A projector costing only £600 can justifiably be regarded as something of a bargain, as long as it delivers the goods, image-wise.

Fortunately, the Sony VPL-ES3 does just that. To begin with, it is light and reasonably small, although it's bigger than many more expensive models. It comes with inputs for a VGA connection from a PC, as well as s-video and composite connections from DVD players, a VCR, or a games console.

There are refreshingly few controls on the unit – just the power, menu and input-switcher buttons on top of the unit, along with a joystick-type control for navigating the menus. This can also be done using the tiny, stylish remote control, and there are receivers for this on the front and back of the unit so you don't need to be in a specific position to do so.

Picture quality is very good from both DVDs and a PC connection, although the VPL-ES3's resolution of 800 x 600 pixels means that although it will accept a high-definition signal, it won't display it in high definition. This rules out PC screens bigger than 800 x 600 as well – above this, text and images become compressed and unreadable.

At its native resolution, however, the projector performs admirably. Colours are vibrant and images sharp. The menus are easy to work through and contain several options to change colour and brightness as well as other aspects of screen quality.

As this is a budget projector, some of the nifty features introduced into high-end devices over the last year are understandably missing. These include automatic keystone correction, which will create a flat, rectangular image from wherever the projector is placed. On this device, that's done manually through the menus, which takes a little time to get right.

Some newer projectors will also correct for the colour of a wall, if the image isn't being projected on to a screen. This one won't, but it's very bright nonetheless, and the picture is watchable even in daylight.

Another important factor is how much noise a projector makes. Because of the heat generated by the projection gear, a large fan is required. Thankfully, the VPL-ES3 is fairly quiet as projectors go, making it possible to watch films even with the audio turned down quite low without a problem.

All in all, this projector is an excellent choice for those on a budget. Its low resolution and large size mean that anyone looking for a long-term device that will cope with future formats should look at a more expensive model, but for the rest of us, and for now, this is a good choice.

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Samsung SP-P300ME 
Verdict: A significant step in projection technology, but this first generation model will only suit a small number of environments
Rating: 4/5
Price: £599