The Bottom Line
Pros
- Very Good Image Quality.
- Able to produce large images with short projector/screen distance.
- 2 HDMI ver 1.3 Inputs - Accepts 1080p/60 and 1080p/24.
- Extremely quiet - very little fan noise
- Excellent, color-illustrated, quick-start guide and user manual
Cons
- Needs more lumens output for large rooms.
- Very large cabinet.
- No separate DVI input (HDMI inputs can be used using DVI/HDMI Converter cable).
- Menu navigation can be a little tricky.
- Professional tweaking desirable.
Description
- 3-Chip LCD Video Projector with center mounted lens, 1,000 Lumens light output and 1920x1080 (1080p) Native Pixel Resolution.
- Image size range: 40 to 300 inches - adds flexibility for both small and large screen sizes and room environments.
- Native 16x9 Screen Aspect Ratio. The Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 can also accommodate standard 4x3 aspect ratio sources.
- 13,O00:1 Native Contrast Ratio, 160 Watt Lamp, and 2000 Hour Lamp Life.
- HDMI, VGA, HD-Component, S-Video, and Composite Video inputs.
- Compatible with input resolutions up to 1080p, including 1080p/24 (scaled to 1080p for screen display). NTSC/PAL Compatible.
- Silicon Optix Reon-VX HQV deinterlacing, scaling, and video proecessing for standard DVDs and analog video sources.
- Automatic video input Detection - Manual video input selection also available via remote control or buttons on projector.
- Power Zoom, Focus, and Lens Shift functions. Fan noise - 23 db (decibels).
- Ceiling and Table mount compatible. Wireless Remote Control. Easy to use owner's manual and quick startup guide.
Guide Review - Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 1080p LCD Video Projector
Setting up and using the Pro8100 was fairly easy. The input connections are clearly labeled and spaced out, and the on-unit control buttons and remote control easy to use.The Pro8100 offers power-controlled lens adjustments, which makes projector setup easier.
Although the Pro8100 is not in the same price class as high end video projectors, it none-the-less is an excellent performer. I found the color quality and contrast levels were very good. In addition, the built-in 1080p scaling of the Pro8100 did and excellent job of upscaling lower resolution 480i DVD material, as well as passing direct 1080p Blu-ray and HD-DVD resolutions, including 1080p/24 signals.
Another welcome observation was that the traditional LCD Screen Door Effect was not noticeable, even on large projected images. The 1080UB is an example of the increasing number of LCD projectors that are providing smoother images, typically associated with rival DLP technology.
In addition, the included wireless remote has a good layout and well-spaced buttons. On other hand, however, the onscreen menu navigation is not as intuitive as other video projector menus I have used.
The Pro8100 is definitely a welcome entry into the midrange video projector market and is illustrative of a trend that is making high quality video projection more affordable for the consumer. This projector offers a lot for its list price of $4,999.
If you are in the market for your first home theater video projector or want to upgrade a older projector, definitely check out the Viewsonic Precision Pro8100.
I was very impressed with the overall performance and function of this projector. I give the Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 3LCD Video Projector a solid 4 out of 5 Stars.
For a closer look at the Pro8100, check out my Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 Photo Gallery.
