Optoma HD8200 Projector Review
Optoma makes their move. Finally, a newly designed box and features set the HD8200 apart from all previous models. The HD8200 should enjoy wider appeal than most previous 1080p efforts from Optoma.
March 29, 2009 - Art Feierman
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Optoma HD8200 Projector Overview
The HD8200 projector is Optoma's latest entry, and, in my opinion, a significant leap for Optoma. Picture quality is very good, placement flexibility dramatically improved, and, check this - at least for me - the HD8200 sports improvements that have essentially eliminated the rainbow effect for many of us. (Most folks are not at all sensitive to rainbows, but I consider myself to be moderately sensitive.) In addition, the HD8200's dynamic iris is near silent - as it should be. My experience with most recent 1080p Optoma projectors has been that their iris has been excessively noisy, enough so that I couldn't use it. Considering that I really don't have many issues with projectors with fairly loud fans, to have an iris so noisy that I can't leave it on, means that the iris noise on older models was a problem for most people.
The HD8200 is one of the most expensive projectors considered in the mid-priced Class in our recent comparison report. I didn't have a chance to spend much time with it before publishing the Report. With a list price of $4999, and a MAP (minimum advertised price), I believe, of $3999, it was questionable as to whether this projector - officially sold only though local dealears - could be had for $3500, but that price did seem reasonable, after much searching the internet. In reality, perhaps the HD8200 belonged in the higher priced tier, but the mid-priced tier is where I ended up placing it.
Keep in mind that Optoma offers a slightly less expensive version called the Optoma HD808, which does sell online for about $3000 at this time. The HD808 home theater projector seems very similar. The primary difference is that the HD8200 uses a Darkchip3 DLP chip, while the HD808, I believe uses the less expensive Darkchip1 or Darkchip2. The HD808, because of the different chip, claims 15,000:1 contrast compared to the HD8200's 20,000:1. The HD8200 claims an extra 100 lumens as well.
Overall, the Optoma HD8200 is very bright in "best" movie viewing mode, and on the dim side in brightest mode. For those only interested in movie watching, or who don't mind other viewing (general HDTV, TV content, and sports) in an almost completely darkened room, the HD8200 is capable of handling fairly large screens. I've been watching it on my 128" Firehawk G3, and it's definitely got the necessary horsepower with the room darkened. Reducing the screen image to 100" diagonal, and it's downright bright!
And of course, as a DLP projector, it exhibits those characteristic rich colors, sharp image and good depth that still have many folks swearing loyalty to DLP. That is even though DLP projectors, as a group, no longer have any black level advantage (their strong suit for years). In fact, the HD8200's black level performance is pretty good, but really no match for those ultra high contrast LCD projectors it competes against. All considered the HD8200 seems to be on the expensive side, but that is typical of projectors sold only through local dealers.
The combination of a really impressive picture, more placement flexibility than any competing DLP projectors, and lots of lumens in best mode, will allow the HD8200 to be more viable for more potential buyers, that most DLP projectors. The fast (6x) color wheel, and improvements from TI, have dramatically reduced the rainbow effect, affecting far fewer folks than most other DLP projectors. For all of that, and more, the Optoma HD8200 earns our Hot Product Award. It's pricing, however, low "brightest" mode lumens, and some definite issues with its dynamic iris operation did prevent it from picking up an award in our recent 1080p Projector Comparison Report.
HD8200 Projector Highlights
- One of the brightest of all affordable 1080p projectors when in "best" mode
- Very limited brightness, in brightest mode, will be an issue for those watching lots of sports, HDTV etc., with some lights on
- The most placement flexibility we've seen in an under $5000 DLP projector, with a wider range zoom, and lens shift
- A very sharp image
- 6x color wheel, TI improvements result in essentially no rainbow effect for those normally moderately affected (such as myself), a major step forward
- Dynamic iris modes do have some issues, but at least one, offers acceptable performance
- Physically, somewhat large, but attractive
- Quiet iris (iris noise a big problem on many older Optoma projectors)
- Reasonably quiet (fan noise), definitely about average for home theater projectors
Specs for Optoma HD8200
MSRP: $4995 Street price unknown but believed to be under The $4K MAP price.
Technology: DLP Darkchip3
Native Resolution: 1080p (1920x1080)
Brightness: 1300 lumens
Contrast: 20,000:1
Zoom Lens ratio: 1.5:1
Lens shift: Vertical and Horizontal
Lamp life: 3000 hours in eco-mode, 2000 hours at full power
Weight: 18.5 lbs. (8.4 Kg)
Warranty: 3 Year Parts and Labor, with Optoma Express replacement program
Optoma HD8200 Special Features
Optoma HD8200 Color Wheel
This Optoma projector has a six segment, 6X color wheel. This projector exhibits the least rainbow effect of any single chip DLP projector I can think of. This is in large part due to the color wheel, plus additional factors relating to Texas Instruments processing. Bottom line: For those who are moderately rainbow senitive, such as myself, the overall performance of the HD8200 in terms of reduced rainbow effect, is enough to essentially remove that issue from those people's decision process in considering this projector.
Image below - off of Blu-ray disc, from Quantum of Solace.
