Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WU NL Dual Lamp Widescreen 3LCD Projector Review

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Art Feierman

A detailed review of this Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WU NL projector. Images and related commentary, added by Art

Specs Preview

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Epson Pro Z8000WU Specs
Price	21898
Technology	3LCD
Native Resolution	1920x1200
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	6000
Contrast	5000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.61:1
Lens Shift	Yes
Lamp Life	2500 hours (Normal mode), 3500 hours (Eco mode)
Weight	48.4
Warranty	3 years Parts and Labor on projector, 90 days on lamp

Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WU Projector Highlights

Very High Brightness – 6000 lumen rating
High resolution – 1920 X 1200 (WUXGA)
Closed captioning capability with built-in decoder
Wired networking capability, with full set of notification and monitoring features
Single off-axis installation — 30-degree tilt operation
Flexibility of installation – Motorized zoom, focus and lens shift, plus choice of six lenses
Rapid Power up and nearly instant shut off
Long lamp life – up to 3500 hours, Dual lamp operation

Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WU NL Projector Overview

The Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WU NL is a high brightness (6000 lumen rating), high resolution (WUXGA – 1920 X 1200), dual lamp, 3LCD projector that is designed for permanent installation in a large scale venue, like an auditorium, boardroom or conference room. Its size and weight (almost 50 lbs.) make it unlikely to be used as a portable projector, except when placed on a cart. The Z8000WUNL has a complete set of connection options for a PC, Mac and other video sources, including the traditional VGA cable, DVI-D, HDMI, 5-BNC component video, S-video, composite video and wired LAN. Its specified output of 6000 lumens is aimed at filling large screens in large rooms or auditoriums, where total light control may be impractical or undesirable.

The NL at the end of its name indicates that it comes without a lens. For convenience, we'll often shorten the name throughout this review, to Z8000 or Z8000WU.

Similar to the previously reviewed Epson G5350NL, the Z8000WUNL can be purchased without a lens (the “NL” stands for “no lens”), giving the customer the option of choosing between six different lenses. The projector we tested was a pre-production model that came with the standard lens. The other lenses are explained in more detail later.

The Z8000 is network connectable, allowing for control of one or more networked projectors, as well as monitoring the projector’s status, scheduled maintenance and problem notification remotely. There is no wireless networking ability.

Epson will also be launching a Z8050W early next year that will have the same features as the Z8000, but with the much lower WXGA (1280 X 800) resolution and will be rated at 7000 lumens. The Z8050W will also have wireless networking capability.

The Epson PowerLite Pro Z8000WUNL is designed to compete in a market dominated by 3-chip DLP projectors (see our review of the Sharp XG-P560W). In this review we will see how it stacks up against the competition.