InFocus SP8602 - Performance
3/28/2010 - Art Feierman
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InFocus SP8602 Brightness
The InFocus is a brighter than average projector, in both "best" and "brightest" modes. Before we get into measurements though I wish to continue the comments about brightness as it relates to the InFocus projector's lens shift.
Most projectors in the price range of the InFocus also have adjustable lens shift, but to my knowledge, none of the other designs seems to affect brightness by more than just a few percent, whereas it makes a significant (approximate) 15% difference with the InFocus. If you have a standard height ceiling, you are likely to be able to mount with 0 offset, but unless your screen is small, not much higher. Those with slightly higher ceilings may be able to use the maximum lens offset and get that extra 15% more lumens.
Measurements below were done at maximum offset
InFocus SP8602 Projector - Uncalibrated:
Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE:
Presentation – 1038 @ 7176
Video – 864 @ 6872
Bright – 1119 @ 7189
Whiteboard – 1068 @ 6852
Blackboard – 1115 @ 7188
Beige Wall – 902 @ 10271
InFocus SP8602 Projector - Calibrated:
User mode (Best): 1059 lumens
Bright mode (Brightest): 1110 lumens
The Major Effect of zoom lens positioning on brightness: Our standard measurements reported are done with the zoom at its mid-point. Here are relative numbers from the Cinema 1 mode, for different lens positioning. From a percentage standpoint, the differences will be the same for any mode, as you change the lens zoom. What's interesting about the InFocus design, is that this zoom lens with it's 1.5:1 zoom ratio, has a drop in brightness from Wide to Tele, that is more typical of projectors with longer ratio zooms of 2:1:
Full wide zoom = 1343 lumens (position closest to screen)
Mid zoom = 1119 lumens
Full tele zoom = 783 lumens (position furthest from screen)
The interesting point, is that if you mount the SP8602 very near the minimum distance, you will get a lot more lumens tha n at mid-point. With mid-1300 lumens that puts it's brightest mode on par with the Epson UB, and a couple of other of the brighter projectors. Better still, the bright mode of the InFocus has better color than most of the other "brightest modes" on other projectors (JVC excepted, in particular).
Lumen Output, Presentation mode, Low lamp setting: 878 lumens
That represents a drop of just shy of 15% That's less than the usual 20-25% of most projectors and even an occasional 30+% drop.
Effect of Brilliant Color Bright setting – 35% increase in lumens over Normal setting
Effect of Lens Shift on Lumen Output, Bright mode – 18.5% increase in lumens going from zero offset to full offset
Effect of color temp setting on lumen output, Presentation mode:
Warmest = 1078
Warm (default) = 1038
Cool = 921
Bright = 1140
Color Temp over IRE range:
Video Mode:
30 IRE - 6877K
50 IRE - 6887K
80 IRE - 6899K
100 IRE – 6872K
Mike notes: There isn’t much variation in color temps among the various IREs. Also, gamma settings have very little effect on color temp. The color temps in Whiteboard mode are similar to that of Video, but Video displays the best RGB balance, making Video mode the best mode.
Brilliant Color: I used the same exposure for both images below. The first is with Brilliant Color on Bright, the other with it on Normal, which would be off, I believe. You can see the extra punch of Brilliant Color. Most will favor it.
Sharpness of the InFocus SP8602 Projector
The InFocus SP8602 is sharp. It's a tad sharper than my JVC. And the Epson UB, that I ran side by side with the InFocus. I'm not sure I ever got it perfectly sharp. The focus ring is a little coarse, and, of course one has to stand back by the projector, not up close by the screen, as one can do with power focus.
Don't get me wrong - the sharpness looks really great on all my favorite sports and other HDTV digital content!
For your consideration, our usual close up images
Top left: InFocus SP8602, Top Left Center - JVC RS35, Top Right Center - JVC DLA-RS25, Top right - Mitsubishi HC7000
2nd row left: Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, left center: JVC RS35, right center: Optoma HD8600, right: InFocus IN83
My original DTS test disc died, for this sharpness demo, we are transitioning to a closeup of the PS3 system screen, showing the Video icon, for the future.
Below: Close up of a computer monitor, from Space Cowboys (Blu-ray), left to right SP8602, Sony VPL-VW85, Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, and BenQ W20000. The SP8602 performs well its own against most, but not the sharpest DLP projectors.
InFocus SP8602: Bottom Line Sharpness
This is what I'm looking for. That small extra sharpness that the InFocus has compared to my RS20. I haven't put the two side by side, but the excellent convergence of a "hand picked" RS35, I do believe can match the InFocus, but I'm not aware of any LCD or LCoS projectors that I think can match or best the InFocus.
I do not, however, believe this InFocus is among the very sharpest of the single chip DLPs, but that's pefectly acceptable, it's certainly better than most 1080p home theater projectors in this regard.
Light Leakage
Big improvement here over the old IN83. That projector leaked significant light through the lens, that would hit outside the image area. (Significant for a good home theater projecor, still very dim.)
The SP8602 on the other hand is very clean, no visible light leakage that I've noticed, when watching. Not even on those favorite dark scenes. No issues here.
InFocus SP8602 Image Noise
The InFocus isn't bad for a DLP, but, DLP home theater projectors in general have more basic image noise than other technologies. We're talking relatively small differences.
SP8602 Audible Noise
The SP8602 claims 28 at low power and 29 db at full. They are believeable numbers. DLP projectors tend to be noisier in general than others (not always),. Few should take issue. I have not noticed any iris noise, and the pitch of the fans is a little lower than most, thus less noticeable.