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ADJ
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SONY
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VANGUARD
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ELATION
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PANASONIC
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ROE VISUAL
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DIGITAL PROJECTION
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MEGA SYSTEMS
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CANON
Projection or LED? 4K or not 4K?
How much of our existing equipment will we have to upgrade to support a new projector or display purchase?
All of these are valid––and necessary–– questions churches should be asking themselves prior to making an investment.
For ambient light environments LED displays are a popular choice because the image isn't compromised by daylight, house lights and theatre lights. LEDs also have a long lifecycle, making them, in many cases, a better investment than projection, which requires the replacement of bulbs.
At Aeson LED Video Displays in Lakeland, Fla., LED cabinets are configured in a 16:9 aspect ratio, which corresponds with how video is shot in North America. “As a result, the images do not have to be manipulated in any way––the way you shot it is the way it's going to be shown on the screen,” says Michael Wiener, Aeson's president. (This applies when cabinets are purchased in the same width and height, i.e., seven by seven or 10 by 10.) He adds that his company's screens are now front-accessible (as well as rear-accessible); if a module requires replacement, there's no need to get behind the display to perform the fix.
Wiener points out that churches need to account for several considerations when making the shift to LED, especially when it comes to the facility's existing video system. “They have to make sure that there's compatibility between the equipment that they have––their processors, the cameras they have––and our screens,” he says.
At Sony Faith, Craig Harper, director, touts the company's advancements in laser projection technology. “The main thing I tell my faith customers all the time is that we're looking at a technology that saves a church operating money,” he says. “It's not like a business that has a capital amount of money to spend every year; churches have to raise money for hardware, and maintenance is something that comes out of the tithes and offerings.” Laser projection, he says, cuts down on maintenance dollars because there is no need to replace lamps, and the units are said to last about 20,000 hours.
Red Walter, product specialist for LED video screens and broadcast lighting at Elation Professional of Los Angeles, points to the manufacturer's EVHD––Elation Video High Definition––line of LED displays as suitable for churches that want to step up their creativity. “Because of [LED's] modular nature, you can create an image that is more layered,” he says. “It's more immersive because now we're putting a 10-foot screen above [the congregation] and we're also putting video elements on stage. By bringing that [display] down to the ground onto the altar or the staging, the audience stays engaged with the message and with the [worship leaders].”
"Because of [LED’s] modular nature, you can create an image that is more layered."
Red Walter
Product Specialist, LED Video Screens & Broadcast Lighting, Elation Professional.
Canon
Canon's compact 4K REALiS 4K600STZ LCOS projector is designed for high-end applications. The unit combines the manufacturer's AISYS optical system and dual image processors to deliver 4096 x 2400 resolution, and features 6,000 lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1. A Marginal Focus feature enables projection onto domed surfaces. In the mid range, Canon's LX-MU800Z is a laser projector delivering 8,000 lumens of brightness and a lifespan of 20,000 hours. The projector, which features WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution and a contrast ratio of up to 10,500:1 (with Dynamic Black on), incorporates Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology, and is suitable for use in worship environments as well as for digital signage applications.
Digital Projection
Digital Projection touts its new E-Vision Laser 4K-UHD single chip DLP “maintenance free” projector for its brightness and lifespan (20,000 hours). The unit features 7,500 lumens with 4K resolution, as well as Dynamic Black technology that produces a contrast ratio of 6,000:1 (or 20,000:1 on the High Contrast Model). The E-Vision Laser 10K delivers 10,500 lumens of brightness at 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) resolution.
Mega Systems
Designed for indoor productions, Mega Systems' Phantom Panel features a 3.9mm pitch and a high contrast thanks to its black face LEDs. An aluminum casting on the bottom keeps the module from touching the ground, and a double-locking pin with one-push button releases facilitate set-up and teardown. The Phantom Panel is front-serviceable.
Panasonic
Panasonic proposes its PT-RZ970 1-Chip DLP laser projector, with a WUXGA (1920 X 1200) resolution, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and 10,400 lumens of brightness (in the center). The projector is filterless (rendering it, according to the manufacturer, “essentially dust-proof”), and produces 20,000 hours of “long-lasting high brightness and picture quality.” Part of the company's 3-Chip DLP Solid Shine line of laser projection technology, the PT-RZ31KU features 31,000 lumens of brightness (in the center, in high mode), and 20,000 hours of life (in normal mode).
Roe Visual
Roe Visual's Black Onyx LED tiles are made of magnesium alloy, resulting in a lightweight solution that's easier to transport. The displays, which feature a 3.47mm pixel pitch and a contrast ratio of 5000:1, can be configured by stacking them, hanging them, or assembling them in a curved formation.
Sony
The latest additions to Sony's LaserLite line of laser projectors are the VPL-PHZ10 (WUXGA) and the VPL-PWZ10 (WXGA), which provide 4,500 lumens of brightness and up to 20,000 hours of life (depending on how they are used). The projectors incorporate Sony's BrightEra 3LCD panel technology, which, to enhance image quality, reproduces reds, greens, and blues separately. A Reality Creation engine processes each input signal to improve clarity and sharpness for upscaled images, and a Contrast Enhancer refines lights and darks within the image in real time.
