Just about all of the new and exciting home theater projectors have already hit the shelves here at ProjectorPeople.com. In fact, unlike distributors of Eggo Waffles, we should be well stocked for the holiday season for the most popular projectors. However, the $999 1080p home theater projectors have kept buyers in waiting, as some models shipped more quickly and in greater supply than others.

So, naturally, one question we keep hearing is, “Which of the new $999 1080p projectors is the best?” So, we thought we’d talk about some of the differences between our top three $999 1080p models (BenQ W1000, Optoma HD20, and Vivitek H1080FD) to help folks sort out which might be the best choice for them.

Similar, But Not the Same

We should probably start by mentioning that these are all very similar projectors. The same basic technology (DLP chip) is used in each of the three. If you saw an image each of them individually for a half hour, then were sent out of the room, came back in and saw all three together (with the chassis covered), I’d bet a dollar that you wouldn’t able to tell which image belonged to which. And you’d probably think they all looked pretty darn good. However, there are some differences in features. And although all of these entry-level projectors are light on features, some of the differences may matter to you. Check out our quick comparison chart below.

Comparison Chart : New $999 1080p Home Theater Projectors

* For current prices and availability please check the ProjectorPeople.com website.

And Now a Break Down…

So, now you see some of the key specs. And if you want more, you can see a complete comparison chart here. But let’s discuss the potential differences between these very similar projectors.

Brightness

1800 or 1700 lumens. What’s the difference? Not much! But at least you can tell your friends who bought the Optoma HD20 that you have 100 more lumens in your living room. And if you bought the Optoma HD20, you can tell your friends that bought the BenQ W1000 or Vivitek H1080FD that Optoma is just more careful and conservative. And if you haven’t bought any of them yet, then don’t worry about the brightness. It’s not a significant differentiator here.

Contrast

Contrast might actually be visibly different between these units, but having not seen them all in person head-to-head, we can only really say, they all actually look almost better than they spec. DLP, the technology used in each of the three projectors, has always had nice contrasty look. The blacks look very deep, and the colors are full and rich, even on a 2700:1 DLP projector.

Now if you’re comparing a projector with a 200,000:1 contrast ratio to a 5000:1 model, what you’d see is a difference in detail. The beauty is in the gradients, grays and color accuracy. And make no mistake, there is a significant difference between the two. But from 2700:1 to 5000:1 in two projectors the same technology, any difference you see initially can probably be ‘tweaked’ away. So mark this one as another spec not to worry too much about.

Speaker

Built-in speakers are not terribly common on home theater projectors, but it is an admittedly handy feature to have. There’s nothing like just plugging in a DVD player to your projector and having a 100-inch screen pop up in front of you. Add to that the instant gratification of sound to go with it. This is likely to be a popular feature for traveling presenters, who want to have an instant movie theater on the road. Of course, most home theater enthusiasts will hook up some speakers. Unless they are insane.

Throw Distance

There isn’t a huge difference between the three projectors, but the Vivitek H1080FD does specify a longer throw distance, which might be handy in some cases. Essentially that just means you can mount/place the projector a little bit further back and make a smaller image. There isn’t much zoom on these and if you have a specific place you need to place the projector, call a Projector Expert to make sure that you can get the screen size you want from the location you want to place the projector.

Connectivity

All three units have two (2) HDMI inputs, which is what most folks will want to use. But there are connections that are available on some and not others. S-video, VGA, and 12v screen trigger are all included on the BenQ W1000, as well as a specified support for 1900×1200 computer signals (the others may do this also, since they have a VGA connection, but it is not quoted on their spec sheets). The Optoma seems to have the sparsest connectivity options, but it has what most will need. So, if you want to hook up something that’s not HDMI, make sure your $999 projector choice has that function.

Other Stuff?

Our customers are very good at letting us know if we missed something in a review. Please leave a comment below if you have something to add! And we will make updates if there are surprises – or stuff we didn’t think about – with any of the models here.

Projector People kicks off a year-end Weekend Savings Trend on this, the luckiest unlucky day of the year. Check out some of the deals we have served up for you below. And remember to check back each weekend for more deals!

