BenQ W10000 1080p Projector Review – General Performance 3

W10000 Projector: Lens Throw and Lens Shift

The current (12/06) manual and literature are wrong. They indicate a 1.35:1 zoom ratio, like my PE-8720. In truth, the W10000 has a much more limited (in terms of placement flexitbility) 1.15:1 zoom range (15% instead of 35%). This is due to the 1080p DLP chip. The higher the resolution, the larger the chip. If BenQ didn’t want to change the lens, or redesign the unit, at the full telephoto setting (of 1.35:1) the outer edges of the image would be lost.

So, we have to live with the smaller range. For a 100″ diagonal screen, the minimum distance from front of lens to the screen surface is 13 feet 1 inch, and the longest, 15 feet 1 inch. (Personally, that’s a drag for me. If I upgrade to the W10000 (very likely) shortly, I’ll have to extend my shelf out another 16 inches from the wall, to accommodate the more limited zoom range. My wife says OK, though…)

The W10000 would still have to be described as a moderate to long throw projector, many people will be able to shelf mount it in the rear of their rooms, especially if, to compensate for the more limited zoom range, they have the option to increase or decrease their screen size by six or eight inches to make it work.

W10000 Projector: SDE and Rainbow Effect

A note about rainbows. Even if you are sensitive – like me, or more so, you aren’t likely to ever spot them, on, say, a football game. They are most visible when you have a bright (white or close) object moving across a very dark background. (or to some degree, the other way around). Thus, rainbows are more likely to be detectable in dark scenes in movies than watching a sitcom, or sporting event.

Bottom line, the W10000 should be as good as any single chip DLP projector, in regards to rainbows. Hey! If you see them, and they bother you, you’ll need to be shopping for an LCD or LCOS projector – neither of which use color wheels.

W10000 Projector: Light Leakage

The W10000 leaks light out the front. Don’t worry though. If I didn’t tell you, you’ld likely never know. The only time I can spot it on the W10000, or my PE-8720, is with no ambient light at all, and a black image (no image) being projected (I have my 8720’s background set for Black, instead of the defaut purple). Even then, you better have white walls, and be looking for it. I think I had my PE-8720 setup for 3 months before I ever noticed. The same will be true for the W10000.