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AV Systems
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REALiS for the rest of us
Canon XGA projector doesn't disappoint
Apr 11, 2008
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by Mark J. Pescatore
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A beefy, 4000-lumen unit, the Canon REALiS X700 portable projector weighs just under 11 pounds and is housed in an attractive, solid chassis. Under the hood, it's a native XGA projector with LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) technology, a sort of a hybrid between DLP and LCD that's usually found in projectors with higher resolution and much higher price tags.
I was mostly pleased with the video input choices, which are housed on the side of the projector instead of the back. There are DVI and RGB inputs, each with a stereo mini audio input, as well as video and S-Video inputs. Canon provides an adapter cable so you can plug in component sources to the RGB input. You also get audio and monitor out, plus a USB terminal so you can use the projector's remote as a mouse.
Canon made the odd choice of equipping the X700 with a stereo mini-jack audio input to share between the video and S-Video inputs. It's easy enough to buy a stereo RCA to stereo mini cable, but stereo RCA jacks would have been a better choice. Separate inputs would have been even better. Not that it matters much -- audio quality is adequate but not particularly loud or dynamic.
On the top of the projector, the user interface is simple and uncomplicated, with controls that are very similar to top half of the remote control. Canon's remote for the X700 isn't perfect, but it's better than most. The power and auto set buttons are at the top, plus there's a nice directional button array surrounded by controls for zoom, focus, keystone, and on-screen menu.
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| It might be the low end of the REALiS product line, but the Canon X700 delivers big-time images. |
Less essential controls are gathered in a bank of 12 buttons at the bottom. Kudos to Canon for including a "light" button that illuminates the remote, so you can actually find the controls you need in a darkened room during a presentation. A "spot" feature allows you to highlight a specific area of your projected image (the projector darkens the rest), and you can move the "spotlight" with the directional buttons. It's cute but not particularly fluid. And is an on-screen presentation timer really necessary?
My compliments on a very smart on-screen menu system. It's divided into three main tabs (display settings, image adjustment, and system settings), so it's very easy to make changes. Ease of use is important because you'll want to go into system settings menu immediately to shut off the annoying beep that accompanies the touch of every button on the remote.
The X700 also comes with a sturdy carrying case. An inside pocket has just enough room for cables, while a separate holster stores the remote control. The projector is well cushioned and strapped in, with extra protection around the lens.
With its MSRP of $3,999, the X700 is not your least expensive option. So, what justifies the extra cost? For starters, the X700 has auto focus and auto zoom, neither of which is a common feature at the portable end of the projector landscape.
Most importantly, however, it has a picture that is drop dead gorgeous.
The video input, which is tolerable at best for most projectors, exceeded expectations, and the S-Video input significantly reduced aliasing and improved color depth from my Lost in Space DVD. Colors from my laptop were rich, text was sharp and easy to read, and moving video was smooth.
Minor complaints -- such as its cheap lens cap and uninspired audio -- are quickly forgotten when you see your images on the screen. It might not have the exacting color adjustments and higher resolution of its more expensive REALiS brothers, but the X700 clearly delivers one of the best images from a native XGA portable projector on the market today.
PROJECTOR PROFILE
Canon X700
Weight: 10.6 pounds
Display System: LCOS
ANSI Lumens: 4000
Native Resolution: XGA
Native Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Speakers: 1 (1 watt)
More Info: usa.canon.com
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