The Smallest and Lightest Projector in Its Class
The Sony VPL-FHZ85 is a 3LCD laser projector with interchangeable lenses, offering 7,300 ANSI lumens (8,000 center lumens) of brightness. It sells for $6,999 MSRP.
Sony has long been a leader in professional and education projectors. Even with many flat-panel and LED display options available, projectors are still the best choice for many situations. (See our article: Why Many Video Enthusiasts Still Choose Projectors.)
Last October, Sony announced two new professional projectors. Now, I’ve had the chance to fully test the VPL-FHZ85, and it lives up to the hype.
This model sits near the top of Sony’s mid-tier projector lineup and is packed with features. It’s ideal for use in:
Classrooms and lecture halls
Boardrooms and conference rooms
Museums and retail spaces
Houses of worship
Medical training facilities
Smaller entertainment venues
The VPL-FHZ85 uses Sony’s advanced 3LCD laser light engine, which performs well even in brightly lit rooms without sacrificing color quality.
This projector replaces the popular VPL-FHZ75, which was praised for its brightness and solid color. However, users wanted even more brightness and performance—Sony delivered.
The VPL-FHZ85 is Sony’s most compact and lightweight mid-range projector yet, with powerful features and performance for commercial use. With WUXGA resolution (1920×1200) and brighter output, it takes professional projection to the next level.
In this review, I’ll give you a quick overview, highlight the key features, show you around the hardware, test its performance, and wrap it up with a final verdict. By the end, you’ll know if the VPL-FHZ85 fits your needs.
Let’s get started!
| Sony Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| Technology | 3LCD laser |
| Native Resolution | 1920x1200x2 |
| Brightness (Manufacturer Claim) | 7300 |
| Contrast | ∞:1 |
| Zoom Lens Ratio | |
| Lens Shift | |
| Lamp Life | |
| Weight | |
| Warranty | |
OVERVIEW
The new Sony VPL-FHZ85 is rated at 7,300 ANSI lumens (8,000 center lumens), making it brighter than the previous model, the VPL-FHZ75, which had 6,500 lumens.
Sony says the VPL-FHZ85 is the smallest and lightest 3LCD laser projector in its brightness range. It not only delivers more brightness but also weighs five pounds less and is more energy-efficient than its predecessor.
Despite its compact size, the VPL-FHZ85 offers a wide range of input options, making it extremely versatile for professional use.
3LCD projectors use three LCD panels—one for red, green, and blue—to display the full color spectrum. This setup avoids the Rainbow Effect that some people (about 5%, including myself) notice on DLP projectors, where rainbow-like streaks appear across the screen.
Another advantage is brightness. 3LCD projectors produce just as many color lumens as white ones, while DLP projectors often only advertise their white brightness. So even if the numbers seem similar, 3LCD projectors usually look much brighter and more colorful in real-world use.
Sony’s new WUXGA (1920 x 1200) laser projector is not just bright, it also comes packed with exclusive features. It uses Sony’s latest 0.76-inch BrightEra LCD panels and their Z-Phosphor laser light engine, which delivers richer color without sacrificing brightness—unlike projectors that rely on color filters. The laser light source is built to last up to 20,000 hours, which means nearly 10 years of regular use.
Flexible Setup with Interchangeable Lenses
The Sony VPL-FHZ85 makes setup easy with powered focus, zoom, and lens shift on its interchangeable lenses—perfect for ceiling installations. It also features Auto Calibration, keeping image quality consistent over time. For business and education use, it includes all the connections you need, like HDBaseT, which lets you send audio and video signals over long distances using a single cable.
Some other cool features (covered in more detail later) include Intelligent Settings v3, Reality Creation with Reality Text, 4K 60P input support, and Sony’s Ambiance feature.
Key Highlights
Price: $6,999 MSRP
Brightness: 7,300 ANSI Lumens / 8,000 Center Lumens
Light Source: Z-Phosphor™ Laser, lasts up to 20,000 hours (Standard mode)
Auto Color Calibration & Auto Pixel Alignment
New Sony BrightEra™ 0.76″ 3LCD Panels
Resolution: WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 16:10 aspect ratio
Contrast Ratio: Dynamic Infinity
Lenses: Optional interchangeable lenses with 1.6X zoom
Powered Lens Adjustments: Focus / Shift / Zoom
Image Tech: Reality Creation + Reality Text (frame-by-frame image enhancement)
Smart Features: Intelligent Settings v3 with Ambiance
Video Support: 4K 60P input
Convenience: Auto filter cleaning, HDBaseT™, data cloning
Weight: ~29 lbs (13 kg)
Warranty: 5 years or 12,000 hours (whichever comes first)