Are you looking to add a brand new projector to your church? You’ve come to the right place.
When accommodating congregations of 100 or more people, it’s important to ensure that your projector can produce a bright, crystal-clear display that can be viewed by everyone without straining their eyes.
To that end, our guide below breaks down the best projectors for churches in 2023. But before we dive into that, let’s first review the factors you should consider before heading to the market to buy a projector for your church.
What to Consider Before Buying a Church Projector
Before buying a church projector, there are several factors to consider. The most important ones include brightness, resolution, throw ratio, and portability.
Brightness
The brightness of the church projector must be sufficient to accommodate 100-250 people with no concern for ambient lighting. We recommend choosing a projector with a brightness of at least 5,000 lumens. With this level of brightness, you can easily attain big, bright, and crystal-clear images for sanctuaries, such as a church.
Resolution
The resolution of your church projector determines the number of pixels displayed per inch for an image. For displaying large text, such as bible verses or song lyrics, we recommend a WUXGA (1920×1200 pixels) resolution.
Throw Ratio
The throw ratio of a projector governs the size of the image that a projector can display when installed at a specific distance from the screen. For churches, we recommend choosing a projector with a standard throw ratio (greater than 1.0). To produce large images, these projectors are placed several feet away from the screen.
Portability
In large venues, like churches, projectors are often fixed. These projectors have specific lens options that allow for greater placement flexibility. However, if you need to accommodate a small group of under 100 people in a church, consider opting for a much lighter, and more portable projector. You can then move this projector around for meetings, movie nights, or other purposes.
There are different brands that provide projectors suited for churches. Some of our top picks are outlined below.
Epson EB-L530U
The Epson EB-L530U projector has a high ANSI Lumen rating of 5200, a large display of up to 500 inches, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1. These features provide a bright and easy-to-read display for audiences in churches, as well as in the education and corporate world.
In addition, this laser projector also offers integrated wireless networking and Miracast for easy sharing from laptops and smart devices.
Features
- 3LCD projection system
- 5200 lumens of equal color and white brightness
- 1920×1200 resolution
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- 2,500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- 1.35:1 – 2.20:1 throw ratio
- 10.0 watts mono internal speakers
- Display from 50′ to 500′ diagonal (16:10) or ultra-wide (16:6)
- 20,000-hour laser light source that is virtually maintenance-free
- Manual horizontal/vertical lens shift
Epson EB-L730U
The Epson EB-L730U is a long-throw laser projector that boasts a high brightness of 7000 ISO lumens, a resolution of 1920×1200, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1. Its 3LCD technology delivers bright and lifelike images, making it suitable for signage, presentations, wayfinding, and more.
With a display of up to 500 inches and built-in tools to support multi-projector setups, this projector is ideal for large halls, such as churches. Additionally, it is easy to install thanks to its virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source, built-in wireless with Miracast, and user-friendly tools.
Features
- 3LCD projection system
- 7000 ISO lumens brightness
- 1920×1200 resolution
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- Dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1
- Throw ratio of 1.35:1 – 2.20:1
- 10.0 watts mono internal speakers
- Display size from 50′ to 500′ diagonal (16:10) or ultra-wide (16:6)
- Virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source
- Manual horizontal/vertical lens shift
Panasonic PT-MZ880
The Panasonic PT-MZ880 is an excellent option for learning environments such as churches due to its bright visuals in well-lit rooms and minimal noise.
With a brightness of 8000 lumens, resolution of 1920×1200, and dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1, this projector delivers vibrant, bright, and colorful image quality. Its eco-friendly design allows for up to 20,000 hours of virtually 24/7 maintenance-free operation, reducing installation time, labor, and total ownership cost.
Features
- 3LCD projection system
- 8000 ISO lumens brightness
- 1920×1200 resolution
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- 3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- 1.61:1 – 2.76:1 throw ratio
- Interchangeable lens
- Up to 20,000 hours of virtually 24/7 maintenance-free operation
- Manual horizontal/vertical lens shift
- Compact and lightweight
- Motorized optics
Epson EB-L630U
This projector is known for its bright, easy-to-read displays. The Epson EB-L630U features equal color and white brightness of 6200 ISO lumens, a resolution of 1920×1200, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1.
With a display of up to 500 inches, the Epson EB-L630U is perfect for the church environment. Additionally, this device has a variety of features for engaging, immersive experiences, including Miracast and wireless networking for easy sharing from smart devices and laptops.
Features
- 3LCD projection system
- Equal color and white brightness of 6200 ISO lumens
- Resolution of 1920×1200
- Aspect ratio of 16:10
- Dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1
- Throw ratio of 1.35:1 – 2.20:1
- 10.0 watt mono internal speakers
- Display from 50′ to 500′ diagonal (16:10) or ultra-wide (16:6)
- Virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source
- Manual horizontal/vertical lens shift
Epson EB-PU1008B
The Epson EB-PU1008B projector features WUXGA resolution with 4K enhancement, advanced installation capabilities, an equal color and white brightness of 8500 ISO lumens, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1, resulting in top-quality displays with lifelike images.
In addition, this projector has a virtually maintenance-free, 20,000-hour laser light source with no lamps to replace and a built-in media player with network content upload.
Features
- 3LCD projection system
- Equal color and white brightness of 8500 ISO lumens
- 1920×1200 resolution
- 16:10 aspect ratio
- Dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1
- Throw ratio of 1.35:1 – 2.20:1
- Virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source
- Interchangeable lens
- Motorized optics
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the best projector brands for churches?
Some of the best projector brands for churches are Epson and Panasonic. These brands offer a range of projectors with high brightness, resolution, and other features that are suitable for large halls and auditoriums. The Epson EB-L530U, Epson EB-L730U, and Panasonic PT-MZ880 are some of the top picks for churches.
What is the ideal brightness for a church projector?
The ideal brightness for a church projector is at least 5,000 lumens. This level of brightness ensures that the projector can produce a clear and bright display that can be viewed by everyone without straining their eyes.
What is the recommended resolution for displaying large text in churches?
For displaying large text, such as bible verses or song lyrics, we recommend a WUXGA (1920×1200 pixels) resolution. This resolution ensures that the text is clear and easy to read, even from a distance.
What size projector screen for church viewing distance?
Generally, you should try to opt for a projector screen that is between 1/3 and 1/6 of the distance to the seat furthest away from the display.
What is the latest technology in projectors?
3 LCD & 3-chip DLP are the latest technology in projectors that produce high-quality, clear, and accurate images.
Summary
If you’re looking for a projector for your church, it’s important to consider factors such as brightness, resolution, throw ratio, and portability. For brightness, we recommend a projector with at least 5,000 lumens, while a WUXGA (1920×1200 pixels) resolution is ideal for displaying large text. In terms of our top picks, the Epson EB-L530U, Epson EB-L730U, and Panasonic PT-MZ880 are all excellent choices. Regardless of which projector you choose, make sure to carefully consider its features in order to ensure that it meets your needs.