Most likely though, you’ll be paying more for an 8500UB unless there are refurbished units around. You will get better blacks with the 8500UB, of that I’m certain. Other improvements are likely minor for the 8350, so I can’t think of a compelling reason to buy a new 8350 over a new 8500UB if they are the same price. If the 8500UB is, say $300 or $600 more, though, then it gets to be a personal call.

Ahh, and the 8500UB does have creative frame interpolation, the 8350 does not (too bad, I thought that silly, as the 8350 is a very bright low cost projector – therefore in livingroom and Dynamic modes, very suitable for family room type setups, with less than ideal conditions. Translated – family rooms, bonus rooms, etc. to me – probably lots of sports viewing too, where CFI is appreciated. Still, by my reckoning, CFI is not a deal make or breaker. I like low CFI for most sports viewing, but, between two projectors, if (forgetting CFI) I prefer one of them, and then I found out it didn’t have CFI, but the other did, I’d almost certainly decide to live without CFI in exchange for whatever benefit it was, that I liked about the projector that lacked the CFI. (I sure hope that made sense.)

As to the 6500UB, it’s slightly better than the 1080 UB, in blacks, and in turn, the 8500UB is just slightly better than the 6500UB (barely detectable).

You know my thoughts – if I call a projector an “ultra high contrast” projector, then my point is blacks are pretty darn good, enough so, that other factors become more important. For example, if someone asked me which I would prefer to add to a 1080 UB (or an 8350):
Blacks equal to the 8500UB, or color improvement to match, say a JVC RS15, I’d take the color… If you asked the same question of me regarding the older 8100 or say, a Sanyo PLV-Z700, or Mitsubishi HC3800, I’d say, I’ll take better blacks first, over slight color improvement. -art
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From my viewing on the Firehawk, though, the 8350 is most likely closest to the original 1080UB – still pretty impressive in blacks, and still better than the PT-AE4000 and Sanyo Z3000/Z4000. Tonight’s shoot, though, will verify my beliefs or not. -art

Is the black level even close to the 6500UB, or is it way off from there? I was hoping it would be the equivalent of the 6500UB minus the FI. I need something brighter, but didn’t want to sacrifice too much in terms of black level, and picture quality.

First look watched football on it last night and this evening. Used Dynamic yesterday afternoon, with some windows open. Looks a lot like the previous 8100. Dynamic strong on greens, etc. later on I switched to Livingroom mode for better skin tones. The defaults for Dynamic and Livingroom are very, very cool. I brought them down to 8000K or 7500K for my sports, which brought up the reds a bit – needed. In pure dynamic though, despite the heavy blue compared to red, the 8350 cut through the light with some window shades open (you’ll see the photos in the review.

Black levels are definitely not a match for the older 9500UB I have here, but it claims 200,000:1 vs. the 8350′s mere 50,000:1. As I expected, the projector’s blacks seem fairly similar to the original Epson 1080 UB, the first of the UB series. With the move to the C2Fine panels, the Epson Home Cinema 8350 moves up a step to “ultra high contrast” calibre projector. It may not match the more expensive UB Epson, but it should prove about equal to the Sanyo PLV-Z4000 and Panasonic PT-AE4000 projectors in terms of blacks.

I have yet to do pictures (Mike picks it up tomorrow for calibration), but will do side by sides with the old 8500ub/9500ub, PT-AE4000 and whatever else is here that makes sense.

To your last point, I agree. For the most part, we have two “updated” projectors at that $1300 price point – but, in this case, both have made improvements to move their black level performance up a notch, very good for you enthusiasts on a budget. -art

Good question. I do believe that came up in conversation, but I just don’t recall (a lot of info overload) If I had to guess, I believe it’s the same lamp, but I’ll stop by the booth tomorrow and confirm.