Description
Im now retired so Im retiring my personal pocket projector. I used this when consulting and in small conference rooms where no projector was available so not heavily used, maybe 40-50 hours. Some very light scratches from use. Clear lens. Im including everything shown in the pictures. PK-301 projectorPower adaptorMini tripodUSB-A to Mini USB cableMini HDMI to HDMI cableRCA to 3.5mm cablePadded protective case16gb class 4 micro SD card and adaptorVGA cableInstruction bookQuick Start cardPadded shoulder carry case Product ReviewOverview Brightness and Uniformity: Unlike many projectors, the PK-301 more than delivers on its brightness specification of 50 ANSI lumens. It put up 53 lumens in both Bright and Movie modes, 26 lumens in Standard mode, and 13 lumens in Eco mode. Note that Bright and Movie mode brightness levels are not available in battery operation . . . you must use the AC adapter to achieve the brightest picture. Connections: To save space, Optoma uses micro connectors on the rear of the PK-301, so adapter cables are required. The included cables are a Universal I/O which terminates in a female DB-15 for computer connection, an AV cable with RCA connectors for composite video, and a Micro USB that presents a full-size USB male connector. These micro connectors also accommodate several optional adapter cables. There is also a mini-jack audio output for an external amplifier and a micro SD slot on the side of the PK-301. Image Size and Position: To project a 72 diagonal image in native 16:9 aspect ratio, the PK-301 needs to be about 9.5 feet from the screen for the focus adjustment to be effective. Image offset is +18.5% of image height, so a 72 diagonal image has its lower edge about 6.5 above the centerline of the lens. This is a good offset for tabletop placement as the center of the image is at about eye level for an audience that is sitting close to the screen. User Settings: It is common for pico projectors to limit the ability to change image settings, and in the case of the PK-301, brightness, contrast, and two color temperature settings are the only choices. As it turns out, this is not a serious limitation since colors are well balanced in all modes. Aspect Ratio vs. Brightness: The PK-301s 16:9 aspect ratio is well-suited to video presentations and movies since all of the light falling on the 854 x 480 chip is sent to the screen. However, if you present computer data regularly, you might prefer a 4:3 aspect ratio projector. The PK-301 handles 4:3 presentations with no problem, but part of the DLP chip is not illuminated for content in this aspect ratio, and image brightness and resolution will be reduced. The pixel matrix of a 4:3 image is standard VGA 640x480, rather than 800x600. File Conversion: Optoma uses ArcSofts Media Converter software to convert video files, PowerPoint presentations, etc. so that they can be stored in and played back from the PK-301s internal memory. Be aware that this converter is not Mac compatible, so Mac files must be displayed directly from your computer. Advantages Image Quality: For such a small projector, the PK-301 does very well in putting up saturated and evenly balanced color. Data images have adequate contrast, and photos are lifelike. Flesh tones in video images are excellent, but shadow detail is somewhat limited. The PK-301 uses LED illumination, and rainbow effects are minimal. Digital Input: Few pico projectors offer a digital connection, but you will find a mini-HDMI on the PK-301. To connect to it, you will need an optional cable that adapts the mini-HDMI to a full-size HDMI, but it is worth the expense if you have a digital source such as a DVD player. Battery Life: Though the standard battery life is specified as up to one hour in Eco mode, our test unit delivered a simple PowerPoint presentation for nearly 90 minutes. It also lasted for 45 minutes in composite video mode. If you need extended display time in battery mode, you can purchase a larger battery for about $100. Aspect Ratio: With its native 854 x 480 resolution, the PK-301 maps widescreen 480i video one-for-one . . . a rarity among pico projectors. Most competitors offer an 800 x 600 native mode which is great for standard 4:3 data presentations, but it means black bands above and below a 16:9 image. Fan noise: You might think that a pico projector would not need a fan, but when you get into the 50-lumen range, there is just enough heat generated to warrant one. Fortunately, even in high brightness mode, the PK-301s fan is just a gentle whir, and in Eco mode, it is nearly inaudible. Remote Control: Even though it is an extra cost item, the remote control is well worth it. It makes it unnecessary to remember what the menu buttons on the projector are for (no easy task), and it keeps the projector from wobbling while you make menu selections . . . a common problem for most pico projectors lacking a remote control. Lamp Life: Like many pico projectors, the PK-301 relies on color LEDs for illumination of its DLP chip. That translates into an exceptional lamp life of 20,000 hours, so you will probably be tossing the projector before the LEDs fail. Just think . . . no lamp replacement hassle or cost for the life of the projector.
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