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Best Alternative to the Panasonic PT-VZ580U Lamp Projector in 2023

Three new lamp-free projectors that cost about the same but deliver better color, eliminate filter cleaning, and use up to 50% less power.

When the EU Commission started phasing out the use of mercury in lamps in the European Union in 2021, the writing was on the wall for many popular 5000 lumen projectors sold in classrooms and simulators.  The Panasonic PT-VZ580U has been one of the most popular 5000 lumen lamp projectors sold in the US due to its $1500 price point.   This article will look at the best lamp free projector alternatives that cost about the same as this projector based on throw ratios, brightness, resolution, color accuracy, and cost.   In this article we’ll break down the differences in:

 

  • Lamp vs. Laser vs. 4LED Brightness
  • Throw Ratio
  • Color Accuracy
  • Maintenance & Warranty
  • Power Savings
  • Cost

Lamps are being replaced by 4LED and laser technology.

The Panasonic PT-VZ580U uses a mercury lamp that loses half of its brightness in just 5000 hours.   With a replacement cost of up to $350, and the fact that New York State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation recommend that a trained professional or hazardous waste contractor manage the cleanup if one breaks – its good to look at either 4LED or laser alternatives.

 

4LED is the newest projector technology and offers better color than a traditional projector lamp and is less expensive than many laser projectors.   The high color saturation produced by the 4LED modules can make the projector look up to 50% brighter. According to PC Magazine, the new 4000 lumen BenQ LH730 “delivers strong brightness and image quality” and is an excellent projector according to their review.  Laser technology is the other alternative, and both laser and 4LED models are rated for 20,000 hours of use.

4LED and laser projectors stay brighter longer.

The Panasonic PT-VZ580U mercury lamp will start losing brightness as soon as you start using it, so if you use the projector about 1000 hours per year in a classroom or golf sim – then in about 3-5 years the brightness can be as low as 2500 lumens.  A 4000 4LED or laser projector rated for 20,000 hours will be brighter than Panasonic PT-VZ580U once the initial brightness of the mercury lamp fades with use. This new technology offers an easy way to keep a bright image on the screen – without buying expensive replacement lamps.

Throw Ratio

The Panasonic PT-VZ580U has a unique throw ratio that is different than most projectors.  It sits between a normal throw ratio and a short throw projector.  This makes it popular for golf simulation, and many types of classrooms.  The three projectors that have the closest throw ratio are the BenQ LU710, LH650, and the Panasonic PT-VMZ51U.  Both the BenQ projectors have excellent color reproduction and are priced close to the lamp powered Panasonic PT-VZ580U.

 

If you don’t mind the projector being mounted a little further back from the screen, the LH650 makes an excellent 4LED alternative.  There is a lot of overlap between the throw ratios of both projectors so if your Panasonic isn’t at the edge of its zoom, you should be able to reuse your mount location.  

Color Accuracy

Like most classroom lamp projectors, the Panasonic PT-VZ580U was designed to optimize brightness rather than color accuracy or video performance.  But teaching materials have changed – with 97% of teachers now regularly using video in the classroom, and every smart phone has industry standard Rec. 709 color accuracy. 

 

Three of the four projector alternatives offer Rec. 709 color used in televisions and movies.   In addition, both the BenQ LH730 and the LH650 support HDR10 video – which is ideal if you are planning on using the projector to watch golf, movies, or a lot of videos.   The Panasonic PT-VMZ51U is the only projector that doesn’t have any Rec.709 color accuracy specifications.

Maintenance & Warranty

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Panasonic PT-VZ580U is that it needs a lot of maintenance.  First, you’ll need to replace the $350 lamp when it loses brightness or breaks, and you also need to regularly remove, wash, dry, and replace the dust filter on the projector when it gets dirty.  If you don’t the warranty can be voided due to the projector overheating.  The BenQ alternatives all use sealed dustproof laser or LED engines so there is no regular maintenance required.

 

All the projector alternatives come with a three-year warranty.  But only the Panasonic projectors limits how much you can use the projector – and expires after only 6000 hours of use.  This means that the effective warranty for the laser projector is only a little longer than the rated hours of the lamp projector – despite the $1000 price premium.  The BenQ models don’t have any usage limitations – and the LH730 is rated for 24/7 use.

Power Consumption

Because the Panasonic PT-VZ580U uses a high wattage mercury lamp, it consumes 400 watts of power to light up the screen.  The newest 4LED and laser alternatives can reduce the amount of power usage by as much as 50% - saving you money and reducing the impact on climate change.   Here is a chart of the power consumption by model.

Power Consumption

How Much Do They Cost?

The latest 4LED and laser alternatives to the Panasonic PT-VZ580U now cost less.  For example, at $1299, the new 4LED powered BenQ LH730 with a 20,000-hour life and maintenance free design and costs less than the lamp powered Panasonic PT-VZ580U.  The laser powered BenQ LU710 and LH650 has the same throw ratio of the Panasonic PT-VZ580U – and are also in the same price range.  The bottom line is that you don’t need to buy a lamp powered projector anymore just to get an affordable bright and reliable projector. Here is a breakdown of all four alternative models so you can find what is best for your needs.

Projector Feature

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

BenQ LH650

BenQ LH730

BenQ LU710

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

Projector Feature

Light source

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

Lamp

BenQ LH650

Laser

BenQ LH730

4LED

BenQ LU710

Laser

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

Laser

Projector Feature

Lamp Life

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

5000 hours

BenQ LH650

20,000 Hours

BenQ LH730

20,000 Hours

BenQ LU710

20,000 Hours

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

20,000 Hours

Projector Feature

Lamp Replacement Cost

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

$350

BenQ LH650

N/A

BenQ LH730

N/A

BenQ LU710

N/A

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

N/A

Projector Feature

Brightness

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

5000 lumens

BenQ LH650

4000 lumens

BenQ LH730

4000 lumens

BenQ LU710

4000 lumens

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

5200 lumens

Projector Feature

Rec. 709 Color Accuracy

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

No

BenQ LH650

Yes

BenQ LH730

Yes

BenQ LU710

Yes

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

No

Projector Feature

HDR Video Support

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

No

BenQ LH650

Yes

BenQ LH730

Yes

BenQ LU710

No

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

No

Projector Feature

Throw Ratio

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

1.09:1 - 1.77:1

BenQ LH650

1.13 ~ 1.46

BenQ LH730

1.3 ~ 1.56

BenQ LU710

1.13 ~ 1.46

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

1.09:1 - 1.77:1

Projector Feature

Resolution

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

WUXGA

BenQ LH650

1080P

BenQ LH730

1080P

BenQ LU710

WUXGA

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

WUXGA

Projector Feature

Sealed Dustproof engine

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

No – requires filter washing

BenQ LH650

Yes

BenQ LH730

Yes

BenQ LU710

Yes

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

No – requires filter washing

Projector Feature

Power Consumption

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

400 watts

BenQ LH650

200 watts

BenQ LH730

320 watts

BenQ LU710

365 watts

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

305 watts

Projector Feature

Maximum Hours of use under warranty

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

6000 Hours

BenQ LH650

Unlimited

BenQ LH730

Unlimited

BenQ LU710

Unlimited

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

6000 Hours

Projector Feature

Street Price- October 2023

Panasonic PT-VZ580U

$1595

BenQ LH650

$1199

BenQ LH730

$1299

BenQ LU710

$1699

Panasonic PT-VMZ51U

$2595

Want to Talk to a Golf Simulator Projector Expert?

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