Choosing the Right Projector For Your Outdoor Movie Theatre
Enjoy a backyard movie night, take a portable projector camping or simply watch a film under the stars. The right outdoor movie projector and screen set-up can create a brilliant image, even in ambient light.
A proper projection screen is ideal but a flat wall can also work. However, you’ll need to consider a few factors before choosing the perfect screen.
Image Quality
When you watch movies in a movie theater, they’re usually (and ideally) shown in a dark and controlled environment. The same goes for outdoor cinema – but there are a lot more variables to account for. Even a small breeze can make an already tricky task of setting up a projector and screen difficult to execute properly.
The biggest issue is brightness – a projector that’s bright enough for indoor viewing won’t cut it outdoors, especially around sunset. That’s because the sun has a tendency to reflect off of just about any surface, creating glare that can be difficult or impossible to see through.
In many cases, it’s easiest to set up a projector by shining it 1200 ANSI super bright projector against a flat surface like a wall or garage door. But this approach can lead to image degradation because it shows you the texture of the surface, which distorts the colors. A better option is a dedicated outdoor projection screen, which has a smooth surface that offers more accurate image reproduction.
Another thing to consider is resolution – a higher picture resolution, such as HD or 4K, is going to provide a more detailed and crisp image than a lower one. That’s an important factor because it translates into sharp, richly saturated images that should look good from just about every possible viewing angle, even when the audience is spread out on lounge chairs or Adirondacks.
Brightness
When it comes to building your own backyard theater, there are plenty of options for getting the movie-night experience you want. But when it comes to choosing the right projector for your setup, brightness is an important factor to consider. If you choose a cheap projector that isn’t bright enough, your audience will have to squint or strain to see the image on the screen.
To ensure your audience can comfortably watch a film outdoors, you will need a projector that produces at least 3000 lumens. This is enough to overcome ambient light, such as sunlight or deck lights, and provide a high-quality image that’s still visible in the dark.
However, you may be able to get away with a lower brightness if your outdoor cinema is held on a cloudy day. This will prevent glare and make it easier for your audience to see the screen without squinting or straining their eyes.
In addition to brightness, you should also look at other features when selecting a projector for your outdoor cinema. These include connectivity options, image resolution and durability. For instance, you should select a projector with HDMI ports if you plan to connect it to a Blu-ray player or gaming console. It’s also a good idea to look for a projector with built-in speakers or a smart platform that allows you to stream content from services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Resolution
The native resolution of a projector defines how sharp and detailed its image will be. Typically, higher resolutions are better. However, it is also important to consider the environment in which you will be viewing movies. If you want to use a projector outside for a garden movie night, then you will likely be competing with ambient light such as sunlight or light pollution from nearby lights or buildings. In this case, a higher ANSI lumens rating is desirable.
It is also a good idea to look at the connectivity options of your chosen projector. HDMI is a great choice for connecting devices such as a Blu-ray player or gaming console. Some models offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as well, allowing you to stream content from your smartphone or tablet.
The Nebula Capsule II outdoor movie projector is a popular option for those looking for a balance of performance and value. Its impressive image quality and portability make it a good option for both garden cinema nights and travel. The projector is IPX3 water-resistant, dustproof and shockproof, and has a wide range of convenient features. The Capsule II includes a portable power bank that doubles as a battery, and it has built-in HiFi speakers for immersive audio. The projector has a number of key features that make it easy to set up and operate, including autofocus, screen fit and keystone correction.
Audio
When choosing a projector for your outdoor movie theatre you need to think about how you are going to use it. Some models come with a built-in media player and a smart platform but this will add to the price and often means that less of the budget is spent on the actual projector technology, such as brightness or luminance (measured in ANSI lumens).
Portable models tend to have a 3.5mm audio output which can be connected to any wireless speaker, ideally one optimized for outdoor use. Some also feature an HDMI port Portable Home Theater Projector which can be used with a laptop or other device capable of playing HD content.
Consider the resolution you prefer for your movies, as higher resolutions mean that the images will be crisper and more detailed. For a more realistic cinematic experience, you may want to opt for 4K, though this will increase the overall price of the projector.
Think about what other connectivity options you might need, such as the ability to download and stream apps, or varied inputs including HDMI x2/USB x2/AV/Bluetooth. You should also consider the throw distance and screen size that you would prefer to work with. Lastly, remember that most of the best outdoor projectors offer dual-band Wi-Fi connections and support wireless screen mirroring which will make your set-up much easier to manage, especially if you are using multiple devices.