Installation
Designed for portability, the EP729 gets straight to the point by providing a very efficient installation procedure. You put it on a table in front of the screen, and then all you have to do is choose one of the three available connections (VGA, S-Video, cinch video) and turn the projector on. After pressing the "power on" button, the projector will automatically detect the connected source. Naturally, on the front panel there is a height-adjustable stand so you can get the image in the position you want on the screen, wall or whatever. Extreme adjustments of this stand can affect the shape of the projected image, however, but you can easily get it back to a perfect rectangle using the "trapezium correction" function. Although the size of the EP729 is obviously intended for predominantly portable use, Optoma has nevertheless included functions normally associated with fixed projectors; such as the ability to project an image from behind a screen or, if you really want to, upside down on the ceiling!
There are a few adjustments necessary in the installation menu once the projector's up and running, but these are very easy to make thanks to some simple icons. One of these adjustments involves the distance of the projection, because the distance between the screen and the projector needs to be accurately set. In reality, the 1.12" (28.4) - 1.29" (32.7 mm) optics dictate that the projector has to be placed 13.12 ft. (4 meters) from the screen in order to obtain a basic 6.56-ft. (two-meter) image. The limited 1.15X zoom isn't much help here either. So with a projection ratio of 2:1 to 2.3:1, you'll have to sacrifice a pretty long room if you want to display a basic 16.40-ft. (five-meter) screen.
It's true that for a simple sales presentation with say up to 30 people in a room, a basic 9.84-ft. (three-meter) screen isn't too much to ask for. You could always put the EP729 6 19.69-ft. (six meters) from the screen but that's not always possible, of course. It's a shame that the zoom isn't more powerful because that would have added a bit more flexibility to the usability of this little picture box.
