InFocus has a preference for cutting costs by sharing platforms wherever possible, meaning that several of its models are, in most respects, identical - they share casework, socketry, lamp, video processor and more.

So what we have here is a big chassis – 47cm wide –, which ensures negligible light leakage and low noise. Large thumbwheel controls sort out zoom and focus, and a clever plinth, with a simple manual tilting feature, complements the projector’s vertical image shift to make installation a doddle.

There are plenty of sockets, while Pixelworks’ DNX (Digital Natural Expression) 10-bit processor handles scaling, noise reduction, deinterlacing and more. This is teamed with the latest Texas Instruments’ BrilliantColor image processing, a seven-segment colour wheel and plenty of tweaking options.

In fact, the only real evidence of cost-cutting is that the IN81 employs the Texas Instruments DarkChip2 chipset, not the more advanced versions. That translates into a brightness of 1400 ANSI Lumens and 3000:1 contrast ratio.

Beautifully bright and colourful
With high-definition content from Blu-ray or satellite TV, the InFocus throws a beautifully bright, colourful picture with ample insight into dark areas on the screen: it lets you peer into the murk of the cave sequences in Letters from Iwo Jima, and clearly delineates the various shades of black that characterise Training Day.

Motion across the screen is stable and natural, too, save for when you’re viewing standard-definition content: here, the InFocus can suffer from some motion-smearing, although the same is true of all its class rivals.

Use an upscaling DVD player, or if you’re viewing from a set-top-box, use the scaler built into that wherever possible.

Otherwise, we’ve no complaints. This is a fine projector: easy to set-up, quiet enough in operation, and capable of superb performance for its price. It’s a must-see.

For
Terrific picture with HD content; easy to set-up and use; value

Against
Not quite so impressive with standard-def TV, but that applies to every projector at this price