Optoma EP729

The Optoma EP729 is yet another variation on the common theme embodied by its three competitors, the Dell 3400MP, the HP mp2210, and the NEC LT20. The projector arrives in a small purse-like black-nylon carrying case that is a bit too small, even for an ultraportable projector.

The projector itself is similar to the NEC in that it is almost completely clad in a gray metallic casing with an easy-grip finish. An array of control buttons are stylishly arranged in two adjoining circles. The designers have thoughtfully doubled up the Menu Navigation buttons to control anti-keystoning and signal source selection.

The rear panel is exactly the same as the NEC, with its trio of standard video signal inputs (VGA, composite, and S-video), but here the USB connector has a purpose, enabling the projector’s remote to control your laptop’s mouse. The USB cable and the other three cables included with the Optoma are equipped with Velcro straps for neat storage.

The EP729’s remote control boasts many presenter-friendly features, including a laser pointer, a pointer stick for emulating mouse movements, and a pair of mouse buttons. Our only suggestion is to make the buttons larger and to move the mouse buttons to a more prominent place.

In our performance tests, the EP729 did very well. Its brightness score of 1618 was the best in this roundup, narrowly beating the HP mp2210. The contrast ratio was lower than average for this group, but was a highly impressive 639:1. Perhaps the Optoma’s most amazing score was its cool-down time, which was only 13 seconds.

The Optoma EP729 sells for $1,495 and is shipped with a two-year limited warranty on parts and labor. Replacement lamps cost $399 and are said to last 4,000 hours, for a cost of about ten cents per hour.

If you need to get in and out of meetings quickly and want to turn heads while you’re there, the Optoma EP729’s combination of high brightness and short cool-down time make it worth every penny.