I’m never sure whether a projector is a bargain or not, but one way to check is to compare it to similarly-priced TVs. For a grand you can probably get a low-end 42″ TV, or a nicer 32″ — and this projector offers a lot more than that. Of course, projectors aren’t for everyone, but I think we can all appreciate the specs, rub our chins, and say “Well, if I did want a projector, I might just go for that one.”
The HD20 is a 1080p DLP job, with a 4000:1 contrast ratio, capable of making an image up to 120″ diagonally. That’s a lot of inches! 1700 ANSI lumens makes it bright enough to use during the day, and it’s got many inputs: VGA, component, composite, and two HDMI. It hasn’t shown up yet on Optoma’s projector site, but I’m sure they’ll fix that right soon.
A grand for a low end 42″ TV or a nicer 32″? You’d have to have brain damage to spend a grand on a 32″ TV — very high quality 42″ plasmas can be picked up for $800 these days, or spend $1200 for a 50″.
If Devin just happened to be talking Australian dollars that would be right on par, a decent 1080p 32″ LCD or a very low end 40″ 720p for around a grand. I’d like to see this projector in action, if its good – for around AU$1200 or so, I’d literally run out now and buy it now.
whaaat, who’s buying plasmas in 2009? LCDs, buddy.
Did you really just say that? Seriously, Devin, research before you state things like that. Plasmas are so much better than LCDs in many cases. The blacks are black, the whites are white, and they produce a better picture that is free of motion blur.
Please, like I said last night, don’t post on things that aren’t your forte. It makes you seem like an idiot.
Ummmm. Please, please don’t write about subjects you clearly have no idea about. It just makes you look foolish.
This post is funny. It’s either funny because the pricing is so far off, or because it uses Australian dollars without mentioning them. Either way, it’s funny.
Good one, Devin! Keep the comedy comin’.
I ended up getting the HD65, a 720p projector which still accepts a 1080p signal. It looks fantastic, if you didn’t know when you saw it you’d swear it was putting out 1080p.
However, it was about $1700. I thinks its gonna be at least another year before Optoma get anywhere near the AU$1000 mark for the HD20.
I think the prices are a little bit far off, now you can get decent +40″ LCD for less than $1000 USD…. for example, the LG 42LH40 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV is yours for 846.55 USD….
I preferre LCDs over plasmas thu.. I’m not sure about the black level to be honest… but I believe there are some LCDs out there that are on bar with the high end plasma TV black level wise… but the truth remains that LCDs give you a much sharper pictures which makes you appriciate the Full HD picture, unlike plasmas which have this CRT smoothning 19xxs something technology.
and about this affordable 1080p projector…. price wise,, it’s very intemedating to see such a low price for a 1080p projector and not thinking about buying one…. but a further look at the other specs of this projector makes you wanna wait for some real reviews before you go out and buy one.
Brightness of this projector “1700 lumens” is very good compared to the more expensive projectors, but the contrast ratio of 4000:1 is below avarage.
Another issue with this projector is the lack of lens shift,,, which means you have to center this projector at the middle of your screen to be able to fit the projected image correctly into your screen…..
34.0 dB is the noise level of this projector which is high compared to other projectors… but considering it’s a DLP projector ” has a spinning color wheel inside ” you’d expect such high noise level.
Also you have to expect some rainbow effect from such a low budget DLP projector ” I’m not sure thu”
but if you really are that desparate for a 1080p projector, go for Panasonic PT-AE3000U
it’s a 3LCD technology projector that outputs 1080p video. it has a much better contrast ratio of 60,000:1 and It has a birghtness of 1600 lumens, remember LCD projectors are more effecient in utilizing light, which means a 1600 lumens LCD projector is brighter than a 1700 lumens DLP projector.
No rainbow effect, low noise level and a much better and faster picture and video output for only 1700 USD!!!!!!!!
if you have the money to buy this one and you go for the cheaper and lower end projector that is the Obtima one just to save 700USD then you’re only fooling yourself.