Here’s the story…

Get Lucky This Friday the 13th

Jason Voorhees might have terrorized the kids at Camp Crystal Lake*. But in the new made-for-web sequel, he’s prowling ProjectorPeople.com hacking our prices! Ok, Jason isn’t cutting prices, but we are! You see, we want this Friday the 13th to be different. We want to start a new trend. So, for luck’s sake, we’ve decided to kick-off our forthcoming “Weekend Savings Events” on this previously unlucky day. Let’s take back the day from the evil-doers, and helping you keep cash in your pocket. Our list of hacked projector and accessory prices is below. Use Coupon Code “LUCKY13” to save instantly!

• HDMI 25 ft. cable – just $19.99
• Casio XJ-S41 B – $50 off
• Epson Home Cinema 6500 UB – Update! Price just reduced! Price after $400 rebate is $1949 (plus free lamp)! Quantities limited. Act fast!
• Panasonic PT-AX200U – Free projector ceiling mount
• Toshiba TLP-W420U – $100 off
• Plus Sanyo Home Theater Projector savings!

If these deals don’t have you jumping out of the canoe, then check back next weekend, and the weekend after that for the latest special offers from ProjectorPeople.com!

* All rights reserved by copyright holders.

When Would I Need a Projector with a Separate Lens?

Most of the projectors we sell include a lens, because most people are using a projector in a standard size room. But churches, classrooms, and other large venue spaces run into a problem with a standard lens projector. This is because in tehir space, they might need to mount their projector from over 20 feet back for their screen. Why do you need a special lens at over 20 feet? Consider this technological analogy.

Let’s pretend for a moment that a projector is nothing more than a fancy flashlight – at least in the sense that it follows the rules of physics. If you can, visualize yourself holding flashlight and shining it directly on the wall in front of you. When you are close to the wall, the light you see is bright, and small. As you walk backwards (walking slowly and carefully to avoid injury), the light on the wall in front of you begins to increase in size, and decrease in brightness. That’s pretty much what’s happening when you try and mount a projector (with a standard lens) back more than 20 feet (or so) back from your screen.

Now if your flashlight had a lens on the front of it, instead of plain old glass or plastic, you could dial that light in. You could ‘focus’ the light into a brighter beam, and into the size and shape you need. So, if you have to mount your projector in the back of your room, let’s say from as far back as 100 feet from your screen, you will have to have the right lens to create the image size you want, with adequate brightness.

But Why Are There so Many Lens Options?

Projectors mounting location, obviously, will vary from room-to-room, based on the unique space. And a projector’s lens can only focus the light within a specific range (say 4-25 feet). Depending on the screen size you may only get 2-5 ft of play within the 4-25ft. The flexibility depends on two factors; throw distance and screen size. When you see a specification that says it has a throw range of 4-25ft it doesn’t mean you can do any size screen from that distance, but only the specified screen sizes.

So, from a manufacturers point of view, it makes sense to offer multiple lenses on one chassis rather than sort of ‘pre-building’ several hundreds or thousands of projectors with the lenses permanently fixed to the chassis. Also, different lenses sometimes have varying costs associated with them, so providing the flexibility of multiple lenses is a cost saver in terms of production – less waste and a more agile product line. For the buyer, it can also mean the difference between having to purchase an entirely new projector, versus just a new lens, if the projector has to be re-mounted in the same space.

However, looking at the available selection of projectors in this category can be overwhelming. Take, for example, the NEC NP4100 and NEC NP4100W series product line. In it there are optional lenses that enable the user to find the right lens to cover projection distances between 2.6 – 283 feet. There are a whopping twelve different projectors that appear to be almost exactly the same. But, in reality there are two primary differences, the resolution (widescreen or 4:3) and the lens. You’d simply pick the model with the resolution you want, and the throw distance you need. Below is a chart with the throw distance for each model in the NEC NP4100 and NP4100W lineup.

As you can see, NEC gives you alternatives for up to 283 feet of throw distance in this product line. And, the low end of the throw ratio doesn’t change nearly as much as the high end of the distance covered.

