Guys. I am about to sell my PJ. Should I wait for the newer 1080p projectors? Or buy now? In your opinon, what is the best 1080p projector under 3k right now?

Epson 6500UB.

Euro version (5000) of the Sharp XV-Z20000, if you can find one ;).

Jason

My own personal favorite in the under $3000 category is the Panasonic AE3000. Picture quality is comparable to the Epson, but certainly not as good as the Sharp. But you're not going to find one of those anyways, so its picture quality is academic.

What really sets the Panny apart from other projectors is the feature set. And the best feature is the powered zoom and lens shift with memory. This allows you to do automatic pseudo (or Poor Man's) Constant Image Height with your projector. Get a 2.35:1 screen and you'll be able to watch every movie at the same size height. This is an over-the-top feature that really lends an air of professionalism to your theater.

I've often argued that picture quality isn't everything (although DaGamePimp would probably take offense at that point). For me, the projector has to fit the room. With many DLPs in this price range, that often isn't possible because they have short zooms and no lens shifts. The best projector for you is often not the best projector for me or someone else. Picture quality aside, features and ease of use mean a lot to the overall projector experience.

Jim

Now, having said all of that, if you can actually find a new Sharp from a US dealer, with warranty, for under 3 grand, that's the projector I'd get. I just don't think it's going to happen.

My PJ will definetly be the Epson 6500UB I just read the review in the August issue of "Home Theater" magazine. The review finalized my decision

Absolutely Jim, the projector does indeed need to fit the room but just as you say image quality is not everything neither is the feature set (at least not at the expense of IQ). Obviously we all want the best of both aspects, when they build a PJ with the feature set of the AE3000 and the image quality of the XV-Z20K for under $3K... I'll be right there, along with everyone else :). That said yes my suggestion was based almost totally upon IQ, however do not discount the fact that the Sharp does have lens shift and a true 'working' C.M.S. (which are features that I would never trade for a pseudo C.I.H.) ;).

Of course my suggestion is only valid if you are able to find one for under $3K (which has happended in the past with the Euro model but much tougher to come by now).

Jason

Jason,

Your attention to detail and picture quality is unmatched here in the under $3000 forum. That's why I knew your choice would be based primarily on PQ for answering this question. In fact, your insistance on a "working" CMS is telling as well. While almost everyone on this forum cares about PQ, I'm willing to bet that the majority don't even know what those initials stand for. That should not be taken as an indictment of their intelligence or their enthusism towards projectors. Few of us can take the time or effort to get the absolute most out of our equipment, but all of us appreciate a good performing projector.

The Sharp is of course a fantastic choice. The zoom is almost enough to allow pseudo CIH if you can fit it on your ceiling perfectly. And the PQ is unmatched around the 3K price point. Speaking of CIH, I don't think it gets enough play around these parts. A CIH projector setup can really take a person's enjoyment of their system to a new level. And for most of us, a true anamorphic CIH system is simply out of the question. The budget for the projector is usually as far as most of us can go.

I still like the Panny, but if the Sharp dropped on my doorstep at the same price, that would have to be the choice.

Jim