Sony VPL-PRO1 Projector - Image Quality2

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Art Feierman

When it comes to shadow detail, the Sony VPL-PRO1 is superb. My favorite image for dark shadow detail is the night train scene from Casino Royale. Further down, you'll see how the Sony handles that dark shadow detail on the darkest of scenes, as well, as how many competitors do on the same frame. Before we get to those, some other images though. Direct comparison side by side images will be added when ready:

The first set of comparison images, is a scene with Clint Eastwood from Space Cowboys. This is a very dark scene, intentionally overexposed (from Blu-ray disc). Look for the blacks in the shades, and the details in those shades in the form of the white trim. (At this level of overexposure, don't even worry about the skin tones, as in these type of photos they always look terrible, and way oversaturated/too high contrast).

First image is the VPL-PRO1, followed by the older Sony VPL-HW15: Sharp XV-Z15000, Optoma HD8200, Epson Home Cinema 8700ub, JVC DLA-RS15, and the Panasonic PT-AE4000.

The VPL-PRO1 does extremely well in shadow detail on our Clint Eastwood dark scene from Space Cowboys:

VPL-VWPRO1 Comparsion

VPL-PRO1

VPL-HW15

Sharp XV-Z15000

Optoma HD8200

Epson Home Cinema 8700ub

JVC DLA-RS15

Panasonic PT-AE4000

Again, from Space Cowboys, this is a cropped image. The right side is very bright (so dynamic irises will not be effective). The VPL-PRO1 (top left) has good shadow detail in the dark areas of the satellite, note though, that those areas look darker than on some others. Next to it on the first row, is the older HW15, Those images are followed by the Epson 8700UB, and the JVC DLA-RS15 (second row). The third row is the Mitsubishi HC6800 (left), and the Optoma HD8600 on the right.

VPL-VWPRO1 Comparsion

VPL-PRO1

VPL-HW15

VPL-VWPRO1 Comparsion

8700ub

JVC_DLA-RS15

VPL-VWPRO1 Comparsion

HC6800

HD8600

Again, from Space Cowboys, this is a cropped image. The right side is very bright (so dynamic irises will not be effective). The VPL-PRO1 (top left) has good shadow detail in the dark areas of the satellite, note though, that those areas look darker than on some others. Next to it on the first row, is the older HW15, Those images are followed by the Epson 8700UB, and the JVC DLA-RS15 (second row). The third row is the Mitsubishi HC6800 (left), and the Optoma HD8600 on the right.