InFocus LP500: Cramming 2000 ANSI Lumens in a Small Package

If you are in the market for a projector, you might come across one of the offerings of InFocus in that department, the LP500. The LP500 offers the new Digital Light Processing technology or DLP. DLP is the technology from Texas Instruments that allows small devices, such as projectors, to be able to project large images. The LP500 does exactly that.

The LP500 measures 3.34 x 10.25 x 11 inches (HWD) and weighs in at 5.7 pounds. It is light and small enough for occasional travels. It even comes with its own soft-padded carrying case for easy transportation. If you just look at the LP500, you might be led to believe that the projector is fragile. However, that is not the case. The build is quite solid and sturdy.

Data compatibility is quite extensive. It includes VGA, SVGA, XGA, Macintosh, and even 1080i/720. Input sources include M1-D/A, S-Video, RCA and a 3.5mm mini jack for audio. What makes the LP500 quite different from other projectors is that it has modular capability that expands the usability of the projector. When the included module is added, you get an additional VESA with 3.5mm Audio port, Component RCA, a stereo RCA and a hard-wired remote control. However, you have to pay the price of additional ports with an increase in weight. The module itself weighs in at 0.8 pounds, bringing the total weight of the LP500 to 6.5 pounds.

The LP500 has an ANSI rating of 2000 lumens, which is quite impressive. This makes it possible for the LP500 to project any image even at brightly lit conditions. While the black levels may not be to your liking, the white levels are quite high. The LP500 also comes with integrated Faroudja video technology that makes images look smoother and more natural. Overall image quality is acceptable, though it suffers from the common problem that other DLP projectors have: lack of color depth.

Despite the seemingly good characteristics of the LP500, its biggest flaw is the lamp. The lamp doesn’t have long-life. It is only rated for 2000 hours. Also, the replacement lamps are quite expensive – comparable to buying new TV sets. Also, there have been instances of lamps exploding without any warning whatsoever. While they offer a 90-day or 500 hour warranty on the lamp, having one bursting after the warranty expires can be a painful experience.
All things considered, if you are looking for a projector, you might want to look at a more cost-effective solution than the LP500. However, if the InFocus LP500 is all that you can get, the image quality and robust connectivity will serve you well.