Pico projectors may not have the lustre they had when first released but there's certain companies which keep churning out the pint-sized product again and again.

Optoma is one of these companies and it chose CES Unveiled, the precursor to CES 2012 to show off not one but two pico projectors.

While the ML300 is a decent device, piping out 300 lumens of brightness, it was the Optoma PK32 we were enamoured with – a tiny projector which manages to produce an impressive 100 lumens.

The projector is a stunning study into the miniature. Optoma must have used every inch of its pico knowledge to pack image technology that can throw a 150-inch image into a device that weighs a mere 250g.

As it beams out 100 lumens of brightness, the Optoma PK32 is the most advanced pico on the market. When it comes to its measurements, it's just 4.7x1.2x 2.7 inches, with most of the controls for the device situated on the top.

There's six function keys and a home key – if you use some functions more than others then the projector remembers and allows you to access your most used through single-key access which is more than handy.

The PK32 delivers a contrast ratio of 3000:1 and also has an internal battery so there is no need to tether.

If you do this, though, the projector cuts its lumen output to just 25 lumens which is fine but definitely not top of the class.

Optoma has decided that sometimes you will use the PK32 without a computer so has installed Office Viewer software, which is a nice touch as you will be able to view the likes of PowerPoint, Word and Excel without switching on your laptop.

In our brief hands on with the Optoma PK32, it's easy to see that Optoma has upped its game when it comes to the pico projector world and has thankfully not given up on the small-form format.

The Optoma PK32 is out now in the US and is priced at $449. UK pricing and release date is still to be announced.

Best projector: all your best projecting options

Our constantly updated list of the best projectors around

As the temperature drops and the days get ever shorter, curling up with a good movie seems the sensible option.

Big TVs are fine, but if you want a seriously impressive home cinema experience then a projector is what you should search for.

It used to be the case the best projectors were hugely expensive and could only be used in blackout situations, something that few can achieve at home.

However, that's changed over the last few years and the latest DLP and 3LCD projectors are not only bright enough to use in the daytime (though direct sunlight nearby is still a big no-no), but have also plummeted in price.

That's just as well, because you'll also need to think about a sound system – some projectors do have built-in speakers, but they're rarely (never) any good.

There are other changes afoot in the projector market. We're now seeing portable units, those that bridge the divide between data and video, 3-D options, and even some that play nice with the latest Apple products. Whichever you go for, you're assured of an instant home cinema experience.

So here's our pick of the best projectors, ordered by price:

Philips PicoPix Mini 1430 – £225

A compact projector that's small enough to carry around

By their nature, projectors are not very portable, but that all changes with the pocket-sized Pico concept. Designed primarily for using with a PC, Phillips' well built effort can attach to home cinema components and take both USB sticks and SD cards from a camera or camcorder (WMV files are not recognised, but MOV files played fine). We managed a decent image 80-inches in size, though around 40 to 50-inches is best for the PicoPix, and quality with video is very average. A great little gadget, but buying this pocket projector to replace a TV could be folly – this is best for occasional use.

Read: Philips PicoPix Mini review

Acer H5360BD – £500

A bargainous 3D projector that offers bang for your buck

Saddled with a 1280x720 pixel HD ready resolution, this projector lacks ultimate contrast so don't expect the last word in Blu-ray quality, though in every other regard this is a bargain beamer - and it even does 3-D. Small enough to grab from a drawer when needed, this Acer has auto keystone correction for easy setup, and it's even possible to choose the colour of your wall (the quality of light changing as a result). It's with games that this projector excels, though it's just about versatile enough for occasional use with any source.

Epson MG-850HD – £600

A decent HD projector which includes an iOS dock for beaming your digital videos

What use is a projector if you watch most of your entertainment via an iPad? Cue the MG-850HD, a one-of-a-kind projector that boasts a unique iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch dock on its rear. It does also possess video inputs, but the MG-850HD is all about iDevice convenience; it extracts and plays absolutely any video or photo either stored or streamed through a docked iPad (complete with stereo 10W speakers), though don't expect to see apps on the big screen.

It has a user interface all of its own (it's very Apple like), which is displayed in 1280x720 pixel HD ready quality, and goes as bright as 2800 lumens. It's fine for daytime use, but don't expect the ultimate in cinematic glory – the MG-850HD is a budget projector, and besides, video on iPad is hardly of the finest quality.

InFocus SP8600 – £800

Aa home cinema bargain of quite ridiculous proportions

It's at this kind of money where serious home cinema becomes a possiblity – and here's the proof. A 2D home cinema bargain of quite ridiculous proportions, this nicely proportioned projector is versatility defined.

It's true it lacks lens shift levers and has just a 1.2x zoom, so installation could be easier (we wouldn't, for instance, recommend using on a coffee table, but instead as a semi-permanent fixture in a home cinema), but once set-up the SP8600 doesn't miss a beat. Full HD and with a six-segment colour wheel, detail is awesome, colour vibrant and Blu-ray spotlessly blur-free and smooth. Its 1800 lumens mean it's bright enough to use in ambient light, and it's even got a built-in mono speaker.

