My father-in-law recently turned 80. The special occasion reunited multiple generations of both old and new family and friends from across North America. To mark the major milestone, I created a personal gift for him that everyone could enjoy: A slide show presentation of Pop through the years. I collected images, from the most recent (digital) to the early years (scanned slides and negatives), then I tested two new slide show projectors on the big day.
The two I tried out—the Optoma Pico PK201 and 3M MPro150—were great. Both were easy to operate (thanks to simple symbol-based intuitive set-ups) and are under $400. Each has a one-year warrantee, cables necessary to connect to a Mac and/or PC, and weigh a mere 5.6 ounces. They also feature standard tripod sockets and built-in speakers, though neither was powerful enough to be heard over a crowd, so I didn’t fuss with them. Another tiny con they both share is that neither will let you adjust the color, which isn’t a big deal, unless you’re photo perfectionist like me.
The projectors allowed everyone to see Pop’s new photos from his recent trips to India and Alaska while sipping cocktails, nibbling on appetizers, and mingling with guests. It was a great conversation starter: People were sharing laughs and swapping stories about the hilarious hairstyles and outfits of back in the day.
If you’re interested in creating a slide show to celebrate a special event, such as a graduation, engagement, wedding, or birthday, I’ve detailed the subtle differences between these two promising projectors to help you choose the best one for you. Let me know if you have any questions!
OPTOMA PICO PK201, $299
Pros As soon as you flip the on switch, the palm-sized projector checks for new media and loads quickly. Once you transfer and select your folder of images, the show will begin. That’s it! You’ll notice the images are crisp even if the room isn’t dark (just make sure you choose the “bright” setting). There are no moving parts, like fans, so this model is ultra silent. The USB memory stick adapter allows for portability of images, including large files, without a computer. Projected image size ranges from five to 66 inches.
Cons Rotation time between slides, which fade into each other, can be set to two, five, or 10 seconds. So if you want images to linger longer, it won’t happen. Unplugged, its battery life is only one hour. The internal memory is 55 MB (not a lot), and if you don’t get rid of the presentation software (for PC only) on the drive, then you only have 22 MB of available space, which is nothing. You’ll have to get an additional MicroSD card (about $10 for 2 GBs).
3M MPRO150, $395.00
Pros As if one GB of internal memory weren’t enough, this handheld projector also comes with a microSD 2 GB card, so you can store tons of images. This model also provides more presentation options than the Optoma, including an “excel” setting (for professional use) and multiple viewing speeds (three, five, 10, 30 and 60 seconds). Projected image size ranges from eight to 50 inches. Battery life is 90 minutes; a light on the top advises you of its status. Added bonus: It comes with international power adapters, making it great for travel, and it has a handy flip down stand for easy tabletop placement.
Cons Fewer options for card reader and no cable for a USB flash reader. Only Micro and VGA-A/V output are provided. Images are slower to load when you click through and they transition inconsistently, from the side or top to bottom (unfortunately, you can’t control this), which I found distracting. Lastly, this model has a fan, which would be noisy in a quieter setting.
ONCE YOU HAVE A PROJECTOR you will need to find a light or white surface to shine the slide show. Ideally, you’ll want a room that is not too bright, so plan ahead for that if you can!
About Our Expert: With 20 years as an editor, director and producer of photography for magazines and newspapers, Amelia Hennighausen has been immersed in the change from film to digital from the beginning. Also, as a professor of photojournalism at New York’s Fordham University, she’s made it her job to keep on top of the latest developments in technology and to stay current with the most recent trends.
[Photography of products courtesy of Optoma and 3M. Opening image by Amelia Hennighausen.]
Published on May 24, 2010
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