Epson EX5230 Portable Projector Review

Overview

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The Epson EX5230 is a compact business-class projector offering a very bright image and features well suited to the typical business traveler or for the business that needs to  move a projector between conference rooms.  The EX5230 projects a very sharp image, limited only by its native 1024 x 768 resolution, and offers picture modes providing good color accuracy.   While the EX5230 is quite a bit larger and heavier than Pico class projectors,  it is a compact unit making it easy to move and setup in a conference room when needed and unlike pico modes, this one puts out a lot of light to properly illuminate a relatively large screen.

With a retail price of $599 and a relatively long 5,000 lamp life (in normal mode), it provides an economical solution for the business market.   The EX5230 is a new model within Epson’s EX line-up of portable business projectors that starts with the entry-level model EX3220, which sells for $449 (list price), and goes up to the EX7220, which sells for $749 (list price).  The EX5230 reviewed here offers XGA (1024 x 768) native resolution and falls in the middle of the EX series line-up that includes three higher resolution models offering WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution and the entry level model offering only SVGA (800 x 600) resolution.

Highlights

• Offers a bright image with 3500 rated lumens, in brightest mode
• Very sharp image provides very good text readability for business presentations
• Excellent video scaling performance
• Picture modes offered with good color accuracy suitable for displaying video and photos
• 1.2x zoom lens along with vertical and horizontal keystone correction provides mounting flexibility