Epson PowerLite S5

Epson this morning introduced the PowerLite S5, a new entry-level projector that the company says makes front-projection a real option for gamers and movie viewers as well as less exciting business meetings. A special game mode automatically ramps up brightness and contrast to keep the game world visible in less than ideal conditions: any user can manually tune the S5 up to a 2,000-lumen brightness and 400:1 contrast, according to Epson. Though using an 800x600 resolution to trim the price, the projector includes component and VGA inputs and will scale both 720p and 1080i HD video to its native format.

The 3LCD projector also caters to a general audience with instant startup and cooldown periods, an AV slide that pauses images and video during static presentations, and a 1.3X optical zoom lens capable of projecting an image as small as 30 inches or as large as 300 inches. Energy saving techniques help the lamp run for as long as 4,000 hours before it needs a replacement.

Epson says the S5 should be available now for $649 through shops as well as online resellers.

By Electronista Staff