Sony's VPL-VW1000ES Brings 4K Projection to the Home
Sony's VPL-VW1000ES Brings 4K Projection to the Home
Sony's VPL-VW1000ES Brings 4K Projection to the Home
First things first, what is 4K? Simply put, it's a high-end image standard used in digital movies and computer graphics. The name '4K' describes the horizontal resolution of this standard, which is about 4,000 pixels. Due to different aspect ratios used in digital films and post-production systems, both the horizontal and vertical resolutions for 4K can vary, but the horizontal resolution is always approximately 4,000 pixels. For example, full aperture 4K has a resolution of 4096 x 3112, while digital cinema 4K based on the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) spec has it at 4096 x 2160 (that's 8.8 million pixels!). To put things into perspective, the latter has four times the resolution of digital cinema 2K (2048 x 1080) and what's commonly known as full HD (1920 x 1080). Imagine this: a pixel in a 4K system is about 1/4 the size of a pixel in an equivalent 2K or full HD system. And it goes without saying that the higher the resolution, the more detailed the images will be (that is, if you've the appropriate content).
Sony already has a 4K camera and 4K digital cinema projectors (F56 CineAlta camera and SRX 4K projectors, for example); and now, it's introducing a new high-end model in its ES (Elevated Standard) projector line meant for home theater use - the VPL-VW1000ES. Here is a list of its key specs:-
- 4K native resolution (4096 x 2160p) using a new 0.74" SXRD panel with 120Hz frame rate
- 4K up-scaler 'Reality Creation' for 2D and 3D 1080p content
- 2,000 ANSI lumens brightness
- Suitable for projection on screens of up to 200 inches
- 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (using Sony Iris3 technology)
- Support for 2D and 3D anamorphic films
- Built-in IR transmitter for driving active shutter 3D glasses
- Picture position memory
- Dual triggers, 2.1x motorized zoom
- RS232 port, IP control, and compatibility with leading home automation systems
At an event today organized by Sony, we had a taste of this ultra high-res 4K projector; below are some pictures to whet your appetite.
Next is the million-dollar question: how much does this projector cost, and when would it be available? According to a Sony spokesperson, the VPL-VW1000ES would arrive in the Asia Pacific markets between January to March 2012, and it would go for US$24,999 (excluding local taxes). Here in Singapore, accredited dealers would be selling it from March 2012. The price? A cool S$31,999 before GST.