Read: InFocus SP8600 review

Vivitek H1080 – £850

Another great value HD projector offering 1800 lumens of brightness

A similarly smart choice in this relatively low price bracket, this DLP-based projector also features full HD resolution along with a slab of cinematic brilliance. Ideal for anyone wanting to create a home cinema on a budget, the Vivitek can nevertheless be used in daylight conditions, too, thanks to its 1800 lumens of brightness. Its short throw lens also makes it relatively easy to set up in a small room.

Beautiful colouring and stunning detail from Blu-ray, the H1080 offers a smooth and inviting picture from games, though it's not the most contrast-heavy option. Also includes a 5W speaker, though it's only worth using in an emergency.

BenQ W1100 – £900

How low can you go and still get a great cinematic experience?

Budget home cinema builders have never had it so good. This is the kind of money you want to be spending if you're after something that justifies your increasingly full HD disc and games collection. A DLP model with a distinctly upmarket, backlit remote, auto keystone correction makes set-up simple while out-of-the-box the W1100's image is preternaturally sharp and bright.

Image controls are extensive, and though fan noise is an issue and there's some resolution loss during fast moving video, the general sharpness of its images and the striking colour fidelity makes the W1100 an unqualified steal.

Read: BenQ W1100 review

ViewSonic Pro8450w – £1,000

Exceptionally bright at 4500 lumens, this DLP model is by far the best projector here to use in daylight, but it comes with a warning. Ostensibly designed for using with data in an office environment (the obvious giveaway is that it can be networked), its 1280x800 pixels are just enough to offer a HD ready 720p performance – and don't countenance using it at its maximum brightness for movies (you might as well switch the lights on).

It's not the most detailed image your find, and nor is it the most video friendly – we noticed some blur during fast moving footage – but its built-in speaker is handy, and there is also a 3-D option; hook up a VPD31 processor (£299) for some rudimentary 3-D images.The right choice if you need a projector for both home and business use.

Read: ViewSonic Pro8450w review

BenQ W1200 – £1,000

When BenQ re-entered the projector market earlier this year, we weren't particularly excited, but the W1200 quickly changed all that. A DLP model with 1800 lumens of brightness and a full HD resolution, it somehow manages to create sharp and lusciously coloured images from all sources.

Essentially a more cinematic, blur-less version of BenQ's W1100 (above), this smooth operator has image calibration menus aplenty, though its lack of lens shift levers or an auto keystone correction mode means it's not ideal for a coffee table. It's best positioned behind the viewing position in a home cinema setting, which make its built-in 10W speakers rather redundant. As versatile as your find at this price, the W1200 is an almost ludicrously good deal.

Epson EH-TW3200 – £1,000

Unlike most of the other projectors featured here, this Epson uses 3LCD technology, though it's the simple set-up we like most. Let's gloss over the fact that it's absolutely huge (something that also makes it one of the quietest projectors – the cooling system is bigger and more efficient) and go straight to its vertical and horizontal lens shift levers.

Manual they may be, but these levers physically move the lens around an axis, making it simple to create a dead on image from almost anywhere in a room. Its 1800 lumens make it fine for daytime use, and its full HD resolution sharpness combines with enough contrast and cinematic colour; there are few projectors that are either as impressive or as easy to set up.

Optoma ThemeScene HD33 – £1,300

A great 3D projector that uses Active 3D glasses

How about some 3D? It's not got nearly the same hi-tech chops as your average 3D cinema projector, but Optoma's great value HD33 somehow manages to deliver decent depth via active shutter 3D specs.

A single chip DLP projector, it's one of few 3D projectors to offer full HD resolution, and nor does it come with a separate processing box (most cheap 3D projectors do). With 1800 lumens brightness, the HD33 does a decent job in daylight, and though its middling contrast keeps it from home cinema perfection, that effective 3D mode makes it one of the best value beamers around if a 3D home cinema is your next move.

JVC DLA-X3 3D - £2,800

This 3D lightbox ushers in a new era for D-ILA home projectors

The DLA-X3 is a seriously desirable home theatre projector, with a 2D performance that's ridiculously fine for the money. The DLA-X7 and DLA-X9 models may offer superior contrast, but there's nothing here to really grumble about.

Black level performance and fine detailing remain top dollar. The X3 is also well built and at 20dB, whisper-quiet in operation. Its 3D performance is similarly exciting, although there remain some issues with performance and execution. The separate sync transmitter is inelegant, and there's also that thorny issue of crosstalk. But over all, this is a brilliant home cinema option for the enthusiast.

Read: JVC DLA-X3 3D review

Sony VPL-HW30ES - £2,900

Sony's second-generation 3D projector is a sensation

The Big S has delivered a barnstorming big-screen projector with the VPL-HW30ES. Not only is it good enough to convert the fiercest 3D cynics, it's also a darn fine 2D projector in its own right.

