Canon U.S.A. Introduces New REALiS Models

Canon U.S.A. has introduced a new multimedia projector category that combines the exceptional picture quality of larger installation projectors with the plug-and-play convenience of portable models. Known as Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) Projectors, this new Canon product category consists of the Canon REALiS WUX450, REALiS WUX400ST, REALiS WX520, and REALiS WX450ST Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors. All feature a trim design under 14lb each, installation flexibility, easy setup, and sophisticated operational advantages strategically designed for professional markets.

Drawing on Canon's expertise in optical and imaging technologies, the new Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors feature newly designed built-in Genuine Canon projection lenses engineered to address a broad range of image-display requirements. The new Canon REALiS WUX450 and REALiS WX520 Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors offer placement flexibility with their advanced Genuine Canon projection lens that delivers a consistent fixed aperture of f/2.8 allowing for no light loss across its entire 1.8x zoom range. Designed for short-throw use, the new Canon REALiS WUX400ST and REALiS WX450ST Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors are equipped with an advanced Genuine Canon 1.35x zoom lens with generous horizontal and vertical lens-shift adjustability for distortion-free image quality in environments where the projector must be located close to the screen or display surface.

"Canon's new REALiS WUX450, REALiS WUX400ST, REALiS WX520, and REALiS WX450ST Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors blend the high-quality and exceptional detail, clarity and contrast of large projector models with the portability of smaller models," explains Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "The demand for installation projectors is growing across many professional markets, and Canon is demonstrating its commitment to these users by developing this entirely new category of the Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors, which integrate the latest technologies to provide exceptional user benefits, convenience, and affordability."

All of Canon's new Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors employ a new Canon AISYS 5.0 optical engine that helps improve the management of light through the projectors' next-generation Canon LCOS display panels. The result is the projection of high-resolution images with intricate detail, crisp contrast, high brightness, deep blacks, precise color, and reduced blur during fast-moving movie scenes. The REALiS WUX450 and REALiS WUX400ST deliver WUXGA (1920 x1200) resolution imagery with 4,500 and 4,000 lumens of brightness, respectively. The REALiS WX520 and REALiS WX450ST provide WXGA+ (1440 x 900) resolution imagery with 5,200 and 4,500 lumens, respectively. All models deliver a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio images, versatile connectivity and management controls, sophisticated image-processing and edge-blending capabilities, energy efficiency, and a lower total cost of ownership as compared to previous models, the company says.

Approximately 25% smaller than previous Canon Pro AV Series projectors, the new projectors feature a new heat-exhaust design and a flat chassis, which allows for a wide variety of installation-placement choices. Optional feet can be installed on the top of each projector for inverted ceiling-type mounts. Two units can be stacked to double light output and still fit into a compact space. The 1.8x zoom lens built into the REALiS WUX450 and REALiS WX520 includes a mechanical lens-shift feature for increased installation flexibility, enabling both projectors to be installed vertically, pointing up or downwards.

The REALiS WUX400ST and REALiS WX450ST Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors for short-throw environments include a built-in 1.35x distortion-free zoom lens and a 0 - 75% vertical and ±10 percent horizontal lens-shift adjustment feature. This combination enables these projectors to be used for short-throw display applications, including both front- and rear-projection installations. Short-throw projection applications can include environments where the presenter and the display screen must be in close proximity because of room size, design, or other unique factors, such as a ceiling that is too low for mounting a projector.

Canon's new Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors have a long-life lamp that provides up to 4,000 hours of operation. Easy access lamp and filter covers help simplify lamp replacement and filter cleaning, even while installed. Power consumption for the REALiS WUX450 and REALiS WX520 projectors equals less than .081 watts per lumen at its brightest mode.

Although integrating many unique technologies, the new Canon REALiS WUX450, REALiS WX520, REALiS WX450ST, and REALiS WUX400ST Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors are simple to operate and provide easy setup features. These can be accessed using a configurable control panel on the side of each unit and by using the projected installation and professional-settings menus. The extensive image-processing capabilities of these projectors provide multiple user benefits. These include a dozen built-in test patterns (triggered via the remote control unit and user-accessible onscreen menus) for fast, simple image calibration without the need for a pattern generator or a PC. An innovative four-point keystone-adjustment function enables users to adjust each corner of the image independently while also keeping focus consistent, and to achieve true diagonal projection as well as moiré reduction.

An easy-to-use built-in edge-blend function with precision luminance ramp adjustment and pixel-overlap control enables the new Canon Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors to be used in multi-projector configurations for the display of large, seamless images with precisely matched edges. Easy registration adjustment for perfect edge-blend alignment is further enabled by the combination of the low "TV distortion" characteristics of the projectors' zoom lenses and an integrated micro digital lens shift adjustment (a separate feature from the projectors' mechanical lens-shift adjustment capability). The result is pixel-precise image blending for seamless multi-projector displays.

Built into the new Canon Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors is a full suite of networking features, including full control over IP and content streaming. An Ethernet (LAN) interface enables advanced remote control and monitoring capabilities including power management, usage tracking, and other control functions. The REALiS WUX450, REALiS WX520, REALiS WX450ST, and REALiS WUX400ST are Crestron RoomView-compatible.

Key networking features also include a content-streaming capability, which allows one or more PCs to connect to a projector over a standard LAN to share content. This NMPJ (Network Multi Projection) system has the ability to display content from four different PCs on a single screen. Content can be streamed from any point with a network connection to a projector, either within a room or in multiple locations, simplifying installation.

Input terminals on the new Canon Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projectors include a USB port for "PC-less" presentations of JPEGs and other content directly from a thumb drive or other USB-equipped flash-memory data storage device (and for firmware updates). Other inputs include DVI, component video, HDMI, and two mini-jack audio inputs. A special Picture-by-Picture Processor allows for the simultaneous use of HDMI and DVI in split-screen mode. A 5W mono speaker is built-in for audio playback without peripheral components.

The Canon REALiS WUX450, REALiS WX520, REALiS WUX400ST, and REALiS WX450ST are also available in "D" versions (REALiS WUX450 D Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projector, REALiS WX520 D ProAV Compact Installation Projector, REALiS WUX400ST D Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projector and REALiS WX450ST D Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS Projector) featuring a DICOM Simulation mode and 21-step grayscale gradation display capabilities designed to effectively project high-quality medical images such as X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs. These models are not cleared or approved for medical diagnosis and should not be used for diagnosis purposes.

The new Canon REALiS WUX400ST, REALiS WUX400ST D, REALiS WX520ST, REALiS WX450ST D Pro AV, REALiS WUX450, REALiS WUX450 D, REALiS WX520, and REALiS WX520 D Pro AV Compact Installation LCOS projectors are expected to be available through authorized Canon dealers by September 2013.