

April 2001

• Sony VPL-VW10HT [ WXGA (1366 x 768), 1000 lumens, contrast not specified ]
• $5,199.00 (We actually had a very long waiting list for this projector at this price!)

June 2004

• NEC LT170 [ XGA, 1500 lumens, 3.9 lbs. ]
• $1,699.00

January 2007

• Panasonic PT-LB50U [ XGA, 2000 lumens, 400:1 contrast ]
• $1,299.00

August 2009

• Sony PLV-EX70 [ XGA, 2600 lumens, 900:1 contrast ]
• $749.00

The Good News

Will projectors cost $300 in 2 years? Moore’s Law would indicate “yes”. But “maybe” is always a safer guess. The tiny pocket projectors on the market today are very cool, but they are not even close the brightness and performance of today’s presentation projectors. New laser projection technology, or improved DLP and LCoS pico systems may make pocket projectors the wave of the future. But we won’t know how much they will cost until they are fully developed. So, barring the sudden emergence of a new technology, low-priced LCD and DLP projectors really can’t get much cheaper. And if you’re in the market for a projector, your dollar is going farther than ever before. And that’s good news.

As always, if you have more questions about our business and home theater projectors under $999, please contact a Projector Expert today!

We are very excited to announce a new partnership with an innovative screen dealer, SI Screens. SI Screens is the maker of the buzz-worthy Black Diamond screen system. We are proud to now have the opportunity to offer this product to you. In case you aren’t familiar with SI Screens, we thought we’d give you a quick rundown. If your attention span wanes, just watch the shorter video below and you’ll get the idea.

What’s SOOO Great About Black Diamond Screens?

Three things come to mind : improved contrast, clarity and color. These are the top reasons the Black Diamond screens are so sought after by home theater enthusiasts. Let’s discuss more about each.

Contrast : Better Black and Better White

As the name suggests, a Black Diamond screen is black – not just the velvet border around the screen – but the screen surface itself. The black color, as you might expect, pumps up black levels, making for a deep, dark black experience when projecting black. Producing dark black is a challenge for projectors even though great strides have been made in just the past five years. The Black Diamond screen offers an even greater improvement in black levels.

So, the next obvious question is, how does the black screen manage white? The answer, amazingly well! It may be an optical illusion or something, but white really punches off the BlackDiamond screens. I am sure there is technical information on how it works somewhere. But it’s really something you just need to see to appreciate. We have video below so you can get a look for yourself.

Since contrast is a comparison of black to white in an image, you can imagine that improving both black and white performance is going to make for a dramatically higher contrast image.

Clarity : Brightness That Lasts All Day Long

As somebody who was probably famous once said… a picture is worth a thousand words. So, moving images must be like 24x that. Here’s a quick video to give you a visual of how the Black Diamond screens do (compared to a white screen) in a room with ambient light. Check it out below.

Color : Vibrant and Accurate

ISF calibration, or home DVD color calibration, is a big deal for many home theater enthusiasts. And whether they know it or not, it also makes a big difference with people who just like great looking video. You know, people who like grass to look green, and the sky to look blue. So, those who live and breathe home theater will want to have their projectors ISF calibrated so that the image looks the way the director intended. And everyone else will just want what they watch to look ‘normal’ and consistently good while watching a dark action film, or a daytime game.

One of the claims to fame for the SI Black Diamond screen is that it keeps that ISF calibration ‘valid’ in rooms that have varying light levels. When the lights are on, the Black Diamond screen keeps the color in the image consistent, and does not allow the ambient light in the room to affect the image. Since many people want to use their projectors for daytime – for watching football or other daytime sports for example – this is a real benefit, and keeps projectors more in line with the performance of an LCD or plasma TV.

QUICK TIP : Watch the video below. It provides a great example of how well the Black Diamond screen can perform in lights on situations. Before the Black Diamond screen, projecting a 100-inch image on a screen outdoors was really somewhat of a leap of faith. Viewers had to accept a far less than perfect image, and in some cases, would have to strain to catch all the action.

So, bar owners and restaurateurs, take note of the video around 1:50. This is an alternative to an LCD or plasma that would cost much more for a display of that size. A projector can also be easily put away when not in use – at the end of the night or in bad weather. The Black Diamond screen can simply be covered, and can be washed down if it gets dirty.

So, as you can imagine we are very excited to offer these high quality – potentially industry changing – screens to our selection of home theater screens. Orders can be placed today online at ProjectorPeople.com. You can also speak to one of our Projector Experts about pricing and shipping information for Black Diamond and other SI Screens.

Click here for a list of available SI Black Diamond screens from ProjectorPeople.com.

Or click here to visit the SI Screens website.

There will soon be some new skinny kids on the block. Casio is updating it’s line of SuperSlim projectors with new features, including a widescreen option. If you are looking for a projector to present with, these are among the cream of the crop. Here’s a quick rundown of what they are offering in the new line.

World’s Thinnest Projectors

The Casio XJ-S68 and XJ-S63 are two of the brightest new products available in the world’s thinnest projector line. The new SuperSlim projectors are 43mm at their widest point and 32mm at their slimmest. The projectors are small, but bright, with 3500 lumens. That should make them a contender for most presenters, even those who present to larger groups. They can also project from as little as 2.75 feet up to 30 feet.

Other features of the Casio XJ-S68 and XJ-S63 include 2x power zoom and focus lens; automatic and manual vertical keystone correction ±30 degrees; RS-232 control; 1 watt mono speaker; security features, including compatibility with Kensington lock and power on password; and direct power on/off.

The XJ-S68 and XJ-S63 are both built on the same chassis, but there is a USB port on the XJ-S68 that can be used for wireless connectivity using a wireless adapter.

Expected Prices : $1,299 to $1,399 Shipping Date : September 2009

Widescreen SuperSlim

No, it is not a contradiction to be both SuperSlim and widescreen. At least not in this case. Casio has added the XJ-S43W as it’s first widescreen (1280 x 800) format ultraportable in the SuperSlim family. It’s sporting 2500 lumens, an 1800:1 contrast ratio, 2X zoom lens, auto keystone correction, HDMI input, and direct power on/off. It also has a wide projection range from 2.8 feet to 30 feet distance.

Expected Price : $999 Shipping Date : September 2009

And the Rest…

There are more projectors on SuperSlim Island. To round out the line Casio has the XJ-S58, XJ-S53, XJ-S48, XJ-S43, XJ-S38, and XJ-S33. Each of these new projectors offers a 2x power zoom and focus lens; ±30 degree automatic vertical keystone correction; RS-232 control; power on password and compatibility with Kensington lock; and direct power on/off. The essential differences are the brightness, and USB connection for wireless.

The XJ-S58, XJ-S48, and XJ-S38 all feature a USB host function that will allow for wireless connectivity through an optional WiFi receiver and for computer-free presentations with USB storage devices.

Expected Prices : $699 to $1,199 Shipping Date : TBD

New Lineup En Brief

Casio Projectors : Brightness by Model 3500 lumens : XJ-S63, XJ-S68

3000 lumens : XJ-S52, XJ-S57 (with USB) 2700 lumens : XJ-S42, XJ-S47 (with USB) 2500 lumens : XJ-SC210, XJ-SC215 (with USB), XJ-S43W (WXGA) 2300 lumens : XJ-S32, XJ-S37 (with USB)

Bonus Casio Treat!

We also came across this creative application for Casio video projectors. On this Make TV episode creative designer artist types use what appear to be Casio SuperSlim projectors to “transform public spaces into massive sound and light shows.” It’s a pretty cool video. Check it out here.

[ See Make TV Episode Here ]