It’s a big ol’ unit, but relatively easy on the eye; get past that bulk and you'll find serious picture quality on offer

We’re more familiar with budget LCD projectors and TVs from ViewSonic, so to receive a $6000 Full HD LCD projector came as a big surprise. It dwarfs the competition, measuring a substantial 54cm wide, but thankfully the Pro8100 offers considerable performance to match its undeniable bulk.

Projectors used to require a steady hand and an even steadier nerve to get the picture set up satisfactorily. The Pro8100 puts an end to that with an elegant and simple set-up procedure. A remote-controlled, motorised zoom and focus, alongside an intuitive, backlit remote, means we’re soon up and running.

It’s a well-equipped projector, too, so we were merrily watching 1080p/24fps Blu-ray content via one of the two HDMI inputs in no time.

Bright, bold colours
Colours are bright and bold, and there’s no hint of noise or instability. True, the depth of blacks doesn’t quite match that available from the very best rivals, but the level of insight impresses.

Similarly, while its handling of motion isn’t entirely faultless, the slight loss of cool with the most testing scenes does little to divert our overall attention.

There’s strong competition in this class, but the Pro8100 gives an admirable account of itself. If you’ve got space for it, this projector is worth considering.