The Panasonic PT-AX200 has become a very popular machine for entry level HD projection.

This LCD unit sports 720p resolution and a contrast ratio of 6000:1. It has an iris to control brightness, which auto-adjusts for brighter or darker scenes. It has very flexible lens shift and some great stats to make it a worthy contender. If you’re looking for HD projection under $1500, don’t miss this model.

At $1,699 street price - which includes a screen, ceiling mount, and cable - and if you are on a budget but want a very nice projector, here is one to consider. It looks fine out of the box, but I think all consumers should get some sort of calibration kit - such as from Datacolor or GretagMacbeth - to get the best possible performance. You can use these systems to calibrate flat panel monitors, rear projection TVs, and by putting the sensor on a tripod, you can calibrate your projector too. Bite the bullet and get one.

More reviews for projectors found at Test Freaks.

• Optoma HD80 1080p Projector Now Available Under $3K
• Pioneer PDP4280XD Review
• Screen Innovations Visage Projector Screen Review
• Pioneer PDP-5060HD Plasma Review