Bright and inexpensive enough for any corporate presentation or classroom lesson, the InFocus LightPro Advanced 3LCD IN1026 shows the potential of moving forward by looking back. The company may have hit on a winning formula by sticking to the basics and doing without laser illumination, or fancy extras like integrated Wi-Fi or a built-in Android computer. Thoroughly conventional and inexpensive, the lamp-based IN1026 is a throw-back to a simpler era of projectors that can cut the initial outlay to a minimum. This can add up quickly for a large school district or business.

The IN1026 will be just as at home in a company's boardroom or a school's classroom, making it an inexpensive way to show anything from a biology lesson to take-over prospects. Based on a traditional lamp, it is anything but maintenance free. Happily, however, the lamps are rated to last 10,000 hours, cost only $79, and are easy to change.

This projector is small, easy to install and has a two-year warranty. The IN1026 misses a few tricks, though, like its lack of Wi-Fi at a time when easy connectivity with mobile devices and laptops is increasingly in demand for classrooms and boardrooms. Still, at its $670 street price, the IN1026 is considerably less expensive than most lamp projectors in its 4,200 ANSI-lumen, WXGA product class. In other words, if you're looking for an inexpensive projector for basic business and classroom tasks, the InFocus IN1026 does the trick.

Features

Call it retro, but the IN1026 is bright, inexpensive and can easily fill the screen of a mid-sized company conference room or school lecture hall. A conventional projector through and through, the IN1026's light path starts with an old-school 240-watt UHP lamp to achieve its 4,200 lumen rating. The light is split into beams of red, blue and green with dichroic mirrors and sent through individual 0.59-inch Sony Bright Era LCD panels for each color. The LCDs have a micro lens array to sharpen the image, although at WXGA (1280x800) resolution it can't compete with the detail from HD (1920x1080) or WUXGA (1920x1200) imagers. However, like all 3LCD projectors, it suffers none of the rainbow artifacts affecting many single-chip DLP projectors, and offers equal white and color brightness.

As mentioned, the IN1026 does offer a significant discount with an expected street price of $670 off its list price of $909. But if that's too expensive, there are other members of the LightPro Advanced 3LCD Series that range down to the XGA-resolution IN1004 (3,100 ANSI lumens) with an expected street price of $430. If your budget is more robust, the line tops out at the $1,150 IN1059 with WUXGA resolution and 5,000 ANSI lumens. The company also offers an extensive line of laser projectors in its INL model series.

While InFocus specs the lamp's life at 20,000 hours of use in its low-power Eco mode, it should last closer to 10,000 hours in its highest illumination mode. That's still a lot of time to show a company's spreadsheets or an English class's sentence diagrams.

Able to project images from as close as a yard away to as far as 38 feet, the IN1026 creates images that can fill anything from a 30-inch screen in a small conference room to a 25-foot one in a small auditorium or lecture hall. Its 1.2x optical zoom lens is small but provides modest flexibility of placement. ProjectorCentral's InFocus IN1026 Throw Calculator can tell you if the IN1026 fits in your room and screen.

The IN1026 does have the expected digital zoom function for some extra help, as well as what InFocus calls Screen Splicing. This feature allows you to magnify a portion of the image. The software let me divide the screen into as much as a five-by-five grid to key in on a single segment. It's a little awkward to use and having a remote-control shortcut would have been a big help, but it's great for focusing on a set of numbers in a spreadsheet or a photo's detail. However, Screen Splicing only works with the analog VGA input, and not with the more commonly used digital HDMI port, so its utility is limited.

As expected for this class of projector, the lens is permanently attached and adjusted manually, with rings around the lens barrel for focusing and zooming in and out. There's no lens cap for when the projector gets moved or stored, but the lens is safely recessed in the projector body.

There's software for positioning the image, but only for VGA sources, and the IN1026 can correct for projecting up to 30-degree angles horizontally and vertically. The easiest way to square the image is to use the 4-Corner Correct to pull-in or push-out the corners to get a rectangular image. That said, using the keystone correction on any projector typically reduces light output; in this case, correcting a 15-degree angle lowered the brightness by 28%.

The IN1026's video connections are a good mix of old and new, with a pair of HDMI (version 1.4) sources as well as multi-pin VGA and RCA composite inputs. There's a USB Type A port for grabbing power for a streaming device or using a flash drive to display images, and a USB Type B port for connecting the projector with a computer for display, but connecting to a PC via USB instead of HDMI requires loading software onto your system.

In addition to two RCA audio input jacks for the composite video stream's audio track, the IN1026 has both a 3.5mm audio input and 3.5mm audio output for bringing in sound or sending it to an external audio system. Its 16-watt amplifier feeds a single speaker in back of the projector that's better for spoken word programming like an online lesson than music or movies.

