Video Page Ballet on the prjector (September 2002 some DVD recommendations from December 2000 Projected.co.uk Projectorcentral.com Widescreen-centre

However the discussion of technical requirements and costs is completely out of date! The costs have fallen dramatically since the time I wrote the previous article

Infocus offer the X-1 projector at £1000 (incl. VAT). This projector has a contrast ratio of 2000:1 (contrast is the most important measure of picture quality - 500:1 is the minimal for good quality video - 2000:1 will exceed the contrast of a cinema screen). This projector is ideal for videos and DVDs of ballet performances. The very high quality is important in coping the with the imperfect lighting that is a consequence of a live performance. This projector also has a built-in progressive scan device (normally costing £775). This greatly improves picture quality by literally doubling the number lines on the screen. The project has SVGA resolution (800v600) so there will be some loss of resolution for letter-box movies but it will still give a very good near-cinema quality picture. There will be no loss of resolution for standard 4:3 ballet videos and very little for 16:9 filmed DVD. I know at least one person in the Ballet co community who has one of these projectors. The projector is multi-voltage and can take both an NTSC and PAL picture (although there might be some difficulty with NTSC VHS tape in a PAL video which has NTSC playback - but DVDs of any region or format will work fine).

The best place to get one is at PC World - you need to order it from their business catalogue. Alternatively mail order from www.projected.co.uk

For those who are more serious about movies, try the Sanyo PLV Z-1 at £1200. This is a SVGA projector but with a 16:9 widescreen picture. This will give better resolution for letter-box and widescreen films but slightly poorer resolution for 4:3 films. The contrast is a good 800:1. However you should buy a progressive scan DVD player (now only £100 mail order from DVD magazine) to maximize picture quality. Go to www.projected.co.uk to buy one.

For the ultimate in picture quality, go for the NEC HT1000. This has an awesome 3000:1 contrast, XGA resolution (1024x720) plus progressive scan. I have one myself and I can tell you that it is comprehensively superior to any plasma screen and the cinema screen. It is so compact I was able to take it to America for a long vacation. The list price is £4700 but www.projected.co.uk are selling them for £3000. I bought my projector from them. This projector is worth mortgaging your house for.

The projector is the most significant purchase I have ever made. It has changed my life. Staying in has become the new "going out". I now only go the ballet and opera to see things that are not on DVD!