Quick Tip : Optimally, you will want to select a lens that fits you squarely in between your distance requirements. So, if you are planning to mount your projector 150 feet back from the screen, you’d do better to choose the “10ZL” model than the “09ZL.” This is because there is slightly more distortion when the light passes through the edge of the lens. A projector has what’s called a “sweet spot” for the distance that provides the optimum image quality through the lens, and that spot is near the mid range of the recommended throw distance. Call a Projector Expert for more information on that.

Why can’t you just use a zoom lens?

Unfortunately, zoom lenses don’t have that much flexibility. Generally speaking, a zoom lens can give you an extra 2-5 feet of “play” in the projector’s throw distance. So, while the extra 2-5 feet is nice, it won’t help you if you need an extra 100 feet. This may change in the future, but for now, the zoom lens is mostly a tool to help the home user install their projector with a little less accurate math.

Quick Tip : The general rule of thumb for throw distance is that your projector creates one foot of image for every two feet back from the screen. So, at 50 feet back with a standard lens, you would have approximately a 100 foot width, and a very dim image.

What if I Need to Mount a Projector Very Close to my Screen?

If you want to set up your projector within six feet of your screen, and you want a large image, you’ll want to find a projector with a “short throw lens.” We have a quick tutorial about those here. You can also call a Projector Expert and find out if a “lensless” projector would be right for you. In some cases, they offer the best solution, but there are only a few made.

How Much Will a Projector and Lens Cost Me?

Lenses are typically around $1500-$2000. It’s usually easier to buy the manufacturers lens, for compatibility and inventory reasons. There are some other lens makers out there in a pinch, but prices are usually about the same for a business projector lens.

Projectors that accept multiple lens options are usually in the large installation category. They are high brightness, and higher resolution units, so they start at around $2000 and go up from there. So your lowest priced scenario would be around $3500-$4000 and the prices go up from there. You’ll pay a little more for brightness and features like network monitoring, filter free design, 24/7 useage, lens shift, and other good stuff.

Our NEC series featured here is a premium line, and it retails for around $7,000. But call a Projector Expert, or get a Quick Quote for a significant discount.

Quick Tip : Keep your eye out for installation projectors that sell without a lens. A lower price is usually a tip off. There are some high brightness units that look like a great deal, but that actually will need a lens to work. The NEC lineup we feature here does have one base unit featured, but the rest of the line up ships complete.

Well that’s about all we have for now. Please call a Projector Expert if you have any more questions about any of your large venue projection needs!

Is it a Halloween miracle? Not really. But it is good news for buyers looking for a 1080p bargain projector. Projector People has just acquired shipment of brand new Panasonic PT-AE3000U projectors. And they are in stock and ready to ship, right now!

Last week we received a call from Panasonic saying they have located an additional pallet of AE3000U’s in their warehouse. Since this was such a great unit, even though it’s not the newest model (Panasonic PT-AE4000U), we went ahead and bought their found boxes. With strength of the product, and the $1799* price point, we still think this is an excellent value.

By the way, these are new units, not open box or refurbished, and they have the full factory warranty, including the additional 2nd year warranty rebate through December 31st, 2009.

Quantities are obviously very limited, so if you are interested act fast!

*Prices and availability will change. Click here for current price and inventory status.

If you aren’t already following us on Twitter, or Facebook, then you may not know that our first shipment of the new Panasonic PT-AE4000U has just arrived!

We’ve got a couple truckloads full of them, so we are happy to report that all of our customers who pre-ordered their AE4000U should have theirs on the way to them before the end of the week – aka today or tomorrow.

One of our Facebook fans is already planning his first movie night with new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie (available November 17th on Blu-Ray and DVD)!

If you don’t already know about the new Panasonic PT-AE4000U, then we have some stuff for you to read. Just a few weeks ago we didn’t even know if it would be available in the U.S. Then, we found out it would be coming here, and we dropped the price on the old AE3000U and sold through our remaining inventory in short order.

