I'll start by saying I really like the layout, and also the options offered on the remote control, as well as its range. But...I still cannot call this a really good remote! Why?
I cannot believe the Sharp XV-Z30000 remote control is not back lit. OK, sure, the buttons all glow a faint greenish white, but it is so dim it didn't help me a bit. Perhaps if you "charged" those buttons with a flashlight, then turned off the light the buttons might glow enought to be useful, but wouldn't that be silly?
Similar to the Z30000 having the network features mentioned above, this lack of a proper backlight is probably a left over from a remote designed for business projectors. Oh well. Get used to it, or buy a universal remote to replace, it, or maybe splurge for a whole room, or whole house control system.
It is to me, a bit shocking for a projector that sells for $3000-$5000 to not have good, well lit, backlit remote. I'm pretty sure there might be other home theater projectors in this price range, without backlit remotes but they are few and very far between. Oh well. You'll get used to it, I trust or consider the options mentioned. As to the remote itself, the layout is very conducive to memorizing what buttons are where.
I expected the Sharp remote to have pretty good range, and it does. I was able to get a good bounce off my screen, with the total distance of about 28-29 feet. Beyond that it starts getting iffy, you'll have to find exactly the right angle. The first clue to good range was the two AA batteries. Some remotes use two AA's, some use the thinner AAA batteries. I've always suspected that as a group, the remotes with the AA's would have more range - as that's one trade-off. Remotes with AAA batteries, have less "juice" so likely have less range or shorter life before the batteries need replacing. Of course older projectors likely are a bit less energy efficient, so the remote of a 4 year old projector with AA's might not be a match for a new projector with AAAs. OK, that's too much time spent on minor conjecture, so, let's take a close look at the remote.
From the top of the Sharp XV-Z30000 remote control:
Top left button is Standby. Press it twice to power down the Sharp projector. On the top right is the power button, press just once to power on the Sharp.
The next two rows of 4 buttons are direct control of four popular image controls. You get up/down (+/-) buttons for Contrast, Brightness, Color (saturation) and Tint.
Then there's a space, and an area with four buttons for direct input to: HDMI 1, 2, Component Video, and Computer. Note that the Computer input is affected by a menu item. Default is auto, but you can select RGB (computer) or Component Video.
The next group of four buttons include the Picture Mode (toggle between the many provided preset, (and user) modes, two buttons, one to control each Iris. The last of the four is the Resize button, which toggles you through the different aspect ratios offered, unless you are using a computer, in which case it should work on the syncing.
Below those buttons comes the typical Navigation area. The four arrow keys organized in a round layout, with Enter button in the center. The Nav ring is surrounded by:
Above to the right: Menu
Above to the left: A toggle for Anamorphic vs 16:9 (this is only for those using an external anamorphic lens)
Below to the left: The Return button
Below to the right: Menu/Hide
That last one is interesting. Over the years I've cursed many projectors with really large menu areas, in that it can be very difficult to "eyeball" settings, when you can't see a good deal of the screen, including the part you are basing your adjustments on.
With this Menu/Hide, the open Menu you have dissappears as long as you hold down the Menu/Hide button. The menu immediately dissappears when you release it.
I really like that feature. I'll recommend it to all manufacturers.
All considered, if it weren't for the lack of a backlight, I'd be shouting the accolades of this remote control. When I do consider the lack of backlighting though, I can only say that it's an overall decent remote.
