On Sunday, July 20, 2003, at 05:51 PM, S& P Kappel wrote:
Hi everybody- sorry if this is a little bit off the usual- but I am
searching for a video projector (and not data projector) to produce a sort
of AV show that I want to project then with a projector onto different
materials. I would prefer a video projector and not data projector because
the former you can connect to a computer/ dvd plaer/ camera and other stuff
while for the former you need a computer or labtop. Any advice?
Stefanie, companies like Panasonic and many others make video projectors that they label as "Home Theater Projectors" that can accept RGB, RCA, High Definition TV and S-Video signals, but don't necessarily have the connections for computers. However, standard LCD "data" projectors can be used to show just about any video source. You may be better off in the long run choosing a "data" projector because it will be less limiting in the types of AV shows you can produce in the future. Without being able to handle a computer signal, you are cutting out the possibility of making your shows with things like Powerpoint, Keynote and even Flash as well as being able to use other video media.
I have overseen the system design and installation of multi-meda systems in several meeting rooms and lecture halls (even my own office) in the hospitals where I work and all of them can project multiple computer signals as well as images from VCR's; DVD players; cable and/or satellite TV signals. If your digital still camera or video camera have the proper outputs (either S-Video or RCA) you can even plug them into the projectors and show movies or use a camera's slide show mode. Naturally, you can't show them all at once, but you can have them all enabled and switch between signals as you go.
Keeping up with the advances in digital projection equipment is even more daunting than digital cameras it seems. Advances have come very, very quickly over the last couple of years. However, prices have also dropped a lot. If VGA is good enough for you, I would think that finding a good used one on eBay would be very easy and cheap. XGA will cost a bit more (but those can be had for good prices as well now). SXGA will be even more. The resolution, size of the unit and the lumens are still the main determining factors. For example, it you need a small unit with over 1,000 lumens you will pay quite a bit more than a unit with the same specs, but a larger physical size. Just make sure that whatever unit you choose has the adequate input options to match whatever equipment you want to use as the source.
Good brands to check out that are good quality units at fair prices are Epson and InFocus. You may also want to look at renting one for your show.
Hope this helps a bit.
-Ben
Senior Medical Photographer Medical Photography & Media Design Services Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland USA
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