Optoma ZH401e vs Panasonic PT-VMZ50
Bold marks the better figure where both are stated to the same standard. “—” means the manufacturer doesn't state it.
| Optoma ZH401e MSRP $1,499 |  Panasonic PT-VMZ50MSRP $4,499 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display system | ||
| Imaging technology | DLP | 3LCD |
| Technology brand | DLP | — |
| Number of imaging devices | 1 | 3 |
| Chip / panel diagonal | — | 0.64 in |
| Native aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 |
| Native resolution | 1920 × 1080 | 1920 × 1200 |
| Optics | ||
| Throw ratio | 1.48–1.62:1 | 1.09–1.77:1 |
| Projection distance table | 30″: 0.98–1.08 m · 40″: 1.31–1.43 m · 50″: 1.63–1.79 m · 60″: 1.96–2.15 m · 70″: 2.29–2.51 m · 80″: 2.61–2.87 m · 90″: 2.94–3.23 m · 100″: 3.27–3.58 m · 120″: 3.92–4.3 m · 150″: 4.9–5.38 m · 180″: 5.88–6.45 m · 200″: 6.54–7.17 m · 250″: 8.17–8.96 m · 300″: 9.8–10.75 m | 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 | 1.1× | 1.6× |
| Focus | Manual | Manual |
| Vertical lens shift | — | 0–44% |
| Horizontal lens shift | — | ±20% |
| Motorized lens shift | — | No |
| Fixed offset | 116% | — |
| Focal length | 21.86–24 mm | 15.3–24.64 mm |
| F-number | 2.5–2.67 | 1.6–2.12 |
| Image size range | 30–300 in | 30–300 in |
| Vertical keystone | -30–30° | -25–25° |
| Horizontal keystone | -30–30° | -35–35° |
| Corner / warp correction | 4pt | 4pt |
| Light source | ||
| Light source type | Laser (phosphor) | Laser (phosphor) |
| Light source detail | Laser (DuraCore) | Laser Diode |
| Light source life | Normal: 30,000 h | Normal: 20,000 h · Eco: 24,000 h · Quiet: 20,000 h |
| Life definition | — | 50% brightness |
| Light-source dimming | Manual steps | Dynamic frame |
| Brightness | ||
| ISO light output | 4,600 lm | 5,000 lm |
| Brightness by mode | — | Light power normal: 5,000 lm · Light power eco quiet: 3,300 lm |
| Brightness uniformity (centre-to-corner) | 75% | 85% |
| Contrast & black level | ||
| Dynamic contrast | 3,000,000:1 | 3,000,000:1 |
| Dynamic light control | — | Laser dimming |
| Colour | ||
| Rec.709 gamut | — | 90% |
| Gamut metric | — | Coverage |
| Bit depth / 'number of colours' | 30 bit | — |
| HDR | ||
| HDR formats | HDR10, HLG | — |
| Motion & gaming | ||
| Max refresh rate | — | 1920×1200: 60 Hz |
| Audio | ||
| Speaker power | 15 W | 10 W |
| Speaker count | 1 | 1 |
| Audio channels | — | Mono |
| Audio outputs | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Inputs, control & connectivity | ||
| Max input signal | 3840 × 2160 | 4096 × 2160 |
| HDMI port count | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI ports (feature-level) | HDMI 1: HDMI 2.0; HDMI 2: HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 1: HDMI 1.4b, HDCP 1.4; HDMI 2: HDMI 1.4b, HDCP 1.4 |
| Audio input terminals | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm, Rca |
| Horizontal scan frequency | 15–135 kHz | — |
| Vertical scan frequency | 24–120 Hz | — |
| HDBaseT | — | Yes |
| VGA input | Yes | Yes |
| USB media playback | — | Yes |
| RS-232 | Yes | Yes |
| LAN control | Yes | Yes |
| 12 V trigger | Yes | — |
| PJLink class | Class 1 | Class 2 |
| Control ecosystem drivers | Crestron | Crestron |
| Wi-Fi | — | None |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| 3D | ||
| 3D support | Yes | No |
| 3D sync method | DLP-Link | — |
| 3D formats | Frame packing, Side-by-side, Top-bottom | — |
| Setup automation | ||
| Auto keystone | — | Yes |
| Acoustic noise | ||
| Fan noise (sound pressure) | Min: 29 dB(A) · Max: 31 dB(A) | Normal: 37 dB(A) · Quiet: 27 dB(A) |
| Environment & power | ||
| Operating temperature | 0–40°C | 0–45°C |
| Operating humidity | — | 20–80%RH |
| Altitude / high-altitude mode | 3,048 m | 2,700 m |
| Operating orientations | 360°, Portrait | Table, Ceiling, Rear, 360° |
| Rated voltage | 100–240 V | 100–240 V |
| Rated frequency | 50–60 Hz | 50–60 Hz |
| Power consumption (max) | 170 W | 370 W |
| Power consumption by mode | Eco: 120 W · Bright: 170 W | Normal: 330 W · Eco: 235 W · Quiet: 230 W |
| Standby power | 0.5 W | 0.4 W |
| Power supply | External brick | — |
| Physical & installation | ||
| Width | 274 mm | 399 mm |
| Depth | 216 mm | 348 mm |
| Height | 114 mm | 133 mm |
| Weight | 2.9 kg | 7.2 kg |
| Ingress protection | IP6X | — |
| Colours / finishes | White | White |
| Mount hole pattern | — | Thread: M4 · Screw length mm: 8 |
| Sealed optical engine | Yes | — |
| Air filter | — | Washable |
| Safety & compliance | ||
| Photobiological risk group | RG2 | RG2 |
| Laser product class | Class 1 laser product, Risk Group 2 | Class 3R (USA and Canada); Class 1 (other regions) |
| Safety & market certifications | FCC | — |
| Support & ownership | ||
| Warranty | 🇺🇸 US 1 yr · 🇫🇷 FR 5 yr | 🇺🇸 US 3 yr or 2,500 h · 🇦🇺 AU 5 yr or 10,000 h |
| Light-source warranty | — | 5 years / 10,000 hours (Australia, reseller listing) |
| User manual | https://region-resource.optoma.com/products/documents/amVEXNMY0TqA9e6pFYo8iyCWQCiLznAEwmaBKoWh.pdf | https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-04/vmz50_manual_en.pdf |
| In the box | ||
| Box contents | Power cord, Remote control, 2xAAA battery, Quick start user manual | Power cord, Remote control, Batteries, Lens cap |
| Remote type | IR | — |