Mark enjoys some big-screen entertainment courtesy of ViewSonic
With the price of LCD TV’s at rock bottom, and the sizes massive, it would be a reasonable conclusion that projectors had gone the way of the dodo. Yet, the ViewSonic PJD7830HDL demonstrates that they’re still an option for those who prefer the versatility of a projected image.
Weighing in at 2.8kg this isn’t a small item, especially if you intend to ceiling mount it. Though it’s been designed with a relatively short throw ratio of 1.1 to 1.5x, so you can place it on a low coffee table and still get a pretty big projection.
The issue with any installation is always going to be cabling, because not only does the PJD7830HDL need mains power, you’ll also need to connect it to your output device, be that a PC, games console or PVR platform. For that purpose, this design offers you VGA, HDMI and component inputs, though the last one is a shared function with the VGA. The real kicker here, though, is that there are only two HDMI inputs, and one of those isn’t placed for easy access.
While one is on the back, the other is hidden under a removable panel to the frontright, that requires a Philips screwdriver to open it. The area behind the panel allows space for an optional wi-fi adapter, but results in an awkward to access HDMI input for anything else.
However you connect, this is a 1080p resolution device that projects an impressive 3,000 lumens from its replaceable lamp. ViewSonic claims you can create a screen up to 300” with it, and my experimentation supported that assertion – though I don’t own an uncluttered wall that large.
As with any projector there are two critical factors that need to be considered in conjunction with the purchase price; bulb replacements and power consumption. The lamp is rated for 4,000 hours normal use and 10,000 if you like DynamicEco mode. Assuming normal mode, you should expect approximately a three year lifespan with the projector being used four hours a day. With a replacements in the £129+VAT price bracket, expect another £50 each year in running costs. That’s not the end the expense however, because in use the projector can consume 315 watts – at least double what a 50” LCD would, and triple the power draw of the same size LED TV – so that’s roughly another £50 a year in electricity costs, based on average price and usage.
Leaving cost aside for a moment, there are some really very worthwhile aspects to this design, not least the excellent contrast and colour representation. Even in a daylit room the projected image seems punchy and sharp, assuming the target wall is sufficiently smooth and not strongly coloured. There also isn’t excessive lag involved in the image decoding, so it works well for console gaming, especially on racing games or flight simulations.
What’s missing here is some of the refinements we expect in modern technology, like lots of HDMI ports, Bluetooth and wi-fi as standard. Without these features, you’re left with just great image size as the primary draw. Mark Pickavance
A powerful video projector that lacks sufficient connectivity.