Supposing that a picture is worth a thousand words, how much more would it be worth to project an image of the object itself, such as a product prototype or a printed book or report? The new 6.2-pound Toshiba TLP-T61MU ($2,400 street) is an XGA LCD projector that comes with a handy detachable document camera, so you can show just about anything. And its price means you don't have to pay an enormous premium for this feature.

Unlike previous projectors with cameras, which required you to place the object to be displayed on top of the unit, the TLP-T61MU's camera is a separate module that clips securely to the side of the projector. You can detach the module and connect it to the projector by means of the included cable.

Beyond the camera, the TLP-T61MU performs well as a projector. It comes with a 30-page manual, a thorough quick-start reference sheet, a 10-foot VGA cable, and a pair of remote controls. One remote has a basic set of controls, while the second adds remote mouse control and a laser pointer. The mouse functions work by plugging an IR receiver into your computer's USB port. The projector has only analog computer connections—no DVI connection—along with composite and S-Video. There is also a convenient VGA monitor pass-through connection.

We tested the projector with images created by DisplayMate software (www.displaymate.com). The unit is rated at 1,500 ANSI lumens. While it measured lower than that—1,020 lumens—on our more rigorous tests, the unit is still sufficient for use under normal lighting conditions. The contrast ratio of 147:1 is about average for projectors of this class. The brightness variance ratio of 1.3:1 is very good; we didn't notice any uneven brightness in all-white or all–black screens.

The TLP-T61MU showed smooth color ramps, good color tracking, perfect auto-sync, and excellent convergence, even though it has a three-panel design. There's an automatic keystone adjustment that works well and is easy to override if you don't want the aliasing it can produce. And there's an energy-saving mode that is slightly dimmer but extends lamp life. The only weak points were that the focus was a little soft in the top corners, and the speaker was not particularly loud.

The key feature is the document camera, which adds important versatility in a compact design. If you've got more to show than will fit in PowerPoint, the TLP-T61MU may be the projector you need.