Also popular, the Epson Home Cinema 8500 UB and the BenQ W6000, can be compared here. Also, we had a Panasonic representative here a few weeks ago, here’s some not so good video of her AE4000U presentation.

Alright, so now you are up to speed on the Panasonic PT-AE4000U. Now all you have to do is wait a few days for yours to roll in – or upgrade your shipping ASAP and have it for Halloween.

And just for fun… here is some video of the unloading – because we have iPhones, a Flickr account (we won’t bother YouTube with this one), and are very excited

We recently received a shipment of Optoma HD20 projectors. We’re blogging this just to let you know since we’ve had some folks that were surprised to know we had it in stock already.

If you aren’t familiar with the Optoma HD20, it’s one of a few new $999 1080p home theater projectors available this year. It’s been very popular because it uses DLP technology, and offers true HD1080p for super cheap. And since it’s a projector, you can also have a very big image (as big as 300-inches in a space with controlled lighting) in a portable box.

[ Click here for the most current inventory status and pricing information : Optoma HD20 ]

Are you ready for a quick look at the Vivitek H1080FD?

Vivitek representative Jeff Miller was here at ProjectorPeople.com last week to show us the new $999 1080p home theater projector. We had him do a quick video for you so you can see it in action, and get a run down on the features. Here’s the video :

Video Timeline : Vivitek H1080FD

• 0:00 – 0:22 : Introduction to Vivitek
• 0:22 – 1:10 : Overview of the Vivitek H1080FD features and inputs
• 1:40 – 2:40 : Inputs panel, speaker
• 2:45 – 3:00 : Side panel, cooling
• 3:10 – 4:00 : Video “Fifth Element” in lights on environment (full lumen mode – 1800 lumens)
• 4:00 – 4:30 : Projector in “movie mode” with some ambient light – lights dimmed.
• 4:30 – 5:00 : Projector in “movie mode” with lights off. (5000:1 contrast ratio)
• 5:05 – end : Sign off

We hope to have this projector in soon. Estimate at the time of this post is early November 2009. But please check the Projector People website for current pricing and availability on the Vivitek H1080FD.

What’s the latest in 1080p HD home theater projectors? The biggest news to date has been the introduction of the $999 true HD home theater projectors. But recently big players like Epson and Panasonic have announced new, upgraded products coming out soon. The new products have higher-than-ever contrast ratios, some improvements on cool features, and very aggressive pricing.

New $999 Entry Level Projectors

We have already done some comparison of new entry level $999 1080p projectors (here and here). We haven’t had a chance to put together any hands on comparison of the projectors because there is limited availability on most of the popular models. We have had some inventory of the Optoma HD20 projector recently, but they sell very quickly. The Vivitek H1080FD and BenQ W1000 models have not come into stock yet, so we have only seen the pre-production models in person as of the date of this story. So, for now, let’s focus on the more recent news from the higher-end of the home theater projector spectrum.

New Higher End Home Theater Projectors

To start, we will compare the initial specifications of what we think will be the most popular new high end 1080p projectors; the BenQ W6000, Panasonic PT-AE4000U and Epson Home Cinema 8500 UB. I say initial specifications because there are sometimes technical tweaks made before their final releases and those changes can alter the specifications. So, here’s a chart of the initial specs for what we suspect will be the big players in high end home theater.

Comparison Chart : New 1080p Home Theater Projectors

As you can see, much like last year (and the year before that) we are seeing dramatically higher contrast ratios, lower introductory prices, and more high performance features.

Lower Projector Prices: More Hollar for Your Dollar

Every year we write a sentence like this; “Last year you would have paid $$$ for a projector of this quality,” and this year is no different. The Panasonic PT-AE3000U and Epson Home Cinema 6500 UB came in at an aggressive (at the time) $2999 price point last year. This year, you’ll pay $1000 less than last year for a projector with higher contrast, better video processing, and some cool new features.

However, with this aggressive introductory pricing, we don’t expect to see these prices dropping again anytime soon. The fact that these came in this cheaply initially is probably due in part to pressure from the release of the $999 1080p DLP projectors.

