Canon Unveils Front Projectors
By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 2/27/2006
Lake Success, N.Y. — Canon introduced three LCoS multimedia front projectors which it will target at “discerning home theater enthusiasts” as well as professional and institutional channel users.
The REALiS SX6, REALiS SX60 and REALiS X600 models will join the REALiS SX50 projector to create a full home theater projector lineup, the company said.
The models are powered by Canon's “Aspectual Illumination System” (AISYS) enhanced optical system for LCoS projectors. The AISYS technology enhances LCoS engines, delivering “crisp, color-rich, intricately detailed images by efficiently utilizing and equalizing light from the projector lamp,” Canon said. The result is said to be detailed, seamless lattice-free motion or still images.
The REALiS SX6 multimedia projector, shipping at the end of May at a $6,999 suggested retail, is optimized to deliver high quality high-definition images through the use of Adobe RGB and sRGB color support for professional artists, photographers and printing professionals.
Resolution is listed as 1,400 by 1,050 (SXGA+), contrast is said to be 1,000:1, and brightness is listed at 3,500 ANSI lumens.
The REALiS SX60, shipping in mid-May at a $5,999 suggested retail, is said to offer very quiet operation, high-definition SXGA+ resolution and is suitable for “professionals who desire critical viewing applications (engineers, designers, etc.).” Brightness is listed at 2,500 ANSI lumens and the noise level 1s 27dB. It includes a “Home Cinema Mode” which produces a 2,000:1 contrast ratio for the high black-level reproduction sought by discerning home theater users.
The REALiS X600, shipping at the end of May at a $3,999 suggested retail, features 1,024 by 768 XGA resolution, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,500 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 31dB noise level. It is said to be well suited for business presentations and boardroom installations.
All three models also include a wide, 1.7x powered zoom lens for greater placement flexibility, and an auto set-up system that identifies and selects the input source, keystone correction and sharpens focus. “Off and go” capability lets a user unplug the power cord when finished, while the internal circuitry runs the fan and cools the projector.
Other common features include: DVI-I with HDCP input, motion adaptive IP conversion and film mode with 2-3 pull-down.
