(This is part of a series of articles. For the first page, click here)

The Microtek is rated at 1200 ANSI lumens, and when tailored for presentation it is capable of outputting about 1050 ANSI. Contrast, at 1500:1, is actually quite good. The MS-4 gave JPEG images and graphics enough "pop" to make them pleasant to look at, even with a significant amount of ambient light.

Given an SVGA signal with 10pt type, the MS-4 looks sharp back to about 3x the screen width, at which point it becomes difficult to read. However, placed head-to-head against any of the other SVGA units in this shootout, it seems that the image is "soft" in comparison.

Most data projectors (for that matter, most projectors in general) take on a "bolded" look when keystone correction is applied. The MS-4 takes on this same effect when scaling XGA down to its native SVGA. This makes small type hard to read at viewing distances past about 2x the screen width; extended use may cause eyestrain or headaches.

For graphics-heavy presentations, photography, and digital images, a projector needs to be good at several things. In addition to good contrast, color balance must excel, and preferably there should be a way to adjust colors independently. In this area, the Microtek MS-4 truly shines, as its color performance was head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, and truly outperforms our expectations regarding the capabilities of these low-cost machines.

The MS4 did not seem to have any problems with deinterlacing or scaling of 480-line video signals. The addition of a DVI port (an uncommon feature in this price bracket) makes video quality quite good, so there is some potential here as a crossover product or dual-purpose unit.

Keystone adjustment made text hard to read, especially if that text was first compressed from XGA. For example, an XGA signal is first scaled, lending that bolded appearance mentioned earlier. If keystone is then applied, the bolding effect is worsened, and text becomes nearly illegible past 1.5x the screen width.

At 4.5 pounds, the MS4 is one of the lightest projectors in this shootout. Combined with the unit's small form factor and included carrying case, the Microtek MS4 is easily portable.

In normal lamp mode, the MS4 is rather loud, but not overpoweringly so. Compared to the InFocus X2, the MS-4 is still very quiet. In eco mode the projector quiets down significantly, and still puts out a lot of light. If the projector's audible noise becomes a problem, you may want to try eco-mode.

The menu system is not exactly elegant, featuring dark gray text on a dark blue background. The categories are confusing, and seem random - for example, there are menu tabs that are similarly named "Setup," "Config," and "Utility". The remote more than compensates for this; it fits in the hand well, is unobtrusive, and the added laser pointer is a nice touch. The remote can also function as a wireless mouse if your computer is connected to the projector via USB. These together make for a fine mobile projector.

The MS4 is very competitive in graphics presentation, but in data it can leave something to be desired. However the feature set is good, and the color quality is unmatched. If you need a projector for photography, light video, and other graphics, look no further.

Introduction

Page one: The BenQ MP610

Page two: The EPSON PowerLite S3

Page three: The InFocus X2

Page four: The Microtek MS4

Page five: The Mitsubishi SD110U