The biggest disappointment is that the IN1026 does without built-in Wi-Fi, which can be a big asset for classroom and boardroom use. InFocus points out that this function is easily filled with relatively inexpensive third-party dongle solutions and apps that allow casting of content from PCs or mobile devices to the projector. The projector does have both an RS-232 serial connection as well as an RJ-45 port for networking and works with a variety of control schemes, including AMX Discovery, PJLink and Crestron RoomView. It lacks the ability to grab HDBaseT video from a network, but offers a lot of set up choices when logging in with the projector's IP address. In addition to the active input and network particulars, I was able to adjust the image details and download the IN1026's presentation and USB projection apps.

The control panel on top of the projector provides the basics, including buttons for power, Menu and a four-way navigation tool. There are LEDs for indicating power status or if the projector is overheating or has a defect.

Happily, the remote control is small and easy to handle. It adds several shortcuts, like going between the VGA and HDMI input as well as cycling through the test patterns. In addition to freezing the image and muting the audio, the remote can control the volume and digital zoom.

InFocus outdoes economy projectors that come with only a one-year warranty by providing two-years of included coverage, though even longer coverage is available from some other brands.

Setup

At 3.8 x 13.4 x 10.2 inches (HWD) and 7.2 pounds, the IN1026 is small and easy for one person to unpack, move around and install. It can be directly wired to a light switch outlet to turn it on or off.

Its dozen internal test patterns helped streamline its installation. They include individual full color fields and color bars. My favorite is the four grayscale images for tuning the projector's brightness.

Underneath, the IN1026 has four threaded attachment points for ceiling mounting as well as an adjustable front foot that can angle the projector to up to 10 degrees. Unlike laser projectors that can be set up at any angle, the IN1026 needs to remain roughly horizontal, although it can be used upside-down with a ceiling bracket. InFocus does not sell ceiling mount hardware for the IN1026, but it worked fine with a generic bracket as well as sitting on a shelf. Because of the heat generated by its lamp, the projector needs about three feet of clearance on the side and back to bring in cooling air.

In addition to pincushion and barrel controls for correcting for an uneven or rounded projection surface, the IN1026 can square an image that's projected at up to a 30-degree angle up-down or right-left with its keystone adjustment. The bottom line is that the IN1026 does not have to be centered on the screen and can be used in oddly shaped rooms with a pillar in the wrong place.

The IN1026 has five programmed Image Modes that range from Dynamic, Standard and Cinema to Blackboard and Colorboard. There's also a User Image that lets you create your own preset by adjusting the Brightness, Contrast, Color temperature and the individual color components. Contrast is said to be improved by a dynamic iris. Overall, the IN1026 was fine for infographics and the occasional photo, but the projector has neither an sRGB setting nor a Rec.709 selection for industry-accurate color balance. And since it lacks a Dicom Sim setting for displaying medical scans, which is found on many projectors, the IN1026 may not be appropriate for hospitals or nursing schools.

Finally, the IN1026 is not exactly a set-and-forget projector. It will need maintenance to get keep it running, but it isn't onerous. To start, the dust filter on the air intake side of the projector should last the life of the projector but will need to be cleaned about once a year. It easily snaps out so that it can be brushed off, although a replacement costs about $20.

As noted, the lamp is rated to last 10,000 hours in its high-illumination mode so chances are that during its life the IN1026 will need to have its lamp replaced at least once. The projector warns when the lamp's end is near, and a lamp swap took me one minute to accomplish. After allowing it to cool and unplugging the IN1026, I loosened the lamp hatch's Philips screw, slid the door open and opened the lamp's three hold-down screws. After changing the lamp module and tightening the screws, it was ready for several years of use.

Performance

Unlike the latest laser projectors, the IN1026 is not a fast starter. While it took 54.4 seconds to get the image up, plan for a few minutes as it gets to full brightness. It took 1 minute and 1 second for it to shut down and turn its fan off, making it a tough sell for on-and-off use in a common room where every minute counts.

While it's starting up, the IN1026 shows its InFocus logo. This can be changed to an institution or company's badge or just a favorite photo. While projecting a TV test pattern, I was able to capture it and it is now displayed on start up. This only works with VGA inputs.

Of the projector's five modes, the Dynamic settings yielded the most brightness from the IN1026 at 4,172 ANSI lumens. That's less than one percent off its 4,200-lumen rating and more than bright enough for most uses with the lights on and the shades up. On the other hand, like the brightest mode of most commercial projectors, it was a harsh light that was dominated by green and blue tones and was most useful for showing tabular material, like a physics lab spreadsheet or a company's annual report.

