Canon intros 4,000-lumens REALiS SX7 Mark II projector
updated 11:40 am EST, Mon March 8, 2010
Canon outs REALiS SX7 Mark II projector for pros
Canon on Monday introduced its new REALiS SX7 Mark II media projector for image editing professionals. The LCOS-based system has an unusually high native resolution of 1400x1050 along with a 4,000 lumens brightness rating. It also has a unique a Photo Image Mode to allow photographers, designers and publishers to reproduce color-correct images in the Adobe RGB or sRGB spaces. An Ambient Light function can compensate for both the type of lighting and its intensity.
The SX7 Mark II musters a contrast ratio of 1,000:1. Canon gives the projector a 1.7X powered zoom and allows keystone correction 20 degrees either horizontal or vertical. Connections include DVI and VGA for computers as well as component video, S-Video and RCA. A 1W speaker is built-in as well, while a 9-pin D-SUB connector lets users connect it to a network for remote control. Lamp life is rated at 2,000 hours, or 3,000 hours in a potentially lower quality but quiet mode.
The REALiS SX7 Mark II is priced at $6,999 and is said to begin shipping early in April.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Ramblings of a disgruntled customer
Unusually high? There are full HD projectors now available under $1000 which have a significantly higher resolution.
I have owned a Canon Realis SX50 and own a Realis SX60. At the time I bought them, they were the highest resolution, brightest projectors available without the screendoor effect of LCD and the rainbows of DLP.
The Realis SX50 had MAJOR dust blob problems. Even in a filtered room, the SX50 would develop splotches from dust in the light path. In the 14 months I used the SX50, it was returned to Canon twice, and came back once with a convergence issue of 2+ pixels. The projector was in repair for at least 6 weeks of the time I was using it.
The Realis SX60 was the successor and had a sealed (or at least much closer to sealed) light path. Unfortunately, my SX60 started to lose pixels. Sent it in for repair and Canon lost it. I had to repeatedly call and ask about the projector before they finally tracked it down. That was the first repair - which took about 4 weeks to finally get it back. Next, the projector developed missing vertical lines. I sent it back to Canon again and demanded a loaner. After much complaining, they agreed. The loaner arrived in a hastily taped cardboard box, PACKED WITH CRUMPLED PAPER, no foam padding, nothing. It was in pieces. Shattered pieces of plastic everywhere. So, that was a helluva lot of fun. I have pictures of the shattered projector if anyone wants to see them.
Anyway... I digress. For the premium placed these projectors, I expect way more than the quality I received. For a good, HIGHER resolution LCoS projector, look at the LG CF181D. It's cheaper, has a good build quality, and ISN'T AN EPSON.