It's capable of deep, convincing blacks with tangible shadow detail. Unlike rival D-ILA technology, SXRD relies on a dynamic iris to deliver deep contrast. Here the Advanced Iris system has a couple of auto modes, which adjust to scene content; sensitivity is variable. I wasn't particularly aware of the iris opening or closing during my audition. Alternatively, you can manually set and fix it to taste.

While it may not be perfect – the lack of a 12V trigger particularly rankles and we'd rather the transmitter was back integrated with the lens assembly – this remains a compelling argument for bringing big-screen 3D home.

Read: Sony VPL-HW30ES review

JVC DLA-X7 - £5,000

If you still aren't convinced about 3D, this projector may well change your mind

However impressive the X7's 3D pictures might be, 3D viewing will probably only occupy a small proportion of your total viewing time (unless you're James Cameron). So it's handy that the X7 is also a terrific 2D projector.

On top of its impressive handling of dark sequences are punchy whites that are a big step forward from last year's models, intense colours and clean motion handling, even without resorting to the provided motion processing circuitry.

We also commend the X7's freedom from distracting video noise and its terrific sharpness, which did full justice to the exceptionally detailed Blu-ray transfer ofThe Social Network.

The big question for the X7 now is whether it can really justify costing nearly twice as much as the X3. We think it can, because it delivers a marked improvement over its cheaper sibling above.

Read: JVC DLA-X7 review

SIM2 C3X Lumis 3D-S - £30,000

Three-chip DLP projector is a watershed moment in home cinema 3D's fortunes

Last in our list is the ludicrously expensive SIM2 C3X Lumis 3D-S projector. Costing upwards of £30,000 it's a home cinema goliath and has the chops to deliver best-in-class pictures.

Since you won't be expected to install a £30,000 projector yourself, your installer will thrill to this machine's set-up flexibility. At the heart of its almost infinite tweakability is SIM2's Live Colours Calibration 2 software, which works in tandem with a colour meter to enable your lackey to get the Lumis 3D-S' colour palette looking essentially perfect.

The Lumis 3D-S' main 'wow'- inducing talent, though, is its picture quality, and its 3D pictures are far and away the best I've seen outside of a top-end commercial cinema.

Read: SIM2 C3X Lumis 3D-S review

Sony usually uses CEATEC in Japan to show off brand-new technology that the UK won't see for years, but the company choose this year's show to give more of in-depth look at its already announced 4K home projector, the Sony VPL-VW1000ES.

Shown off originally in September at IBC and CEDIA, the projector was announced but kept under wraps so it is nice to see the thing out in the open – and TechRadar was in Japan to get up close with the projector.

Sony has a long history with 4K cinema projectors. This is the company that kick-started 4K projection around the world – with 10,000 units sold and myriad digital movies now filmed in the format.

Knowing that this tech is coming to the home is something pretty special but as you can see from the images, you will need a pretty big lounge to house the device.

According to Sony, the VPL-VW1000ES is 4K with a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160. When it comes to brightness, there's 2,000 ANSI-lumens on board and, using Iris3 tech, it has an 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast.

Features on the VW1000ES projector include something called 'Reality Creation' – this is essentially an upscaler for 1080P content so you can watch Blu-rays in upscaled 4k.

This is handy, given that there's no content around for the device as of yet. The projector can also display Full HD 3D and 4K upscaling of 3D movies.

The Sony VPL-VW1000ES 4K projector release date, in Japan at least, is mid-December, with pricing set at 1.68 milllion Yen – which equates to a bank balance sapping £14,000. We're thinking this will be around £20,000 when it is released, however.

Just a week after Toshiba announced the UK's first TV with a 4K (3840 x 2160) pixel resolution, Sony has taken the wraps of a home cinema projector that offers the same thrills but on a much larger scale.

The VW1000ES, which made its debut at CEDIA, uses a new 4K SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) and Sony's Iris3 technology to deliver 12.5m pixel images at sizes up to 200in.

And, while we wait for actual 4K video content to arrive, this next-gen projector is naturally au fait with Full HD and 3D, using an active shutter system and a built-in transmitter for the latter.

Well-heeled

Where the VW1000ES will really appeal to well-heeled movie fans is its ability to upscale regular old Blu-rays to 4K – thanks to Sony's proprietary 'Reality Creation' chip. The result of this quadrupling of resolution is, says Sony, a more immersive, engaging visual experience. It should be like stepping up from DVD to Blu-ray all over again.

The Reality Creation tech also works with Full HD 3D Blu-rays.

Sony Europe's product manager Tak Nakane is obviously excited by his brand's futureproof product, saying 'The VPL-VW1000ES delivers on the promise of the future of home entertainment – today.'

The VW1000ES follows the recently announced VW95ES and HW30ES. It is due to reach UK dealers in January with a price still to be announced – although we expect it to be, well, quite a lot.

Printer and projector manufacturer Epson has revealed three new projectors, each with its own selling point such as iPod docks, 3D capability and being cheap.

