Just curious if you have experimented or seen any of the solutions from Nvidia 3d vision using a HTPC and shudder glasses as another “intermediate solution”? I know the product has primarily appealed to gamers but apparently newer blu-ray play back software may support various types of stereoscopic or 120Hz displays. I’m curious also how your DepthQ solution works in the interim as well. I’m sure there will be plenty of 3d solutions that offer a bright high quality experience fairly soon; but I’m just not ready to part with my RS20 for any of the first generation solutions. I don’t mind watching less than stellar quality 3d once in a while (not going to lie its kind of a once in a blue moon gimmick for me), but I refuse to give up the standard I have become used to when watching 2d on the RS20. It seems that significantly brighter projectors with 3d capabilities and great color and 2d contrast could be prohibitively expensive for some time. Always love your blog and your reviews. Keep up the great work.

-Nate

Hmm let’s see about the logic…
your 2d comment confuses me so I’ll take it from the top.

yes, if glasses cost you 50% of lumens, then the blacks will drop 50%, but so will the bright areas – that’s no gain, contrast remains essentially the same. “White is always the brightest gray” as I like to say, that is, when you are watching a movie, and you see a bright white on your screen, you call it white. But, turn on all the lights, shut off the projector and put up an object that reflects back the same amount of lumens, and it appears light, medium or dark gray, because ultimately a ft-candle is a foot candle. In other words, shine a 1000 watt light on your screen, and that white will measure far, far brighter than the amount of “gray/white” you considered white.

OK, that probably wasn’t very clear. The problem is that 3D projectors so far don’t have good contrast – not even as 2D projectors – the LG CF3D at $15K had blacks when watching 2D that were comparable to $999 home theater projectors and perhaps not even all of those. (but, another way of looking at it, would be that the LG has blacks that were considered pretty impressive just 4 years ago). The other area of contrast loss is in the 3D polarization process – that’s over my understanding, but, it too seems to be taking some toll.

Don’t worry, other than that LG, all we have so far are some entry level “biz/crossover” projectors that have been given some firmware and 120 hz input abilities. Perhaps we’ll see a couple of serious LCD or LCoS 3D solutions at CEDIA next month, and best I can tell, we’ll at least see prototypes of a few 1080p DLP single chip projectors. (and some high end 3 chip DLP’s that are 3D ready, and claiming 15K:1 or better contrast…

For 3D this is the “early adopter” year. Next year, “enthusiasts and recommenders” 2012 – 3D should make up a decent portion of the home projector market. Next spring summer should see some small but significant 3D in education (there’s some early adopter” going on right now. Gamers will likely be the biggest buyer of 3D projectors on the home side for the next year, but we shall see. – I’m trying to sort all that out, and I’ve got 4 3D projectors here, two coming, and an assortment of software.

Look for my first 3D report and 5-6 reviews (covering biz edu, gaming sports/HDTV and HD movies) to publish early-mid september – before Cedia. My big focus is being able to put all this in perspective for all of us… It’s a massive learning experience, lots of new standards, few implemented, etc. -art

That is to say, while many of us are dying to have 3D capabilities

Hmm, sounds fixable. Check the aspect ratio settings at your sources. DVD/blu-ray, cable/sat, and AV receiver, etc. I’ve got a PS3 and a DirecTV box feeding my own 1080UB (I have the original Ensemble, but separately upgraded from the original 1080 to the 1080UB). The geometry is perfect – no issues (other than of course the minor optical distortions associated with lenses, and lens shift.

BTW, with my Ensemble, which comes with an AV receiver they call the AV Console (or something). will exhibit a geometry problem but it only occurs with some older discs – especially Superbit discs, but also some others. When the proper aspect ratio can’t be found on the 1080p, I grab the Ensemble’s remote (for the AV console) and change the console’s aspect ratio, and things are then again “perfect”. Best of luck… -art

Regarding the challenge of 3D projectors & lumens, vs black levels, if a projector is pushing out x% more lumens, and the 3D glasses shade it x% lumens, thus making it appear the same as a 2D movie, if the 3D projector has the same contrast ratio as the 2D projector, then wouldn’t the glasses bring the black levels back down to the same as the 2D projectors?

I know increasing the lumens hurts the black levels, however if the contrast ratio remains the same, wouldn’t the shaded glasses bring the black levels back down equally?

Darryl

Anyway, I’m talking to folks, like my contact at XPand, who makes “most” of the LCD shutter glasses out there. He’s got far more understanding of the glasses (both types) and their issues, than I do…

I’m really hoping to be able to do something like an “Art’s Unified Theory of 3D Projection that encompasses, home, biz and schools, as well as movies TV, sports, static content, courseware, etc.

As of right now, it seems that compatibilities are in far worse shape than the public would believe, based on current advertising. Hey, most folks would probably think that all these 720p 3D projectors will be compatible with 3D blu-ray players (not likely, of course), etc.

It’s a true mess. I’m dying to have 3D in my theater, but I’m not sure that we really will be “ready for primetime” by the Cedia show in Sept, even though I expect to see “tons” of 3D announcements at the show. -art