By Will Sullivan
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

The under $3000 full-HD front projector space is hugely crowded, these days—almost exclusively by LCD projectors. Sharp is aiming to change that, offering a new “value” $2999 front PJ (However, it is much, much cheaper at Amazon.com!) based around Texas Instruments’ new 0.65″ DLP Digital Micro-mirror Device (DMD) chip. Touting a dynamic iris (yay!) for on/off contrast spec’d at 30,000:1, the Sharp looks promising at first glance. Now that LCD and LCoS display technologies largely have matched or even well-surpassed the once-king DLPs in terms of actual contrast and shadow detail, however, one questions the “advanced” benefits DLP now offers, especially in the low-end PJ market: for the XV-Z15000 still can’t begin to compete with the LCDs, for example, in terms of living-room-friendly placement flexibility…perhaps the single most important component of “SAF,” or “Spouse Acceptance Factor.”

It has limited throw-range and ZERO lens shift, either vertical (necessary) or horizontal (highly desirable); it’s “automatic” keystone adjustment, designed to auto-compensate for the inevitable off-center placement, is of highly dubious utility, given the huge image-degradation such correction causes. Still, if that’s a sliding lens cover I see, à la Sanyo PLV-Z2000 (ahem, LCD and streeting for under $2000!), well, that’s nice…but for those of us hoping Sharp might hit one outta the park in the value PJ segment, looks like this is merely a foul tip…

[Via cnet]