JVC DLA-RS4910 Projector Review - Hardware 3

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Art Feierman

DLA-RS4910 PROJECTOR HARDWARE TOUR - PAGE 3: Lens Throw, Lens Shift, 3D

JVC Projectors - Zoom Lens - Throw Distances

JVC Projector Lens Throw (all 2014 models) for 100" diag. screen
Lens Position
Wide Angle (closest to screen)	9 feet 10 inches (3.01 mtr)
Telephoto (furthest)	20 feet 1 inch (6.13 mtr)

JVC publishes a zoom range in most instances as having a 2:1 ratio. As you can see from the numbers above, though it's slightly more than 2:1. more like 2.03:1. That will buy you an extra 4 or five inches over the entire range. This is about as much range as any projectors out there. I can't think of any with greater range than 2.1:1 (Epsons), and 2.06:1) one of the Sony's if I recall correctly.

The JVC projectors can place as close to a 100" diagonal 16:9 screen as any give or take a couple of inches. (The Epson can sit 2 inches closer. Sony though, on the less expensive, but competing VPL-HW55ES, has only a 1.6:1, and needs to be about almost feet further back, and also can't sit as far back. That furthest spec can come into play if you want to rear shelf mount, where the Sony might not be able to sit as far back as the JVC (so you'd need a bigger screen to make it work).

To figure out distances for larger or smaller screens, just multiply the numbers in the chart by the difference in size. As an example, a 12o inch diagonal screen is 1.20 times the size of a 100, so multiplying the 9' 10 inches (closest distance for the 100") by 1.2 would give the closest distance for the larger screen. It's that easy.

JVC Projectors Lens Shift Range

JVC Projector Vertical Lens Shift Range (from Center of lens) 100" diagonal 16:9 screen w/ no horizontal shift used
Above Top of Screen	15 inches
Below Bottom of Screen	15 inches

Basically for a 100" screen, the projector could be ceiling mounted so that the center of the JVC's lens is 15 inches above the very top of the screen surface, or if table placed, as much as 15 inches below the bottom of the screen surface.

Or, anywhere in between!

Horizontal lens shift is +/- 34% (vertical is +/80%), which works out to .34*87" (width) or about 29 inches. Thus, if no vertical lens shift is in use, the center of the lens could be anywhere from 29 inches to the left, or to the right of dead center.

The manual provides a basic chart that shows how quickly vertical lens shift range diminishes as you start using horizontal, and vs. versa.

Bottom line: the JVC RS4910 and for that matter all the current JVC projectors have a lot of lens shift range, a few projectors like the Epson's have more vertical, but overall, the lens shift range is excellent, providing most people with an easy mounting solution.

3D Capabilities

The JVC DLA-RS4910, RS49, and X500R do not come with 3D glasses, nor the 3D emitter. They are optional. You will need the emitter to use 3D glasses, and watch 3D.

We did not receive either an emitter or the latest in JVC glasses when our borrowed RS4910 projector arrived, and so we did not test 3D. I can say that last year's version - the X55R had only decent 3D, with more issues than most. The X55R also didn't measure as bright, cutting into 3D brightness, compared to what the new RS4910 should be capable of. If I recall correctly, last year, although the JVC has a crosstalk canceler control, I didn't find it effective. Last year crosstalk was worse than most of the competition, and definitely compared to DLP projectors.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you if the 3D has been sufficiently improved to rival the competition such as Sony and JVC. Thus, I can't "recommend" the new JVC projectors for 3D, nor diss them. Best I can say is that 3D is usually a compromise, including in color accuracy. Many of you just aren't that interested (though I'm a huge fan), in which case, no worries. Or if you want 3D mostly for the kids, again, no problem. I hope to bring in one of the higher end JVC's in which case I will look to see if the 3D has been improved, but for now, figure it's at least OK, but may not be up to the competition.

The 3D Emitter plugs right into the back. Optional. $99

JVC's glasses are RF. The Emitter is a small device that plugs directly into the back of the projector into its DIN connector. Very simple, and doesn't stick out very far.

There are now 3rd party glasses that should be available. Current JVC's should also be interchangeable with Sony and Epson 3D glasses, but more to the point, there are low cost alternatives such as those from Samsung (about $20 a pair), that are lightweight and comfortable. Just note that I haven't confirmed compatibility. (I can use Sony glasses with an Epson, but the Epson glasses occasionally "flicker" when used with the Sony.

Go figure!

3D should be much fun with the JVC DLA-RS4910 as finally JVC has reasonable brightness for 3D viewing. I would venture to say that 100" diagonal should be acceptable for most, or a little on the dim size. When I say most, I don't me us fanatics. I mean, our families and friends who are less likely to "put up" with a little too dim.