OK - what I wanna know here is there anything else I may have missed that will meet my not quite oddball needs for high brightness, flexible setup, lower cost - limited use in presentations - rest of the year HT

I use projectors a couple of times a year for presentations in sem-light controlled circumstances - So I need lumens, and a certain amount of setup flexibility -

The rest of the year, the PJ lives on my ceiling and puts an image on a 106" diagonal HCCV screen.

Last four years I have been using an NEC MT1060 - rated at 2600 mlumens and 800 contrast. I use a consumer level 4/3 camera to throw a larger image of the presentation on a rental screen that is usually 5x7 or 6x8

The NEC MT1060 has worked very well in the past for the business presentations for rooms up to 300 People -This year, I will be going to two rooms of 200 people per room. - can dim room lights somewhat, but not get total darkness.

So, what I'm planning to buy for an additional PJ to do this with is a Panny PT-AX100U, will keep the NEC MT1060 for use in the other room.

AX-100U -2000 rated lumens - cut down to a 4/3 ratio will give me an effective 1500 lumens on the screen - which ought to be enough considering a new bulb, and smaller room size and screen. In addition, the increased contrast of the AX100U should give me more effective usage due to perceived better picture quality from the increased contrast.

The AX100U has a long zoom range, lens shift and should adapt better than most HT PJ's to various room setup considerations at motel/hotel meeting rooms.

Been looking around at varous sites, etc. - cannot find _any_ 2000 lumen, 720P or higher resolution for anywhere close to the cost of the AX100T

Everything I have seen - and there are lots of great PJ's out there at 720P up - either don't have high brightness, or don't have setup flexiblity, or cost two or three times as much -

I'm about to pull the trigger on an AX100U - is there something else out there that meets these criteria and I have missed? So far I haven't found it, but figure you guys are aware of it if it's out there.

So if there's something I'm missing on selection - or if I'm not thinking right that the AX-100U should work for a 4x3 presentation - I was told by a sales rep it should convert down to a 4x3 image fed from a video camera - I don't neeed broadcast image quality here, but do need decent image

Any thoughts, comments helping me think this through appreciated - gotta pull the trigger soon

Regards

"AX-100U -2000 rated lumens - cut down to a 4/3 ratio will give me an effective 1500 lumens on the screen"

Well thats not how it works, but the simple answer is that given your needs the ax100 is your best bet.

ax100 looks to meet your needs the best. If you want something else to consider, look at the epson home cinema 400. I don't think it's as bright, but it is cheaper.

I have an Epson 400, and it's quite bright and flexible. Projectorreviews measured it just a few lumens short of the AX100 in it's brightest mode. I haven't measured mine yet, but hope to find time to do so this week.

The Optoma 1690 is a 720p business class DLP machine that's rated at 2500 lumens, and in the same price range. 2x colour wheel, so avoid it if you're rainbow sensitive. The Mits 4000 is also in the same league as the Optoma.

Projectorreviews measured the new Mits HC1500 at nearly 2000 lumens in it's brightest mode too. I also have a Mits HD1000, and it's quite bright, although less flexible than the Epson.

Jonathan