Epson Home Cinema 5030UB Projector Review – Hardware 1

The Epson case is slightly off-white with dark grey front vents. I like that despite the white, most of the front is dark so it dosen’t reflect light back to the screen. This Epson is a medium sized home theater projector.  It’s not bad looking at all, sporting some rounded edges and some sculpting.  It’s fairly impressive looking if a size smaller than competing JVCs and Sonys. Hey, it’s the picture we really care about, however if there is a “partner” factor (formerly “wife factor”), and white isn’t inherently a bad thing, there should be peace in the family.

You would be hard pressed to spot any physical differences between the Home Cinema 5030 UB and its predecessors.  Epson’s Pro Cinema 6030 UB, the same basic projector, but in a black case, and sporting anamorphic lens support, comes in all black.

The Home Cinema 5030 UB’s lens is a center mounted, recessed. manual, 2.1:1 Fujinon zoom lens.  For this year, Epson reports that the Fujinon lens has been modified with some improvements over the lens in previous UB projectors.

Focus and zoom controls are located on the top, directly behind the lens.  If the projector is powered down, then a lens shutter closes to protect the lens and keep dust out.  There is a front IR sensor for the remote control.  Intake and exhaust vents are in the front as well.  The hot air is aimed forward and to the right.

The Home Cinema 5030 UB is rather typically equipped when it comes to inputs and other connectors.

Let’s start from the left side (facing the rear)  You can see all of the connectors in this image of the back of the Home Cinema 5030 UB projector.

First are the two HDMI inputs, of note, they are recessed and offer a screw hole so that you can use HDMI cables that have a screw to tighten and hold the cable firmly in place.  (Nice touch!).  Next comes three color coded RCA jacks for Component video.  That’s followed by a standard composite video.  Epson no longer offers an S-video connector (nor did they last year).

In the middle (left to right) and along the top, is the rear IR sensor for the remote control.  Back down on the line of inputs, next is an HD15 connector, otherwise known as a VGA connector, or (analog) computer connector.  It can be used to interface with your computer, or it can double as a second component video, using an adapter cable.  Next over is a single 12 volt trigger used for controlling a correctly equipped motorized screen or other purpose.  There’s a small USB service port connector next, and finally, a Kensington lock slot.  On the far right is the power cord receptacle, and that, folks, is it!