ViewSonic PJD5533w

The ViewSonic PJD5533w is quite portable, provides good resolution and brightness, and has plenty of connectivity choices for a value-priced data projector. Its image quality is suitable for typical school and business presentations. The PJD5533w provides good balance between price, portability, connectivity, and image quality.

The PJD5533w provides WXGA (1,280 by 800) native resolution, at a 16:10 aspect ratio, and is reasonably bright at a rated 2,800 lumens. Visually, it looks identical to the lower (SVGA) resolution ViewSonic PJD5134, and has a similar feature set. It measures 3.3 by 10.6 by 8.7 inches (HWD) and at 4.6 pounds is very portable, though it lacks a carrying case. The lens has a modest zoom (1.1x) ring and a focus ring; both were responsive, and it was fairly easy to bring the projector to a good focus.

It has a decent set of connections for a portable data projector at its price: 2 VGA-in ports (which double as component video) and 1 VGA-out port; audio-in and audio-out jacks; S-video; an RCA composite video jack; a USB mini type B port for remote mouse control; and an HDMI port.

Testing
I tested the projector from about 10 feet away from the screen. The test image, measuring about 60 inches diagonally, stood up reasonably well to a fair amount of ambient light.?

In our data image testing, using the DisplayMate suite under theater-dark conditions, the PJD5533w's image quality proved average for a DLP data projector, suitable for typical business and classroom presentations. There was some modest tinting?some white areas had a hint of yellow, and grays sometimes looked greenish. Actual yellows tended to look dull and mustardy. Text quality was reasonably good; the smallest two sizes of white-on-black text were a bit blurred though for the most part readable. I noted the rainbow effect, frequently encountered in DLP-based projectors, in test images that tend to bring it out. It takes the form of little red-green-blue rainbow-like artifacts in bright areas against dark backgrounds. With the PJD5533w, the effect was mild enough in data images that even people who are particularly sensitive to it shouldn't be bothered by it.

Video Quality
The rainbow effect was more of a factor in video, and was slightly more prevalent than is usual for a DLP data projector. People who are sensitive to the effect will likely be distracted by it. I also saw posterization, sudden changes in brightness where they should be gradual, in some scenes. With this projector it's best to stick to shorter video clips as part of presentations.

Audio from the PJD5533w 's single 2-watt speaker was quite soft, suitable only for small rooms or if you're seated close to the projector. You could always connect a set of powered external speakers to the audio-out port if you need louder audio.

As a DLP projector, this model is 3D ready using the DLP-Link system, although you need to get your own active shutter DLP-Link glasses. You can find ViewSonic's DLP-Link glasses for less than $100 a pair. Still, the cost quickly adds up if you plan to show 3D content to a group of people, as you'll need glasses for each.

The PJD5533w does a decent job as a budget WXGA data projector, providing solid?if ?unspectacular?data image quality that should be suitable for typical business and classroom presentations, and a good set of connectivity choices. Its video is okay for short clips as part of presentations, but has enough of a rainbow effect that I'd hesitate to use it for longer clips.

The ViewSonic PJD6553w, also of WXGA resolution, costs more than the PJD5533w, but is brighter and provides somewhat better image quality. The Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 93+ has lower (XGA) native resolution than the PJD5534w and is a little heavier, but it provides superb data and video image quality and loud audio. As an LCD projector, it's sure to be free of rainbow artifacts.

That said, the ViewSonic PJD5134 provides a good mix of price, portability, brightness, connectivity choices, and image quality, and is worth consideration as a budget WXGA data projector.

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