1080p LED projector for $870 shipped

[Kaido]

LG PF-1500:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=24-025-111

Promo Code: EMCAVNV28 (good until 7/28)

http://promotions.newegg.com/neemail/guerrilla/LP/15-Jul/index-VGASSD27.html

This is basically the first major Full HD LED projector available on the market. The rest have been 720p up to this point. Also, it has an excellent lumen count of 1,400; most of the 720p models are under 1,000. So it has both high resolution & excellent brightness (not to mention amazing contrast). The benefits of LED projectors are small size, low power (less heat), fast turn-on, and excellent picture quality. If I were buying a projector today, this is the model that I would buy. Specs:

* 1080p
* LED bulb (30k-hour bulb life0
* 1400 lumens
* 150,000:1 contrast
* 100 watts
* 3.3 pounds

AVS Forum thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-di...msrp/1838377-new-lg-pf1500-led-projector.html

Details on Projector Central:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/LG-PF1500.htm

Youtube videos: (mostly not in English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwauaexAh_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWETBqHk8ug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhE7DoyXsFQ

About the size of a shoebox:

Alternatives: If you need 3D or a larger screen (up to 234"), check out the lamp-based 1080p BenQ W1070 for $700:

http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-W1070-1080P-Theater-Projector/dp/B00A2T6X0K

If you need something more on a budget, check out the 300-lumen 720p Aaxa PLED for $380:

http://www.amazon.com/AAXA-Projector-1280x800-Resolution-Mini-VGA/dp/B005Q2EGG6

If you need something portable & don't require HD, check out the Fastfox E06S for $280: (with Android built-in!)

http://www.amazon.com/FastFox-Projector-support-Andorid-Theater/dp/B00W76OOB6/

The W1070 is a pretty standard projector due to the quality for the price. My buddy has the Aaxa & it is a really great little system for under $400 - you get a great picture in the dark. I also have an E06S, which is pretty sweet for the money - it's not HD, but the picture is pretty good & it's about the size of a smartphone. Projectors are lots of fun for movie nights, outdoor movie parties, Halloween projects, all kinds of stuff!

 

[fleshconsumed]

Interesting, did not realize that LED projectors have come this far. I'm still rocking 7 year old Sanyo PLV-Z2000. This new LED projector actually has higher lumen output than my Sanyo, which is impressive for an LED projector because they have historically struggled with light output. Plus you'll probably never have to change the light bulb in this thing.

However, this looks like it has a very limited zoom and no lens shift which makes it a non-starter for me. I'm actually a little glad that's the case because it keeps my upgrade itch in check.

 

[Kaido]

Interesting, did not realize that LED projectors have come this far. I'm still rocking 7 year old Sanyo PLV-Z2000. This new LED projector actually has higher lumen output than my Sanyo, which is impressive for an LED projector because they have historically struggled with light output. Plus you'll probably never have to change the light bulb in this thing.

However, this looks like it has a very limited zoom and no lens shift which makes it a non-starter for me. I'm actually a little glad that's the case because it keeps my upgrade itch in check.

Not only that, but LED lumens are perceptibly brighter than bulb lamp lumens; I've read some comments that said even at half brightness, it looks brighter than their existing projectors, which shouldn't be the case lumen-for-lumen. At an advertised 30k-hour LED life, if you used the projector for 4 hours a day, that's 20 straight years of usage. Even if you only got 5 or 10 years out of it, that's pretty good because the lack of paying for replacement bulbs would even the cost out :thumbsup:

Yes, technically this is a Pico-class projector, so the really nice convenience features like lens shift & a big zoom are limited. I'm surprised it even has stuff like the smart & Bluetooth features. I think this would work really well in a situation where you don't need 3D, don't need a super huge screen (max advertised is 120"), and will be permanently mounted (in a location where you can live with the 1.1 zoom & lack of lens shift). Projector Central's review goes a little more in-depth:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/lg-pf1500-projector-review.htm?page=Introduction

I'm hoping to see more development with LED projectors, especially in the 4K niche. I've installed hybrid projectors (laser/LED) and they are not nearly as good as just straight-up LED, although they have more brightness (most recent one was a 3000-lumen Casio model), so I think we're going to have to wait for the LED-only models to get more widely manufactured. The big thing I like about LED (other than the low power, low noise, low heat, instant turn-on, etc.) is the contrast. My old bulb projectors would blow out the whites & stuff (especially for cloudy sky scenes); my LED models just look incredible. Clouds, black levels, skintones, everything looks amazing. Plus you can make a DIY Black Diamond screen with $50 worth of paint now, which lets you use your projector in the daytime:

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/110-d...asy-ambient-light-rejecting-screen-paint.html

 

[fleshconsumed]

I'm not disputing the LED projector positives. However, I basically have no choice in the projector placement right now, there is only one place where I can put the projector in my living room. So I need a lot of zoom range and a lot of lens shift to put the picture where it needs to be. Hopefully by the time I have to replace my projector they'll manage to put LED into a full size projector with decent amount of zoom range and lens shift. Until then I'll be enjoying my Sanyo PLV-Z2000.

 

[patrickb37]

Also be aware if you plan to use it for gaming that the latency is fairly high (70ms in game mode). Won't work for me.

 

[Sonikku]

To think I thought I had gotten a bargain when I bought my Infocus X1 800x600 projector a decade ago for $900. Saved all summer for it. Was great for F Zero GX and Mario Kart double dash 8 player. But I sure do wish I could have bought this sucker for this price back then instead. How times change.

 

[Kaido]

I'm not disputing the LED projector positives. However, I basically have no choice in the projector placement right now, there is only one place where I can put the projector in my living room. So I need a lot of zoom range and a lot of lens shift to put the picture where it needs to be. Hopefully by the time I have to replace my projector they'll manage to put LED into a full size projector with decent amount of zoom range and lens shift. Until then I'll be enjoying my Sanyo PLV-Z2000.

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as attacking, just discussing. I'm in the same boat...I currently have a "micro" home theater using a 720p LED projector. I basically just painted the entire wall with screen paint - no adjustments necessary for swapping out projectors, especially since none of mine have zoom or lens shift :biggrin:

 

[Kaido]

Also be aware if you plan to use it for gaming that the latency is fairly high (70ms in game mode). Won't work for me.

I'm really interested to see what a low-lag 4K LED projector would do for gaming, especially in an ultra-widescreen setup using an edge-blending system. The software systems have gotten really amazing over time. Check out this triple-monitor setup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZMH30wv4jI

 

[Kaido]

To think I thought I had gotten a bargain when I bought my Infocus X1 800x600 projector a decade ago for $900. Saved all summer for it. Was great for F Zero GX and Mario Kart double dash 8 player. But I sure do wish I could have bought this sucker for this price back then instead. How times change.

Haha oh the hours I've wasted with Mario Kart :biggrin: We used to play Monopoly growing up, but it became too physically violent. Now we play 4-way Mario Kart...slightly less violent now :whiste: