Choosing an overhead projector can be tricky because all portable projectors including video projection have their own distinctive features. Many people use home theater projectors to accent their business message in meetings and give lasting, high-quality presentations.

If you don’t need to watch films, then you may want to buy a basic overhead projector, which is commonly used in classrooms and business meetings.

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Before the overhead projector there was the opaque projector, which used a brighter overhead light source, which sometimes damaged presentation materials from the intense heat. Scientists used the projectors to enlarge leaves, specimens and microscopic photographs.

In the 1950s, these machines were used as children’s toys and artist tools before finding an audience in the academic lecture and business presentation worlds. The most popular model was Buhl’s Mark IV Opus Opaque Projector, which was light years ahead of the competition.

There are a number of overhead projector features that will likely affect your purchasing decision. You’ll have to look at the lens type, such as singlet, doublet or triplet. Naturally, the image quality increases as you move from singlet to triplet, as does the price.

You’ll also need to consider brightness; brighter rooms with more ambient light will need 2,500 lumens or more, whereas dark, windowless rooms can get by with 2,000. Overhead projectors also vary in their lamp life; the ENX projector lamp has the longest life compared to FXL, EHA and ENG.

multimedia projectors
Naturally, you’ll want to look at the manufacturer’s reputation and the warranty as well.

Overhead projectors come in many configurations. For instance, the Direct Optics Configuration has a 250 to 600 watt halogen lamp mounted in a case, with the reflector right below the lens. This is the most common type of overhead projector, primarily because it is also the lowest cost.

The next level is the Folded Optics/Chamber Optics Configuration, which puts a mirror between the light source and Fresnel lens. The benefits of this setup include 50% better light projection, better resolution, more sensible design for maintenance, improved cooling and decreased stage temperature. Of course, the cost is also higher.

theater projector
The third configuration, Reflected Optics, is one of the portable projectors that can break down into an attaché case. In this setup, the light passes through a lens and gets reflected by a mirror, which is then passed back through the lens. It’s important that you consider reliability, manufacturer and warranty in whichever model you choose.