Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 2 Posted on January 1, 2010 By Art Feierman 1. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review2. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Overview - VPL-VW85 Projector Highlights3. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 3 - Specs for Sony VPL-VW85 - Sony VPL-VW85 Special Features - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) 4. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 4 - Individual SXRD panel adjustment - CFI - MotionFlow - Film MotionFlow5. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - Appearance - VPL-VW85 Control Panel6. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 3 - Input/Output - VPL-VW85 Menus7. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 4 - Sony VPL-VW85 Remote Control8. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 5 - Sony VPL-VW85 Remote Control - Lens Shift - VPL-VW85 Anamorphic Lens9. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - Image Quality - VPL-VW85 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones10. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Sony VPL-VW85 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 412. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 513. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 6 - Shadow Detail Performance14. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 715. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 816. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 917. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality18. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 11 - The very bottom line on overall image quality and color: - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports19. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-VW85 Brightness - The measured brightness of each mode (pre-calibration): Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration):20. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 221. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 322. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 4 - Sony VPL-VW85: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise23. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-VW85 Color Temperature - After calibration, the measurements are even closer to 6500K, and overall, an excellent set of results: - Sony VPL-VW85 Basic Settings24. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - RGB Settings25. Sony VPL-VW85 – Screen Recommendations26. 7Sony VPL-VW85 – Warranty27. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - The Bottom Line - Sony VPL-VW85 Brightness28. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary 2 - Fancy features: - The very bottom line: - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Pros29. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary 3 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Typical Capabilities The Sony VPL-VW85 is the middle projector in Sony’s SXRD (LCoS) home theater projector lineup. There’s a much more expensive VPL-VW200, and the much less expensive VPL-HW15 (which we’ve reviewed). The Sony VPL-VW85 is a larger projector, it sports a motorize zoom lens, and lens shift. It’s reasonably good looking, physically more attractive than most, but it’s the performance that will have you putting a serious dent in that credit card. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Overview The Sony VPL-VW85 is the middle projector in Sony’s SXRD (LCoS) home theater projector lineup. There’s a much more expensive VPL-VW200, and the much less expensive VPL-HW15 (which we’ve reviewed). The Sony VPL-VW85 is a larger projector, it sports a motorize zoom lens, and lens shift. It’s reasonably good looking, physically more attractive than most, but it’s the performance that will have you putting a serious dent in that credit card. The Sony VPL-VW85 has a dynamic iris to achieve its best black levels. It seems though, this year, Sony has improved the light engine so that black level performance is noticeably improved. This Sony seems less dependent on its iris thanks to better native blacks. Or rather, the end result, is much improved black level performance. One would certainly expect the Sony name to assure you of at least very good color. The VW85 delivers – post calibration, while not perfect, its still one of the best. There is a very slight emphasis on reds in skin tones that remained after Mike’s calibration, but a second attempt might well reduce that shift. Even so, “look’n good!” As will be discussed, picture quality is very good overall, a blend of excellent color, and superior black levels, and decent brightness (more would be better). The Sony VPL-VW85 is for the person with a good, light controlled room, a not too large screen, a desire for a truly excellent picture, and willing to pay the price. VPL-VW85 Projector HighlightsClick to enlarge So.close One of the absolute best under $10,000 projectors Very good color out of the box, excellent, post calibration Brightness in best mode, better than last year, is above average – with 598 lumens measured after calibration Click Image to Enlarge Brightness is definitely below average in brightest mode, when you need extra lumens for ambient light -we measured a slightly depressing 727 lumens Significantly improved black level performance, while still not the best, so close that it has to be considered comparable Sony adds CFI – creative frame interpolation this year Zoom lens is moderately short thow, may not work shelf mounted, in deep rooms, or in typical rooms with small to medium sized screens Adjustable vertical and horizontal lens shift, not as much range as some, but not bad at all! Dynamic iris offers very smooth operation Image sharpness is just average for a 1080p projector Premium projector, premium price: Good value. If you want this level of picture quality, the price is very reasonable. While not drastically better than the best $2000 – $3500 projectors, those craving top performance won’t have a problem rationalizing the $7500 retail price of the VPL-VW85 1. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review2. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Overview - VPL-VW85 Projector Highlights3. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 3 - Specs for Sony VPL-VW85 - Sony VPL-VW85 Special Features - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) 4. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 4 - Individual SXRD panel adjustment - CFI - MotionFlow - Film MotionFlow5. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - Appearance - VPL-VW85 Control Panel6. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 3 - Input/Output - VPL-VW85 Menus7. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 4 - Sony VPL-VW85 Remote Control8. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Physical Tour 5 - Sony VPL-VW85 Remote Control - Lens Shift - VPL-VW85 Anamorphic Lens9. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - Image Quality - VPL-VW85 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones10. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Sony VPL-VW85 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 412. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 513. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 6 - Shadow Detail Performance14. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 715. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 816. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 917. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality18. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Image Quality 11 - The very bottom line on overall image quality and color: - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports19. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-VW85 Brightness - The measured brightness of each mode (pre-calibration): Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration):20. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 221. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 322. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector – Performance 4 - Sony VPL-VW85: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise23. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-VW85 Color Temperature - After calibration, the measurements are even closer to 6500K, and overall, an excellent set of results: - Sony VPL-VW85 Basic Settings24. Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - RGB Settings25. Sony VPL-VW85 – Screen Recommendations26. 7Sony VPL-VW85 – Warranty27. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector - The Bottom Line - Sony VPL-VW85 Brightness28. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary 2 - Fancy features: - The very bottom line: - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Pros29. Sony VPL-VW85 – Review Summary 3 - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-VW85 Projector: Typical Capabilities Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review Sony VPL-VW85 Projector Review 3 You May Also Like Optoma W460 Business and Education Projector Review Epson PowerLite 108 Projector Review InFocus IN2128HDx Business and Classroom Projector Review Sony VPL-EW435 Business and Education Projector Review Epson PowerLite 990U Projector Review BenQ HT2550 Projector Review – The Best 4K UHD Value Yet? Epson PowerLite 675W Ultra Short Throw Classroom Projector Review InFocus IN116xa Portable Projector Review Dell S718QL – A 4K UHD, Ultra Short Throw, Laser Projector Review NEC NP-P474U Business and Education Projector Review