Sony VPL-GTZ1 Projector – Review

When is comes to image processing and projector technology, Sony is on top of almost everybody’s list. Their expertise in this field is so vast, that even though their company is in troubled waters when it comes to smartphone and tablet devices, what keeps them going is their image processing genre. Sony has been competing with the likes of Epson and Canon over projector tech in the past, but it looks like they have finally got the breakthrough that they so required. What I am talking about is the Sony VPL-GTZ1 projector.

The $50,000 projector, is like a successor to the LSP-XW1 projector, with the major difference being that the new VPL-GTZ1 is not geographically limited. Other than being available world wide, the VPL-GTZ1 is also, what Sony likes to call, an ” Ultra Short Throw Projector”. For those who don’t know , Short throw projectors are a type of Projectors that find their use in cases where the distance to the projection screen is to be minimised. The currently available short throe projectors in the market, are said to project onto a screen from as near as 1.5 feet away. They support both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, while a few others also come with networking capabilities.

Coming back to the Sony VPL-GTZ1. When Sony said that this device is Ultra short throw, it wasn’t just a marketing gimmick. Rather, the projector lives up to its name to the ‘T’. Technically speaking, the VPL-GTZ1 can project onto a screen from as near as zero inches away. If you didn’t get that point point, imagine this – You can place the projector directly against the wall you wish the project upon, and the device will carry out its job like any other day at the office.

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When it comes to design, Sony has hardly ever been a disappointment. The VPL-GTZ1 is no different. We have a clean box shaped design , with no additional frills and thrills, save for the small cut out on the top of the projector, which is used for the projecting of media.

So, how does the VPL-GTZ1 carry out this Ultra Short throw ?

The Answer is simple. The Projector started off by pre skewing the image  ( essentially, this means straightening the image ) , using the various image processors and lenses. The end result is that when the projector goes on to project the media onto the screen, it appears as a perfect square. This is definitely clever from Sony.

As far as the range is concerned, the Sony VPL-GTZ1 will work from anywhere between and including, 0 to 7 inches from the target screen , and screen sizes ranging from 66 inches to 147 inches. The Brightness is rated at close to 2000 Lumens, making it ideally bright as well.

The result of projection are a treat, as the image will be a near perfect square, with next to zero bends or curves ( Thanks to the aforementioned pre-skewing process ). The science behind that magic is that, the VPL- GTZ1 has got a three diode blue laser, striking a yellow phosphor wheel. The result of this is a white light which is then converted to RGB, for the SXRD chip. As far as the lifespan of the device is concerned, the on-paper figures are claiming a handsome 20,000 hour lifespan.

Now that we have the overview of the device, lets take a final look at all the major features of the VPL-GTZ1 projector –

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  • 4K resolution – The VPL-GTZ1 features a resolution of 4096 x 2160 resolution, which amounts to almost four times the resolution of Full HD. The new generation 0.74” 4K SXRD panels have been developed, thanks to the immense level of expertise of the company in the image processing and projection market.

 

  • Laser Phosphor Light source – The new VPL-GTZ1 combines the 4K SXRD display technology , with a highly effective laser phosphor light source. The result is  exceptionally bright pictures with excellent colour accuracy and stability.

 

  • Ultra Short Throw Projection – The VPL-GTZ1 can throw high resolution images up to approximately 147 i aces ( Diagonal ) , and can go all the way down to 66 inches. This amazing feat can be achieved from a distance of 6.7 inch and zero inches , respectively, from the display.

 

  • 2000 Lumens Brightness – The VPL-GTZ1 brings a whole new level of realism to the table, thanks to the amazing 2000 lumens of brightness. This sort of brightness is ideal for B2B, and commercial applications, including Museums, design and simulation, oil and gas, corporate and video wall applications.

 

  • Upto 20,000 hours of maintenance free working – The Sony VPL-GTZ1 projector comes with high durability, and top of the line material, which allows it to go on for 20,000 hours without the requirement of visiting the maintenance store.

 

  • Super Size display using Edge blending – The projector allows the user to blend the same with multiple projectors ( Via 3rd Party applications ) in order to create seamless, super size displays, which are ideal for retail, corporate and live event applications.

 

  • Flexible installation – The flexible design of the VPL-GTZ1 allows it to be used in floor standing, ceiling mounted, or even rear projection mode.

 

  • 3D capabilities – The projector offers 2K 3D with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. If you wish to make use of the 3D capabilities of the device, you can go in for the Sony TDG-BT500A 3D glasses, which are available as an independent accessory.

 

  • Low Fan noise level – The VPL-GTZ1 has been designed to keep the fan noise level to an absolute minimum.

 

  • HDMI inputs – The projector also includes 4 x HDMI inputs.

Finally, for those who are keen on this device, it is on sale for $50,000, and will be available world wide.We tried Gaming on the projector with a PS4 and some 3D content and its awesome Though not a home based product , the only downside is the device weighs  40Kgs so it has to be fixed permanently to one location .