Are Lamp Projectors Slowly Becoming Obsolete?
Gone are the days of worrying about the lamp projector fizzling out, requiring bi-annual lamp
replacement. With lamp-free projectors, LED projectors, and laser projectors, the time has come
for uninterrupted projection to crystallize. But, does that mean no one needs a lamp projectors
anymore? In this article, Pooja Shah, Editorial Assistant, PALM + AV-ICN, reports
on the
viability of a lamp projector.
Lamp Projectors
If today, someone was to ask you - would you rather change a projector bulb once every few months or
have a projector bulb that rarely requires changing - what would your response be? In this digital
era that moves ahead at a neck-breaking speed, no one has the time to stop and smell the roses, let
alone change a bulb from time to time (and that too, after dishing out some hundreds or thousands of
rupees from the wallet). Plus, when a better, much more hassle-free option in the form of LED
projectors or laser projectors already exists in the market, despite several reasons to opt for old
school, reliable lamp projectors, this piece of technology is slowly becoming obsolete.
Of course, lamp projectors still have a significant presence in the market. But imagine a yesteryear
artist being overshadowed by a fresh face, and this is exactly what is happening with lamp
projectors today. The fresh face making all the right noise then, is the LED/laser projector. This
article explores if lamp projectors, even when they are still in sight, albeit against the
revolutionary technology delivery by LED/laser projectors, gradually fading into an oblivion.
Lamp projectors last longer
There is no denying the fact that lamp projectors last longer than LED or laser projectors. Even
though initially, projectors that came with an incandescent lamp, offered only a couple of hundred
lumens, things took a turn for the good in the 21st century, when better lamps (with halide,
mercury, and xenon) delivered better lumen output and lamp life of 1000+ lumens and 1,000 hours
respectively. With the advent of dual lamp projectors, the deliverables multiplied manifold. Now,
use a lamp projector in an 'eco mode', and you can enjoy an increased lamp lifespan of up to 5,000
to 10,000 hours. This is good, but...
Lamp projectors are good, but...
The lamps lose brightness over time, and need to be replaced time and again. Imagine if a lamp
projector is installed at a high altitude inside a house of worship, the efforts and cost invested
in replacing the lamp time after time just piles up, and in the end, it all seems futile. Not just
that, most lamp projectors require air filter maintenance and replacement every two years or so.
Even in an indoor setting like a classroom, the constant need to replace the bulb/lamp along with
the air filters can disrupt the flow of teaching and learning. Plus, with LED/laser projector
becoming more compact and portable than ever before, it is no surprise that the lamp-free versions
of the projector are currently the talk of the tech-savvy crowd.
Truth be told, lamp projectors are reputed for their longevity. So, if you want to benefit from that
feature, make sure your projector's lamp don't burn out that quickly. The best way to ensure that is
to limit the use of lamp projector in your day-to-day life. The most ideal use-case for lamp
projectors is in a space where lamp projectors are needed, but they don't need to be run throughout
the day. Say, for instance, a small church, where the scene is calm and quiet throughout the
weekend, and the lamp projector is required only for weekends and festive days - here, the lamp
isn't in constant use, so it burns out slowly, and the user can hold off on the replacement for a
longer time, eventually saving up on costs that go in the replacement.
Lamp projectors are more affordable than LED/laser projectors
Or are they? Yes, lamp projectors used to be more affordable than LED/laser projectors. But that was
a thing of the past. Of course, even today, lamp projectors help you save your spend as against
LED/laser projectors that are priced a bit higher than the former. But the margin of difference in
the price between the three kinds of projectors is now diminishing, thanks to more and more
companies launching their own versions of LED/laser projectors and eliminating the monopoly of any
one company over the radical technology.
Another major factor in determining the value offered by lamp projectors as against LED/laser
projectors also depends on the use-case scenario. In larger venues where projectors are placed in
difficult-to-access positions and are switched on throughout the day, LED/laser projectors are a
more apt investment than lamp projectors, despite their higher costs. LED/laser projectors' light
source doesn't require constant surveillance and replacement, the user doesn't have to spend time,
energy and money in lamp replacement and projector maintenance every once in a while, and in the
end, this results in a profitable expenditure.
Are lamp projectors outdated?
If lamp projectors indeed offer more drawbacks than benefits, with the arrival of LED/laser
projectors, are the former turning into an outdated technology? Well, yes and no. If the user
doesn't have a budget constraint and wishes to introduce the best-in-class technology in a
particular space, LED/laser projectors, with their continuously increasing lumen output, vivid
brightness levels, and gradually improving affordability, might be the preferred choice, and rightly
so.
However, when faced with a budget constraint, the user's search for a reliable yet affordable piece
of technology for a particular venue may end up at lamp projectors. Also, who says lamp projectors
aren't evolving in their own right? Several brands are upgrading their lamp projector series to
demand less and deliver more. Of course, the lamp replacement every two years or so can be an
inconvenience, but in the end, it all boils down to user priorities.
Are lamp projectors becoming obsolete? With LED/laser projectors entering the AV scene, it might
look like the days of the lamp projector are numbered. But, in the world of technology, change is
the only constant. Only the equipment that can evolve can evade extinction. As mentioned earlier,
lamp projectors, too, are evolving. Whether they will stand tall in a price agnostic age that seeks
ease of use, only time will tell.