14 DAY TRIAL // Canon's always been one of the most important names on the projection solutions' market, targeting both the business segment and the A/V enthusiasts. And in order to prove its continuous commitment to this particular field, the company has just announced the release of two high-end projectors, each providing certain very appealing features (at some extremely unappealing price tags), namely the REALiS WUX10 and REALiS SX80 models.
According to the company's statement, the REALiS WUX10 is the world?s first WUXGA-resolution (1920 x 1200) widescreen multimedia projector using LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology, while the REALiS SX80 multimedia projector is a high-resolution SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) model that is touted to be the world's first such device to offer PictBridge support.
Both REALiS multimedia projectors feature new LCOS reflective LCD panels (developed by Canon), the WUX10 incorporating a 0.71-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) panel, while the REALiS SX80 settles for a 0.55-inch SXGA (1,400 x 1,050 pixels) panel. In addition, both devices sport Canon?s proprietary AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) Optical Engine, a technology that equalizes the light from the projection lamp and maximizes the performance of the LCOS panels to achieve high brightness, contrast, very good resolutions and a more compact projector form factor.
Furthermore, both projectors have also been equipped with the newly developed Genuine Canon 1.5x Powered Zoom/Focus Lenses that deliver increased resolution and suppression of lens aberrations and improved 10:0 lens offset, reducing the need for tilting and/or keystone correction. Moreover, these lenses include Canon?s new lens coatings, which reduce both glare and ghosting.
Now that we've seen the common features provided by the projectors, let's take a more in-depth look at each of the two models. Thus, the REALiS WUX10 delivers clear, defined WUXGA-resolution (1920 x 1200) images, supporting 1080 video content and WUXGA 16:10 computer resolution (as Canon puts it, this "exceeds 1080 HDTV resolution"). Rated at 3200 Lumens of brightness and with a contrast ratio of 1000:1, the REALiS WUX10 can project just about everything one might think of, from photographs, intricate spreadsheets with small text and CAD drawings up to full-motion HD or SD video.
On the other hand, the REALiS SX80 delivers images at SXGA+ resolution (1400 x 1050), 3000 Lumens brightness level and a contrast ratio of 900:1. This new projector provides an expanded display area that is compatible with multiple computer-display formats such as WXGA and SXGA, with an entire SXGA screen being displayed in its true proportions ? just as it appears on a PC monitor.
However, the main selling point of the SX80 is the fact that users can take advantage of the USB/PictBridge connectivity for "PC-Free" presentations. Thus, a convenient USB port enables users to connect a flash drive or a PictBridge compatible digital camera or digital camcorder directly to the REALiS SX80 Multimedia Projector to display jpeg photos. A wide selection of video and audio inputs ? including a DVI-I interface for Macintosh and Windows computers ? and an HDMI terminal for digital video camcorders Blu-ray and other DVD players adds even more content-playback device options.
And now, for the thing some of you might have been waiting for: the price tags. These things are by no means cheap, since the REALiS SX80 will retail for around $4,000 when it will arrive in shops later on this month, while the WUX10 (slated for an October release) will sell for a whopping $12,999.
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