Mitsubishi HC5500 Projector: Physical Tour

Moving to the top of the Mitsubishi HC5500 you will find the control panel on the right side (looking from the rear of the projector now). From the left, there are two indicator lights; one for Status, and one for Power. The manual will tell you what different light/flashing combinations mean. Next comes the Power button. Mitsubishi uses the classic press once for on, press twice, to shut down. Further to the right on the bottom row, is the Menu button, and above it the left arrow button. As you would expect, the next row, has the up arrow and down arrow buttons with an Enter button in the middle. In the last vertical row toward the front, is the lens shift button, the right arrow is next, to complete the common diamond shaped navigation layout, and below it, the zoom/focus button.

The left and right arrow buttons double as source select buttons with left toggling between computer and HDMI inputs, while the right one offers up the standard video choices (component, composite and S-Video). The up arrow, also functions as an Auto Position button, when not in the menus (that’s mostly for computer a computer input).

The access panel to change the lamp is conveniently located on the right side of the HC5500 (looking from the back), which means you don’t have to unmount the projector to change the lamp. In this case, for many users, that convenience may not be a big deal, as if owners choose to run in low power – “eco-mode” the lamp is rated 5000 hours, which means many are likely to replace the projector before they need a new lamp.

That takes us to the back of the Mitsubishi projector where the input panel is located. The HC5500 is pretty typical of today’s 1080p projectors in that it offers 2 HDMI (1.3 with Deep Color support) inputs. In addition there is one component video input (3 color coded RCA jacks), and one computer input (which can alternately be used for a 2nd component video input). Of course you’ll find the obligatory composite video and S-Video inputs as well. Rounding out the connectors are an RS-232 for “command and control”, and a 12 volt screen trigger.

A Kensington Lock slot for security, the power cord receptacle, and the back infra-red sensor complete the back of the projector.

Give or take a change or two to the inputs, as well as the new zoom lens with shorter range, and less lens shift, the HC5500 is pretty much, physically the same as all the previous 1080p Mitsubishi projectors.

Time for the fun stuff, it’s Image Quality time!