Canon LV-8310

Input Ports (3.50)

The LV-8310 shows its corporate stripes in the connections it offers: there are no HDMI ports, but there are both DVI and VGA inputs. The lack of HDMI is not a big problem: you can buy an adapter that converts HDMI to DVI for a few dollars. An adapter for converting a DVI port to VGA is also included, and there is a rather unusual VGA output that allows you to connect a separate VGA display or another projector.

There are also pleanty of audio connections, with three analog audio inputs (two as 3.5mm headphone style plugs and one set of photo sockets) and an analog audio output.

The only significant issue here might be if you are trying to connect more than two computers or similar devices: if so, you’ll need to add an external switching device to choose between them or swap the cables manually.

All the ports are listed below, compared with the competition.

Other Connections (3.00)

An Ethernet port is also included that allows this projector to be connected to a LAN. An RS-232 serial port is also present that allows the projector to be controlled by an external device such as a computer or A/V system. The required codes to control the projector this way are listed in the manual.

Placement (6.00)

The ports are well placed and have a decent amount of space between them that should make it easy to insert and remove cables and connections as required.

Internet & Media Features (1.00)

The LV-8310 does not offer any Internet streaming or media features, but the included Ethernet port does allow you to connect it to a LAN, and the projector can then send an alert email if the bulb dies or it encounters a number of other errors (such as overheating or if the filter requires changing). This is a very useful feature if you use a number of projectors as it makes them easier to maintain.

Menus & Manual (6.00)

The on-screen menus of this projector are fairly straightforward to use, with the options broken down into tabs for Input, Adjustment, Setup, Information and Reset. The directional controls on the projector body or on the remote control are used to navigate these menus, and the layout is logical and easy to figure out.

The projector is supplied with a printed Quick Start guide that covers the basics, but there is a more complete manual available on the CD as a PDF. This covers the more complex features of the projector (such as how to change the lamp) with a good level of detail, and is easy to read.

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