I went to a small chapel for most of my childhood. The first time I was in a big church, I was awed by the size and display of the projector screen.
During the worship sessions, lyrics would float across the large screen in beautiful font. The interest in projectors has stayed with me.
What your church services may just be lacking is a good projector. With one, you can keep the congregation involved in scripture reading and choruses.
Projection technology is very varied. In fact, there are projectors best suited for use in churches.
Don’t worry, these projectors cater to small, medium or large congregations. They consider space, lighting and the number of your audience.
This article will show you features that the best church projectors should possess. We have also made a selection of the best options for you.
Quick Navigation
- Buying Guide: 6 Things to Consider While Choosing a Church Projector
- Top 3 Church Projectors
- The 5 Best Projectors for Churches
- Top Pick for Small Congregations: ViewSonic PRO9510L XGA Projector
- Top Pick for Medium Sized Congregations: Epson PowerLite L610W Laser
- Top Pick for Versatility: Optoma X600 DLP Projector
- Best Choice for Large Congregations: NEC Display PJ-P525UL LCD Projector
- Best Choice for Mobile Churches: Epson PowerLite 1266 Portable HD Projector
- Conclusion
Buying Guide: 6 Things to Consider While Choosing a Church Projector
Like earlier mentioned, projectors for various uses come with certain features. There is the short-throw of dorm-room projectors, the short lag-time of gaming projectors.
It can be a bit disappointing to get a projector that is not suitable for your intended use. This article will help you avoid making this mistake.
Churches are usually spacious, with wide screens and high ambient light. What features of projectors will suit them best?
Consider the following:
1. Size of the church hall
This depends on the seating capacity of the church. Most churches are built to give 10 -15 sq. ft. per person.
The pulpits or platforms are usually very wide. This makes them visible to the congregation from many angles.
The projector screens are typically mounted around the pulpit. From that position, they can be seen by the whole congregation.
The larger the church, the larger the audience. This means that large congregations need larger projection screens.
Church projectors should have the capacity to project large images. They have to project clear images larger than 100 inches.
Some projectors project clear images of up to 300″. So, choose one that suits the size of your church or one that can fill the desired screen.
2. Mounting distance from the screen
There are projectors that cannot project clear images if they are too close to the screen. The images may turn out too hazy and unfocused.
Before purchasing a projector for your church, consider where you would mount the projector. How far away from the screen would it be mounted?
The standard distance for most projectors is 2x the width of the screen. They have throw ratios of about 2:1.
The throw ratio of a projector describes the size of the image it can project from a certain distance.
For instance, if your projector screen is 100″, a standard projector may need to be mounted about 200″ away from the screen. This means you need even more distance to project larger images.
If your church cannot accommodate such placements and you want a large screen, don’t worry. Short-throw projectors are well suited for your needs.
These projectors have a throw ratio of 1:5:1 or less. They are capable of displaying large images from short mounting distances.
There are those with even ultra-short-throw ratios (UST). So, you only have to select one that fits your desired image size and mounting distance.
3. The brightness of the projector
Light is an integral part of projection technology. The more light your projector can put out, the clearer your image will be.
With churches, you have a large viewing audience. Also, the seating arrangement may place the audience far away from the screen.
This is why you need a really bright projector. Purchase one that can project images bright enough to be seen by those seated farther away.
Also, churches are usually lit-up. Ambient lighting interferes with the quality of projected pictures, but bright projectors can defeat this interference.
The best church projectors should have up to 5000 lumens of brightness. If your congregation holds more than 300 people, I suggest that you go for 6000 lumens or more.
Mobile missions or small congregations may use more portable projectors. Portable projectors may have between 3000 – 5000 lumens brightness.
This is okay if they can control the amount of ambient light in their space.
4. Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio is the shape of your projected image. It basically describes whether your image would be rectangular or squared.
If you already purchased a projector screen, then you have to buy a projector that matches its shape. This will help prevent letterboxing.
It is better to use rectangular screens while projecting large images for a large audience. The recommended aspect ratio is 16:9 or 16:10.
Both of these ratios are referred to as widescreen ratios. They are both rectangular and are the best option for churches.
5. Image resolution
The resolution of your projector is connected in some way to the shape of the image. It describes the amount of pixels that will fill up that shape.
