Panasonic PT-P1SDU

Targeted toward those who want to relive family vacations by torturing their dinner guests with endless pictures of Bob Jr. and Sally in front of different national monuments, the PT-P1SDU fits the bill nicely, and doubles as a good mobile presentation machine.

Panasonic’s latest LCD-projector sets a new bar in terms of size. Weighing a mere 2.9 pounds, the PT-P1SDU joins a class of ultraportable projectors that has been dominated by DLP technology. The size of the unit is slightly smaller than a ream of paper, but that doesn’t stop it from delivering quite a punch.

After setting the projector up and adjusting the zoom and range, we could adjust the image from 40 inches to nearly 300 inches, giving users a lot of flexibility. The unit is easy to get running, with a quick five-second warm-up time before an image appears and auto-setup featuring keystone correction.

The PT-P1SDU is ideal for sharing pictures. Families can simply insert an SD Card with pictures stored on it and the projector will do the rest. Using the credit-card sized remote, we cycled through the photos stored on our card and even changed the type of transition that the projector used between those photos. If you’re interested in using it as a permanent home solution, the projector can be mounted on the ceiling.

The unit features SVGA resolution, allowing you to easily connect a laptop to it as well as other video sources through a VGA-to-Component adapter or S-Video. If you want to use the PT-P1SDU with your high-definition receiver or HD-DVD player through component cables, it will accept the 720p or 1080i signal and down sample the video. The projector features a built-in speaker, but if you’re planning on doing anything like watching a DVD, you will want to hook the PT-P1SDU to a sound system.

Outside the home, the SD Card slot and remote control can also be used to give PowerPoint presentations without a laptop. Panasonic bundles a program that can convert PowerPoint files into JPEGs, making it easy to get the presentation directly onto the projector. A built-in security system also allows the use of an SD Card key.

Picture quality is fairly good for a portable projector. Panasonic’s Daylight View technology allows the PT-1SDU to adjust its brightness and contrast based on the room conditions. The 1500 lumens provide enough light for all but the brightest of rooms, and the LCD technology produces some eye-popping colors. Films such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Finding Nemo really show it off well.

On the other hand, like most projectors based on LCD technology, the PT-P1SDU suffers from a screen door effect and relatively low contrast (400:1). These issues are not a large concern in the office or for still photos, but they do cause film and other video sources to look slightly washed out.

That said, Panasonic’s ultraportable projector is excellent for home use and good enough to take on the road. Using only an SD Card for presentations or photo-viewing helps put the PT-P1SDU over the top. Whether it is used to show PowerPoints in a meeting or images of holidays past, the brightness, weight, and ease of use of this unit make it a solid investment.