Which projection technologies are there?
3LCD: clear and colorful picture
A 3LCD projector provides clear and colorful projections. This allows you to show clear presentations or videos in a brightly lit space. On the downside, you'll have to replace the filters after extensive use. The technique converts white light to red, green, and blue. Then the colors are sent to a prism via chips. This prism combines the colors to a single image, which consists of millions of colors. This results in a lifelike color representation.
DLP: sharp image and compact size
Thanks to the DLP technique, these projectors are more compact and light than the average 3LCD projector. So choose a DLP projector if you're on the go a lot to give presentations. As an added bonus, these projectors don't have filters, so they require less maintenance. Compared to 3LCD projectors, the image is usually less bright, but it's sharper. This is because a lamp projects light via tiny mirrors. These mirrors are placed so closed to each other, you can't see any pixels.
LED DLP: durable and extra mobile
This technique is similar to DLP, but the lamp has been replaced by LEDs. This makes the projector more compact as well as more durable. A LED lamp lasts up to 20,000 hours. With a normal projector, this is an average of 6,000 to 8,000 hours. The disadvantage is that these projectors have a lower light output. This makes the image dark in a brightly lit room. You'll only find this technique in small projectors which consider mobility more important than image quality.
D-ILA: best image quality
D-ILA projectors provide the best image quality, but they're also more expensive and heavier. This makes them particularly suitable to be used in your home cinema setup. The D-ILA technique is comparable to DLP. The difference is that the projector doesn't work with mirrors, but a material that can mirror itself on specific spots. This way, the material does or doesn't transmit light per pixel. Because no moving parts such as mirrors or filters are required, the image is extra sharp and realistic.