Projectors with higher resolutions have detailed and sharper images. This is because they have more pixels to project light and color.
For churches, the number of pixels required in projection depends on what you are projecting. If you project only text, like song lyrics or scriptural text, then a 780p resolution is sufficient.
However, higher resolutions like HD or WXGA are even better for widescreens. They give great quality for images, movies or other motion projections.
6. Projector portability
These days, the ease of transporting a projector matters a lot. However, this isn’t always the case with church projectors.
Churches often install projectors. This means that the projector doesn’t have to fall within the weight range for portability.
Most church projectors fall between 10 – 20 lbs.
This range is optimal for mounted projectors. They usually come with lens options that make installation easy.
However, there are more portable projectors weighing under 10 lbs. These are better suited to mobile congregations or missions.
For small churches with the tendency to hold services at various locations, these portable projectors are best.
Top 3 Church Projectors
The 5 Best Projectors for Churches
Church projectors are undeniably important. They hold the attention of the congregation and help disperse important information.
To spice up your services, consider getting one out of the selection we have put together.
We have made our list based on different features. Brightness, throw ratio and native resolution are some of the most important. The top 5 projectors are:
- ViewSonic PRO9510L XGA Projector
- Epson PowerLite L610W Laser Projector
- Optoma X600 DLP Projector
- NEC Display PJ-P525UL LCD Projector
- Epson PowerLite 1266 Portable HD Projector
Top Pick for Small Congregations: ViewSonic PRO9510L XGA Projector
- VERSATILE PROJECTOR: Advanced visual features, and stackable design ideal for auditoriums, large...
- BIG SCREEN PROJECTION: Project up to 300 inches in 6200 lumens
- EASY SETUP: 1.7x optical zoom adjustment, a centered lens design, and a vertical/horizontal lens...
The PRO9510L by ViewSonic is a versatile projector. It has enough brightness to project quality images even in high ambient light.
This projector is suitable for sizable audiences in auditoriums, boardrooms, or small churches. It weighs a little less than 19lbs.
If you are aiming for installation, this projector is designed for that purpose. It comes with a capacity for lens shift which provides flexibility.
The projector has 6,200 lumens brightness. It can project clear images up to 300″ in size with standard throw.
The PRO9510L has an XGA native resolution (1024 & 768). This is most suitable for projecting large texts.
The PRO9510L projector supports many media devices. Its connectivity options include HDMI, USB & VGA.
What we like about it:
- This projector has a stackable design that lets you use two at once to increase brightness for larger venues.
- It uses ViewSonic’s Supercolor technology for accurate color reproduction.
- It comes with a 3-year warranty.
- Due to its 360° orientation, it can be installed horizontally or vertically at any angle.
What we don’t like:
- The XGA resolution makes it better for text projection than anything else.
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Top Pick for Medium Sized Congregations: Epson PowerLite L610W Laser
- Native Resolution: 1280 x 800 (WXGA)
- 3800 lumens
- Powerful, engaging sound, includes a built in 16W speaker and microphone input or use external...
This projector is manufactured by Epson, a Japanese company. The Epson PowerLite L610W is the perfect projector for medium sized churches.
If your congregation sits more than a 100 but less than 250 people, the L610W will suit your needs. It weighs about 18.7lbs.
After installation, it operates maintenance-free for a long period. Installation is also easy because of its lens shift and 2:1 throw ratio.
With the 6000 lumens brightness, your congregation can worship without the intrusion of ambient light. The projector has a 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio.
The Epson PowerLite L610W can project images up to 500″ wide. Also, you don’t have to worry about the size affecting clarity.
It has a WXGA resolution (1250 x 800) which is great for both texts and images. The connectivity options include HDMI, VGA and Ethernet.
What we like about it:
- The Epson PowerLite L610W has a widescreen aspect ratio of 4:3.
- It uses a laser light source which has up to 20,000 hours of lamp life.
- This projector supports wireless connection with Epson iProjection.
- It allows horizontal and vertical keystone correction.
- It has a Constant Brightness Mode feature which controls brightness to increase runtime.
- The manufacturers offer a 3-year warranty.
What we don’t like:
- The WXGA resolution limits it to medium sized congregations.
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Top Pick for Versatility: Optoma X600 DLP Projector
- High brightness: enjoy an incredible 6, 000 lumens of brightness in well lit meeting rooms,...
