BenQ W1000 Projector Calibration and Settings2

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Art Feierman

BenQ W1000 Post Calibration Grayscale: User mode

Post calibration, we ended up with the same color temperature as we started, due to the lack of the grayscale RGB controls. Still the picture looked pretty good! when watching the W1000.

Color Temp over IRE Range (User 2, Normal color temp, Gamma set to 2.4)


20 IRE	6412
30 IRE	6437
40 IRE	6422
50 IRE	6367
60 IRE	6379
70 IRE	6398
80 IRE	6245
90 IRE	6232
100 IRE	6345
Average gamma 2.38

OK, those are the results of Mike's efforts - nice and tight, but definitely a little warm. In playing with the W1000, though, I found a control I think he missed. You can create a user color temp and when you do, you get another group of warm, cool, etc. But with more choices. So, instead of using Normal color temp, I found that creating a User color temp, and selecting the Warm setting, instead of Warmer, does cool the image down.

Mike hasn't seen the BenQ projector since, so it hasn't been remeasured, but I'd guess it added a couple hundred degrees. Whether the color temp is as consistent across the grayscale range, I don't know, Still, I like the picture much better this way. so it's part of my recommendation. And I also recommend you set the gamma at 2.2.

RGB Settings

None.

CMS settings

Cyan was too blue and Green was undersaturated (see CIE chart). Not much can be done about Green, but changing the Hue in the CMS from 10 to –70 for Cyan brought it where it should be.

Brightest Modes

Click to Enlarge. So Close.

Our brightest mode measurement worked out to over 2100 lumens. That qualifies it as a light canon in your home, or a nice bright entry level brightness business projector.

Shockingly, (and I'm serious), the color in brightest mode, with Brilliant Color on, was surprisingly good for a brightest mode. OK, with the Brilliant Color On, it is a touch over the top if you are observing closely. The color isn't as accurate, and cooler, and there's a bit of green, but it really does look good. By comparison, neither the more expensive Mitsubishi HC3800 nor the Epson Home Cinema 8100, (both fairly bright projectors), has color as good as the W1000, and in fact, the Mitsubishi isn't even close.

Consider this side by side. This is Dynamic on the W1000 and High Brightness on the Mitsubishi. The BenQ is on the left. No comparison, the W1000 wins in terms of color when at the projectors' brightest.