As a long time movie buff, I have always had the trouble of finding a suitable video projector for daylight use. I have used a few different projectors and screen and had a lot of trial and error in trying to find the right set up so that the family can enjoy movies on the big screen outside during the day time. It is great for the summer vacation and it is just so much fun watching movies outside.
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Is It Possible To Use A Projector Outside In The Daytime?
Ok so this is the million dollar question and I can assure you that I have done a lot of research on this. The standard projector and screen that I and most of you reading this will have is not able to be used outside in the daylight. Well, it can, but you will really struggle to see it. I have a pretty expensive 4K projector and a high end inflatable screen and even that is very hard to see on a sunny day. You can buy projectors from companies like Fonix, they specialize in making screens for outdoor use, but they cost thousands and thousands of dollars and are designed to movie screenings and huge sporting events, so in other words while they are the perfect video projector for daytime use. They are not designed for your kids to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse out on the lawn!
What About A High Powered Lumens Projector?
Some people may tell you that getting a super high powered, high lumens projector is the way to go and that will work. In all honesty, you will want a higher lumens projector for daytime use, but still, even the couple we are looking at here which are 3000 lumens are still not designed with outdoor use in mind.
Abdtech Video Projectors HD 1080P With 3000 LED Luminous Efficiency
Wow, Abdtech projector is a fantastic projector and one that is going to cost you around 180 bucks. Which for a projector of this quality is not a bad price at all. To start with it gives you full HD quality images and the 3000 LED Luminous Efficiency that they like to brag about makes the video you are getting look very bright, sharp and just gorgeous to look at. Using this projector in a dark room is going to blow your mind, watching it on the porch or backyard and in the sunlight, you are still going to struggle to see the video, even with this being as powerful as it is. Still, this is one fantastic projector that any people who love a movie night will really enjoy.
Epson VS240 SVGA 3LCD Projector 3000 Lumens Color Brightness
Here we have one of the most high end projectors and even as great as it is, I would not say that it is the perfect video projector for daytime use. Still, as a movie projector, I was blown away by how good this was. We used a PS4 set in HDR mode and watched a few movies using this projector and we were blown away. The 3000 lumens is very powerful and they even say that it is suitable for well lit rooms, but using it outside in the bright sun is a different matter altogether. Still out of all the projectors I have seen, this Epson one puts up the best fight against sunlight. But, please be warned that it still is not going to be super easy to see what is going on when the sun is out in full force. At around 300 bucks, this is not one of the cheaper projectors for the common man, but wow is it fantastic!
Setting Up Your Screen For Outdoor Use
Ok, so this is the hard part that we need to talk about. You can have the world’s most expensive projector and the most smooth, flattest and whited out screen going. But if the sun is out in full force it will not make a difference!
The fact is you are going to have to use a bit of ingenuity to make sure your daytime outdoor movie time is as awesome as possible. There is some cool stuff coming in the future, a company called Ice AV is working on some exciting stuff that will hopefully make any outdoor screen be able to be used. Plus modern cell phones all have an outdoor setting that makes it easier to see the screen even on the sunniest day.
For the time being though, you are going to have to think outside of the box. If you have a tripod projector screen like this JaeilPLM 100-Inch Wrinkle-Free Portable Outdoor Projection Screen which is one of the best screens I have had the pleasure to use. You will have to set up some kind of system where you use blinds or even a gazebo to try and shield the screen from the sunlight a little bit. We set ours up round the back of the house, where trees offered a bit more shade and it worked. So you will have to try a few different things to figure out where the best position for your screen is. While I love inflatable outdoor projector screens, in my experience they are a bit harder to shield from the sun, but it is possible if you think outside the box enough.
What Should You Expect When Setting Up A Projector Outside?
Look, I have been having family movie nights in my backyard every summer for a few years now and we always have a great time. When it is dark, even a lower priced projector can work wonders under the night sky. But when it comes to daytime use, you have to lower your expectations. There are a few things you can do, like positioning the screen in the right way, using covering and so on, that will make it “work” but the movie you are seeing will not be as clear as it will if you were watching it during an evening. To be fair, very few projectors will actually claim that they are a video projector for daytime use. Some may say that they are “suitable” but in my years of experience, I have yet to see a screen or a projector (that is not thousands and thousands of dollars) claim to be a screen for outdoor use.
So Is It Worth It?
I would say yes it is. Most of you reading this will be thinking of getting a screen and projector to use outside in the evening or even in your house. There is nothing wrong with having a little play around to try and make it work outside. You will find a happy medium where you can make it at the very least “watchable” and that is fine if you think of being able to watch a movie during the summer as a sort of bonus thing you can do with your movie projector and screen.
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