The MG-850HD docks iPods, iPhones and iPads, and features Epson's 3LCD technology for 720p HD projections of up to 300 inches.

The unit also includes built-in 10W stereo speakers for your tunes, and connectivity for Blu-Ray and DVD players, televisions, PCs and games consoles.

It also packs a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a 2,800 lumens white and colour light output and a microphone input for rapping along to your favourite Kriss Kross tracks.

The MG-850HD has a release date of November 2011, and a recommended retail price of £649. It will be available for pre-order from Apple online stores from October.

Almost like it's real

In addition, Epson has announced a whopping five full HD 3D projectors, ranging in price from £999 to £2,962.

According to Graeme Davidson, category manager - AV at Epson UK, the projectors are "the best home cinema projectors with superior image clarity and accurate colour reproduction."

The most basic 3D projector - the EH-TW5900 - includes a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 1080p playback, a 2,000 lumens output and two colour modes in 3D.

At the other end of the scale, the EH-TW9000W includes a 200,000:1 contrast ratio, four 3D colour modes, frame interpolation and two pairs of active shutter glasses for that 3D goodness.

The three most basic models - the EH-TW5900, the EH-TW6000 and the EH-TW6000W - will be available from October 2011 priced at £999, £1349 and £1649 respectively.

The higher end models - the EH-TW9000 and the EH-TW9000W - will be available from November and priced at £2650 and £2692.

And finally...

Finally, Epson's cheapest projector, the EH-TW480, includes a contrast ratio of 3,000:1 and and white and colour light output of 2,800 lumens.

It also includes an HDMI input for all your media devices, automatic keystone correction, two 2W speakers and a 5,000 hour lamp life.

The EH-TW480 will be available from November 2011 at a recommended retail price of £549.

While Sony's new Personal 3D Viewer has grabbed much of the attention at IFA 2011, the Japanese giant's professional arm has used the tech show to slip out the VPL-VW95ES, a new flagship 3D home cinema projector.

This 'Elevated Standard' branded product is the successor to its award-winning VPL-VW90ES, and capable of crafting hi-def images up to 300ins.

Sony says it has taken the views of its existing customers on board when designing the new model.

Customer feedback

"Feedback on the VPL-VW90ES was carefully considered and changes were made accordingly to ensure the VPL-VW95ES gives viewers the best home cinema experience yet," states Tak Nakane, product manager at Sony Professional

Helping to deliver that experience are a running noise of just 20dB, picture position memory allowing for one-touch aspect ratio control, and lighter 3D glasses than before.

Other features of the VPL-VW95ES include a claimed dynamic contrast ratio of 150,000:1, two HDMI inputs for easy source connection, built-in 2D-3D conversion and Sony's Motionflow technology to reduce motion blur and judder.

The VPL-VW95ES will go on sale in the UK and the rest of Europe in October. The suggested price is a reassuringly expensive €5,500, but it's not yet clear how that will be converted by UK retailers.

Sony has also used IFA to announce a new white finish for its more affordable VPL-VW30ES projector, presumably to make it more appealing to interior designers.

Sony has unveiled a new addition to its 3D projector range, the Sony VPL-HW30.

The HW30 joins last year's VW90, but it is promising a price that's a lot healthier for home cinema enthusiasts.

The Sony VPL-HW30 offers a High Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080), which produces crisper images with blur reduced.

Couple this with MotionFlow, 70,000:1 and brightness of 1,300lm and what you have are specs as sharp as the image quality.

Sony is also trying to counteract the thorny issue of crosstalk with its 240Hz panel drive system. It will also upscale 2D to images to 3D, which is a bonus considering the lack of 3D content out at the mo.

The VPL-HW30 supports Sony's new range of active shutter specs, snappily titled TDG-PJ1, and the new Sony transmitter, the TMR-PJ1. Both of these will be sold separately to the projector, however.

As for price, the HW30 will retail for around 3,300 Euro (£2,900). When you consider its predecessor cost in the region of £6,000 this is a significant mark down.

The VPL-HW30 UK release date is July.

Ever wished you had your own home multimedia room? With the LG HX300G LED projector, you can view cinema-quality multimedia content including movies, sporting events, MP3s, home videos and pictures at up to 1.35 metres wide within the comfort of your own home.

The ultra-slim, micro portable HX300G from LG is the world's first XGA LED projector and delivers a colour range so wide and picture quality so sharp and bright, you will forget you're not in a cinema!

The HX300G supports DivX HD, MP3 and JPEG files and File Viewer software, so it's multi- functional and easy to connect through a USB. Whether you're at home, at work or on the move, the lightweight HX300G offers a superior picture and colour quality, wherever you go.

To celebrate the launch of its innovative projector range, leading consumer electronics manufacturer, LG, is giving away one of these stylish, ultra slim, go-anywhere HX300G projectors.

This competition is now closed. The winner is Patricia Parkinson.

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Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.

