I’m pretty consistent on one thing – I do not feel the Epson 8500UB (or the 8700UB for that matter) is bright enough to fill a high contrast gray screen at a 133″ diagonal size, in it’s best mode (THX or Theater Black 1). The Sony is 20% brighter. Now, make that a white screen with 1.4 gain, and I favor the Epson as a better value, and both can do the job.

I like the Epson on HC grays – up to about 110″ diagonal. YOu can push beyond in a good room, but remember by the time that 4000 hour lamp has 3000 hours on it, you will likely have lost a full 1/3 of your brightness.. And that’s my objection. I otherwise favor the Epson for the better blacks, lower price, longer range zoom, etc.

One note, I speak assuming the projector is mounted mid-zoom to further back. If you are mounting your projector close, say 14 feet from a 133 inch, you’ll have at leat 50% more lumens than mounting it 25 feet back. That’s the usual with zoom lenses.

Bottom line, my concern relates solely to screen size (and related issues like room brightness).

BTW at $1250 for an 8500UB – GRAB it! it’s a steal. -art

Was that just cause of the screen? What about the lack of powered lens…is this a deal breaker.

Thanks, obviously I’m not quite capable of digesting this info, so speak as you would to a child. Thanks.

PS. I can get the 8500 new in the box for 1250.

I just sold my Panny AE3000 to make room for a better projector. I have been debating on just going out and getting the Epson 8500. I’m not a big 3D guy, so the new 3D projectors is not really high on my list. Since I used my projector for basically sports and blu rays, do you think I should just wait until Oct or Nov when the new projectors will be available or just I just go with a really good projector in the Epson 8500? Do, you think another projector in that price range will improve so much that I should wait?

You may wish, if they also possibly work (placement, etc), want to consider the InFocus SP8602, or even the low cost BenQ W6000. -art

Let’s suppose they cost the same

Which one would have the best picture quality? For this screen size
Which one would you buy?

Thanks you

As to the Panny, sure, just mount close to the widest angle zoom you can, allowing for the fact that your overall zoom range is cut down by roughly half? since you need to be able to zoom in/out to support both aspect ratios. Still that should buy you more lumens than the mid-point based measurements we do. In a pinch, and espeically as the lamp dims, don’t forget you have a number of modes, some are brighter and still offer an excellent image.

Let me know how it turns out. -art

I have a new basement theater install, and I’m trying to decide between a 16:9 or a 2.35 screen. I do not have the current budget to obtain an anamorphic lens sled, but I do enough room to almost match the vertical dimensions of a 100″ 16:9 screen of 48.8″ and a 115″ 2.35 screen of 45″.

I’m intrigued by the Panasonic AE4000 anamorphic memory setting. Would there be enough lumens to cover a 115″ 2.35 screen (as your wonderful reviews focus on 16:9 screens)?

Would the Epson 9500 UB (with it’s higher lumens) be another alternative if I manually alter the zoom and focus?

Your insights are appreciated! Thanks -Ed