Canon LV-8320

Canon LV-8320

As a rule, video projectors are best at projecting movies and other video content, while data projectors excel at displaying PowerPoint and other business presentations. The Canon LV-8320 ($999 direct) bends that rule. This business projector did a decent job on our data image tests, but had surprisingly good video quality. Its audio isn't up to what you'd get with an entertainment projector, but the LV-8320 is definitely worth considering if your business or classroom presentations have substantial video content. The LV-8320 is an LCD-based projector. It has a rated brightness of 3,000 lumens, and a native WXGA (1,280 by 800) resolution, at a 16:10 aspect ratio compatible with many laptops. The LV-8320 is silver colored, with rounded corners. At the lens are focus and zoom (1.6x) rings. At 3.8 by 13.7 by 10.9 inches (HWD) and 7.5 pounds, this projector is portable, though a little larger than you may want to carry around regularly. It does come with a soft carrying case. It has a standard selection of ports for today's data projectors; Ethernet; 2 VGA-in (one of which doubles as component video); RS232; 2 audio-in jacks (one of which can serve as a mic jack) and an audio-out; video ports also include component, S-Video, plus an HDMI port, which last year's Canon LV-8225 ($799 direct, 4 stars) lacked. The LV-8225 is slightly smaller and lighter than the LV-8320, weighing in at 6.6 pounds.