The BenQ MP780ST falls into what’s rapidly becoming a distinct subcategory of interactive, DLP-based data projectors built around Texas Instruments’ version of interactive technology. These projectors all share some key features, including a short throw, an interactive wand that doesn’t have to touch the screen, and the ability to move the projector and then set it up quickly for interactive use without needing to calibrate it.

There are, of course, differences in the details. The MP780ST earns its claim to individuality with its balance of resolution, brightness and price – at WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, a 2500 lumen rating that measures even a bit brighter than spec in its non-interactive mode and its $1350 street price. The price is low for the resolution class, with an education discount also available.

The MP780 ST’s interactive pen can be used as a wireless mouse simply by pointing it at the screen from a short distance away.  When used with BenQ’s QDraw software, it also allows for drawing lines and shapes on a variety of presentation types.  With the projector so close to the screen, the presenter will not interfere with the projected image, nor will he or she have to look back toward the lens of the projector.  The MP780 is also 3-D ready, incorporating Texas Instruments’ DLP link technology.  The BenQ MP780 ST has a specified output of 2500 lumens with a 3000:1 contrast ratio.  Both are very good ratings, especially the contrast ratio.  The MP780 ST is also quite portable, at only 8.38 pounds, giving it the flexibility to be easily moved from one location to another.

For those requiring flexibility in installation, BenQ offers the MX750, which differs from the MP780 ST in that it has a 1.6X zoom lens instead of being a short throw, is XGA (1024×768) resolution and does not have the interactive pen feature.  The MP780 ST’s PointDraw allows you simply to connect the projector to a notebook or desktop computer and “get ready to point, draw, and create on any plain surface – no whiteboard or screen needed”. The PointDraw pen lets users doodle up to 8m away from the projected surface and  features a button that works the same as the “left” button on a mouse, allowing them to perform the same functions.

he PK102 is similar to the PK101 in some important ways. On the inside, it’s built around a TI engine that combines a 480- by 320-pixel DLP chip with an LED light source that changes color sequentially from red to green to blue. The light source is designed to last the life of the unit, with a 20,000-hour rating that would translate to well over two years of continuous operation.

Why carry around large, expensive projectors with your notebook computer when you can use the PK-102 DLP Pico projector to fulfill all of your projection needs? It is bright enough to give a presentation to a small group of people, while its small size and sleek design will be sure to impress. DLP Technology is the cutting edge of imaging innovations. The PICO series has taken projectors to a whole new level of utility. Watch a movie on the plane from the back seat in front of you. Play video games on the ceiling. Share videos and pictures with friends at the party. If you can dream it, a DLP Pico projector can do it. And there’s no maintenance required since there’s no lamp to replace!

The Revolution of Projectors has begun!
The picture may look good now, but what about 3 years from now? Picture quality is directly impacted the durability of a projector. If the picture goes bad, the projector will either need to be repaired or replaced, and that’s expensive. DLP projectors are famous for their long lasting picture quality not only because they offer a pristine, digital image, but becaise they are also virtually immune to a nasty phenomenon known as Color decay. Color decay (image degradation) can affect many LCD projectors. When Color decay takes hold, the image on the screen produced by an LCD projector may have a yellow or green tint to it, you may have seen this before. When it happens, you have to either replace the LCD panels or the projector to return to the picture you paid for. Color decay not only looks yellow or green on the screen, it can make text harder to read. DLP projectors have a technological advantage over LCD projectors in terms of retaining color saturation and guarding against Color Decay or image degradation during extended periods of usage. Why? Because DLP technology simply reflects the light of the projector, digitally onto the screen to produce a stunning picture that lasts, even after years of active use.

The point of the memory is to let you store photos, videos, and even presentations (in the form of JPEG files) on the projector itself, so you don’t have to carry anything else with you. Optoma Media Converter will convert most file formats to the formats and resolution the PK102 can handle. You can then copy the converted files to the projector’s memory, disconnect the projector, and leave your computer at home.

There are also some other minor setup issues, including, in particular, the multifunction switch for menu control. The switch is the sort of thing that engineers love, because one control does so many things. You can push it in, forward, or backward, and each choice has a different effect depending on where you are in the menu system. Mere earthlings, however, tend have a problem with this sort of control, because it’s hard to figure out which way to push it to do what.

When Optoma designed the PK301 Pico Pocket Projector ($400 street), it must have been thinking that in a world of 10- and 12- lumen pico projectors, a 50-lumen model would be king. Indeed, it may be. Although the PK301 is a little bigger and heavier than most of its dimmer competitors, it’s also the brightest projector today that can fit in a shirt pocket.

Brightness isn’t the projector’s only strong point. It’s also packed with features. Like many pico projectors, it’s built around a DLP chip joined with a red-green-blue LED light source. But unlike most it offers a native widescreen format, at 854 by 640 pixels, one of the variations on wide VGA. The Optoma PK301 looks like one of the company’s larger projectors was left in the dryer too long. The rectangular device measures 4.7 x 2.7 x 1.2 inches and weighs a light 8 ounces. It’s all black, save for the chrome-colored focusing ring around the lens, and the sides have vertical slats to allow air in.

