Choosing between two close commercial projectors can look like a one-number decision. The Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 vs PT-RZ790LBU7 comparison starts with 6,000 versus 7,000 lumens, while both projectors have a listed WUXGA resolution. The supplied prices are $5,991.96 and $6,491.96, leaving a $500 gap. Extra brightness may justify that spend in a demanding room. It may be unnecessary where 6,000 lumens already satisfies the projection design. Placement can change the answer too. The provided facts do not list throw type, audio, or smart functions for either projector, so an installer still has key checks to complete. This guide shows where each projector fits, what churches, schools, and conference room teams should verify, and how to turn the brightness and budget figures into a defensible purchase decision.
Top pick: The Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White) is the lead recommendation because It is one of the two exact comparison products and sets the lower-cost baseline. Its listed 6,000-lumen output and WUXGA resolution define the core budget-versus-brightness decision.
Quick Picks
- Best overall: Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White)
- Best for brighter or otherwise demanding commercial and in…: Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens)
- Best for layouts that specifically need an ultra-short-thr…: Panasonic PT-CMZ50 WUXGA Ultra-Short Throw Laser Projector – Professional Golf Simulator Display
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White) | Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens) | Panasonic PT-CMZ50 WUXGA Ultra-Short Throw Laser Projector – Professional Golf Simulator Display |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 6000 lumens | 7000 lumens | 5200 lumens |
| Resolution | WUXGA | WUXGA | WUXGA |
| Best For | Commercial and institutional projects whose documented design is satisfied by 6,000 lumens and where the lower supplied price matters. | Brighter or otherwise demanding commercial and institutional rooms whose documented projection design calls for 7,000 lumens. | Layouts that specifically need an ultra-short-throw projector and can work within a 5,200-lumen WUXGA design. |
| Throw Type | Not listed | Not listed | Ultra short throw |
| Audio | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Smart Features | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Price Range | $5,991.96 | $6,491.96 | $4,190.00 |
| Recommended Buyer | Commercial and institutional projects whose documented design is satisfied by 6,000 lumens and where the lower supplied price matters. | Brighter or otherwise demanding commercial and institutional rooms whose documented projection design calls for 7,000 lumens. | Layouts that specifically need an ultra-short-throw projector and can work within a 5,200-lumen WUXGA design. |
Product Images
Top Projector Products from AudioVideoNation
1. Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White)
Best fit: Commercial and institutional projects whose documented design is satisfied by 6,000 lumens and where the lower supplied price matters.
Why it belongs here: It is one of the two exact comparison products and sets the lower-cost baseline. Its listed 6,000-lumen output and WUXGA resolution define the core budget-versus-brightness decision.
Store details: SKU PT-RZ690WU7 | In stock | $5,991.96
Key Features
- Listed brightness: 6,000 lumens
- Listed resolution: WUXGA
- Supplied price: $5,991.96
- Throw type: Not listed
- Audio and smart functions: Not listed
Things to Consider
It has 1,000 fewer listed lumens than the PT-RZ790LBU7. Confirm the exact lens arrangement, throw geometry, connections, control support, mounting requirements, and current price on the product page.
2. Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens)
Best fit: Brighter or otherwise demanding commercial and institutional rooms whose documented projection design calls for 7,000 lumens.
Why it belongs here: It is the brighter exact comparison product. Its 7,000-lumen rating adds 1,000 lumens over the PT-RZ690WU7 while retaining the same listed WUXGA resolution.
Store details: SKU PT-RZ790LBU7 | In stock | $6,491.96
Key Features
- Listed brightness: 7,000 lumens
- Listed resolution: WUXGA
- Supplied price: $6,491.96
- Throw type: Not listed
- Audio and smart functions: Not listed
Things to Consider
The supplied price is $500 above the PT-RZ690WU7. Verify that the project needs the extra brightness, then confirm the exact lens arrangement, throw geometry, connections, control support, and mounting requirements.
3. Panasonic PT-CMZ50 WUXGA Ultra-Short Throw Laser Projector – Professional Golf Simulator Display
Best fit: Layouts that specifically need an ultra-short-throw projector and can work within a 5,200-lumen WUXGA design.
Why it belongs here: It gives buyers a supplied option with an explicitly listed ultra-short-throw type when placement geometry controls the decision. Its 5,200-lumen rating also makes its tradeoff clear.
Store details: SKU PT-CMZ50U | In stock | $4,190.00
Key Features
- Listed brightness: 5,200 lumens
- Listed resolution: WUXGA
- Listed throw type: Ultra short throw
- Supplied price: $4,190.00
- Audio and smart functions: Not listed
Things to Consider
Its listed brightness is below both primary comparison products, so it is not a direct output substitute. Confirm that 5,200 lumens meets the room design and verify every unlisted integration requirement.
Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White) vs Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens): Main Differences
- Choose Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White) if Commercial and institutional projects whose documented design is satisfied by 6,000 lumens and where the lower supplied price matters..
