Mitsubishi HC3800 Home Cinema Projector

The good and the bad when it comes to the Mitsubishi HC3800 review...

The good: - Well priced for a 1080p projector. - The rainbow effect is harder to notice on this model. - Good black levels. - It's nice and small. - Lightweight.

The bad: - There is only 1x HDMI input (we would expect 2 these days) - Only 1x component input. - No lens shift, so mounting positioning is limited. - Small zoom range (compared with others at the same price) - Not overly quiet at 25dB - Contrast rated at 3300:1 (very low compared to others) You may want to consider the looking at the following models which are in the same price range that offer a little more value for money.

The projectors listed below all offer a flexible manual lens shift, much higher contrast, bigger zoom ranges, are a lot quieter and noticably brighter with much higher lumen ratings:

Epson EH-TW3200 Epson EH-TW3600

Mitsubishi HC3800 Projector information

Designed for budget-minded do-it-yourself video enthusiasts or home-theater newbies..

Mitsubishi’s new HC3800 projector uses Texas Instruments’ latest 1080p DLP® chip, the DDP3021 Digital Light Processing® TrueVision™ Image processing with BrilliantColor™. It blasts 1300 lumens and provides up to an outstanding 3300:1 contrast ratio in full ON, full OFF mode (650:1 ANSI) for truly high detail and remarkable color depth for maximum video display impact. Combining BrilliantColor processing technology using a patented color-processing algorithm and Mitsubishi’s new super-sharp, high-quality Diamond® lenses, the HC3800 gives viewers rich, vivid realistic images.

Viewing widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio films is easy with the HC3800 projector, thanks to its Anamorphic Lens Mode 1 and 2 support. In the past, users needed an expensive lens railing or tracking apparatus to install or remove an anamorphic lens, depending on the desired 2.35:1 or 16:9 film aspect ratios. With the new HC3800, users can now simply position an anamorphic lens permanently in front of the projector lens and select the appropriate Anamorphic Mode 1 or Mode 2, either 2.35:1 or 16:9 aspect ratios for the corresponding movie format. It’s a simple and economical design that saves time and effort while providing the ultimate home theater viewing experience.

Mitsubishi’s HC3800 is affordable and offers an exceptionally low cost of ownership with an estimated 5000-hour lamp life* in low lamp-life conservation mode. It’s also designed filter-free with an advanced semi-sealed construction that makes the projector’s optics resistant to dust, dirt and other micro particles within its light path. Periodic maintenance is greatly reduced, making the projector more economical over time, and allowing users more time to enjoy their home theater.

The projector has a convenient and simple top-access lamp design for easy lamp exchanges. Subdued scenes are easy to hear with the HC3800’s quiet engine, and the projector includes a native digital HDMI™ input for true high-definition connectivity.

Lightweight at less than eight pounds, the highly portable HC3800’s digital keystone correction makes set-up easy, efficient and more flexible in different room configurations. “Mitsubishi is committed to increasing value in our home-theater and presentation projectors,” said James Chan, senior director, product marketing, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Presentation Products Division. “We are excited to offer a wide selection designed to meet the needs of first-time home-theater and DIYers, as well as enthusiasts who want the best they can afford without compromising on quality.” Movies, TV programs, games and more Enjoy it all in high-definition on a 100”+ screen Imagine it... the latest home theatre technology bringing you hours of viewing pleasure in the comfort of your own home.

Easy to set-up and operate – the HC3800 reproduces beautiful, high-definition (HD) imagery, bringing movies and TV programs to life with vivid, sharp colours and adding new meaning to the word “excitement” when playing games. Enjoy it all on a large 100”+ screen while relaxing on your living room sofa. Finally, an affordable full-HD projector that spares nothing to ensure a new dimension in viewing pleasure.

An amazing level of beauty and excitement you need to experience with your own eyes. (or not.. as we are not big fans of single chip DLP..)