Installer Video Projector evaluations, March 10, 2006
Hitachi CP-X1200U (Standard Classroom Projector)
This projector is now our standard for classrooms installations. The older CP-X880 is out
of production, and we discovered this projector that has all of the good feature of our last
favorite, plus more brightness.
The brightness of image is excellent and will operate in most installations on low
brightness setting to increase lamp life. The ability to operate at low brightness is
advertised to increase the lamp life, a real advantage with the number of projectors we
have in service. Image was very good in a normal lit room even with outside light and no
shades. Some rooms have direct sunlight spilling on the screen that no projector would be
able to overcome.
Image was sharp and even with no visible hot spots and is still a better picture when
compared side-by-side with some of the newer projectors on the market.
Zoom lens provided easy image adjustment as it did with the CP-X880, and continues to
be the widest range of all models we have seen. This makes placement in classrooms
much easier. It is also replaceable with long and short throw lenses. Unfortunately, the
unit ships standard with a lens that cannot be returned for credit when installing optional
long and short throw lenses. This is even more of a problem when the prices of the
alternate lenses are $1700 and higher.
Noise from the internal fan was very low and had no impact on presentation when run in
low brightness mode. Noise increases in high brightness, but is not a problem in normal
classrooms. In our standard configuration, we are running low brightness, and high fan,
to increase the cooling. Our hope is to keep the lamp cool, and increase the life.
Input selection is adequate for an installer machine and BNC connections are used for the
RGB signals.
Color balance is good, but tends a little to the blue as did the CP-X880. Contrast ratio is
ok, but dark areas tend to go a little blue/gray.
Size is typical of the current installer/portable machines. Lens offset is typical, and
replaceable lenses make it a more flexible install machine.
Sharp XG-NV6XU installed in FR3 (for reference)
Brightness of image is adequate, but when compared to the newer units, it is dim,
required some ambient light reduction to produce good image
Image appears to have no hot spots, and is usable with both video and computer sources.
The long throw lens (Buhl) works just fine from the rear booth.
Noise from the internal mechanism is contained within the booth.
Input selection is controlled by the installed AMX controller.
Size is not extremely small and is appropriate for an installer machine.
Color balance is adequate, but contrast ratio is limited since this is an older generation
projector.
Hitachi CP-X880 (Current unit is most of CF classrooms,
Discontinued)
Brightness of image is excellent and will operate in most installations on low brightness
setting to increase lamp life. Image was very good in a normal lit room even with outside
light and no shades. Some rooms have direct sunlight spilling on the screen that no
projector would be able to overcome.
Image was sharp and even with no visible hot spots.
Zoom lens provided easy image adjustment, and is the widest range of all models we
have seen. This makes placement in classrooms much easier. It is also replaceable with
long and short throw lenses.
Noise from the internal fan was very low and had no impact on presentation when run in
low brightness mode. Noise increases in high brightness, but is not a problem in normal
classrooms.
Input selection is adequate for an installer machine and BNC connections are used for the
RGB signals.
Color balance is good, but tends a little to the blue. Contrast ratio is ok, but dark areas
tend to go a little blue/gray.
Size is typical of the current installer/portable machines. Lens offset is typical, and
replaceable lenses make it a more flexible install machine.
This projector is now discontinued.
Epson Powerlite 835P, 830P
The projector performs well and exhibits all of the niceness of the LCD type of display.
The image is sharp, shows no hot-spot, and has little digital artifact. Overall resolution is
a little better than the Hitachi, and color balance is good.
The contrast ratio is slightly less than the Hitachi, but is usable. When operated side-byside with the Hitachi CP-X1200U we found difference in the image quality and color
balance. The Epson colors were more accurate than the Hitachi, but the lower contrast
ratio and image sharpness were disappointing.
Brightness is more than adequate for most any classroom. The brightness at the low
setting is comparable to the Hitachi and is more than adequate for most classrooms. The
lamp hour readout has a figure for low and for high brightness. The light output was also
a little disappointing since the 1200 with a lower rated output produce just a bright an
image.
Size is similar to the Hitachi and many of the other machines in this range.
The number of inputs adequate but the RGB computer inputs are 15pin subD. There is
not DVI connection.
There is a fan that runs whenever the unit is plugged in. This seems to be unnecessary
since other machines like the Hitachi are completely silent when asleep.
The zoom range seems to be a little less than the Hitachi, but with proper placement of
the mount it would be usable at close to normal install positions.
Automatic keystone was an interesting feature. When the unit is tilted, the image
automatically corrects for keystone error. It seems to also auto keystone when signal is
lost then regained on the RGB input. There may be a way to turn this off. It also runs
through an automatic setup when powered on. This sets focus and color balance too.
The sister projector PowerLite 830P, is essentially the same projector without the
network connections. The cost of the 835 is $2100, and the 830 is $1975. The use of a
network control to operate the projector has not been employed in our classrooms, so a
savings of $200 with the lower model is a good idea.
NEC MT-1065
Brightness of image is adequate and is more than enough running in the low mode.
Ambient light reduction is not required and the image was usable in a normal lit room.
Image was sharp and even with no visible hot spots.
The contrast ratio was rated at 800:1 and it did present superior dark details to the Hitachi
and Epson. The overall color tended to be muddy, and greenish. I was able to shift the
balance using the video setting, but this defeated the advantage of the contrast ratio.
Zoom lens provided a little less adjustment than the Hitachi and is replaceable for long
throw or short throw installations.
Noise from the internal mechanism was low and had no impact on presentation.
Input selection scanned sources just fine and the RGB inputs were BNC.
Size is similar to the Hitachi and typical of machines in this range. It is still portable, but
like the others, is not really light enough for executive use.
Wolfvision VZ-9
This is a newer version of the VZ-8 we have installed in the Communications Facility.
The frame rate is improved, and the appearance of stuttering movement was much better.
It still does not have the fluid motion I would expect from a full-motion image. It did
have a better response to movement with the shorter settling time for the image to clear
up.
Output is VGA and S-Video out is also available.
The auto focus operation now can be turned off, and does not pop back on when
zooming.
There is a small LCD screen on the top edge of the unit that allows viewing the actual
image without turning around to the projection screen.
The illuminator is now Halogen, and is more a spot than a flood. Unfortunately there is
also a new cooling fan in the lamp house that adds noise. It is quite noticeable when
turned off and on.
The elevator arm has been redesigned to slope back at an angle to the edge of the unit.
The mechanism almost spring up by itself, even when you don’t want it to. As it ages,
this may be a problem, but it may also be adjustable.
The platform is mounted on a turntable that should allow turning the unit. This is
designed to make it easier to use the unit as a camera for audience or other shots. It might
be possible to anchor the unit since it has a center ¼-20 mount.