Let's say you have some video clips on your iPhone, a portable DVD player with photos, a brief PowerPoint presentation on your laptop, and you need to see five different clients in their homes and offices today. The last thing you want to do is haul a briefcase-size projector with you, so what do you do? You slip the Optoma PK-301, the company's newest pico projector, into your coat pocket, and off you go.
As long as ambient light can be controlled, the PK-301 is bright enough for intimate settings. It offers a digital input via an optional adapter cable, and if you store your images in the projector's internal memory, you won't need any external sources at all. Battery operation is good for 45 to 90 minutes depending on content, and there's an AC adapter for longer presentations. At a list price of $399, the 854 x 480 native-mode PK-301 is attractively priced, and its small size and 0.5 lb. weight is a real advantage for mobile presenters.
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.
Our sample unit's brightness uniformity of 72% was a little lower than expected for LED illumination where light is more collimated than with high-pressure lamps, and the left side of the image was slightly brighter than the right.
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-301's 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 ArcSoft's Media Converter software to convert video files, PowerPoint presentations, etc. so that they can be stored in and played back from the PK-301's internal memory. Be aware that this converter is not Mac compatible, so Mac files must be displayed directly from your computer.
Warranty: Optoma offers a one-year parts and labor warranty for the PK-301 with a 90-day warranty on the battery.
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-301's 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.
Maintenance: Very simple . . . if you clean the lens once in a while, you are done with maintenance for the life of the PK-301. No air filters to change, no lamps to replace, no nothing.
Placement Flexibility: The PK-301 has a fixed 1.8:1 throw ratio. With no zoom lens, that means you will have to set up at a specific distance from the screen for each image diagonal you want. For example, for a 60" diagonal, the projector will be 6.5 feet from the screen. If this is inconvenient, then you will have to move the PK-301 and live with a larger or smaller image.
Image Focus: Optics for pico projectors lack the sophistication of their larger brethren, and the PK-301 is no exception. The best focus setting for our sample unit is a bit "soft" and is not consistent across the image. When the top of the image is focused, the bottom is slightly fuzzy. However, the optimum setting produces an acceptable compromise for data images, and some minimal focus softness is not all bad for video, particularly movies.
Audio Quality: As you might expect with a 0.5-watt speaker, the PK-301's audio is weak and tinny, but voices are clear if lacking bass. There is a mini-jack for earphones or an external amplifier, and you may have to use it if there is much ambient noise in the room.
On-Screen Menus: The on-screen menus for image adjustment have no labels, only icons, so you must memorize the function of each icon. It is not that hard for video since there are only five settings, but for data, there are eight settings to contend with (although several of them are used infrequently).
Projector Control Panel: While the remote control is very effective, the control panel on the projector itself is not very intuitive. Pushing buttons on the panel can jostle the projector.
Internal Memory: Only 28 MB of memory is available for internal image storage, but if you need more capacity, the PK-301's microSD slot will accommodate up to 16GB cards.
Optional Accessories: Several adapters are shipped with the PK-301 including adapters for composite video and VGA computer inputs. But there are also a few optional accessories that you might want, and they increase the cost of the projector system. They include a remote control (I recommend it highly), a mini HDMI-to-HDMI adapter (needed if you are attaching a digital source), a female USB adapter (for connecting USB flash drives), a component video adapter that fans out into five RCA females for video and audio, and an iPod/iPhone adapter. Prices range from $20-30 apiece.
The Optoma PK-301's combination of aspect ratio and brightness put it in a unique class by itself. With a list price of $399 and very fine video and data images, it is well suited for those who do widescreen presentations, or want to watch movies at home or on the road. A variety of sources can be accommodated although some require optional adapter cables. The cost of the highly desirable remote and whatever optional cables you might want will add to the price. As with all pico projectors, ambient light must be controlled to keep the image from washing out and image controls are minimal. But for intimate presentations to just a few people, or movies anywhere at anytime, the PK-301 is well worth a close look.
Where to Buy the Optoma Pico PK301 Projector
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   460 Buyer Comments Seller Profile |  | ON | 1 | No | No | No | No |
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