Sony has added to its laser light source (Z-Phosphor) line of projectors with two new models at 5,000 and 6,000 lumens. The new mid-brightness models, the VPL-FWZ65 (6,000lm WXGA) and VPL-FWZ60 (5,000lm WXGA), follow the recently announced VPL-FHZ57 (4,100lm, pictured).
The new models are designed for a variety of commercial environments including corporate, large venue and entertainment as well as education. Sony’s range of laser-based professional projectors now totals nine models from 2,000 up to 7,000 lumens in WXGA, WUXGA and 4K resolutions.
Sony is also unveiling two new lamp projectors, the VPL-FW65 (6,300lm WXGA) and VPL-FW60 (5,200lm WXGA) to continue its dual strategy approach to projection solutions. Both the new laser and lamp projectors come with BrightEra panel technology to reproduce natural-looking and vivid colours.
The new models are designed to deliver enhanced picture quality with features such as ‘Reality Creation’, a technology already in use by Sony’s home theatre projection systems for high-end consumer entertainment. The Reality Creation engine analyses and processes every input signal to refine detail, clarity and sharpness for naturally up-scaled images. This provides higher-resolution perspective even with the lower resolution WXGA series.
The laser projectors are designed for virtually 20,000 hours of maintenance free operation, and a range of energy-saving features, such as Auto Dimming and Auto Brightness, aim to reduce the total lifetime ownership costs compared to projectors with a conventional lamp source.
All four new models have a wide powered lens shift, ideal for installation in challenging environments, for example maintaining audiences’ site lines by installing the projector above a screen, or horizontally avoiding HVAC ducts on the ceiling.
Sony’s newest lens option is the VPLL-3003 ultra-short throw lens, claimed to be the world’s first interchangeable ultra-short throw lens for 3LCD projectors. This lens offers sharp focus and minimised picture distortion due to a large mirror system, and easy adjustment of lens shift and focus via remote control.
The lens can project an 80in to 300in diagonal image with minimal throw distance (39in throw distance for 140in diagonal image), making it suited to small meeting rooms, as digital signage or for use in museums.
The new models all have built-in HDBaseT interfaces, enabling easier connectivity and reducing total system costs by using a single cable which runs all the video, audio, control and IP signal up to 100m.
Sony has also developed a new intuitive unified control protocol for its Sony projector line, for easier integration of varying models used in the same installation. Control system manufacture partners including Crestron, Extron and AMX will support Sony’s new control protocol.
“Today we’re excited to introduce our latest installation projectors for the higher education and corporate markets”, said Robert Meakin, product manager for Business Projectors at Sony Europe, Professional Solutions. “We take great pride in working together with our customers, partners, and dealers to provide solutions that fit their needs. While Sony is the laser projection market leader, conversations with our customers emphasise that lamp technology is still equally important. We’ll continue to support both technologies through our dual laser and lamp strategy – where we introduce a laser based projector, we will also offer a lamp version. Above all, we’re focused on developing solutions that ensure superior colour quality and image sharpness, no matter what the technology.”