Contrast Ratios: Say “Hello” to Six Figure Contrast Ratios

How is a 60,000:1 contrast ratio different from a 100,000:1 contrast ratio? Not quite as dramatic as it sounds, but there is a visible (palatable) difference in the picture quality. A higher contrast image actually feels crisper than a lower contrast image. But in reality, both a 60,000:1 and 100,000:1 contrast ratios look very good. In three years we will compare the new 1,000,000:1 projector the 100,000:1 projector and see how dramatic the difference is.

For now, these high contrast ratios really separate the business “crossover” projectors from true home theater models. Unless you are a serious videophile, or visually particular, you’d most likely be happy with anything over 10,000:1 contrast in your home theater.

New Features: Panasonic PT-AE4000U

We’ve had the introduction from Panasonic on their new product, so we are more familiar with the new features of the PT-AE4000U than the new Epson’s. So we should have more information on the new Epson features coming soon.

Projector Central did a comprehensive review of all the new features on the PT-AE4000U (read here). We also took some video of our tech session with Panasonic and are including it below. Two interesting new features for videophiles are the automatic lens memory and new video adjustments.

Panasonic PT-AE4000U : A Technical Introduction from Projector People on Vimeo.

This was recorded with a mini HD camera and without a tripod. There are shaky bits throughout. To save yourself time, click here for a breakdown of content by minute for this video.

The Unsung Midrange 1080p Projectors

While the new high-end projectors attract most of the press these days, there are also some interesting options available in the ‘mid-range.’ What keeps us from calling these high-end projectors? Essentially its lower contrast ratios, less advanced video processing (like no 120hz), and some missing features. So if you don’t have the funds for a $2k projector, but you want a little more than the $1k projectors have to offer, a mid-range projector might just have all you need and will save you a little cash.

Two new mid-range projectors coming soon are the Epson Home Cinema 8100 and the Mitsubishi HC3800. The HC3800 is getting rave reviews from Projector Reviews and Projector Central. And though we have yet to see the Epson Home Cinema 8100 in action, it’s likely to benefit from Epson’s technological strides in home theater and be a very nice low price alternative in 1080p. It’s also 3LCD which is preferred by some buyers – and most of the other low cost alternatives utilize DLP technology.

What’s Left in 720p Projectors?

Not a heck of a lot. And the price points are not really dropping because there just isn’t any more room to do so. Our Panasonic PT-AX200U started out at $999 when it was introduced, and has stayed consistently around that price. With features like lens shift and unique gaming mode – if it remains in production – it’s still a great projector. Its brightness and native 720p (much of broadcast HD’s native resolution) make it a great match for the football season and sports all year round. And it’s a great projector for gaming too. Epson also has a new “karaoke” projector in their MovieMate line with built-in DVD and speakers with native 720p resolution. Also available in 720p is the underdog Sanyo PLV-Z60.

That’s All for Now, But More to Come!

That’s about all we have to cover today, but there will be more to come on the Epson Home Cinema projectors, and on the Panasonic PT-AE4000U as well. We will keep you posted on any more projector related news, as always.

[ Scene from a projector movie night on the water in Richardson, TX ]

There’s a traditional home theater – the kind that looks like a ‘real’ Cineplex down to the popcorn maker. And then there’s progressive home theater. These are the theaters that have been created in random spaces by creative video enthusiasts who take their projector with them everywhere – like a Hollywood starlet carries her Chihuahua – to the backyard, in the middle of the living room, in the basement next to the pool table, and we recently learned — even on the water.

Progressive projector enthusiast, Mike Wilkinson, has taken his business projector into the family, and onto the boat with him. He and some friends watch horror movies, sailing themed movies, and whatever else strikes their fancy – out on the water.

We have pictures to share, and we did a short email interview with Mike to share his unique use of projection. Interview and pictures below :

What part of the country do you hail from?

Richardson, Texas (Dallas suburb)

How did you come up with the idea to project on a sail?

One of our fellow sailors in our yacht club (Lavon Yacht Club) is our Cruising Commodore. He came up with the idea of “Movie Night Raft Up”

What body of water do you project on?

