Keep following in mind while planning for a projector.

Finding the right overhead projector for the home, school or business environment is a simple task. Although, there are a wide variety of projectors from which to choose, with the right shopping list it is easy to pick the correct model.

1) Choose the best projectin type for the job. Transmissive projectors shine their illuminating light from the base of the machine. They produce brighter images and are good to use with computers with LCD projection capabilities. But they also are heavier machines. Reflective projectors shine their light down into a stage in the base, where it is reflected back up again through a lens and onto a screen. They work well with black outline transparencies.

2) Determine the best lens for your purposes. Singlet, doublet and triplet lenses are available. The triplet lens produces the sharpest image.

3) Buy the highest lumens available. Lumens are the brightness indicators of an overhead projector. Lower lumens will work with black outline transparencies, but higher lumens are necessary to produce sharp colored images.

4) Purchase a projector with easy-to-find lamps. This is the part of the overhead projector that will need to be replaced with use. Some overhead projectors have lamp-saving features such as hi/lo switches. This enables the user to switch lumens. Other models have a lamp changer feature. The overhead projector has two lamps inside. If one burns out during a presentation, it's a simple matter of flipping a switch to keep the presentation moving right along. Both of these features are well worth the extra money.

5) Check the warranty. Overhead projectors usually provide many years of service, but occasionally the wiring goes bad or a stage (the platform where the transparency is placed) gets scratched.

Tips & Warnings

When purchasing an overhead projector, it's a good idea to also purchase extra bulbs. Also, if this is a first time purchase of an overhead, be sure to purchase transparency stock.