Optoma HD8300 Projector Calibration and Settings
We calibrate every home theater that we review. This Optoma HD8300 is no exception. Mike got to calibrate it before I really started watching the HD8300.Our calibrations, including this Optoma HD8300, are normally limited to a grayscale calibration, along with brightness, contrast, color saturation, tint (where applicable), etc. Only in very special circumstances will we calibrate the individual colors, in which case we discuss why.
9/19/11 - Art Feierman
|
|
Let's take a look at the numbers:
Optoma HD8300 Color Temperature
Before we provide our settings, lets see what we started out with: Pre calibration, these are the color temperatures over the grayscale range:
Color Temp over IRE Range, Best Mode (Pre calibration):
Cinema:
30 IRE – 6680
50 IRE – 6689
80 IRE – 6959
100 IRE – 7002
Not bad, overall a touch cool.
Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE:
Cinema = 843 @ 7002
Reference= 860 @ 7020
Photo= 833 @ 8108
Bright= 826 @ 8508 (Using Native color temp increases lumens to 992)
User= 753 @ 6960
According to Mike, the variation in brightness is tied to the different color temperature settings. In other words, changing the color temp of a mode, will cause the brightness to change to pretty much follow these numbers:
Effect of Color Temp Setting on Lumen Output, Bright mode:
Native= 992
D93= 706
D83= 774
D75 (default)= 826
D65= 850
D50= 674
Optoma HD8300 Basic Settings
In addition to calibrating Red Green and Blue for a correct grayscale balance (6500K), there are a number of other settings that come into play. Typically Contrast and Brightness (white balance and black balance), need to be done first. Color saturation and gamma also need adjustment.
Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis):
Cinema |
Reference |
Photo |
Bright |
User |
|
| Contrast= | (1) 6 |
(-3) 7 |
(5) 6 |
(4) 3 |
(-3) -1 |
| Brightness= | (0) 0 |
(0) 2 |
(0) 0 |
(-2) 0 |
(0) 2 |
| Color= | -5 |
(-6) |
-8 |
-5 |
(-6) |
| Tint= | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Color Temp= | (D65) |
(D65) |
(D75) |
(D75) |
(D65) |
| Dynamic Black= | (C1) |
(Off) |
(C1) |
(C1) |
(Off) |
| Gamma= | (Film) |
(Std.) |
(Video) |
(Graphic) |
(Std.) |
| Color Gamut= | (Native) |
(HDTV) |
(Native) |
(Native) |
(Native) |
Lamp Mode= Bright (unless noted otherwise) NOTE: The Image AI lamp mode is the same brightness as Bright lamp mode.
All other settings at default (untouched)
Optoma HD8300 Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode
Post-Calibration color temps, 20 – 100 IRE:
HD8300 User Mode
20 IRE = 6411
30 IRE = 6435
40 IRE = 6528
50 IRE = 6516
60 IRE = 6473
70 IRE = 6514
80 IRE = 6518
90 IRE = 6461
100 IRE = 6421
Average gamma = 2.24
Overall, that's about as tight and nice a grayscale calibration as you will see.
Mike's Notes: Grayscale is very good after calibration, as is gamma. A CMS is available, but not really necessary as Optoma has thoughtfully provided different color gamuts to choose from (see the enclosed CIE charts). So, you can get a fairly accurate Rec. 709 color gamut simply by choosing the HDTV color gamut. Even the default Native color gamut is not as oversaturated as some projectors. It’s one of the more accurate color gamuts I’ve seen from a DLP, particularly in this price range. More manufacturers should provide this option.
In 3D mode, you can use either the 3D picture mode or the User mode. I measured a white area on a 3D Blu-ray with both and got 657 lumens with User mode and 606 lumens with 3D mode.
HD8300 RGB Settings
Calibration settings (default is 0):
User Bright (Quick Cal)
Gain R = 3 R= 5
G = 0 G= -15
B = -1 B= -5
Bias R = -1 R= 0
G = 0 G= 0
B = -1 B= 0
Color Saturation: -6 5
Tint: 2 0
Lumens at 100 IRE: 757 886 (@ 6929)
NOTES: Dynamic Black is OFF for User 1.
Bright mode is set to color temp Native.
Other settings are as shown on Page 1 or default.
NEXT: Recommended projector screens for the Optoma HD8300 Projector