Mitsubishi's HC4900 3LCD projector: 1080p at the low-end

Hey HC6000, congratulations, Mitsubishi just birthed you a little brother. The HC4900 is meant to round-out Mitsubishi's trio of 3LCD projectors at the low-end. We're still talking 1,920 x 1,080 pixels thrown at 1,000 lumens for bright, "high contrast" images while maintaining that ultra-quiet, 19dB whisper of its bigger bro. No word on pricing or availability -- we'll try to extract that info from their IFA reps when the projector goes on display in Germany on Friday.

[Canon Shooter @ Aug 28th 2007 4:03AM]

Projectors are coming down in price - totally worth it!
If you are into some major home movies, get a projector - nothing beats 150" screen - as long as you watch it in a pitch black room ;-)

[bob @ Aug 28th 2007 4:56AM]

You're right... For movies, nothing beats a projector! They aren't really practical for everyday TV use, but for movies and video games, a giant screen is a sight to behold. I can't tell you how many people have given me the 'I had no idea what I was missing' look when they see my projector in action.

[Jeff @ Aug 28th 2007 7:20AM]

My wife thought I was crazy when I put in a projector. Ours in native to 720P... and now she is like "how much would a 1080P be???" It is so great to watch NASCAR, Football and play video games and watch movies on 132" in our living room!!!

Hopefully this will be a 1080P that is at least close to my budget...

[SHopkins @ Aug 28th 2007 8:28AM]

It seems 1080p prices are coming down at about the same rate that 720p prices did. I'd say in the next year we'll see street price on a 1080p projector break $1k. Hopefully about the time the MSRP make it down to $1k (and the used prices around $600-700) It'll be right about time to replace my 720p projector before all the life (and value) has been rung out of the bulb.

Now getting the prices of bulbs down should be the next push... a $100 bulb would sell alot of people on these, $250 - $350 bulbs scare people off, especially the people who don't upgrade every 3-4 years like I do.

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 28th 2007 3:52PM]

thats why you buy a projector at cosco and get the warranty. if your bulb dies, just go there and get a new one for free. =D

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 28th 2007 3:52PM]

plus, they'd be cheaper there anyhow

[steedums @ Aug 28th 2007 8:35AM]

its $3000 at CC
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Specifications-of-Mitsubishi-Home-Theater-Projector-HC4900/sem/rpsm/oid/185877/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

7500:1 contrast ratio

[WhyNotV2 @ Aug 28th 2007 8:38AM]

I was just about to post that and also at Best Buy for a few hundred less (atleast as of yesterday). I've been looking at these for a week now and debating if the extra $1500 is worth it because the InFocus IN74 is a great projector for $1400.

[fenacv @ Jan 21st 2008 8:55PM]

hey, I found this on sale! huge 500 bucks off in canada...
http://www.pricebat.ca/Mitsubishi-HC4900-HDTV-1080P-LCD-Projector-1920X1080-1000-ANSI-7500-1-VGA-HDMI.p_10056766/
It's good time to go get one. but i'm no sure does they ships quickly or not.

[raswirsky @ Aug 28th 2007 11:18AM]

Of course, you still have to spend a couple of grand for a screen! (I'm not complaining! I think front PJ is the ONLY way to go--with DLP of course--but I am nauseated by all these on-wall setups I see.)

[Hexland @ Nov 12th 2007 11:07AM]

So, what's the deal with 1080p projectors and their lumen value? Why are they always so low?
For example... my current 720p projector runs with a rating of 2300 lumens, and it's only just bright enough during the day to watch. I really want to make the jump to 1080p, but I haven't yet seen a projector (even more expensive ones) that do over 1100 lumens.
Are lumens measured differently between the 720p and 1080p projectors? Is there some sort of equivalency?

[gwlaw99 @ Aug 28th 2007 3:44PM]

www.projectorreviews.com already has a review up

[ug @ Aug 28th 2007 2:46PM]

"So, what's the deal with 1080p projectors and their lumen value? Why are they always so low?"

Probably becuase they can't pack all the pixels into a small enough area so they have to light a larger LCD area with the internal bulb. The light gets more diffused before going out the lens.