ViewSonic has announced the VP3D1 – a processor that can take 3D TV, film and gaming content into a format that can be displayed natively on its 3D projector range.

ViewSonic Europe will show off some of its latest kit at the ISE show including the 10,000 lumen Pro9500 and a double sided ePoster which has been deisgned to replace old backlit signs.

But a highlight for 3D fans will be the VP3D1 which will convert 3D sources to a more projector friendly format – with ViewSonic showing off the technology alongside its PJD8200 home cinema projector.

Conversion

"ViewSonic is also launching its 3D processor solution. The VP3D1 converts 3D TV, Film and Gaming content into a format that can be displayed natively by the ViewSonic 3D ready projector range," explained ViewSonic.

So, if you happen to have one of ViewSonic's 3D projectors – you may soon be able to hook up your favourite gadgets to get the full experience. Although we don't yet know the pricing or UK release date.

How to choose a home cinema projection screen

At Home Cinema Choice magazine, we talk a lot about projectors, and not much about projector screens.

But this doesn't mean we don't find screens as interesting, or consider them less important to the home cinema experience.

Far from it. One reason we don't review more screens is a practical one; installing and handling such large and cumbersome items can be a nightmare. But the other reason is that the screen market is so diverse, and associated so closely with the specific needs and room conditions of each user, that reviewing individual screens would seem too specific to be worthwhile.

The fact is, though, that if you get the screen wrong, then you will be selling your projector short, no matter how expensive it might have been.

Which type should I choose?

Start off by looking at the different types of mounting options available. There are two main approaches: fixed frame, where the screen is placed in a rigid frame and attached permanently to the wall, or 'roll-away', where it can be rolled up when not in use.

Within the latter category there are also various sub-options we'll consider in a moment. For people lucky enough to have dedicated home cinema rooms, the fixed frame approach will often be the simplest, since the screen doesn't need to be hidden when not in use. It's widely considered, too, that permanent screens stay more tautly stretched and thus produce more accurate pictures.

Roll-away screens are obviously a great solution for people trying to accommodate a home cinema setup in a room that also gets used for other activities, such as a living room. The most basic of these screens sit on a roller attached to, or hidden in, the ceiling and the user has to manually pull the screen down when needed.

Also very popular is the motorised roll-down variety, where motors drive the screen down into position at the touch of a remote control button. Some projectors carry 12V trigger outputs, in fact, so that they can activate motorised screens automatically when the projector is switched on.

If even having a slim roll-out screen housed on your ceiling feels too intrusive, a further, portable option is the pull-up projection panel. these come fixed inside carry cases that you stand on the floor, so that the screen pulls out of the top and is held upright by a collapsible support frame.

We've found that the more affordable floor-mounted types may not always stand completely upright or even flat. But the fact that you can put them in a cupboard when you're not using them is a practical benefit that will justify the performance compromises for some. rigidity and perfect flatness, so crucial to a good picture, are often one of the main reasons some projector screens cost vastly more than others, especially in the roll-away department.

Projection screen aspect ratios

Another key decision is which shape and size of screen you should go for. In terms of shape, there are three aspect ratio options: 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9. For home cinema enthusiasts, the old 'square' 4:3 screen approach is almost certainly a nonstarter these days. Which leaves us with 16:9 or 21:9.

If you intend to watch a lot of HD, you will probably be best off with a 16:9 screen that matches the ratio of HDTV material. If you're a die-hard movie fan, though, you might consider a 21:9/2.35:1 CinemaScope screen. After all, most big films now are shot in 2.35:1, and so the majority of Blu-rays are produced with that aspect ratio.

However, the situation isn't totally cut and dried. Blu-rays don't currently hold 'true' 21:9 masters (instead adding black bars within the picture data), and projectors don't have true 21:9 pixel ratios. So if you want a full 21:9 experience, you need a projector with a CinemaScope lens attachment – something which can add considerable cost to your projector setup.

If you really want the ultimate in Cinemascope clarity you could consider a curved screen like Stewart's CineCurve (below). These give a more immersive effect, focus light at your viewing position and compensate for the lens distortion you get with anamorphic lenses.

It's curtains for you

The existence of multiple aspect ratios explains another popular option: masking, where absorbent material can cover parts of the screen to change the shape of the visible section.

On a basic level, this can be done manually using curtains, although it is quite a faff. You can also install a motorised curtaining system external to the screen. But by far the most elegant solutions are high-end fixed screens that have motorised masking, where black borders of absorbent material can be electronically moved out from all four edges of the screen.

Such screens usually ship with preset aspect ratios and are selectable using single remote control buttons, but you can usually manually tweak the border locations yourself too.

To be really effective, the movable borders on these sorts of projection panels need to absorb light extremely well. And such screens are generally hugely expensive because of both the motors and tracking mechanisms involved. But they're generally an excellent proposition when built well enough, especially if you regularly watch 21:9 material, but don't want a CinemaScope lens or 21:9 screen.

