Digital on the Big Screen

I recently tried projecting some digital photos using a colour LCD projector. Now, I wasn't expecting the quality of image you get from a photographic slide, but I was extremely dissapointed with the result. Compared to what I saw on my computer screen, the projected image was grainy with a lot of contrast between light and dark parts of the picture.

The pictures were taken with a CP5000 (5 MP), RAW format, so resolution was at a maximum. The projector I used was a Mitsubishi, about 4 years old.

Has anyone had experience in projecting digital images? Is there any way of getting a half decent picture up on the wall?

I'm using a Dell 3200, and I love it.

I would recommend the following:

1. Your projector is an older model. Projector technology and durability has improved enormously in the past 3-4 years, not to mention the size and weight going down.

2. For high-resolution digital images, the projector should have 1024 x 768 resolution or better.

3. Check your screen. The type of screen can make a big difference.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

There are only two types of projectors: LCD and DLP. LCD projectors have poor contrast. I haven't seen one that's suitable for photos. DLP's are made from Texas Instruments display chips using micro mirrors. It's a much better system, and of course more expensive. The consumer versions has come down to around $2k for an 1024x768 projector. The theater version use multiple chips and can cost as much as a house.

What they said.

In addition you should project a color chart or some photo where you know the color - and do a comparison. Does the color look right? On my projector, I had to turn the red WAY down and the green up a bit.

Only getting 1024 x 768 (like ~.75 megapixels) to project sure is a drag when you're shooting with a 5 or 6 megapixel camera...

HTH

James

There are only two types of projectors: LCD and DLP. LCD projectors have poor contrast. I haven't seen one that's suitable for photos. DLP's are made from Texas Instruments display chips using micro mirrors. It's a much better system, and of course more expensive. The consumer versions has come down to around $2k for an 1024x768 projector. The theater version use multiple chips and can cost as much as a  house.

DILA projectors aren't bad, either. I have one that is 1366x1024, and it favorably compares to DLP projectors. I sent it to Los Angeles to have it color calibrated for TV/film, and photos look pretty good projected from it!

DILA projectors aren't bad, either. I have one that is 1366x1024, and it favorably compares to DLP projectors.  I sent it to Los Angeles to have it color calibrated for TV/film, and photos look pretty good projected from it!

I haven't seen one of those used for photos before. How much do they cost?

My Vidikron CRT projector is not too shabby either.

DILA projectors aren't bad, either. I have one that is 1366x1024, and it favorably compares to DLP projectors.  I sent it to Los Angeles to have it color calibrated for TV/film, and photos look pretty good projected from it!

I haven't seen one of those used for photos before. How much do they cost?

They are expensive, and heavy. I'm not sure what they go for now, but my model probably goes for around $10,000.

Until my last dive trip, I shot color slide film and showed the photos with a Kodak slide projector. Obviously, when I switched to digital, the Kodak was useless. The Dell projector is expensive, but the prices are coming down to the consumer level (hey, people pay $2000+ every day for big-screen TVs).

Dell just came out with a new model DLP projector for under $1200. It's only 800 x 600, but that's not too bad for the price (but I agree, it's inadequate for 5-6 megapixel photos). Keep in mind that it's kind of like printing a photo bigger than the pixel count warrants. If you put your eyeball right on it, it looks fuzzy, but when you stand back at a normal viewing distance, things look a lot better.

I think that digital projectors will be hot items for awhile. The potential market has barely been tapped, and there's a lot of competitors, so I would think that in a year or two, a good projector should be in the $1000 range.