Remote Control
Epson's remote is well laid out, with key menu features directly accessable without having to go through the menu. Some of those include Aspect Ratio, Color Mode (SilverScreen, Cinema Day, Cinema Night, Vivid, etc.), Gamma, Contrast, Color Temperature and more.
The Backlight button is at the very bottom where you can't help but find it in the dark. There are also separate buttons for each source (Component, HDMI, S-Video, etc.).
The Epson also has storable user defined settings that can be called up from the Memory button near the top. Immediately below the Memory button is the Menu button.
Right below that are your four arrow keys, nicely spaced out with the Select (enter) button in the center, and the Escape button on the lower right.
Overall, one of the best remotes, with plenty of range, easy to find everything after a few hours of playing even without hitting the Backlight button to light it up. I should note too, that the backlight is plenty bright, unlike some projectors' remote controls that are backlit but dim enough to still be a nuisance in a fully dark room. Also all buttons are labeled so they light up with the backlight. unlike some remotes that label some buttons but others are labeled on the remote itself and not readable in the dark, even with the backlight engaged.
Menu Options
The first, nice thing about the Epson menus, is that all the main menus are visible, while you are looking at any of the first level of sub-menus. On the right you can see the Picture menu, and to the left of the Picture Menu choices you can see all the other key menus: Image, Settings, Memory, Info and Reset.
The Picture menu first gives you a choice of color presets, including Silver Screen, and HD (quietest modes, best contrast, darker picture. Silver Screen is designed for movie watching in a darkened room, and black and white movies. HD is designed for Hi-Def sources from your cable, satellite, etc.
In addition, there are other presets designed to handle more ambient light. Cinema Night may be preferred for movie watching where you have a little ambient light, or need a little more brightness for a large screen, white walls, etc.
I found Cinema Day to be a good alternative for movies with even more ambient light, also excellent for HDTV viewing. Vivid is your bright mode, for maximum brightness. Color balance falls off a bit, but is still better than most home theater projectors that I have worked with in their brightest modes.
Epson Pro Cinema 800 SlideShow