Choosing the correct projection screen size

Choosing the correct size is more complicated than you might think. Aside from the size of your wall you need to consider at what distance from the screen your audience will sit, which is down to personal preference.

When people go to the movies some like to be relatively near the front, others prefer the back, while some will only sit the middle. And so it is at home, where people like to have different screen sizes relative to their preferred viewing position.

Screen size also depends to some extent on the quality of your projector and screen. If neither is particularly good, sitting too close will only make you more aware of the shortcomings.

Finally, it's a simple fact that how large a screen your projector can drive is dependent on the amount of brightness its lamp can produce. So while 'light cannons' such as Sim2's spectacular C3X Lumis can drive screens many hundreds of inches across, you might find relatively low brightness projectors struggling to keep images looking punchy over 80-100in.

We mentioned screen material earlier and it's this aspect of screen selection that's the most bewildering yet, potentially, crucial.

The first decision you need to make is quite simple: do you want to mount any speakers behind the screen? If so, you'll need an acoustically transparent, perforated fabric that enables sound to pass through without becoming muffled or blocked. Such fabric can cause problems with reduced brightness and back wall light reflections, as light passes through the acoustic holes.

No pain, no gain

After this basic decision, though, life gets more complicated. For a start, you have to get grips with the concept of gain. Some screens are high gain, while others are low, with all sorts of ratings in between, and each gain value has its place.

Many white home cinema screens tend to be low gain, with values written as 1.0-1.3. these gain figures, rather archaically, describe the ratio of light a screen reflects in relation to the amount of light that gets reflected by an untreated magnesium oxide board. so a 1.3 gain screen will reflect around 30 per cent more light than our lovely magnesium oxide white board.

The growing interest in black-level boosting screens that use a grey material rather than white is resulting in gain figures below 1.0 appearing, too. The question of whether you should get a high or low-gain screen, again boils down to matters of taste and, more importantly, room setup.

For instance, high-gain screens have reduced viewing angles versus low-gain ones, which could be an issue if viewers will have to sit to the side of the screen. High-gain screens can suffer from hot spots too, where the centre of the image looks brighter than the rest. And finally, high-gain projection panels can damage colour balance, since they don't reflect red, green and blue equally from all viewing angles.

But before you discount them, if there's often a degree of ambient light in your movie room, the high-gain variety could be essential. In fact, a few have been developed now with extreme gain properties, specifically to try and emulate (for a fraction of the cost) the performance of, say, a massive (80in plus) plasma screen in a normal living room environment.

A particularly outstanding example of this is the screen Innovations Black Diamond II we tested in issue 183.

Dedicated, blacked out home cinema rooms might be better with more standard-gain screens, though, and possibly even a grey sub-1.0 gain screen. Grey screens were extremely worthwhile a few years ago before projectors started to produce impressive contrasts, but they arguably still have a place even if you've got a good high-contrast projector.

If your viewing room is either decorated in light coloured finishes or else houses numerous light furnishings, the way grey screens stop light bouncing around a room could prove very useful.

One final consideration is the issue of the quality, finish and weave of the screen you buy. We've heard various cynics suggest that expensive screen materials don't really make a difference. But this is just plain wrong. We've seen first-hand how some screens really can produce sharper, more detailed images with HD than others.

Also, some screens can cause a slight moiré effect over areas of fine detail while others don't. Some screens, as previously discussed, are brighter and more reflective than others, and some are better at reproducing a convincing black colour. Some diffuse light right around your room for wide viewing angles, while others focus it right back at you. Some reproduce colours completely neutrally (and thus accurately), others can introduce an underlying tinge of their own or favour certain tones over others, leading to an unbalanced colour palette.

We're even starting to see screens appearing now that claim to be better for 3D than others. This might seem spurious at first glance, but actually stereoscopic pictures need utter clarity for high levels of detail and really accurate colour toning to become convincing, so we can understand some screens working better with the technology than others.

One of the first screens designed and tested with 3D in mind is Image screen's Cadre 3D.

Finally, the basic quality of the fabric in terms of wear and tear, hanging weight and resilience to rolling, with roll-away projectors, can have a massive impact on long-term viewing. You would be well advised to get help from custom installation experts before finally settling on a screen.

And try to partner your projector with a screen of as much quality as you can afford. After all, unlike a TV, a high quality screen should last you a lifetime.

Acer has launched the £279.99 Acer C20 PICO Projector, stating that the pocket sized gadget will allow you to comfortably enjoy your videos, photos or presentation with your friends anywhere.

Available in 'Candy Pink, Metallic Blue and Silver' – and you know which one we think will sell best – is billed as smartphone size and can project on surfaces from 5 inches right up to 66 inches.

"The C20 PICO projector is just about the size of a smartphone and weighs a handful of grams, yet delivers impressive performance, freeing you from the small screen and giving a whole new meaning to travelling light," explains Acer.

Internal speaker

"Furthermore, with the internal speaker you don't even need to carry around a separate amplifier if you fancy watching a video," the press release continues.

