Sony’s newest projector family for classroom use is the VPL-E200 series. The new models have brightness specs from 2,600 lumens up to 3,700 lumens and are available in XGA (1024×768) and WXGA (1280×768).

With the E200 series, Sony has taken a significant step toward further extending lamp life. By applying what Sony is claiming as a new fine-tuned cooling system to reduce clouding of the bulb, lamp life can be extended to up to approximately 7,000 hours, depending on the lamp mode selected. Additionally, the new models adopt Sony’s auto lamp dimming function, where the projector intelligently detects if it is left powered on with a static signal being fed. When a static signal is detected, the lamp can be dimmed as low as 30 percent of original brightness after certain time intervals set by the user.

The new projectors have an Auto Mode (Auto Brightness Adjustment Function), where the brightness of the lamp’s output is automatically adjusted depending on the brightness of the projected image, to avoid unnecessary power consumption. For example, when showing darker images that don’t require high brightness, the lamp output will decrease.

Synchronized lamp and filter maintenance timing also contributes to reduced cost of ownership. The filter will last as long as the lamp, which means lamp replacement and filter cleaning can be performed quickly, easily and at the same time.

The projectors’ 1.6x standard zoom lens and variety of inputs allows the projector to fit a broad range of applications (the VPL-EX225 and VPL-EW225 are 1.3x zoom). Other features include a 16-watt speaker and a variety of interfaces (2xRGB, HDMI, S-Video,RS-232C, RJ-45, plus microphone inputs for when you want to use the projector as a speaker for the instructor).

The VPL-E200 series offers a choice of six picture modes (dynamic, standard, game, blackboard, cinema and presentation) and all include security locks (password and mechanical), a security bar and panel key lock.

The new models in the VPL-E200 series are all planned to be available in late summer 2012, with suggested list pricing TBD. TheVPL-E200 series will include:

 

• VPL-EW275 (WXGA at 3,700 lumens)
• VPL-EW245 (WXGA at 3,100 lumens)
• VPL-EW225 (WXGA at 2,600 lumens)
• VPL-EX275 (XGA at 3,700 lumens)
• VPL-EX245 (XGA at 3,200 lumens)
• VPL-EX225 (XGA /at 2,700 lumens)

These projectors aren’t on Sony’s website yet because they don’t list products until they ship.