Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 (3LCD)

Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 (3LCD)
Advantages:
$2999--least expensive 1080p projector at this time
Very sharp HD image, comparable to DLP competition.
Minimal pixelation--not visible at normal viewing distances.
2.1:1 zoom and ample H+V lens shift for maximum installation flexibility.
Very high maximum lumens for sports viewing or bright rooms
Excellent standard-definition deinterlacing and scaling
White casework often preferred for mounting on a white ceiling.
HDMI 1.3 compatible.

Issues:
Good contrast and color saturation overall, but black level and shadow definition is weaker than the competition.
Long zoom range is handy, but you sacrifice 45% of the projector's lumen potential at the telephoto end of the lens. The projector is not bright enough to satisfactorily fill a large screen if it is installed at too great a distance. Whenever possible, use the half of the zoom range that is toward the widest angle setting.
Connection panel has one HDMI, one component, and one VGA port. Decent connectivity, but not as extensive as other models.
Fan noise, while not loud, is more apparent than on most other models.
Unit must be taken down from ceiling mount for air filter maintenance and lamp replacement.
Summary:
Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 is the least costly way to get into 1080p front projection thus far. Outstanding value for the money. While it does not have the dynamic range or the black level of the DLP and LCOS competition, it makes 1080p more accessible to consumers simply due to its aggressive price.
See current dealer prices on the Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080