SONY VPL-SC50E

Sony's consumer products have earned the company an enviable reputation, and Sanyo's entries into the PC market haven't done anything to besmirch it. It seems that there's not much the company can do wrong. Whether with notebooks, digital cameras or monitors, there's an inherent feeling of quality whenever you open a Sony box, and the VPL-SC50E looks very impressive from the moment you lay eyes on it.

Portable LCD projectors are nothing new; InFocus has been producing impressive models for some time now but they've always tended to have a slightly over stylised look to them. Even though the InFocus LP420 (reviewed issue 45, p165) was very light, it wasn't the easiest unit to carry around. Sony has addressed this problem and overcome it. At the top of the VPL-SC50E is a hinged handle. It's completely inconspicuous when not in use but makes the unit simple to carry when it's extended. There's no worry about the handle giving way either, since, like the rest of the casing, it's solidly constructed. This sturdy construction does add a little extra weight to the unit - at 3.7kg it's heavier than the InFocus LP420 - but the overall design makes it extremely convenient to transport. With dimensions of only 107 x 314 x 218mm, it's easy enough to put the VPL-SC50E in a bag if you don't want to subject it to the elements.

Unlike the InFocus LP420, the VPL-SC50E employs a three-panel transmissive LCD projection method rather than the newer digital light processing technology (DLP). Which method is better is a debatable point. Initially, DLP allowed for smaller units and greater portability, but this Sony is just as small as the LP420, showing that LCD technology has caught up. The optimum data resolution is 800 x 600, and resolutions of 1,024 x 768 and 640 x 480 are also displayable but with less impressive results. Even at the optimum 800 x 600, however, the image isn't flawless. It's not as bright as some projectors we've seen, despite a 500 ANSI lumen rating. This could be a particular problem if you're giving a presentation in a boardroom with no blinds on the windows. It's not that the image can't be seen, it's just a little on the dull side. The other minor gripe is a distinct shimmering that seemed to affect the upper centre portion of the image. It became more pronounced when there were parallel horizontal lines displayed, although I doubt that presentations will be ruined as a result of it.

To compound this, the Sony's maximum image size is limited, offering just a 3.8m diagonal. That's half the maximum size of the NEC MultiSync MT810 (reviewed issue 39, p191), although the Sony is considerably smaller and more portable. More significantly, it is smaller than the InFocus LP420's maximum image size by almost a metre.

As you'd expect from a Sony unit there's a plethora of inputs. As well as a standard VGA D-Sub input for computer signals, there's a composite video input, along with left and right RCA audio jacks. You also get 3.5mm audio in and out jacks and a mouse port. Last, but by no means least is an S-Video input, which Sony has been thoughtful enough to gold plate for the best possible connection.

There's a good reason why Sony has paid so much attention to the video inputs on the VPL-SC50E - the quality is superb. I used both LaserDisc and DVD sources, connected to the S-Video input and the results were stunning. It will handle just about any video signal you're likely to throw at it: NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL, PAL-M and SECAM. And with a 600 line video resolution, it's well above even DVD video output. The sound is stereo, with two 0.5W speakers, although a separate amplification system is advisable if sound is necessary. At a push, the built-in speakers can handle the odd presentation effect.