Budget 1080p projectors - looking for shorter throw

[justin-ni]

Hi guys,

I'm currently shopping around to replace my 42" 720p LG plasma, and have convinced myself to go with a projector setup to create a home cinema room.

I have been looking at the InFocus X10 and the Optoma HD800X, which both look like brilliant projectors and excellent value. However, the long throw on both limits my screen size to about 70" (room is 3m long.)

Ideally I would like a screen size of between 90" - 100". Are there any 1080p projectors around the £1,000 mark that will achieve this with a throw distance of 3m?

Thanks in advance,
Justin

[MattoAV]

Hitachi do a CP-X3 which is a short throw 1280 x 800 WXGA projector. It's not quite a home system as in it isn't pretty in the slightest but it does have a HDMI input and the loss in picture quality is truely minimal. It also has the benfits of wide angle projection.

At a distance of 3m the picture can be displayed onto a 185cm x 116cm screen and costs around £600

[whiterabbit]

Hi Justin,

Im in the same boat as you, kinda, looking for a 1k 1080p PJ to replace my faulty ax200.

As you say the infocus and optoma can only deliver a 70" odd image at the distances we are going to project from.

The one Im looking to get unless prices drop sudden is the sanyo z2000.

It can be had for just over £1200, and willl throw a decent image from 3m using the zoom.

http://www.ivojo.co.uk/sanyo-plv-z2000.htm

this one comes with a free samsung bluray player which is worth about £150 ish.

The only thing making me hold out is the wave of new PJs that are due in the next few months...

Hth

[MattoAV]

Originally Posted by whiterabbit

Hi Justin,

Im in the same boat as you, kinda, looking for a 1k 1080p PJ to replace my faulty ax200.

As you say the infocus and optoma can only deliver a 70" odd image at the distances we are going to project from.

The one Im looking to get unless prices drop sudden is the sanyo z2000.

It can be had for just over £1200, and willl throw a decent image from 3m using the zoom.

http://www.ivojo.co.uk/sanyo-plv-z2000.htm

this one comes with a free samsung bluray player which is worth about £150 ish.

The only thing making me hold out is the wave of new PJs that are due in the next few months...

Hth

At A 3m throw distance this will give you a projection of 165 x 93cm and the lamp is only 1200 ansi compared to the CP-X3 2000!! Depends whether or not you want the curtains open.

[justin-ni]

Whiterabbit, that Sanyo looks perfect - nice wide throw, quieter operation and lens shift too?! I'll have to search some reviews to see if it performs as good in real life as it looks on paper.

MattoAV, the CP-X3 does look nice, but I'm really looking fot a 1080 offering.

[MattoAV]

Originally Posted by justin-ni

Whiterabbit, that Sanyo looks perfect - nice wide throw, quieter operation and lens shift too?! I'll have to search some reviews to see if it performs as good in real life as it looks on paper.

MattoAV, the CP-X3 does look nice, but I'm really looking fot a 1080 offering.

Justin-ni i have attached a pdf with the specs of the Z2000 i hope this helps.

[Blue Cheese]

Originally Posted by whiterabbit

Hi Justin,

Im in the same boat as you, kinda, looking for a 1k 1080p PJ to replace my faulty ax200.

As you say the infocus and optoma can only deliver a 70" odd image at the distances we are going to project from.

The one Im looking to get unless prices drop sudden is the sanyo z2000.

It can be had for just over £1200, and willl throw a decent image from 3m using the zoom.

http://www.ivojo.co.uk/sanyo-plv-z2000.htm

this one comes with a free samsung bluray player which is worth about £150 ish.

The only thing making me hold out is the wave of new PJs that are due in the next few months...

Hth

Hello all,

I'm in the same boat as the White Rabbit,

Do like the look of the Sanyo Z2000 - it gets an excellent review at projector central and is also in their list of the five most popular 1080p projectors.

However the Sanyo Z700 is coming out soon which is a cut down version of the Z2000 and this may be more attractive pricewise compared to the Z2000.

Like WR says, there looks to be a lot of new PJs coming soon and I'd hate to jump the gun. I was curious as to how the new Panasonic AX-300 would measure up but Panasonic refused to give me any info, including a launch date. Also I can do without the problems of the AX200.

However, both the Z2000 and Z700 do look like very big ladies, I am also tempted to go for something a bit smaller.

[whiterabbit]

The Sanyo loooks very very good - but i cant seem to find anywhere local to demo it.

ax200 proved very unrealiable though. Myself and 'Moses' ( i think thats his forum name) had a lot of flicker issues with it and panasonic eventually said they couldnt repair it so are refunding me. Im a bit scepticle about getting another panny for this reason, and also the smooth screen technology does take that slight edge of the sharpness. The ax200 was great for daytime viewing though. I was able to use the xbox with the curtains open when the PJ was put into game mode and for me that was a welcome option.

