Which Projector ( BenQ MP523 v SONY VPL-EX7 v Optoma EX536)

JustMac

I'm a teacher looking to get a projector mainly for school use, but could see it being used at home too. In school I would imagine regular inclusion of sound and video in powerpoint presentations. I'll be lugging it around a good bit so I suppose portability, durability and reliability would be fairly important for me.

I've done some research but would love to get some feedback from some boards experts! I can't say that I've limited my choice to the 3 projectors linked to below but some basic advice/feedback would help me feel I am making the right choice. I could afford to spend up about €600.

BenQ MP523 - DLP Projector (£383 - €429)
http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/A0492157
My thinking:
XGA-(1024*768),2000:1 Contrast-> Decent Quality Image
2000 Lumens -> Relatively Bright in lit rooms
2.4kg -> Light, Portable
Bulb Life ->3,500-4,000 -> About Average?
2W Integ Speakers -> Enough to fill a class room?
BenQ -> Know nothing about the brand?
Bulb -> 180 Watt (£140 to replace? http://projectorshop24.co.uk/benq-projector-lamp/benq-projector-lamp_benq-replacement-for-mp523-mp514.html?

utm_source=ciao&utm_medium=ciao&utm_campaign=ciao
)


SONY VPL-EX7 XGA LCD PROJECTOR (£425 - €478)
http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/SYPREX7
My thinking:
XGA-(1024*768) -> Decent Quality Image
500:1 Contrast -> Poor Contrast/Poor Quality?
2000 Lumens -> Relatively Bright in lit rooms
2.9kg -> Fairly Light, Portable
Bulb Life ->3,000-4,000 -> About Average?
1W Integ Speakers -> Barely Enough to fill a class room?
Sony -> A reputable brand in projectors
Bulb -> UHP 190 Watt (£226 to replace? http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/LAMP1772
)


Optoma EX536 - DLP Projector (£498 - €558)
http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/A0492163
My thinking:
XGA-(1024*768),3000:1 Contrast-> Decent Quality Image
2800 Lumens -> Bright in lit rooms
2.3kg -> Light, Portable
Bulb Life ->3,000-4,000 -> About Average?
2W Integ Speakers -> Enough to fill a class room?
Optoma -> Reasonable projector brand?
Bulb -> UHP 185 Watt (£135 to replace? http://www.theplasmacentre.com/lampinfo/OPTOMA/EX536/19119)


All feedback welcome. I am also open to other suggestions!

jmal

If it's for education, you should be able to get a 3 year warranty on both projector and lamp. Very important if you do not want to be replacing lamps every year on a projector with a 9 month or 1 year lamp warranty?

The 3000-4000 hour life of a projector lamp is only guaranteed by the warranty. Lamps can go at any time and this lamp life calculation is a gauge for when the lamp brightness is 50% of its original brightness.

DLP is also the better choice for schools, as DLP projectors are filter FREE and are maintenance free unlike LCD projectors which require regular filter changing and maintenance.

Short Throw is also a importance feature for education projectors, especially if your intend to use the projector with an interactive whiteboard in the future.

HTH

JustMac

Thanks for that JMAL. I am a substitute teacher so was planning on getting it direct. I might look into ordering it through the school I do most of my work and just pay directly. It would be worth it if I could get the extended lamp warranty.

Also good to know about less maintenance of DLP v LCD. Might look into short throw as I imagine I would want to put the projector on desks near the front of a class room (less disruption and chance of accidental damage).

Would be great to get an idea or recommendations about best, most reliable, durable brands.