Epson's MegaPlex MG-50 projector is part of the company's line of Advanced Projectors. It's built for almost any type of user, whether you need it for a small business or for entertainment, and it comes with a very trendy iPod/iPhone/iPad dock. The nicely priced $699 tag won't break the bank for this 3LCD device, but it's important to note that you won't be getting native HD resolution.
Dimensions
The MegaPlex MG-50 measures 13.4 inches wide by 11.5 inches in diameter by 5.1 inches high when the feet are taken into consideration. Lowering the feet drops the height down to 4.5 inches. It weighs 8.6 pounds, so while this isn't exactly a portable projector like the PowerLite 1775, it still weighs less than the PowerLite Presenter.
If you really need something smaller and portable, you can look into getting a pico projector.Display Specs
It has a native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, with a native 540p (960 x 540) resolution. Compared with the high-def projectors on the market, this resolution is much lower. It's important to know what you plan to use the projector for before you invest in one. You don't need HD for PowerPoint. You will probably want it for home theater, though - at least, if you can afford it.
The ratio can be adjusted to 16:10 or 4:3.
You can achieve 720p HD if you use the HDMI input. (See below for more on its inputs.)
The MegaPlex MG-50 has a throw ratio range of 1.36 - 1.83. It can project a picture of size of 30 to 350 inches. Be prepared to have the proper screen or blank wall to project onto.
Light output is listed at 2,200 lumens for both color and white light. It has a 200-watt UHE E-TORL lamp (Epson's own lamp technology). The company says it lasts up to 5,000 hours, which is good because lamp replacement can be expensive. A glimpse at a few shopping sites showed that the replacement lamp can cost anywhere from around $150 to $250.
It's important to note that the 5,000 figure can depend on what type of mode you use. The company also says that the lamp's brightness will decrease over time.
Audio Specs
It comes with two built-in 10-watt stereo speakers, so an external audio source isn't required. These speakers are huge when compared with the PowerLite 1775, so the fan noise (listed at 29 dB to 35 dB) shouldn't be an issue.
Inputs
This projector comes with a variety of inputs: one RCA composite, three RCA component, two RCA stereo, one VGA D-sub 15-pin, one HDMI, one 3.5mm mini jack, and the 30-pin iPod/iPhone/iPad retractable dock. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any USB or SD slots.
It also charges the iPod, iPad or iPhone while it's in use, so you won't have to worry about that device running out of power in the middle of a presentation.
As Epson points out, you can use the mic jack to hold your own karaoke parties … if you're into the sort of thing ….
Power
The power consumption is listed at 298W in the Normal mode and 251W in the ECO mode.
Lens
The lens is manually focused with a digital zoom. Zoom ratio is listed at 1.0 - 1.35.
Color Modes
There are five color modes: Auto, Living Room, Dynamic, Cinema and Game. These can be extremely helpful depending on the type of room lighting you'll be using the projector in.
What You Get
Included in the box with the MegaPlex MG-50 projector is the power cord, an iPad docking bracket, a remote control with AA batteries, and the user's guide on a CD. The remote can be used at a distance of up to 19.5 feet, according to Epson. This can be useful information if you plan to use the projector in a large lecture hall.
Takeaway
For this price, you shouldn't expect to get a top-of-the-line HD multimedia projector. But the iPod dock is a great feature to have, although it would have been nice to have a USB or SD slot thrown in there as well.
