Tech Tuesday: Panasonic PT-FRQ-60 4K Projector
Although 4K displays are almost ubiquitous in the display market, projectors haven’t quite managed to catch up in the resolution department. However, recent developments in projection technology have brought forward products that deliver 4K resolution without a ridiculous price tag. Panasonic have sent over their latest entry in the projection technology world that provides a 4K image—and also packs a few nifty tricks up its sleeve. This is the PT-FRQ60.
The FRQ60 has all of the cutting edge features you’d expect from a modern projector. It features a powerful laser light source that delivers 6000 lumens, enough to fill a 16 foot wide screen even in pretty bright conditions—and because it’s a laser source, there’s no start up delay. Once the projector is up to temperature, it’s immediately ready to output the full spectrum of colors.
Another great feature of this projector is its resolution. The FRQ60 can natively display 4K images, a featuer not commonly seen in projectors at this price point. Here’s why:
In a normal, say, 55 inch display, each pixel takes up 1/80th of an inch. With advancements in semiconductor technology, this size has been easy to achieve, which is why nearly every TV you see these days is 4K. Projectors, on the other hand, don’t have nearly as much space to work with. Despite the large size of projection screens, the display panel inside of the projector is only 0.65in diagonally. At a 4K resolution, each pixel needs to be more than 73 times smaller than on a display. Although it’s technically possible, manufacturing a chip that small is a) very expensive, and b) very difficult. So, Panasonic found a sleek workaround.
The native resolution of this projector is 1080P at 240 frames per second. But, using Panasonic’s Quad Pixel Drive technology, each pixel gets rapidly shifted vertically and horizontally to create a 4K image with amazing depth and clarity.
The high native refresh rate also gives this projector another cool capability: real time projection mapping. Using an infrared light source and camera, Panasonic’s projection mapping software can convert the motion of a tracking object into coordinates for graphics software. This is great for interactive art installations and live performances, since the high refresh rate allows the projector to easily keep up with the tracked object.
Speaking of art installations, there are a few features on this which make it great for unconventional setups. The Free Grid keystoning allows technicians to easily adjust the warp the image to reshape any areas distorted by uneven objects or curved screens. This unit also features Panasonic’s System Daylight View technology, which adapts the image brightness to the ambient light levels of the environment, keeping a uniform experience in projection mapping installations no matter the time of day—and, it’s able to run all day, thanks to its high efficiency liquid cooling and multiple LED modules.
Big thanks to Panasonic for sending us this projector to check out! For more information on all of Panasonic’s projection offerings, visit them at panasonic.net
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