- Extensive connectivity options: The X600 features an impressive array of connectivity options...
- Network control with Crestron room view: set up complete network control and management of up to 250...
The DLP projection technology of this projector lends it a high color accuracy. It is one of the best options for large audiences.
If your church has a congregation of up to 300 people, you should consider getting this projector. It is best if you project mostly texts.
The Optoma X600 is easy to install. Its weight is convenient for ceiling mounting. It also comes with a zoom and lens shift for flexible installation.
This projector defeats the white wash effects of ambient light with its 6200 lumens brightness. It has a contrast ratio of 10, 000:1 which allows images to be crisp and detailed.
The Optoma X600 projects pictures that are clear and colorful. A result of its DLP technology and XGA resolution. It has a standard 2:1 throw ratio.
Projectors need to connect with other devices to access media files. This projector comes with HDMI, VGA, S-video, composite video, and other ports.
What we like about it:
- It uses the Crestron RoomView network control which can manage up to 250 projectors.
- The Optoma X600 can project 120″ images from 15.7ft away.
- It comes with powerful 10w inbuilt speakers.
- It can be used without external speakers during choir rehearsals.
- This projector can display 3D content during church movie shows.
- It weighs only about 8.5 lbs. and is easily transported.
What we don’t like:
- Due to its 2:1 throw, it needs a long mounting distance to project large images.
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Best Choice for Large Congregations: NEC Display PJ-P525UL LCD Projector
- Projection method: ceiling
- Projection method: rear
- Projection method: front
This is a high quality laser HD projector with widescreen display. It is ideal for large audiences like megachurches.
Church auditoriums seating above 300 congregants need a projector as powerful as this. Its bright display, impressive resolution and good contrast are an irresistible package.
This NEC projector offers a 5,200 lumens bright display. The brightness is combined with a WUXGA (1920 × 1200) resolution.
It projects images on a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:10. The pictures have brilliant color, quality, and can be up to 300″ in size.
This projector is easy to install. It has zoom and lens shift functions that lend it flexibility. Its connectivity options include HDMI, USB, and AV ports.
The LCD technology of this projector means that its light output is amazing. This is why it is ideal for large churches.
What we like about it:
- The projector is characterized by a colorful HDTV-like display.
- It uses laser lighting technology and has a lamp life of up to 20,000 hours.
- Its resolution fills widescreens with enough pixels to project sharp images.
- With a contrast ratio of 500,000:1, the NEC PJ-P525UL maintains dark blacks.
What we don’t like:
- This projector is very expensive and can only fit high budgets.
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Best Choice for Mobile Churches: Epson PowerLite 1266 Portable HD Projector
- Projection Method: Rear
- Projection Method: Ceiling
- Projection Method: Front
The Epson PowerLite 1266 weighs about 6.2lbs. It is the most portable projector on our list.
This Epson projector is the best option for mobile missions or congregations. It delivers good quality images packed into a lightweight build.
The projector can be easily set up in areas with ambient lightning. It uses LCD technology which lends it a brighter output than its peers.
With a 3600 lumens brightness, this projector lights up the screen with vivid colors. It projects images in WXGA (1280 × 800) resolution.
Its resolution matches a widescreen display with aspect ratio 16:10. For a small projector, the Epson PowerLite 1266 certainly does a lot.
This projector can be easily connected to other devices via wired or wireless options. The options include MHL2, HDMI and USB.
What we like about it:
- This projector is lightweight and comes with an accompanying carry case.
- It projects a very bright display.
- It has a manual keystone feature for adjusting images until they’re perfectly rectangular.
- You can easily connect it to other media devices by scanning its On-screen QR code.
What we don’t like:
- Its 3,600 lumens brightness may be affected by ambience if used to project a large image.
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Conclusion
When you place projector screens at strategic locations in your church, there’s no limit to the amount of information you can share.
You can project scriptural texts and verses. The congregation would be able to read along regardless of the preacher’s flow.
Also, there’s something about joining the choir in a beautiful chorus. You can display the lyrics to renditions on the projection screen.
The church can project information and details of upcoming programs. Rest assured that no one would miss the details.
The Optoma X600 is the best church projector on our list. Its brightness can cover large audiences. Also, it is a great option for projecting media and texts.
Last update on 2021-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.