The Acer C20 offers integrated SDHC card reader, native 16:9 format picture, WVGA resolution and 2000:1 contrast ratio.

It also allows you to show presentations and videos directly from a USB flash drive, and the LED lamp, combined with DLP technology, offers 'up to' 20,000 hours.

Epson is touting the first Full HD live broadcast from under the Red Sea, in what could be considered the ultimate screensaver.

Fish have been a screensaver for PCs across the globe for decades, and although Epson's underwater showcase at Photokina is to show off its projectors and not really meant to save screen burn, it's certainly not hard to draw parallels.

At least, that's our stance, and we're sticking to it.

"This exhibit and Full HD live broadcast is a unique opportunity to bring images of the stunning Red Sea to a wider audience," said David Pilsof, producer of the Epson Red Sea event, held in Eilat, Israel

Sharp and colourful

"Sharp and colourful images, created using high-quality Epson projectors, and exciting underwater events will delight visitors and give them an impression of the beauty of underwater nature.

"That's why we are happy and proud to work with Epson as professional imaging partner."

Interestingly a screen/fishtank hybrid was mooted by sci-fi author Robert Heinlein in his classic Strangers in a Strange Land back in 1961. Fact.

Epson has a long history of conservation projects in the Red Sea, and TechRadar hopes that its latest Photokina showcase helps a worthy cause.

You can see the broadcasts, when they go online, at http://www.eilatredsea.com/?CategoryID=206&ArticleID=228

Sony has announced a 3D projector for the living room, with the VPL-VW90ES from Sony Professional aimed squarely at the home cinema enthusiast.

The VPL-VW90ES offers a dynamic contract of 150,000:1 and Sony's Advanced Iris 3 technology and uses the active glasses technology in Sony's Bravia television range.

"The VPL-VW90ES has been designed to deliver an optimal 3D experience that feels natural on the eyes," explains Sony's release.

Latest step in the world vision

"The launch of our first 3D home projector marks the latest step in Sony realising its 3D World vision," said Jonathan White, Director B2B, Sony Professional.

"From capturing images in 3D, through to the production and delivery stages, Sony is uniquely placed to deliver an incredible 3D viewer experience both at home and in the cinema.

"The projector also opens up another dimension for gamers too. People will be able to play a rapidly increasing number of 3D titles such as Gran Turismo 5, and Wip3out in crystal clear high definition, something we believe is going to appeal hugely to the gaming community."

The projector offers Full HD 1080p 3D projection, and can also do 2D to 3D conversion.

The projector has been given a UK release date of November 2010, and we're told you can expect a price in the region of £6,000.

Sony has sealed a deal with Vue cinemas in the UK for the use of its excellent 4K cinema projection technology.

Vue Entertainment is one of the biggest cinema operators in Britain with 68 sites and 657 screens and it has announced its plans to roll out the Sony 4k digital technology.

Apparently this marks the start of Vue's transition to digital projection, and the tech should be rolled out across the chain's circuit.

Memorandum of understanding

Tim Richards, CEO, Vue Entertainment, said: "We are very excited to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sony Europe for the deployment of their incredible digital 4K projectors across our circuit."

"This represents a fantastic long term investment for the company offering numerous benefits to the business including a new world of programming flexibility and greater choice for our customers."

Significant agreement

David McIntosh, Sony's head of digital cinema in Europe, commented: "We are delighted to have reached such a significant agreement with Vue Entertainment.

"This agreement means that Sony 4K projectors will be powering a significant proportion of the total screens in the UK, which validates our belief in our superior 4K technology.

"This also is set to be a landmark agreement paving the way for further Sony 4K deals throughout Europe."

Canon has announced its 'brightest projector ever' with the LV-7590 rocking a 7000 lumen rating, 1800:1 contract and capable of displaying images of up to 813x610cm.

Canon's LV-7590 also brings a new colour control device, but, although it is compatible with five optional interchangeable lenses, is supplied with none.

With a UK release date of Setpember, the LV-7590 is a replacement for the LV-&585 and offers what Canon terms the 'highest brightness of any Canon projector to date'.

Native XGA

"The ubiquitous native XGA resolution is supported by an increased brightness of 7000 lumens and a high contrast ratio of 1800:1, while the projector also features motorised horizontal and vertical lens shift, allowing the projected images to be positioned without the compromises associated with keystone correction," adds Canon.

"Powered zoom and focus are also included - and in line with Canon's stringent image quality standards, the range of features offered by the LV-7590 has been specifically designed to ensure the best possible viewing experience for audiences in large venues."

This is really a projector for big venues – as testified by the potential 400-inch (diagonal) display and a cost of £3,352.

And you'll need to add another £391 quid to that if you want the standard lens.

Epson hasn't unveiled a 3D projector at this year's IFA, saying the market isn't ready for an influx of 3D projection products yet.

"We are not announcing a 3D projector," said Jean-Marie Lacroix, the Commerical Director of Epson Europe at a press conference this morning.

