Christie LW551i vs Panasonic PT-VMZ50
Bold marks the better figure where both are stated to the same standard. “—” means the manufacturer doesn't state it.
| Christie LW551i MSRP $5,985 |  Panasonic PT-VMZ50MSRP $4,499 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display system | ||
| Imaging technology | 3LCD | 3LCD |
| Technology brand | 3LCD | — |
| Number of imaging devices | 3 | 3 |
| Chip / panel diagonal | 0.76 in | 0.64 in |
| Native aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Native resolution | 1280 × 800 | 1920 × 1200 |
| Optics | ||
| Throw ratio | 1.5–3:1 | 1.09–1.77:1 |
| Projection distance table | — | 30″: 0.68–1.12 m · 40″: 0.93–1.51 m · 50″: 1.16–1.89 m · 60″: 1.39–2.26 m · 70″: 1.64–2.66 m · 80″: 1.87–3.03 m · 90″: 2.12–3.43 m · 100″: 2.35–3.8 m · 120″: 2.83–4.57 m · 150″: 3.54–5.72 m · 200″: 4.73–7.64 m · 250″: 5.92–9.56 m · 300″: 7.11–11.48 m |
| Zoom type | Optical | Optical |
| Zoom ratio | — | 1.6× |
| Focus | Motorized | Manual |
| Vertical lens shift | -40–125% | 0–44% |
| Horizontal lens shift | ±22% | ±20% |
| Motorized lens shift | Yes | No |
| Focal length | — | 15.3–24.64 mm |
| F-number | — | 1.6–2.12 |
| Interchangeable lens | Yes | — |
| Image size range | 30–600 in | 30–300 in |
| Lens memory | 3 | — |
| Vertical keystone | -12–12° | -25–25° |
| Horizontal keystone | -20–20° | -35–35° |
| Corner / warp correction | 8pt | 4pt |
| Light source | ||
| Light source type | Lamp | Laser (phosphor) |
| Light source detail | 330 W UHP lamp (standard mode 2,500 h, eco mode 3,000 h) | Laser Diode |
| Lamp wattage | 330 W | — |
| Light source life | Normal: 2,500 h · Eco: 3,000 h | Normal: 20,000 h · Eco: 24,000 h · Quiet: 20,000 h |
| Life definition | — | 50% brightness |
| Light-source dimming | — | Dynamic frame |
| Brightness | ||
| ISO light output | — | 5,000 lm |
| ANSI lumens | 5,500 lm | — |
| Brightness by mode | — | Light power normal: 5,000 lm · Light power eco quiet: 3,300 lm |
| Brightness uniformity (centre-to-corner) | — | 85% |
| Contrast & black level | ||
| Dynamic contrast | 3,000:1 | 3,000,000:1 |
| Dynamic light control | Dynamic iris | Laser dimming |
| Colour | ||
| Rec.709 gamut | — | 90% |
| Gamut metric | — | Coverage |
| Calibration & picture control | ||
| Picture mode memories | 4 | — |
| Motion & gaming | ||
| Max refresh rate | — | 1920×1200: 60 Hz |
| Audio | ||
| Speaker power | 16 W | 10 W |
| Speaker count | 2 | 1 |
| Audio channels | Stereo | Mono |
| Audio outputs | — | 3.5 mm |
| Inputs, control & connectivity | ||
| Max input signal | 1600 × 1200 | 4096 × 2160 |
| HDMI port count | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI ports (feature-level) | — | HDMI 1: HDMI 1.4b, HDCP 1.4; HDMI 2: HDMI 1.4b, HDCP 1.4 |
| Audio input terminals | 3.5 mm, Rca | 3.5 mm, Rca |
| Horizontal scan frequency | 15–106 kHz | — |
| Vertical scan frequency | 56–120 Hz | — |
| HDBaseT | — | Yes |
| VGA input | Yes | Yes |
| USB media playback | Yes | Yes |
| RS-232 | Yes | Yes |
| LAN control | Yes | Yes |
| Wired IR input | Yes | — |
| PJLink class | Class 1 | Class 2 |
| Control ecosystem drivers | Crestron | Crestron |
| Wi-Fi | — | None |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| 3D | ||
| 3D support | — | No |
| Setup automation | ||
| Auto keystone | Yes | Yes |
| Acoustic noise | ||
| Fan noise (sound pressure) | Standard: 37 dB(A) · Eco: 31 dB(A) | Normal: 37 dB(A) · Quiet: 27 dB(A) |
| Environment & power | ||
| Operating temperature | 0–40°C | 0–45°C |
| Operating humidity | 10–85%RH | 20–80%RH |
| Altitude / high-altitude mode | 3,048 m | 2,700 m |
| High-altitude mode | Yes | — |
| Operating orientations | Table, Ceiling, Rear | Table, Ceiling, Rear, 360° |
| Rated voltage | 100–240 V | 100–240 V |
| Rated frequency | 50–60 Hz | 50–60 Hz |
| Power consumption (max) | 480 W | 370 W |
| Power consumption by mode | — | Normal: 330 W · Eco: 235 W · Quiet: 230 W |
| Standby power | 0.35 W | 0.4 W |
| Physical & installation | ||
| Width | 498 mm | 399 mm |
| Depth | 476 mm | 348 mm |
| Height | 147 mm | 133 mm |
| Weight | 8.9 kg | 7.2 kg |
| Colours / finishes | — | White |
| Mount hole pattern | — | Thread: M4 · Screw length mm: 8 |
| Air filter | — | Washable |
| Safety & compliance | ||
| Photobiological risk group | — | RG2 |
| Laser product class | — | Class 3R (USA and Canada); Class 1 (other regions) |
| Safety & market certifications | FCC, UL, CE, CCC | — |
| Support & ownership | ||
| Warranty | 🇺🇸 US 3 yr | 🇺🇸 US 3 yr or 2,500 h · 🇦🇺 AU 5 yr or 10,000 h |
| Light-source warranty | 500 hours or one year (whichever comes first) | 5 years / 10,000 hours (Australia, reseller listing) |
| User manual | https://www.christiedigital.com/globalassets/resources/public/020-000461-02-christie-lit-man-usr-d1.pdf | https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-04/vmz50_manual_en.pdf |
| In the box | ||
| Box contents | Power cord, Computer cable, Hdmi dvi cable, Remote control, Batteries, Lens cover, Adapter cover, Cable holder, Security label, Software cd, Manual cd | Power cord, Remote control, Batteries, Lens cap |
| Remote type | IR | — |