The National Association of Broadcasters’ annual show is always an industry must-attend, as the event is a showcase of the latest and greatest technology related to the A/V industry. This year, the Las Vegas show had plenty of surprises. Next-generation toys like Canon’s line-up of new 4K cameras and 8K televisions from a variety of manufacturers made appearances, as did the latest projectors.
Both Panasonic and Christie unveiled their latest entries into the market, and it was a battle of DLP vs 3LCD. Panasonic showed off their latest 3-chip DLP projector, the PT-RZ12KU, which they’re billing as the world’s lightest 3-chip DLP. It’s an impressive piece of hardware, with several advanced features. On the other hand, Christie announced and showcased a new D-Series line of projectors, which feature a newly introduced optional Ultra Short Throw lens.
Panasonics New 3-chip DLP-based projectors
At the show, Panasonic unveiled two new DLP projectors, including the aforementioned PT-RZ12KU and the PT-RS11KU, an SXGA+ resolution set-up. First up, the PT-RZ12KU is bound to be a favorite in sports production, event spaces and digital signage, and it drew the most headlines from Panasonic’s NAB Show rollouts.
The projector PT-RZ12KU features an ultra-bright 12,000-lumen lamp with WUXGA resolution (1920×1200). Plus, not only does the set-up weight just about 95 pounds, but it also has an improved 120 Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for high frame-rate content. Additional eye-popping specs include the projector’s 20,000:1 contrast ratio, which delivers impressive detail, and vertical, horizontal and tilting lens adjustment capabilities.
The other projector, the PT-RS11KU features a similar list of features. It’s equipped with a 12,000-lumen light source, yet, the biggest difference is in resolution. The PT-RS11KU is a SXGA+ resolution projector, which is a 1400×1050 resolution. You don’t have to wait long for these set-ups to hit the market either; both are set to come online in just a few months in the summer.
New Christie Projectors, Ultra Short Throw Lens
Christie had quite a few new projectors to unveil at the NAB Show, including five new replacements for existing set-ups. The Christie has dubbed the new line the D-Series, and the set-ups feature a range of three native resolutions, including XGA, WXGA and WUXGA.
Christie’s new set-ups utilize different technology, compared to the Panasonic. Here are some D-Series specs: The projectors, which are 3LCD single-lamp projectors, feature brightness ratings ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 lumens, and they feature a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. The D-Series will hit the market in fall 2015.
Another exciting rollout was a new Ultra Short Throw lens. Featuring a 0.38:1 throw ratio, the Christie UST lenses will be available for both D-Series and Q-Series projectors. Of course, the biggest advantage of the UST lenses will be set-up flexibility. The shorter throw ratio enable the projectors to be set-up closer to the projection surface, which is ideal for presentations, museum set-ups and rental staging applications, as it diminishes the likelihood of shadow casting.