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By using the slightly better-balanced Standard mode, the brightness dropped to 3,866 ANSI lumens. It couldn't match the Cinema mode for warmth and naturalistic imaging; that put out 3,052 lumens.

There are two settings for use when a screen isn't available. Despite its name, the Blackboard preset is for projecting onto a green chalk board and delivered just 1,628 lumens. The Colorboard mode lets you pick what color wall the image will be projected on to and put out 3,364 lumens; the choices are red, blue, green or yellow projection surface. None are particularly good at showing naturalistic colors but should be fine for most lessons when a white surface isn't available.

In addition, the IN1026 has three lower-power modes that can save a little money and add years to the lamp's life. They reduce the light output by 7%, 30%, and 42% percent with corresponding reductions in power use. With the IN1026 set to its top output, it used 292 watts of power, which translates into an annual electricity bill of $85 if it's used for 40 hours a week and you pay the national average of 14 cents per kilowatt hour for power. Add in the $79 lamp that's rated to last 10,000 hours in its high-power mode and you have a total estimated operating cost of $102 a year. That's significantly cheaper to use than some other lamp projectors, but roughly double what a laser projector might cost to operate.

It runs hot, however, with a peak temperature of 142 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the fan to run on the loud side. At 36-inches from the exhaust vent, the IN1026 registered 44.4dBA. (The room had a background noise level of 35.8dBA.) By contrast, InFocus engineers spec the IN1026 at a peak of 32dB in a soundproof room using the industry-standard multi-point measurement.

Conclusion

Conventional in just about every regard, the InFocus IN1026 is a throw-back to a simpler age of projectors where lamps dominated. It should fit into just about any business boardroom or digital classroom with more than enough brightness to keep the lights on and the shades up. The IN1026 might not have the perfect color balance but it should do fine for anything from a spreadsheet of expenses to a world map in a social studies class.

Its WXGA resolution and lack of Wi-Fi are compensated by its low price and 4,200 lumens of light that it can put on the screen. Unlike laser or LED projectors, the IN1026 will more than likely need at least one lamp change over its lifetime, but at $79 each, this should not hurt the budget too much. Its two-year warranty outdoes many of its competitors. Regardless of whether you have two or twenty rooms to outfit with a projector, the IN1026 is cheap to keep.

Measurements

Brightness. Using the highest lamp setting and Dynamic Image Mode, the IN1026 delivered 4,172 ANSI lumens, essentially meeting its 4,200-lumen rating. The Standard and Cinema modes reduced the projector's output to 3,866 and 3,052 lumens and provided better color balance.

Clearly aimed at schools, the Blackboard setting is for use on a green chalk board and gave everything a ghostly appearance when projecting to a white screen; it topped out at 1,628 lumens. The last choice is the Colorboard setting, which is for projecting onto a red, blue, green or yellow wall and delivered 3,364 lumens. Both offered similarly unimpressive results but good enough for a lesson.

There are three lower-power modes that are controlled by the remote's Lamp button. They lower output and power use by 7%, 30%, and 42% and are the key to lengthening the life of the projector's lamp. Measurements below are taken in Full Power mode.

InFocus IN1026 ANSI Lumens

Mode	ANSI Lumens
Dynamic	4,172
Standard	3,866
Cinema	3,052
Blackboard	1,628
Colorboard	3,364

Power. When running at full blast, the IN1026 consumed 292 watts of power. This stayed constant across its five Image Modes. Using its different lamp modes reduced this to as low as 221 watts.

Zoom Lens Light Loss: The 1.2x optical zoom on the IN1026 lost 15% of its brightness when moved from its widest zoom position to its longest telephoto position.

Brightness Uniformity: 89%

Temperature. While it remained warm on its top, the IN1026 in Dynamic mode registered a peak temperature of 142 degrees Fahrenheit at the middle of its exhaust vent. It requires three feet of open air around its placement for proper ventilation.

Fan Noise. With fairly high heat to dissipate, it's no wonder that the IN1026 is far from quiet. InFocus rates it at 32dB using the industry-standard measurement technique in a sound-proof room, which averages noise from all four sides of the projector. In a casual, real-world measurement, the projector measured 44.4dBA at 36-inches from the exhaust vent. The test room's background noise level of 35.8dBA.

Connections

• HDMI Version 1.4 (x2)
• Composite video in with stereo audio (RCA)
• Computer RGB in (15-pin D-Sub)
• Computer RGB out (15-pin D-Sub)
• RJ-45 LAN connection (Gigabit)
• RS-232C Serial Port
• USB Type B and Type A
• Audio in (3.5mm)
• Audio out (3.5mm)

For more detailed specifications and connections, check out our InFocus IN1026 projector page.

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