- Choose Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens) if Brighter or otherwise demanding commercial and institutional rooms whose documented projection design calls for 7,000 lumens..
- Choose Panasonic PT-CMZ50 WUXGA Ultra-Short Throw Laser Projector – Professional Golf Simulator Display if Layouts that specifically need an ultra-short-throw projector and can work within a 5,200-lumen WUXGA design..
PT-RZ690WU7 vs PT-RZ790LBU7: the quick verdict
Choose the Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 when a documented projection design works at 6,000 lumens and controlling purchase cost matters. Choose the PT-RZ790LBU7 when the design calls for 7,000 lumens or when 6,000 lumens would leave too little brightness margin. That is the clearest distinction supported by the supplied specifications.
Resolution does not separate them. Both are listed as WUXGA, so moving to the PT-RZ790LBU7 does not buy a higher listed resolution. It buys an extra 1,000 lumens for $500 more based on the supplied prices. For a standard commercial room that passes its design review at 6,000 lumens, the PT-RZ690WU7 is the cost-conscious choice. Brighter or more demanding environments point toward the PT-RZ790LBU7.
Neither choice should be approved from brightness alone. The supplied data does not establish throw type, exact lens configuration, audio, or smart functions for either projector. It also does not provide the room conditions needed to predict an on-screen result. Treat the lumen comparison as the first decision gate, then confirm geometry and integration details before issuing a purchase order.
6,000-lumen vs 7,000-lumen WUXGA brightness
The direct brightness gap is 1,000 lumens. The PT-RZ690WU7 is listed at 6,000 lumens, while the PT-RZ790LBU7 is listed at 7,000 lumens. That gives the PT-RZ790LBU7 extra rated output, but a lumen figure cannot predict the finished image by itself. Screen size and gain, room lighting, projection distance, content, and the design team's target brightness all affect the choice.
Start with the room. If an installer calculates that 6,000 lumens meets the target with a suitable margin, the PT-RZ690WU7 avoids spending another $500 on output the project may not need. If that calculation puts 6,000 lumens at the edge of the requirement, the PT-RZ790LBU7 is the safer candidate to evaluate. The extra output is especially relevant when the room cannot reduce ambient light or the planned image is demanding, but it is not a guarantee of suitability.
Both projectors have WUXGA listed as their resolution. Buyers should therefore avoid treating the PT-RZ790LBU7 as a resolution upgrade. The provided data also contains no contrast specification or other image-quality measurement that supports declaring a broader picture-quality winner. This comparison can establish a brightness leader. It cannot replace a room-specific projection design.
Installation checks for these Panasonic projectors
Installation details can outweigh the $500 chassis-price difference. The extracted throw type is Not listed for both projectors, and the supplied specifications do not identify their exact lens packages. Before quoting either one, confirm whether the required lens is supplied or purchased separately, that the lens is approved for the exact SKU, and that the planned image size is achievable from the measured mounting position.
Do not infer lens compatibility from the Panasonic brand name. The provided product set includes the ET-D75LE95 lens, but the data does not state that it works with either compared projector. An installer should verify compatibility through the relevant product documentation before adding any lens to the system design.
The same discipline applies to the signal and control plan. WUXGA identifies the listed resolution, but it does not confirm connectors, supported input formats, control protocols, networking, or source compatibility. Audio and smart functions are also Not listed. Check those fields on the product page and against the room's switcher, control system, source equipment, and sound system.
Physical requirements need confirmation as well. Record the proposed mount location, projector dimensions and weight, power needs, ventilation clearances, operating orientation, cable paths, and service access. None of those details appears in the extracted specifications. Mark each one as an open procurement item instead of filling the gap with an assumption.
Church, school, and conference room fit
Churches. A sanctuary with house lights, stage lighting, or a large planned image may push the design toward the 7,000-lumen PT-RZ790LBU7. A room that meets its target at 6,000 lumens can use the PT-RZ690WU7 and retain $500 in the equipment budget. Test the actual screen and lighting plan. The venue label alone does not establish which rating is sufficient, and the missing throw information must be resolved before either projector is assigned a mounting position.
Schools. Start by separating classrooms from larger lecture and assembly spaces. If a room analysis supports 6,000 lumens, the PT-RZ690WU7 offers the same listed WUXGA resolution at the lower supplied price. If ambient light, image size, or the design margin leads the AV team to a 7,000-lumen requirement, select the PT-RZ790LBU7 for evaluation. Schools should also verify connections, control support, physical security provisions, and maintenance access because those details are not included in the supplied specifications.
Conference rooms. Both projectors have WUXGA resolution listed, which removes resolution as the deciding factor in this comparison. The PT-RZ690WU7 makes sense where 6,000 lumens satisfies the room design and budget discipline is the priority. The PT-RZ790LBU7 fits a plan that explicitly needs 7,000 lumens. Confirm compatibility with the room's conferencing sources, switcher, control system, and audio design rather than assuming those functions from the projector name.
