Epson Powerlite Pro G7905U 3LCD Projector: Features

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Art Feierman

EPSON PRO G7905 PROJECTOR REVIEW - SPECIAL FEATURES: Pixel Shifting 4K and 2K Content There are really way to many features on these laser projectors to go into any great detail on most of them, but we'll spend more focus on the relatively unique ones. This page discusses and provides closeup images of the benefits of the G7905's pixel-shifting skills.

Pixel Shifting - A Plus for 2K, an Alternative to 4K

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Pixel shifting can do good things. I want to first say though, that taking a 2K projector and adding pixel shifting cannot match a true 4K projector! The question is, how close can it get when fed 4K content?

All but the last two images in this player used 4K content (and show pixel shifting/processing On, Off), those last two are 1080i doing pixel shifting Off, On). While there's noticeable improvement with pixel shifting on on 2K content, the end result is even better when the Pro G7905 is fed 4K content.

The differences on the screen were greater - more visible - because the heavy compression and scaling of these images for the web, takes a real toll, by reducing overall quality of all these images, thus rendering the differences less noticeable!

The Epson G7905U projector can accept content up to, and including true 4K content (multiple 4K resolutions). When fed 4K content, this Epson projector will use pixel shifting to fine tune the image to more closely resemble 4K sharpness and detail. That's because the pixel shifting fires each pixel twice, but shifting the location by 1/2 pixel diagonally. With good image processing, that can more closely emulate the original 4K content. Still each pixel is 4X the size of a true 4K pixel, so while the benefits are clearly visible, the G7905 cannot match a true 4K projector when extremely fine lines are being reproduced, (even if a noticeably superior to basic 2K), but it can come shockingly close on more general images.

It really comes down to what makes the most sense. As you can see in these images above, there are pairs of 4K content, with pixel shifting turned On and Off for comparison. The difference is impressive. I will reshoot some of these images the next time a true 4K projector comes through here (that will be in the next month or so), using a true 4K projector for comparison.

The point is, that small type, fine details that can't be made out with a basic 2K - WUXGA (or 1080p) projector, can often be resolved with pixel shifting. Is it a night vs day difference? No, not quite, but enough to make a real readability difference on CAD, engineering, and scientific drawings, renderings, and anything else demanding max detail, by taking items that are just not quite readable, and turn them into just readable!

Where does this pixel shifting Epson get us, compared to a true 4K projector?

Depending on what you are looking at, I'd say, perhaps half way there. Give or take.

Why is that important? Well, mostly because true 4K projectors cost at least 4X-5X their 2K counterparts. Consider this. Sony 5,000 lumen true 4K laser projector: $60,000. This Epson pixel shifting 7000 lumen G7905U is $6499.

These Epson's do lose some advanced features when 4K pixel shifting is used

A last important thought about pixel shifting with these Epson projectors - a lot of the processing gets turned off, when pixel shifting is turned on. That includes edge blending, and Creative Frame Interpolation, but even some more basic things, including some types of noise reduction. More elsewhere on this.

I would expect that a lot of folks that were thinking they need a true 4K projector, due to the high cost, will likely want to give "pixel shifters" like these Powerlite Pro L1500 and L1505 a close look. Some will rightly decide 4K is the right way to go for their situation, while others may find these are "close enough" or more than good enough, especially in light of the massive price differences.

In in the next couple of years, I wouldn't be surprised if pixel shifting starts appearing on even lower priced projectors than Epson's G 7000 series, especially once true 4K laser projectors start coming down in price (no sign of that yet). Meantime here's a 2K pixel shifter, that may well save the day, providing a solution where, until now, only true 4K (at those stratospheric prices), would be acceptable.