On the back of the device are inputs for its 24-pin universal connector, mini-HDMI, audio out, A/V in, microUSB, and power. On the right side is a microSD Card slot, and the bottom houses the battery and a tripod mount. The PK301 comes with a lightly padded case. The PK301 is also bundled with an adapter cable that connects the universal port to VGA. a 2.5mm-to-component connector, and a USB cable. Sadly, the included documentation–a simple fold-out pamphlet–is skimpy compared to the 160-page, 16-language booklet that comes with the Samsung SP-H03 projector.

To save space, Optoma uses micro connectors on the rear of the PK-301, so adapter cables are required. The included cables are a Universal I/O which terminates in a female DB-15 for computer connection, an AV cable with RCA connectors for composite video, and a Micro USB that presents a full-size USB male connector. These micro connectors also accommodate several optional adapter cables. There is also a mini-jack audio output for an external amplifier and a micro SD slot on the side of the PK-301.

To project a 72″ diagonal image in native 16:9 aspect ratio, the PK-301 needs to be about 9.5 feet from the screen for the focus adjustment to be effective. Image offset is +18.5% of image height, so a 72″ diagonal image has its lower edge about 6.5″ above the centerline of the lens. This is a good offset for tabletop placement as the center of the image is at about eye level for an audience that is sitting close to the screen.

Palm-Sized Versatile Performer – Optoma’s PK201 Pico pocket projector takes on-the-go projection to the next level. Ideal for mobile business presentations or sharing entertainment with friends, the palm-sized PK201 performs powerfully with 20 ANSI lumens and 16:9 WVGA widescreen resolution. The mini HDMI port provides carefree connectivity to your favorite device. At home or on the road, the PK201 is sure to impress!

The Optoma PK201 pico projector solves a problem common to all portable media players, which is the tiny screen size limited to the physical dimensions of the device. Able to comfortably fit in a pocket, the PK201 has the ability to produce an image that is viewable in normal lighting at a size up to twenty times greater than an iPhone screen. A full feature set combined with a crisp and saturated image make the PK201 a great standalone alternative to small screen portable media devices.

The PK101 still, somehow, looks even prettier. But if the PK201 manages to produce a watchable picture from such a tiny (and at 160g, light) body, then that will more than compensate. The PK201 outguns the PK101 massively when it comes to features and flexibility. Its connections are much more comprehensive, for instance, including a composite video input, a micro-USB port, a phono audio output, a mini-HDMI, a microSD memory card slot, and a ‘Universal I/O’ input capable of taking D-Sub PC and component video feeds via adaptors.

Features:

• DLP image processing
• MicroSD card slot
• 854×480 resolution in 16:9 native aspect ratio
• HDMI, VGA, component, and composite inputs
• MSRP: $299 (PK201) and $399 (PK301)

Pros:

• Compact and functional
• Native 16:9 makes movie-watching easy
• Bright, colorful image for a pico projector

Cons:

• Long throw distance
• Hardly any video formats supported by in-device player
• Still pretty expensive
• Short battery life

This feature-rich installation network projector is equipped with a power operated lens that includes power zoom, power focus and picture shift. Getting started with the VPL-FX52 is easy, thanks to a Direct Power On feature that allows the projector to be powered on and off via a simple wall switch just like the ones used to power on room lights. The VPL-FX52 delivers 6000 ANSI lumens, enough light output to illuminate large screens even with harsh ambient light conditions.

The fully networkable VPL-FX52 can be connected to a LAN. It can be assigned an IP address or it can accept dynamic IP addressing. In addition, you can perform remote diagnostics on the projector, greatly saving time and money, and even can access and control the projector projector using a simple Internet browser. Digital keystone correction, 90-degree tilt, generous connectivity options and many other features make the VPL-FX52 one high-performance projector.

The VPL-FX52 has a wide range of features making it the ideal solution for mid to large venues. The ability to accept a wide variety of signals, up to HDTV, enables presentations to be played from a range of sources. Images can easily be adjusted to the desired setting with a remote power, zoom, focus and picture shift function.

For facilities such as museums and conference halls, the direct power on function allows the standby mode to be skipped so the VPL-FX52 is activated immediately, and, as most projectors are installed in public venues, they also have a password-authentication system to restrict unauthorised usage.

Projector / panel

Image Brightness: 6000 ANSI lumens
Image Size: 1.02 m – 7.62 m, 1.02 m
Digital Zoom Factor: 4x
Resolution: XGA (1024 x 768)
Native Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Display Format: 786,432 pixels (1,024 x 768) x 3
Bulb type: UHP 300 Watt
Image Contrast Ratio: 1000:1