Across all three settings, use the same rule: approve the lower-priced projector when it passes every documented requirement. Pay for the brighter projector when the room design shows a real need for its extra 1,000 lumens.
Budget and use-case decision framework
The supplied product data prices the PT-RZ690WU7 at $5,991.96 and the PT-RZ790LBU7 at $6,491.96. The difference is $500. That comparison is useful, but the finished system cost may also include a lens, mount, cabling, control work, and installation labor. Those costs are not listed here, so verify them before treating either chassis price as the full project budget.
1. Set the brightness requirement. Document the screen, room lighting, image size, and the AV designer's target. Decide whether the project needs 6,000 or 7,000 lumens.
2. Prove the geometry. Confirm the lens arrangement, throw ratio, projection distance, image size, and mounting position for the exact SKU. Throw type is Not listed for both projectors.
3. Audit integration. Verify connections, signal support, control options, networking, audio needs, power, mounting, and service access. Do not read those capabilities into the WUXGA label.
4. Compare delivered cost. Use current product-page pricing and add every required system component. The supplied $500 difference matters only after both configurations are complete.
5. Make the call. Select the PT-RZ690WU7 if 6,000 lumens passes the design and the lower price helps. Select the PT-RZ790LBU7 if the design calls for 7,000 lumens. Pause the purchase if lens or integration questions remain unresolved.
An ultra-short-throw alternative to consider
Placement may rule out both compared projectors before brightness does because their throw types are Not listed. The Panasonic PT-CMZ50U is the supplied alternative with an explicitly listed ultra-short-throw design. It is rated at 5,200 lumens, has WUXGA resolution, and carries a supplied price of $4,190.00.
This is not a like-for-like brightness substitute. Its listed output is below the 6,000-lumen PT-RZ690WU7 and the 7,000-lumen PT-RZ790LBU7. Put it on the shortlist only when ultra-short-throw placement is required and a room-specific design confirms that 5,200 lumens is enough. Audio and smart functions are Not listed, so those checks still apply.
The final recommendation stays simple. Start with the PT-RZ690WU7 when 6,000 lumens meets the brief. Step up to the PT-RZ790LBU7 when the room requires 7,000 lumens. Consider the PT-CMZ50U when placement geometry becomes the controlling requirement.
Related AudioVideoNation Links
- Browse Projector at AudioVideoNation
- Shop the Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7
- Shop the Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7
- View the Panasonic PT-CMZ50U
FAQ
What is the main difference between the Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 and PT-RZ790LBU7?
The main listed difference is brightness: the PT-RZ690WU7 is rated at 6,000 lumens and the PT-RZ790LBU7 at 7,000 lumens. Both have WUXGA resolution listed, and the supplied price difference is $500.
Which Panasonic projector is better for a bright church?
The PT-RZ790LBU7 is the stronger candidate for a bright church when the system design requires 7,000 lumens. Its extra 1,000 lumens may provide needed margin, but the screen, lighting, image size, and throw geometry still require review.
Do the PT-RZ690WU7 and PT-RZ790LBU7 have the same resolution?
Yes, both projectors have WUXGA listed as their resolution. The PT-RZ790LBU7's higher supplied price therefore corresponds to extra listed brightness, not a higher listed resolution.
Can lens inclusion and throw type be confirmed for these projectors?
Lens inclusion and throw type cannot be confirmed from the provided extracted specifications for either projector. Verify the exact SKU, supplied lens arrangement, compatible lens options, and projection geometry on the relevant product page before ordering.
Is the PT-RZ790LBU7 worth $500 more than the PT-RZ690WU7?
The extra $500 is worth paying only when the projection design needs 7,000 lumens or 6,000 lumens leaves too little margin. If both projectors satisfy the room's documented brightness requirement, the PT-RZ690WU7 preserves budget while offering the same listed WUXGA resolution.
What supplied alternative should I consider for an ultra-short-throw installation?
The Panasonic PT-CMZ50U is the supplied alternative to examine when an ultra-short-throw layout is required. It is listed at 5,200 lumens with WUXGA resolution, so confirm that its lower brightness fits the room before choosing it.
Conclusion
Use this Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 vs PT-RZ790LBU7 comparison to match the product to the room, budget, installation requirements, and current AudioVideoNation availability. Review the linked product pages for the latest pricing, stock details, and full product information before ordering.
Products Used
| SKU | Product Name | URL |
|---|---|---|
| PT-RZ690WU7 | Panasonic PT-RZ690WU7 6000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector with 1.71 to 2.41:1 Lens (White) | View product |
| PT-RZ790LBU7 | Panasonic PT-RZ790LBU7 7000-Lumen WUXGA Exhibition Laser DLP Projector (Black, No Lens) | View product |
| PT-CMZ50U | Panasonic PT-CMZ50 WUXGA Ultra-Short Throw Laser Projector – Professional Golf Simulator Display | View product |