1080p Projector Shootout
We wanted to film all five of our best selling home theater projectors (Panasonic PT-AE3000U, Epson Home Cinema 1080UB, Epson Home Cinema 6100, Sanyo PLV-Z700 and Sanyo PLV-Z3000) at once, playing the same content, since that is one of the most frequent requests. We also threw in the Optoma TX1080 – a crossover widescreen business projector. But like with any comparison like this – there are some limitations to our professional video camera. That means some of the most noticeable differences between the units we saw in person are not apparent in the images you see. Below are a couple of the differences the camera couldn’t see. Black Levels The black levels were far superior on the Epson Home Cinema 6500 UB, the Sanyo PLV-Z3000, and the Panasonic PT-AE3000U – with the overall ‘blackest blacks” nod going Epson. The Sanyo PLV-Z700 showed the worst blacks in our test with out of the box settings. 120hz Superiority The projectors with 120hz processing (again the Epson Home Cinema 6500 UB, the Sanyo PLV-Z3000, and the Panasonic PT-AE3000U) looked incredible in person. They look good in the video, but even in scenes with just a little movement – like people walking through the metro station – the difference was remarkable and obvious. We hope to get some HD video that can capture the difference soon. Brightness The camera tends to adjust for brightness, finding a happy medium that makes all the images look their best. The good news here is that there was not much to report. All …
December 17th, 2011 at 16:37
of? course the higher lumen units are bright and lack of contrast, because they have a 2 feet throw. stop doing things half ass, compare these projectors on larger images, like at least 100″, then you can compare apples to apples.
December 17th, 2011 at 16:57
@WCHRISD
Ah, I think I know which one you? mean. And no, we haven’t done a shootout of that yet. I’ll put in a request!
December 17th, 2011 at 17:27
@ProjectorPeople On the Best Buy web site it just says? “Optoma – GameTime DLP Projector”
December 17th, 2011 at 18:27
@WCHRISD Hi, do you mean? the Optoma GameTime GT720 projector?
December 17th, 2011 at 18:44
Have you done any reviews on the? Optoma – GameTime DLP Projector with 3D technology?
December 17th, 2011 at 18:50
I have the 6100 with a 100′ 16×9 screen. It works? great for movies, t.v., and games (ps3 and xbox).
December 17th, 2011 at 19:43
The Optoma TX1080 seemed to have a strobing? effect on the lighting… The image wash flashing. Anyone else see that?
December 17th, 2011 at 19:59
We are currently working on adding HD video, but the files for a video of any length are usually too big for upload here on YouTube. We do have our hometheaterpeople website that has raw video for the Z700. high rez standard def. but it might be helpful. click the about our showroom for the raw files. or just compare in the main demo room for head to head comparisons. Let us know if we can provide you any other? info that might help you decide.
December 17th, 2011 at 20:04
I? agree, great comparision, but a HD/HQ-Version would make it easier to compare them. I am actually trying to decide between the z700 and the z3000…
December 17th, 2011 at 20:16
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO?
December 17th, 2011 at 20:18
The Panasonic PT-AE3000U was the middle projector. That is probably our most popular unit. Followed by the Epson 6500 UB (because it had the? deepest blacks). The Sanyo PLV-Z3000 and Epson 6100 are also popular. The Z700 less so, but it is also the least expensive.
December 17th, 2011 at 20:38
which one were the people saying? they like the most? (“the middle one”)
December 17th, 2011 at 21:17
which is the best one??
December 17th, 2011 at 22:01
You might check out some 120hz displays too. The 6100 is not 120hz, but it is bright – which is important for daytime football, etc. But the clarity is pretty impressive on the 120hz Epson 6500 UB. But some might not 120hz tho. Sounds strange, but it almost looks more like video than film. BTW others have suggested that we calibrate B4 too. I like your idea of using the THX screen. Our main reason for not calibrating b4 shootouts is most don’t bother do it – or? won’t pay for disc. Thanks!
December 17th, 2011 at 22:09
Thank you.? Nice job. Some suggestions for next time. Show more of each projectors capabilities in lens shift as well as zoom. Not just one projector in the shoot out. Also have a before calibration followed by after calibration review. To not judge a projector after calibration is almost sinful. I’m not really speaking of pro level. Something the average Joe/Jane with a Digital Video Essentials disk; or even a THX movie with calibration tools can do. Me … I’m still leaning toward the 6100. =)
December 17th, 2011 at 22:12
We use out of the box settings for the majority of our demos – and these were all out? of the box settings.
December 17th, 2011 at 22:13
Have you calibrate all those projector before doing this video or? it’s out of box?
December 17th, 2011 at 22:50
looking forward to seeing this,? the compression pixels were showing when the lights were turned off. Thanks
December 17th, 2011 at 23:26
Totally agreed. We fully intend to use an HD camera next time we have a shootout. Unfortunately our HD camera was out on a shoot in Puerto Rico and the Sanyo PLV-Z3000 was only here for one day, so we had? to use available resources. The camera we used was a Panasonic HVX200 which is no slouch, but is not HD. But, agreed.
December 17th, 2011 at 23:57
I can’t believe this wasn’t captured in hd with a 1/3″ or larger 3chip 1/3″ cammera and then uploaded in HD to youtube. Oh and fix/lock the aprature at one setting so we can see a difference between them . What? is this, 2006?
Seems like all that video went to 75% waste.
December 18th, 2011 at 00:31
I know what you mean about the ‘fake’ looking scenes. I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean on a 120Hz flat panel a while back and I had that same sensation. To me it looked like a stage production instead of a motion picture. I’d say that the 120Hz looks about the same on a projector,? but I haven’t seen a 120hz projector head-to-head with a Flat Panel TV. I don’t have a medical answer for you, but maybe the answer is that the production qualities need to improve beyond soap opera quality?
December 18th, 2011 at 00:53
How does 120Hz look on projectors? On flat panels, 120 Hz refresh rates look “fake” in my opinion. It looks like? you’re watching a video game (or a soap opera). The moving objects start to look like they are added by CGI – that they are not a part of the stationary scene. I was told I’d need to “get use to” the fast refresh rate. I sat and watched night at the museum and cars for more than a half hour. What sort of conditioning do my eyes need??