Epson Pro Cinema LS10500 Projector Review - Hardware 2

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Art Feierman

PRO CINEMA LS10500 LASER PROJECTOR: HARDWARE PAGE 2: Lens Throw, Lens Shift, Remote Control, Menus

LS10500 Lens Throw

The Epson Pro Cinema LS10500's motorized zoom lens has a 2.1:1 ratio. That's the same as the Epson UB series, but not the same optics. In fact the actual placement range is slightly closer than the less expensive Epsons. That's no doubt due to different sized reflective LCD panels instead of the usual transmissive panels found in lower cost Epsons.

Here's the throw range for the usual 100" 16:9 screen. With that, and a basic calculator, you can easily figure out the distances for any other screen size.

The closest you can place the LS10500 from that 100" screen, as measured from the screen to the front of the lens, (minimum) is 9 feet 3 inches.

By comparison, the maximum distance is 19.8 feet.

(An Epson 5040UB or 6040UB can go out to almost 21 feet, but those projectors can't get quite as close to the screen as the LS10500.)

LS10500 Lens Shift

Epson states that the vertical lens shift range is 90% and the horizontal is 40%. Those are both huge amounts compared to most of the competition. How does that translate into practical numbers?

For a 100" diagonal screen you have just shy of 50" of vertical height. 90% of that is a touch less than 45 inches. That should allow you to have the projector (or rather the center of the lens - up to 45 inches above the top of the screen surface (when ceiling mounted), to 45 inches below the bottom of the surface. That's a lot of range.

Where that is really nice is if you have high ceilings perhaps 12 or 14 feet. In such a case your screen is probably mounted a touch higher than if you have an 8 foot ceiling, but with most projectors you'll have to mount them 2.5 to 4 feet down from a high ceiling. This projector offers almost four feet when most others offer 1 to 2 feet of range above the screen top.

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Of course it can be placed anywhere in between those top and bottom measurements.

Vertical placement flexibility rarely gets this good, but as a bonus, there's more horizontal lens shift than most, as well. If you can't place this projector in your room, very few projectors will work for you.

LS10500 Remote Control

It's the same remote control as the older Epson laser projector. For that matter, it's the same remote that Epson is using with the 5040UB and 6040UB. The LS10000 was the first home projector from Epson with power zoom and focus, but the number is growing. Epson's top of the line commercial projectors also have lens memory.

Top left is the power on button. Right next to it in the middle is a Power off button (just press once). The backlight, as usual is top right. Just below that is a Blank button to mute the video.

The next section - six buttons in two rows are the inputs, including two HDMI inputs, Component Video, Video, and PC (analog computer). There is one additional button - PIP for picture in picture.

The next section of buttons supports HDMI-link - they are mostly buttons that don't control the LS10000 but can control compatible Blu-ray players, DVRs and other such devices.

Below those smaller buttons are a row of three, including the HDMI Link button itself. Next to it are the Volume Up and Down controls. Now remember, please, that the LS10000 does not have a speaker. The volume control are there to control the volume of an HDMI-Link device (could be an AV Receiver).

The next row is three large buttons. The first is Lens which gives access to the motorized functions of focus, zoom, and lens shift.

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Next over is Color Mode which brings up the preset menu with choices like Dynamic, Theatre... The 2D/3D toggle is next over.

Right underneath are the navigation controls, typical of all of these large Epson remotes. Four arrows in a round configuration with the Enter button in the center.

Below - curved - Menu is in the center, Escape is on the left (that takes you back upward a menu level, and Default lets you quickly reset the menu you are in, to its defaults. Simple enough.

The remaining twelve buttons mostly provide direct access to key menu features.

Memory gives you access to two sets of controls. You can save, or load in, user memories (color modes), and you can also save, and retrieve Lens Memory settings. There are multiple lens memories, but the Lens 1 and Lens 2 buttons to the right give you quick access to your two primaries. Great stuff if you have a Cinemascope aspect ratio screen.

The remaining buttons provide direct access to: 3D Format selection (Auto works well), (Creative) frame interpolation, The Super-Resolution and 4K Super-Resolution control settings, Dynamic Contrast, Test Pattern, Aspect Ratio, Lens Iris control, The CMS system (for calibration) and lastly, a User button that you can set from one of the pre-determined options.

It's a long remote, not overly heavy, but it balances well in your hand. Range is excellent.