ViewSonic Cine5000 DLP front projector
updated 09:45 pm EDT, Thu October 5, 2006
ViewSonic Cine5000
News of front projectors in recent months has focused on bringing the cost of high-end units down; ViewSonic is looking instead to improve the entry models. Its upcoming Cine5000 DLP projector should provide strong image quality without veering too far into the high end. Capable of a native 720p resolution, the 5000 uses the recent Texas Instruments DarkChip2 chip that should improve the black levels in relation to most other DLP projectors. ViewSonic boasts a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 lumens of brightness for this new model. The unit is thankfully future-proof as well and has an HDMI input with HDCP support, component, S-Video, and VGA to connect it directly to a Mac or PC. The price will be steep versus other models: the Cine5000 officially retails for $2599, and even at its estimated unofficial price of $2000 it will still draw comparisons to less expensive models from companies such as Mitsubishi. However, ViewSonic believes that the processing hardware will overcome the criticism when it ships the projector later this month.
