Epson Home Cinema 5030UB Pros & Cons

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Art Feierman

The Very Bottom Line

❮ ❯

Unless you are a gung ho DLP fan who won't buy any other technology, this Epson needs to be on your short list if you are shopping anywhere near it's price point. It just provides a whole lot of picture and features for a really reasonable price.

While I feel there are a couple of projectors a bit more expensive that are excellent alternatives, even then, this Epson is easily brighter for media and family room environments if that's your intent, although they are both very serious competition in the theater. The only other reason for scratching the Home Cinema 5020 UB from your list is if you have your heart set on going widescreen: 2.35:1.

Pros

Brightest 1080p, 3D capable projector we've seen
Relatively clean 3D (limited crosstalk - depending on 3D glasses settings)
Excellent black level performance (2D and 3D)
3D glasses are some of the lightest, and brightest, plus they are RF and rechargeable (figure 20+ movies between charges) a quick charge good for a 2 hour movie takes 3 minutes
CFI - smooth motion, best for sports
Calibrates extremely well
2 HDMI 1.4a inputs
480hz panels for faster response time, including gaming
Acceptable gaming input lag times - 50 ms
Very good, but large, remote control, good backlight and range
Excellent lamp life (4000/5000 hours)
Picture In Picture can use two HDMI sources at once!
Very quiet operation in eco-mode
Color filter in best modes for improved color accuracy, but limits brightness
Excellent menu layout (only minor changes for years, adding new features)
A great value proposition

Click Image to Enlarge

Cons

A lack of motorized lens features, so no "Lens Memory" for working easily with 2.35:1 wide screens.
One of the noisier projectors at full power, but not particularly so, but enough to annoy the most "noise adverse" among us
Some folks with dark ceilings (many home theaters) would prefer a black case (consider the Pro Cinema 6030 UB instead)
Small control panel on the side, not so easy to use when you cant see it, I prefer a top mounted control panels with more room
A bit slow locking onto HDMI source changes
Lag times of 50ms may be "acceptable" for most, but we'd still rather see a bit faster
Lack of support for an anamorphic lens (consider the Pro Cinema 6030 UB instead)
Lens shift dials lose/imprecise (but they hold once you get it where you want)

That's all folks!