I'm in the market to buy my first projector and I've narrowed my choice down to either the Infocus IN72 or the Hitachi PJTX100. I believe I can get them for within $150 of each other.

Now to the dilemma. In the near term (next year or so), I will be watching SD DirecTV, DVDs, XBOX and PS2. I don't feel any urgency to jump to HD since I do not want to give up the multi-room viewing capability I have with 3 hacked DirecTIVOs.

The room I will be using the projector will not have perfect light control, so washed out images are something I need to consider.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it
IN72
Pros: Great for DVDs, great contrast ratio, brighter imager for a given contrast level, good deinterlacer for SD format data, longer lamp life, cheaper
Cons: Not HD ready, more expensive lamps, RBE

PJTX100
Pros: Lenshift, 720P, cheaper lamps
Cons: Lower contrast ratio, lesser quality deinterlacer (based on reviews I've seen), shorter lamp life, more expensive, concerns over LCD aging with time (blue haze issue)

Any thoughts and opinions would be much appreciated. I know people will say that I should buy for the future, but please consider the shorter term considerations of both price and good SD performance.

Thanks in advance

-Dave-

You've really hit on the pros and cons of each. The IN72 throws a hell of a nice picture for 480P. I haven't seen the Hitachi in a couple of years but when I did see it, I was impressed. I believe it has a relatively long zoom and of course the lens shift will allow it to 'fit' in more rooms than the Infocus. I personally have a 480P projector (Optoma Movietime with builtin DVD player) and am really happy with it. The IN72 will probably have a more pleasing picture with SD and DVD sources, especially with some ambient light. If you can afford a few more Benjamins, you might also want to take a look at the Mits HD1000 and the Optoma HD70. They're both 720P DLPs. If it was my money, I'd save the cash, buy the IN72, and be ready to upgrade to 1080P in a couple of years. In fact, that's more or less what I've done.

Jim

my vote for the in72. love mine. it's awesome.

haven't seen the other one, but you should definitely find out if utilizing lens shift impacts pq. it did on my old panny 700.

the hitachi rocks.......and no........lense shift doesn't impact the image quality

The IN72 IS HD ready. Yes it's a 480p projector but it accepts all HD signals. And yes those signals are downconverted, but it's done so well you may never notice that you aren't watching true HD. I watch Blu Ray and OTA HD on my 72 and the picture is fantastic. And yes, I am biased.

I just got my Hitachi, I will let you know how I like it. Just because it accepts HD signal doesn't mean it is HD. They probably are both great :)

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the Hitachi's deinterlacing performance with 480i SD signals and performance with ambient light.

I've been using the tx100 for a few weeks and I think is a good value. For HD from my comcast box, it awesome. I prefer to view SD on my panasonic TH-50PX60 plasma. For DVDs, I have the oppo DV-970HD upconverting to 1080i through HDMI to the tx100, very nice.

Deinterlace performance for SD is very good through DVI, good with component. Wouldn't bother with S-Video.

Ambient light performance is good, as long as no direct light hits the screen, though if I didn't have good light control I would definitely get a retroreflective screen like the dalite HP.

I got the tx100 for cheap from B&H and the free pj mount should arrive any day.

Even the wife likes it, now and she was a very hard sell, who was predisposed to NOT like it.

Scott

Can someone PM who B&H is?

Never mind. Found it.

I haven't pulled the trigger yet since I've been contemplating the HD70 pkg from one of the website sponsors.

Can any one answer the following questions:-

Which will be better for SD-TV (480i) - IN72 or HD70? (I hear mixed deinterlacing comments on the HD70)

Which will be better with ambient light / poor light control - IN72 or HD70?

Thanks once again for all your help

-D-

IN72 is $420. Can you get the Tx100 for $570 now?

I can get the TX100 for that price if you consider the net cost of a bundled screen, 25ft component cable and projector mount to be ~$150. (Bundles do exist for $720 for the PJTX100 incl mount, screen and cable).

-Dave-

Tight budget? IN72 or now the MovieTime DV10 if you know where to look. Both are DLP.
Want HD for just a little more? PJTX100 LCD or HD70 / HD1000 DLPs.

How much, if any, is the sparklies issue with the Hitachi?

I'm on the fence with the following projectors myself (may help the OP too):

1. Sanyo Z5 - can get for approx. 1500 Canadian
2. Mits 1000 - can get for approx. 1200 Canadian
3. Hitachi PJTX100 - can only find it in US so will be a bit of a hassle for servicing if needed.

I too got the In72 as my 1st projector. I wanted to get another brand but i was under the impression that Infocus was more responsive in terms of after sales. One test that you can do is call both company's customer service and pretend you have a problem. See who responds more favorably to you, if they respond at all.

As soon as i fired up the IN72 in knew i made the right choice. The picture is bright and crisp. The built in scaler works well for standard DVD's. I'm presntly projecting to a 100" image to an off white wall and i tell you the image is astounding. I am so comfortable with the pics that i have totally set aside the idea of purchasing a screen for it until i determine where i'll put the thing.

I have the thing now for almost a year and i watch almost 5 hours 4 days a week. The bulb's still okay no visble flicker or light degradation.

The 720p is awesome as a 1st projector it will not disappoint you and whatever buyer remorse you may have after will soon fade away as the movie credits fade in.

i think its worth going for a 720p if it will only set you back just that little bit more, and if you can afford it.
Ive seen the in72 and to me, the SDE was too much compared to the 720, and as ive got a 480 already, there was no point going the same again, the picture was nice tho.
best to view yourself if you can.