Lumens vs Contrast

[PlatinumGold]

so, i'm looking at 2 projectors.

Hitachi CP-X505 Panasonic PTAX200U

Resolution: 1024 x 768 1280 x 720
Brightness: 3500 lumens 2000 lumens
Contrast: 1000:1 6000:1
Power: 460 W 220 w
Dimension: 16.5"x5.5"x12.6" 15-17/32? x 4-13/32? x 11-25/32?
Weight: 15.6 lbs 10.8 lbs
Price: $1,999.99 $1299.99

does anyone else think the 6000:1 contrast of the panny makes up for the 1500 fewer lumens?

 

[biggestmuff]

Between those two, I'd go with the PTAX200U. Look at the resolutions; the CP-X505 is a 4:3, while the PTAX200U is a 16:9.

EDIT: To add, I'm not in the market for a projector and don't have a need to research them. I don't know anything about those projectors. I'm just comparing them using the specs you posted.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

For both those projectors, once they're calibrated the actual lumen output is going to vary a lot as well as how you set it up.

http://www.projectorcentral.co..._theater_projector.htm

Check out the difference the mode setting can make as well as the zoom setting for equivalent screen sizes on the Panasonic for example.

How did you come up with these two units?

The Hitachi looks like it's geared towards being a conference room projector for office use while the Panasonic is a highly regarded HT projector.

If you're looking for HT projectors in the $1000-$2000 range, that Hitachi shouldn't even be on your list.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/
There are a ton of 720p and 1080p projectors right around your pricerange that would be excellent HT choices.

You should be able to get your room very dark for projector viewing no matter what model you're looking at. The darkest black a projector could possibly make is the color of your projecting surface, so you're going to want it as dark as possible for a movie-like experience. If you can't get your room really dark and you're hoping to make up for it with a brighter projector, I would suggest looking for a different display type because you probably won't be happy with the washed out picture you'll get from even a bright projector.