Sony VPL-FH30 Projector Special Features

Optional Lenses

For more flexibility of installation, Sony offers two optional lenses to choose from, depending on your installation needs.  The standard lens (which comes with the projector and was used for this review) has a throw ratio that ranges from 1.39 to 2.23 (this means the projector can be placed at a distance from the screen that equals 1.39 to 2.23 times the screen width).  For those who need to mount the projector at a greater distance from the screen, the two optional lenses offer greater throws at 2.34 to 3.19 or 3.18 to 4.84.  What does this all mean?  It means that by choosing the appropriate lens, the projector can display a 100” wide (125” diagonal) image at distances ranging from as little as 11’-7” (139”) or a far as 40’-4” (484”).

Use of an optional lens also requires a special lens adapter.  These lenses don’t come cheap however.  Each lens is $2199.95 and the adapter is $48.95.

DICOM Gamma Mode

When used with a computer input, Sony has added a special gamma mode to the VPL-FH30 that displays images approximating the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) GSDF (Grayscale Standard Display Function) used with B/W medical imaging (such as X-rays).  This mode optimizes black/gray/white detail by providing a custom gamma curve.  Like other projectors that include such a mode, it is not intended for actual medical evaluation, but it allows for more accurate training of medical students, as well as more detailed medical imaging presentations.

Horizontal and Vertical Lens Shift