LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance Posted on February 20, 2010 By Art Feierman 1. LG CF181D Projector Review - CF181D Projector Highlights - LG CF181D Projector Overview2. CF181D Projector – Special Features - Creative Frame Interpolation: TruMotion - Color Management System (CMS) - LG CF181D Projector: Dynamic and Manual Iris - Overscan Feature, and Edge Masking Issues3. LG CF181D Physical Tour - LG CF181D Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output4. LG CF181D Menus - LG CF181D Menus - LG CF181D Remote Control5. LG CF181D Lens Throw - LG CF181D Lens Throw - DLA-CF181D Lens Shift - CF181D Anamorphic Lens Support6. LG CF181D Projector – Image Quality - LG CF181D Projector: Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones7. LG CF181D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - LG CF181D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - The over large image from 5thelement starship in LG_CF181D8. LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance9. LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance – 2 - Bottom line LG CF181D Blacks and Shadow detail10. LG CF181D Overall Color & Picture Quality - Overall Color & Picture Quality - LG CF181D Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports11. LG CF181D – Performance - LG CF181D Brightness - LG CF181D Projector - Uncalibrated12. LG CF181D: Sharpness - Sharpness13. LG CF181D: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - LG CF181D Image Noise - LG CF181D Audible Noise14. LG CF181D Projector Calibration and Settings - LG CF181D Projector Calibration and Settings - LG CF181D Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration) - LG CF181D Basic Settings15. LG CF181D Post Calibration Grayscale - LG CF181D Post Calibration Grayscale - Gamma settings - Regarding the CF181D Iris - LG CF181D RGB Settings16. LG CF181D – Projector Screens - LG CF181D Projector Screen Recommendations17. LG CF181D – Competitors - CF181D vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB - LG CF181D vs. BenQ W600018. LG CF181D vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - LG CF181D vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - LG CF181D vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - CF181D vs. JVC DLA-RS1519. LG CF181D Projector – Warranty20. LG CF181D – Review Summary - LG CF181D Projector - The Bottom Line - CF181D Brightness - LG CF181D Color Performance21. LG CF181D – Review Summary – 2 - Sharpness22. LG CF181D – Review Summary – 3 - The very bottom line23. LG CF181D Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - LG CF181D Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - LG CF181D Projector: Pros - LG CF181D Projector: Cons - LG CF181D Projector: Typical Capabilities24. LG CF181D Projector Specifications Shadow Detail Performance The LG CF181D definitely performs when it comes to black levels. I won’t conjecture if any others reveal more, but I can say, that it definitely outperforms those projectors that I find come up a little short (like the Epson UB projectors). Second, Epson on the right, LG CF181D on the left. For shadow detail, look into the brown area in the lower left of the satellite, also some of the dark areas top center. I consider the Epson to be a little below average, but then, the LG does best it. The first set of individual images for comparison 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). First image is the CF181D, followed by the JVC RS25 and the Mitsubishi HC7000. Next is the the Vivitek H9080FD, and extremely expensive LED light source DLP projector. The last two in the sequence are the Panasonic PT-AE4000 and the Epson Home Cinema 8500UB. CF181DThe JVC RS25 The Mitsubishi HC7000the Vivitek H9080FDThe Panasonic PT-AE4000The Epson Home Cinema 8500UBPreviousNext Again, from Space Cowboys, this is a cropped image. The right side is very bright (so dynamic irises will not be effective). The CF181D (top left) shows very good shadow detail in the dark areas of the satellite. Next to it on the first row, is the Epson 8500UB/9500UB. Then come the JVC DLA-RS25 and the PT-AE4000 (second row). The third row is the Mitsubishi HC7000 (left), and the Sony VPL-HW15. The CF181DEpson 8500UB/9500UBThe JVC DLA-RS25The PT-AE4000 Mitsubishi HC7000Sony VPL-HW15PreviousNext Next is a frame from the last Indiana Jones movie. You’ll see this one in other recent reviews. The details still found as the walls and fixtures darken toward the top, are a good way to compare shadow detail. The exposures are all a little different, but you should be able to appreciate the combination of shadow detail and dark blacks Click Image to EnlargeThe CF181DThe Epson 8500UB/9500UBThe JVC DLA-RS25PreviousNext 1. LG CF181D Projector Review - CF181D Projector Highlights - LG CF181D Projector Overview2. CF181D Projector – Special Features - Creative Frame Interpolation: TruMotion - Color Management System (CMS) - LG CF181D Projector: Dynamic and Manual Iris - Overscan Feature, and Edge Masking Issues3. LG CF181D Physical Tour - LG CF181D Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output4. LG CF181D Menus - LG CF181D Menus - LG CF181D Remote Control5. LG CF181D Lens Throw - LG CF181D Lens Throw - DLA-CF181D Lens Shift - CF181D Anamorphic Lens Support6. LG CF181D Projector – Image Quality - LG CF181D Projector: Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones7. LG CF181D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - LG CF181D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - The over large image from 5thelement starship in LG_CF181D8. LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance9. LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance – 2 - Bottom line LG CF181D Blacks and Shadow detail10. LG CF181D Overall Color & Picture Quality - Overall Color & Picture Quality - LG CF181D Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports11. LG CF181D – Performance - LG CF181D Brightness - LG CF181D Projector - Uncalibrated12. LG CF181D: Sharpness - Sharpness13. LG CF181D: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - LG CF181D Image Noise - LG CF181D Audible Noise14. LG CF181D Projector Calibration and Settings - LG CF181D Projector Calibration and Settings - LG CF181D Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration) - LG CF181D Basic Settings15. LG CF181D Post Calibration Grayscale - LG CF181D Post Calibration Grayscale - Gamma settings - Regarding the CF181D Iris - LG CF181D RGB Settings16. LG CF181D – Projector Screens - LG CF181D Projector Screen Recommendations17. LG CF181D – Competitors - CF181D vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB - LG CF181D vs. BenQ W600018. LG CF181D vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - LG CF181D vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - LG CF181D vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - CF181D vs. JVC DLA-RS1519. LG CF181D Projector – Warranty20. LG CF181D – Review Summary - LG CF181D Projector - The Bottom Line - CF181D Brightness - LG CF181D Color Performance21. LG CF181D – Review Summary – 2 - Sharpness22. LG CF181D – Review Summary – 3 - The very bottom line23. LG CF181D Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - LG CF181D Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - LG CF181D Projector: Pros - LG CF181D Projector: Cons - LG CF181D Projector: Typical Capabilities24. LG CF181D Projector Specifications LG CF181D Black Levels & Shadow Detail LG CF181D Shadow Detail Performance – 2