New Optoma HD33 Entry Level 1080p 3D home theater projector – The Scoop!
June 20th, 2011 Art FeiermanGreetings! I mentioned the Optoma HD33 the other day, when I wrote about the unofficial HD8300, I said that there was also supposed to be an HD33 projector or it might be an HD3300. Well, with much digging – that is – searching the internet. Optoma’s been no help at all, in this case. I have learned a lot more. I’ve even laid my hands on a preliminary data sheet. If you would like to check that out,we are adding it to the HD33 specs page, we are building now. This is the link for the HD33 specs page, and you’ll find the pdf link there.
The officially “unannounced” HD33, and also, I expect, an HD3300 for the local and big box dealers, look like this:
Optoma HD33
1800 lumens
4000:1 contrast
3D ready, uses active shutter glasses
3D Compatibility:
120Hz Frame Sequential 3D for Resolutions Up to 720p,
60Hz Field Sequential 3D for Resolutions Up to 480i
HDMI 1.4a (2), Blu-ray 3D compatibility
Roughly 14.2×12.25×4.5 inches
7.7 pounds
1.2:1 zoom
30/28 db noise levels
230 watt lamp
0.65 Darkchip2 DLP
Lamp Life 4000 / 3000 hours
Lens offset is 116% – similar, I believe to older Optoma’s
The HD33 I expect, will launch (pretty soon, see below), with a 1 year parts and labor warranty, as that has been consistent for Optoma on their lower priced projectors for several years.
If there’s an HD3300 that turns out to be a similar projetor, for the local dealers – that might come with a longer warranty.
Optoma HD33 Price tag? Unknown. Sorry about that! I realize that’s a key piece of info, but I couldn’t find any indication anywhere. If someone has some knowledge… let me know and I’ll share the word.
Meantime, the HD33 sounds like Optoma’s idea of a 3D replacement for (or step up from) their HD20, which is one of the most popular home projectors of all time!
Some of the info also on the original blogs I found, indlcated a ship date in the July – August time frame for the HD33, and also for the HD8300. That’s pretty soon, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Optoma doesn’t formally announce this projector in the next week or so, especially since it seems the cat is out of the bag (word leaked.)
This is exciting. Optoma usually takes good care of me, in terms of a getting us review units in the first batch to go out. That means I’m making sure I can review the HD33 immediately, when it shows up here.
Optoma also indicates on that pre-launch data sheet, that the HD33 projector is targeted to gamers as well as the usual movies, sports and general TV viewers.
Let’s go Optoma, the word’s out, give us the rest of the info, especially price points and delivery dates!!!
PS. That datasheet has a photo as well. They show the lens on the right (looking from the front), usually Optoma’s lens is on the left. That said, reverse the HD33 projector’s image and the HD33 looks a lot like the HD806 and its siblings. These dimensions don’t match anything else in the Optoma line up, of Optoma projectors I have reviewed.
More on the Optoma HD33 when I know it. -art
June 20th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Hello!
I beleive there is a key difference between HD33 and HD3300. The former can only do frame-sequential 3d at 720p, so it will be limited to do 3d via a PC with NVidia 3DVision. This is indicated by a “3D PC” logo in the datasheet.
The latter is fully HDMI 1.4a compatible without any boxes or adapters. This means 1080p BluRay 3D will be supported. This is indicated by a Full 3D 1080p logo in its datasheet.
Hence, I believe, HD3300 will cost about $300 more than HD33.
Prelaunch datasheets for Optoma HD33 and HD3300 were available at Optoma’s site. Now they are not, but I have them stored locally. If you wish, I can email them. Or you can find the datasheet for HD3300 in Google’s cache by searchig for “pdf optoma hd3300″ and pressing “Quick View”.
June 21st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I am actually a little concerned about the HD33. Panasonic has already indicated that their entry level home theater projector will be 3d and more expensive than the beamer it is replacing. I have to wonder if Optoma is going the same way with the HD20 and HD33. I would prefer to see improved 2D performance at the same price point or similar performance at a lower price. Are we likely to see more price increases as manufacturers switch to 3D?
June 21st, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Sven, I don’t think you have to worry too much. Panasonic is playing with 3 LCD panels, and that poses all kinds of problems. 3D out of a single chip DLP requires almost nothing in hardware (other than 120 fps) (and technically that’s not mandatory), it’s mostly code – firmware. It’s a updated hdmi interface for the HD3300 at least – which Yusif mentions in his post below, if the HD33 is still HDMI 1.3, then it could easily come out at $999?
We shall see. Or as I suggested below, The HD20 may not go away, it could stay as the low end at the same price, or $100 lower, depending on Optoma’s pricing strategy. -art
June 21st, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Thanks for the (quick) reply. I’m pleased to hear your take on this. I was frustrated to hear of Panasonic’s move and was growing a bit concerned. I have become a bit of a projector evangelist as prices and value have become so attractive in the past few years. Hopefully that trend will continue!
June 21st, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Unfortunately, I share Sven’s concerns.
Art is definitely right: making a DLP projector 120 fps compatible requires no hardware modification. Optoma has shown it to us by (finally) providing a 3D firmware for its HD65 (a 2008 projector, just think of it!)
