PHARIS8526 Sept. 8, 2024, 6:46 p.m.

What’s the best projector for a small church with a tight budget?

I'm Mike from Grace Community Church in Waverly, Iowa, and I could really use some advice. We're trying to upgrade our Sunday service setup with a new projector, but we're on a pretty tight budget (you know how it is!).

We're not a mega-church by any means - just a small, friendly congregation. We mainly need it for song lyrics, short videos, and the occasional PowerPoint when Pastor Jim gets tech-savvy :) Our sanctuary isn't huge, but we do have some windows that let in light, so we need something that can handle a bit of sunshine without washing out completely.

I've been searching online, but wow, there are so many options! It's making my head spin. We're hoping to keep it under $500 if possible. Does anyone have any recs for a good, reliable projector that won't break the bank?

What are you all using in your churches? Any brands or features I should look out for? Or any to avoid?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. God bless!

P.S. If anyone has tips on setting it up or where to mount it, that'd be amazing too. I'm not exactly Mr. Handyman!

dealmoggigomy Sept. 9, 2024, 8:52 a.m.

Even if it’s just for lyrics and PP, you want to make sure the text is crisp and easy to read from the back of the church. We went with 1080p for our best church projector because it made such a difference in clarity.

Trainggor Sept. 9, 2024, 12:52 p.m.

I’d avoid the really cheap projectors you find on some online marketplaces. We tried one, and it just didn’t hold up. Spend a bit more for something reliable.

ZEILMAN9881 Sept. 10, 2024, 11:02 a.m.

I totally get that you’re on a budget, but from my own experience, I’d really recommend the ViewSonic LS741HD projector. I know it’s a bit pricier upfront, but it’s built to last and will serve your church for years. Sometimes it’s worth investing a little more to avoid having to replace it down the road!

VIEJO3576 Sept. 11, 2024, 8:53 a.m.

don’t forget about the sound system. Some projectors have decent built-in speakers, but you might need external speakers for better audio quality during services.

fine Sept. 11, 2024, 3:13 p.m.

Great point! We found that most projectors have pretty weak built-in speakers, so we ended up getting a separate sound system. It made a huge difference, especially during larger services. Definitely worth considering external speakers for the best overall experience.

Biko 007 Sept. 12, 2024, 6:07 p.m.

I’ve been researching church projectors too. One thing to keep in mind is the lumens rating. You’ll want something with at least 3000 lumens to ensure it’s bright enough for your space, especially with natural light.

ali002 Sept. 13, 2024, 8:53 a.m.

Good question! I’ve seen similar posts on other forums, but people seem divided on whether to go for budget models or invest in something pricier. Curious to see what others say.

gr_im Sept. 13, 2024, 11:54 a.m.

We had the same dilemma in our church, and after a lot of searching, we went with the epson vs250. It’s super affordable (around $480), and the 3200 lumens make it bright enough even in a naturally lit sanctuary. Definitely the best projector for church use we’ve come across for the price.

8reah0kx Sept. 14, 2024, 9:54 a.m.

Forget the projector - just have everyone bring binoculars and look at your laptop screen from the back! Amen))

Sensor Sept. 14, 2024, 10:04 a.m.

We’ve been using the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro for our youth group meetings. It’s portable and has great image quality.

dplis77 Sept. 15, 2024, 8:54 a.m.

Has anyone considered the audio capabilities of these projectors? Some come with built-in speakers, but they’re usually pretty weak. We ended up pairing ours with a Bluetooth speaker, and it works well for our services. Might be something to think about when picking the best projector for church use.

Mezza Sept. 17, 2024, 8:55 a.m.

Absolutely! We had the same issue with weak built-in speakers. We ended up going with a portable PA system to pair with our projector, and the sound quality improved drastically.

IIIUY Sept. 18, 2024, 10:05 a.m.

Who needs speakers? Just have everyone read lips from the projector screen - problem solved! *)))

Thomasbal Sept. 19, 2024, 12:45 p.m.

I’d also consider thinking about how far the projector will be from the screen. If your sanctuary has a long throw distance, you might want a model with more lumens. The optimal projector for a church sanctuary with lots of light and distance might need to be a bit higher end, but there are some affordable options out there!

Вівіві Sept. 20, 2024, 8:55 p.m.

Just a heads up, make sure to check the throw distance and screen size compatibility. We almost bought a projector that wouldn’t have worked well with our setup.

agrana Sept. 21, 2024, 10:22 a.m.

Why not just use a TV? Projectors are overrated and too much hassle. A decent-sized TV can be just as effective for a small church setting.