To accomplish the miniaturization of a projector, and also, to project an image without causing color unevenness by controlling the focal distance of a light condensing means and a distance from a position where a secondary light source is formed to the front principal plane position of the light condensing means within a specified extent.

Provided that the focal distance of the light condensing means is expressed by f2, the distance from the position where the secondary light source is formed to the front principal plane position of the light condensing means is expressed by Of2, a condition; 1/4 < Of2/f2 < 3/4 is satisfied. By sifting the main plane position of an illuminating/light condensing system from the position where the secondary light source image is formed to a liquid crystal display device 113 side so as to satisfy the condition, the spice of the focal distance f2 of the light condensing system is secured, besides, the open angle of a luminous flux made incident on a dichroic mirror from the secondary light source image 2 through an illuminating/light shielding lens 108 is made smaller on design, then, the color unevenness on a screen is reduced. Besides, by arranging an optical path bending mirror 107 between the secondary light source image and the front main plane position of the illuminating/light condensing means, the system which is made compact as a whole is accomplished.