The Twenty Smallest Portable SVGA Projectors

Proxima SV1

The SV1 is manufactured by Proxima's parent company ASK, and is sold only under the Proxima label in North America. At an MSRP of $3,126 and street prices under $3,000, it may be a viable alternative to the Sony CS1 for some consumers.

In this price range, the only significant competition is the CS1. Comparatively, the two projectors stack up like this:

In these spec comparisons, the Proxima edges the Sony in lumen output and lamp life. On the other hand, the Sony is lighter by 1.7 lbs, and about half the size. For those who need to accommodate an SXGA source, only the Sony offers this feature.

The lumen difference is insignificant in comparing these two machines. The more important distinguishing characteristics are the size, weight, and lamp life. The CS1 wins in size and weight, and the SV1 wins in lamp life.

Therefore, the Proxima SV1 will appeal to users who (a) won't travel with it frequently, and (b)will be putting a lot of hours on the machine. For these users, the extra weight and size is not much of an issue, but the lamp replacement cost will be a factor to consider in overall cost of ownership.

A 2000-hour lamp will provide four hours of operating time per business day for about two years. If you anticipate this much average usage, you should factor in an additional $400 to the CS1's street price of $2,699 to account for a lamp replacement. If you anticipate usage of up to eight hours a day, factor in an additional $800 to the cost of the CS1. For users with heavy usage requirements, the total cost of ownership can tip decidedly in favor of the Proxima SV1.