"The technology is not ready… LCD panel sales are only 3 per cent. Neither the market or content is ready but... watch this space."

Epson is the number one name in projectors worldwide and it will be a surprise to some that the company has held off. However, Lacroix suggested it wouldn't be long before Epson entered the 3D projection market.

"When the market is ready, when the content is ready and when the technology is ready we'll be there."

Instead of 3D kit, the company focused on its new 3LCD reflective projector tech with contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1, HQV processor and increased response time inside the EH-R200 and EH-R400 projectors.

The company also launched the 3LCD Epson EH-TW 3200 and EH-TW3600 Full HD projectors ideal for gaming, sports and the like.

Lacroix also hailed the strength of Epson's offering. "The reason we have been so successful is the sheer breadth of our product range. Today we are the only manufacturer with a product range [across the board] in projection." Epson has 29 per cent of the Epson home cinema projector market.

The company also announced it was spending 7 per cent of its $10.5 billion turnover in research and development.

Lacroix also tendered an interesting fact when talking about the company's reach into the print market - 50 per cent of the world's receipts are printed on an Epson printer.

At its pre-IFA event, Epson has announced the EH-R4000 and EH-R2000 Full HD projectors, priced at £3,000 and £5,000 respectively.

The EH-R4000 and EH-R2000 UK release date is November.

Both new models feature Epson's new 3LCD Reflective panel technology.

The new tech builds on the established 3LCD system, improving the dynamic contrast ratio -1,000,000:1 for the EH-R4000 and 500,000:1 for the EH-R2000.

Epson says this produces deeper blacks and brighter whites while giving richness to the colours. 3LCD Reflective technology also offers a finer gradation of colours and wide colour gamut.

The company also says the tech improves response time by up to 75 per cent over older models for smooth motion and fluid action sequences and increases the aperture ratio by 40 per cent, reducing inter-pixel spacing.

The image processor also boasts a 'super-resolution' feature which increases the quality of standard definition sources, such as DVDs.

There are also five different colour modes to suit a variety of environments.

The EH-R4000 can be controlled over a network while the remotes of both projectors can also operate other equipment, such as Blu-ray players.

Image to follow.

Nikon has announced the arrival of the Coolpix S1100pj – it's second stab at a camera with an integrated projector.

Taking over from the S1000pj, the S1100pj offers a 40 per cent brighter projector then its predecessor (at 14 lumens), a 14.1MP sensor and a wide-angle 5x optical zoom lens.

The camera also has a 3-inch LCD screen on the back, so you can see the shots you shoot.

But the real USP is the projector, which comes with in-camera editing software. This will liven up your slideshow with some animations and even background music, if that's your sort of thing.

Low--cost shooter

Alongside the Coolpix S1100pj, Nikon has also announced the launch of the Coolpix S5100.

Interestingly, the S5100 was the name of a Fujifilm Coolpix camera back in 2004, but we're guessing enough time has passed for consumer confusion to disappear.

This is a 12.2MP shooter, which is said to work well in low light conditions. There's also motion detection on-board, vibration reduction and you will also be able to shoot 720p HD quality video.

Alongside this, there is a 5x 28mm Nikkor lens on-board and the camera's chassis is a lean 21.6mm.

UK release date for the Nikon Coolpix S1100pj is 16 September, with prices starting at £350.

Price and launch date details for the Coolpix S5100 are still to be confirmed.

The Sanyo PLV-HF10000L projector has been announced, with a native 2K resolution of 2048x1080.

Sanyo, now owned by Panasonic, is pitching its latest projector at professionals or prosumers, and it is designed for large rooms.

The Sanyo PLV-HF10000L projector offers 3000:1 contrast and the QuaDrive Optical engine for accurate colour reproduction.

QuaDrive?

"Integrated QuaDrive technology provides outstanding colour reproduction. This unique technology uses a fourth panel – the Colour Control Device (CCD) – to separately control yellow light within the optical engine," explains Sanyo's release.

"The result is increased colour purity, more realistic colour reproduction and an increase in image brightness."

Several projectors can also be teamed up to create one large image with an edge blending function.

It has a UK release date of November 2010, and although the price has yet to be announced we reckon it will be fairly hefty.

Panasonic Europe chairman and CEO Laurent Abadie has insisted that the purchase of Sanyo has not created a big overlap between two electronics giants.

Sanyo was snapped up by Panasonic in December 2009, paying around £2.8 billion to acquire the controlling interest in the company.

Speaking to TechRadar, Abadie discards the notion that there is an overlap in some of the areas that both Sanyo and Panasonic were previously operating in, such as camcorders and video projectors.

No issue

"When it comes to projectors we are not working on the same type of products," he said.

"For example, Sanyo is developing short focus projectors; we are looking at bigger systems. I don't think there is an issue."

It was Sanyo's expertise with batteries that most appealed to Panasonic, and the two companies are hard at work on their vision of a more eco-friendly future.