Pros & Cons
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- Modestly priced.
- Portable.
- Bright.
- Can project 3D content from Blu-ray players, as well as PCs.
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- Soft volume on audio.
- Lacks carrying case.
ViewSonic LightStream PJD5155 Specs
| Engine Type | DLP |
| Inputs and Interfaces | Analog VGA |
| Inputs and Interfaces | HDMI |
| Native Resolution | 800 x 600 |
| Rated Brightness | 3200 |
| Warranty | 36 |
| Weight | 4.6 |
The ViewSonic LightStream PJD5155 ($389.99) is a modestly priced data projector with good brightness and a basic feature set. It has decent data and video image quality for a low-resolution (SVGA) model, and a solid set of ports. It's a good choice for a school or business on a tight budget that needs a bright projector, but can do without the bells and whistles.
The PJD5155 ( at Amazon) is a DLP-based data projector with a native SVGA (800-by-600) resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio. It is bright for a budget projector, at a rated 3,200 lumens.
This all-black model has a handsome look, with tapered sides. It measures 4.6 by 12.4 by 9 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.6 pounds, and should be easily portable, though it lacks a carrying case. Focus and zoom rings sit behind the lens. The PJD5155's 1.1X zoom is modest, but provides a little bit of flexibility in terms of projector placement.
The PJD5155 has a solid selection of ports: two VGA-in ports and one monitor-out, an HDMI port, one audio-in port, one audio-out port, an RCA jack for composite video, and an S-video port. A mini USB Type B port is for remote mouse control and maintenance.
Data-Image Quality
I tested the PJD5155 at about 8 feet away from the screen. Our test image, measuring about 60 inches diagonally, stood up well to the addition of ambient light.
In data testing using the DisplayMate suite, the PJD5155's image quality proved average for an SVGA data projector, and should be fine for typical business and classroom presentations. Text quality is fairly good. White text on black is easily readable at sizes as small as 9 points, while black text on white is easily readable down to 7.5 points.
I noticed a color-balance issue in tests in that some gray backgrounds looked a bit greenish. The issue isn't quite as pronounced as with the ViewSonic LightStream PJD5155L, but it is still apparent. Colors are also on the dull side, particularly yellows (which look mustardy) and reds. This is not uncommon for DLP projectors. While LCD projectors have the same color brightness as white brightness, DLP projectors tend to have lower color brightness than their ratings.
Some test images showed traces of the rainbow effect, in which little red-green-blue flashes appear, most often in images with bright areas against dark backgrounds. It's unlikely to be a distraction in this projector's data images, though, even to people who are particularly sensitive to the effect.
Video and Audio
The rainbow effect is usually more problematic with video than with data images, and that is the case with the PJD5155. However, I saw fewer rainbow artifacts than with typical DLP projectors in testing, so that only people who are very sensitive to the effect are likely to be distracted by these flashes. Some scenes appeared overly red. Video images in our tests showed a hatching pattern indicative of pixelation, common with low-res projectors. The projector's video should be usable for shorter clips as part of a presentation. Audio from the PJD5155's single 2-watt speaker is of decent quality and on the soft side, making it suitable for a small conference room or classroom.
Like nearly all DLP projectors, the PJD5155 is capable of projecting 3D content using the DLP-Link system. It can project in 3D from PCs, as well as from Blu-ray players and set-top boxes over an HDMI connection. You do need to get your own active-shutter glasses, which ViewSonic sells for $129.99. Less expensive third-party 3D glasses are available, but even then, outfitting more than a few people with them can quickly prove to be a pricey proposition.
Conclusion
The PJD5155 is slightly smaller and lighter than the ViewSonic PJD5155L, a 3,300-lumen SVGA data projector. The PJD5155 has milder color balance issues than the Viewsonic PJD5155L, and its video shows fewer rainbow artifacts. Although the PJD5155 is more expensive, the price difference is modest enough that it is the better value of the two.
At 3,200 rated lumens, the PJD5155 is a bit brighter than the Epson EX3212 SVGA 3LCD Projector ($529.00 at Amazon) , our Editors' Choice SVGA data projector, which is rated at 2,800 lumens. The PJD5155's image quality for both data and video, however, falls short of that of the Epson EX321. The Epson model has a USB Type A port for running presentations from a USB key, which the PJD5155 lacks.
Although its features and image quality aren't standouts, the ViewSonic LightStream PJD5155 provides good value in an SVGA projector. It is bright and is modestly priced, and worth consideration by schools or businesses looking for a solid projector that won't break the bank.
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