But only competition brings prices down, and for now the competition is absent!
Those, who want 1080p 3D, should part with about $3500 for a Sharp (or an upcoming Sony) at least. So Optoma can easily set a $2000 price for a HD3300.
With HD33, again, no competition – 1080p 2D/720p 3D “combo” projectors do not sell yet. Thus, if one wants a combo, he/she should buy 2 projectors (and have all sorts of trouble installing them both
). This leads us to a reasonable price for HD33 a bit below than HD20+HD66 = about $1400.
And in couple of years, when 48 fps 3D movies like The Hobbit will become common, we will have to upgrade again
June 25th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Yusif, Not so fast.
There’s competition for sure. Consider the 720p projectors. I’ve got the 720p 3D Optoma GT720 running right now, using Viewsonic’s 1080p HDMI 14.a 3D external box. (similar to the optoma 3D-XL which I haven’t been able to lay my hands on). It may be only 720p, but I’m enjoying 3D Blu-ray movies on it, – works just fine. The two items together – under $1000? But you are right, any new technology tends to keep prices up. Don’t worry though, it’s all a wash. If the competition was everywhere, then there would be less profit in the new stuff, and higher prices across all stuff.
BTW, amazing how fast competition surfaces. Bingo, a new Sony 3D projector under $4000 is announced, and now we have a couple of $4K or under projectors with very respectable black level and cinema performance. Thus, a single chip DLP with 4000:1 contrast won’t fly at $3000K, and probably not at even $2500… And so it goes. By CEDIA… -art
June 26th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@Art
Personally, I don’t want to pay for or worry about the little converter boxes, I think they are just a short term solution to make a little cash off those who want 3D support without upgrading to a newer projector.
The GT 720 short-throw, no lens zoom is fine for people on a budget with limited space, but as Yusif pointed out, the HD33, basically HD20 with native 1080p 2D and 720p 3D HDMI 1.4 support “combo” for anything less than $1,500 would easily be the new budget king.
Its the perfect package for those with a tight wallet, who want to have the big-screen 3D experience at home.
I am now curious as to how much competition Optoma will have on these affordable “combo” units like the HD33, or will they have a short-term monopoly to play with?
June 30th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Kev,
Hey they provide a good solution (perhaps a bit pricey) for now. Whether 3D 720p projectors selling a year from now for say, $599 or less, will have HDMI 1.4a and all the other goodies needed to do Blu-ray 3D and 1080 3D in general, we shall see. It’s nice to have a add on product available, for those lacking. No doubt as more 3D compatibilities are built into projectors next gen boxes like this will likely take on slightly different purposes… -art
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:09 am
I’ve just found HD33 available for preorder here
http://tw.page.mall.yahoo.com/item/p04393816051
and the price is 68800. HD20 is listed there for 49900. So, HD33 costs about 1.38 * HD20 ~ $1250-1400. Very nice.
July 31st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
These new units are now on the Optoma site:
http://www.optomausa.com/products/search/hd3300
http://www.optomausa.com/products/search/hd8300
August 14th, 2011 at 11:54 am
Amazon has it for pre-order, looks like they plan to street it for $1,499, may come down though at launch.
August 16th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
An industry insider has found that Optoma misprint the initial brochures. Seems the HD33 will support 1080p 2D AND 3D. It also has pure motioning processing and a 6X color wheel.
Art, I look forward to you getting your hands on one of these baby’s.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1354360
http://www.optomausa.com/products/detail/HD33
August 17th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Yes, seems that is true, based on a conversation I had with Optoma.
And better still, the HD33 will either arrive in the next hour, or tomorrow! -art
August 17th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Hi Kev,
I don’t mind you mentioning Amazon, or the pricing you included, which I left in. However, if you want to be a sales person for Amazon – putting in a link, I’m going to strip it out every time.
I live on the revenues that come from all you visitors clicking on our advertiser’s banners. I have no desire to promote Amazon for free. Amazon is more than able to spend money advertising on my site, just as Projector People, Projector SuperStore, ProjectorPoint, and Visual Apex do (to name a few).
Let’s not support such folks, nevermind that if you want real support and advice, and follow up support, you will do far better with any dedicated direct dealer, that has dedicated projector support people, than from Amazon. If you don’t believe me, give them a call and ask them how to reduce the lag time… or… or… how to calculate lens offset…
Hey, even I buy stuff from them, but never expensive stuff. There’s always a knowledgeable dealer for whatever product, that can match an Amazon price and still deliver support.
I really don’t want to be like the big forum, where you can’t discuss pricing, dealers, etc… But, I do have to protect my modest income stream, if you want to be reading our reviews in 6 months or a year!
Thanks! -art
August 17th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
I apologize Art, I was simply showing proof via a link of the pricing at the time (Aug 14) where also at the time no other online retailer had it listed with a retail price, with the exception of the Korean one listed above. That has changed now and makes my original comment somewhat redundant.
Please refract my entire comment if you wish. As it stands now, link or no link, Amazon still has a free ad-spot on your blog via the comment alone.
August 18th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
[...] on these two for previous blogs about the HD33. First info, more details from [...]
December 20th, 2011 at 7:42 am
Cyberking…
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September 10th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
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