Lake Lavon (Northwest Dallas near Plano)

How long is the sail watching season in Richardson, TX?

We can sail almost year around. As far as rafting up, we usually do that between April and November.

What kind of ship are you sailing? How large is your screen/sail?

I have a Hunter 36 (36 foot Sloop). The name is “Hiding Out” We use my boat as the projector and seating since I have a diesel generator to power the projector, microwave, etc. We have been using another boat (Catalina 30) for the projection screen. His main sail is new and crisp like a projector screen. Everyone else ties their boats up to one side or the other of us.

How does the picture look, and what do you use for sound on the water?

The picture looks good. The screen moves a little with the wind so the picture gets distorted a little bit if it is windy. We are going to try a bigger boom box in the future. This has been the weak point thus far.

What are your favorite films to show?

The club favorites are Wind and Captain Ron! But, any sailing, water, or water horror picture is great!

Have you ever become sea sick from watching a movie on the water?

We do this activity in a cove so the boats don’t rock too much. ” Actually, I have never been seasick. I have raced in Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf. I am lucky that my body actually gets tired and wants to go to sleep when I am in a car, plane, or boat.

What do you do with your projector the rest of the year?

The projector is actually property of my company “Paragon Innovations, Inc.” It is our portable projector to take with us on sales calls, etc.

What… is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Well it depends if it is an African or European swallow

Any other tips you’d like to share with a would-be movie projecting sailor?

You can use a small portable generator (like the Honda EU2000) for power if the boat doesn’t have AC power. Make sure the sound can be louder than you think. In the open, sound doesn’t get to bounce off of the living room walls. Also, movies tend to have lower audio levels than music CDs, etc. The lighter the wind, the better in terms of swaying. The bigger the more stable the boats the better.

Have any photos from the boat?

Sure!

Photos of Projector Movie Night

[ Sail. Check. Screen. Already checked. Projector. Check. Comfy seating. Check. ]

[ A scary movie on the water. ]

[ Overboard viewed on the sail if a boat in Richardson, TX. "Catarina! Aurturo!"]

For much of the country, it’s a bit too late in the year to start projecting out on the water. But those of us in the south, it’s still in season. Either way, we can all agree that this is an idea whose time has come.

[ Find your own projector for business and/or pleasure ]

We have been eagerly waiting to find out the details of the new Panasonic PT-AE4000U. Will it come to America? (answer :yes) If it does, what price will it be released at? (answer : $1999) And how is it different from the PT-AE3000? (answer: according to Projector Central “the AE4000 is in fact a superior projector in almost every way”). So, now we have some answers to share… as well as a new low, low price on the PT-AE3000U.

Panasonic PT-AE4000U WILL Come to America

As we mentioned above, and as we all suspected, the Pansonic PT-AE4000U will indeed be released in the United States. We don’t have solid delivery dates yet, but we know it is coming soon. It could even be available as early as the end of October – we will keep you updated on shipping dates as the information comes in.

We will also have more technical information on the AE4000U and other new 1080p home theater projectors coming soon. You can also stay on top of things on the AVS Forum official Panasonic PT-AE4000U post.

And if you are ready to get pumped up about it, you can read the PT-AE4000U review from Projector Central. They highlight, the Red-Rich Lamp, Improved contrast (now 100,000:1), Improved Cinema mode brightness, Improved color accuracy, Improved Detail Clarity Processor, Improved Frame Interpolation, among other improvments. Here’s an excerpt :

“All of this adds up to a remarkable value proposition: at a street of $1,999, we’ve simply never seen this much performance at this price. Panasonic has been extremely tight-lipped about this product launch. Until now many thought the company was dropping out of the home theater projector market. Today’s announcement makes it clear that they are here to stay. The Panasonic PT-AE4000U will be one of the hottest selling home theater projectors of the fall season, and we enthusiastically give it our highest recommendation.”

Panasonic PT-AE3000U Price Drops

If you’ve been holding out for the deal… now is the time to buy a PT-AE3000. If you’re an early adopter and you always want the best available, you’ll only have to wait a bit for the PT-AE4000U.

That’s all for now!