This is where the sanyo apprently struggles. The reviews have said its not bright enough but is brighter than the z5 and the pt ae1000. having not seen these two I cant judge, but from what iv read the z5 did need a particularly dark room.

I guess i should post a thread in the offical thread and see what the owners say!!

The dimensions of the panny ( which to me is quite a small pj) are:

HXWXD : 11.18cm x 39.37cm x 29.97cm

The sanyo :
HXWXD : 14.48cm x 39.88cm x 34.54cm

so its not too much bigger.

There are very few details about a new z3000, but nothing on their official website. Like all new models it supposed to be better with some new tech

Post #5

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...php?p=14624814

Bear in mind the z2000 was a lot more when it came out last year

[justin-ni]

Some of you mention a wave of new PJs to be released soon... are we talking weeks or months or is it anyone's guess?

[MattoAV]

I have heard that Panasonic are releasing theirs around mid-end October but Hitachi are draggin their feet with any mention of 1080 projectors and i expect sanyo to bombard the market with 100 marginally different models by christmas

[scartlead]

I've heard good reports about the Sanyo. Does anyone know if it is easier to get rid of the dust blobs than a hitachi pxt200 and how is it compared to the z2000 in terms of performance?

Thanks

[whiterabbit]

Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Pros

Extremely natural and film-like
Very good at revealing shadow details
Good out of the box performance, with only minor adjustments needed (Pure Cinema mode) for excellent color accuracy
Vertical and Horizontal lens shift with exceptional range for placement flexibility
2:1 zoom lens for great placement flexibility
Supports HDMI 1.3, with Deep Color, and supports 1080p/24 content
Good remote control
Great warranty -
Seven user savable memory settings
Multiple movie modes, multiple modes for TV, HDTV, and Sports
Two HDMI inputs
Best on projector screen sizes of 100" diagonal or less
Overall good color management
Good, not exceptional, array of inputs
Very quiet projector
Styling - it's a white box, but with rounded corners, and a door that closes, when the projector is off, it looks very clean
Excellent Price/Performance and Value


Cons:

Brightness! At 363 measured lumens in best mode, 2nd lowest of all 1080p projectors measured to date
Documentation: User Manual is only on CD (nuisance) setup guide is in book form, but lacks len shift info, making it incomplete.
Brightest modes need adjustment to look better (Dynamic and Vivid)
Black levels could be a bit better
Menus (not bad really, just those multiple page menus can make finding some features a pain).
Could use a 3rd HDMI input (I say this of all 1080p projectors)
No 12 volt screen trigger (not an issue for most, and most motorized screens can (standard or optionally) be controlled remotely with IR or RF remotes.
No support for Anamorphic lens for true Cinemascope (very, very narrow appeal)


as you can see....

only real cons are brightness and black levels. all other cons to me are subjective.

nb...iv read that the 3yr warranty incs 3yr/1700hrs bulb warranty - tbc - i need to check this with a uk retailer to confirm if we get this.


Also the z700 seems to be a lower spec unit.... 10k:1 cr compared to 15k:1.

only plac that has a guide price is http://www.projectorpoint.co.uk/proj..._PLV-Z700.html

i doubt it will retail at that when the higher spec z200 can be had for £1236 http://www.ivojo.co.uk/sanyo-plv-z2000.htm with a free BD player. If you factor about £120 resale value for that then you are looking at £1100. this could support the rumor of a sub 1k launch price for the z700....

[scartlead]

I take it those brightness figures are not an issue in a light controlled room ? Also are dust blobs an issue on this model ?

[Marv50]

Originally Posted by MattoAV

Hitachi do a CP-X3 which is a short throw 1280 x 800 WXGA projector. It's not quite a home system as in it isn't pretty in the slightest but it does have a HDMI input and the loss in picture quality is truely minimal. It also has the benfits of wide angle projection.

At a distance of 3m the picture can be displayed onto a 185cm x 116cm screen and costs around £600

How do you mean it isn't pretty in the slightest ? The actual thing or the output?

How would it fare with Bluray/Ps3/360 hooked up to it?

[whiterabbit]

Originally Posted by scartlead

I take it those brightness figures are not an issue in a light controlled room ? Also are dust blobs an issue on this model ?

This is what im trying to find out...havent got round to reading the owners thread yet....

as for dust blobs I believe you get a dust removal tool

http://www.sanyo-lcdp.com/english/pr...000/z2000.html

see the bottom of the page.