Shadow Detail Performance 2

Posted on February 10, 2010 By Art Feierman

The JVC RS35 is consistent with the RS25, in that it really does a good job in terms of shadow detail, though not the very best. This DLA-RS35 is better at dark shadow detail than the Epson UB, but just a touch less dark shadow detail than, say, the Panasonic PT-AE4000. Today’s better projectors don’t vary a whole lot in how much dark shadow detail they reveal. The choice of your brightness setting between the two closest to ideal, makes a difference, also how you set gamma can make a difference, but ultimately it’s more about getting a projector set up for its best performance. The JVC projectors – the 25, and 35 are definitely very good, but just not exceptional.

Consider this: Regarding dark shadow detail, working against the JVC are its inherently excellent black levels. That means that the same near blacks on the JVC will be darker than on a projector with inferior black level performance. That also means that the detail may be there, just harder to see, simply because it’s darker. I’ve owned the older RS20 for almost a year, and have no problem with JVC’s dark shadow detail performance. This JVC RS35 projector, in this regard seems to perform like my RS20.

Below, Epson on the left, JVC on the right. Look to the trees and shrubs on the far right, beyond the train tracks.

Click to enlarge. SO close

Below are groups of images, showing the JVC’s performance on shadow detail and black levels compared to many of the other 1080p projectors out there.

The first set of comparison images is from Space Cowboys. This is a very dark scene with Clint Eastwood on Blu-ray disc. The photos are intentionally way overexposed. 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 types of overexposed photos they always look terrible).

Click Image to Enlarge

Click to enlarge. SO close

First image is the JVC DLA-RS25, then the Sony VPL-VW85, and the Mitsubishi HC7000. Next is the the Sony HW15. The last two in the sequence are the Panasonic PT-AE4000 and the Epson Home Cinema 8500UB.