Mitsubishi HC4000 Special Features Posted on July 16, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Review - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Overview2. Mitsubishi HC4000 Special Features - Black Level Performance - DarkChip 3 - HC4000 Lamp Life - 1.5:1 Zoom Lens3. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - Appearance - HC4000 Control Panel - Input/Output - HC4000 Menus - Mitsubishi HC4000 Remote Control - Mitsubishi HC4000 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - Flesh Tones5. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Mitsubishi HC4000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail6. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 37. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Mitsubishi HC4000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports8. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance - Mitsubishi HC4000 Brightness - Effect of Brilliant Color on lumen output (Sports mode):9. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance 2 - Lumen Output on Low Lamp (Sports mode, Medium Color Temp, Brilliant Color off) - Mitsubishi HC4000: Bottom Line Sharpness10. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance 3 - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise11. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Mitsubishi HC4000 Basic Settings - Mitsubishi HC4000 Post Calibration Grayscale - RGB Settings12. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Projector Screens - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Screen Recommendations13. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Competitors - HC3800 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8100 and Home Cinema 8500UB - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500, HC6800 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z700 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. BenQ W600014. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Competitors 2 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Sharp XV-Z15000 - HC3800 vs. Optoma HD20 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. BenQ W1000 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300015. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Warranty16. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Review Summary - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - The Bottom Line - The Very Bottom Line on the HC4000 projector: - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Cons - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Typical Capabilities17. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Full Specifications Black Level Performance - DarkChip 3In speaking with Mitsubishi product management, they immediately pointed out that the biggest change to be found in the HC4000, is the upgrading of performance of the DLP chip. Basically Mitsubishi has gone with a DLP chip with better contrast for better blacks. (Yes, we were able to see the difference.) I have both here, and have done side by side photos, which you will see further into the review. HC4000 Lamp LifeLamp life may not be as exciting as black level performance, but it usually is of particular interest to those buying relatively entry level priced projectors. After all, if cost wasn’t a consideration, you would probably be reading a review of some $4000 or $8000 projector now, not one that’s under $1500. Most lamps are rated 2000 hours at full power, and 3000 in low, or “eco-mode” power. Though many projectors are sporting longer life bulbs the last year or so. The Mitsubishi HC4000, however is rated 3000 hours at full power, and an extremely long 5000 hours in low power mode. Combine that with a the Mitsubishi’s very bright “best mode” and a lot of folks will be running in “eco-mode” for their movie watching, while with another projector, they might be at full power, getting only 2000 hours, instead of 5000 hours. That trade-off can save you hundreds of dollars in a year or three, depending on how much you use your projector. For example, compared to the lower cost Optoma HD20, if both are used with lamp at full power, and you watch 20 hours a week, you will have used 2 additional lamps for the Optoma by 6000 hours, but only 1 for the HC4000 – bingo, you’ve just saved over half the cost difference between the two projectors, assuming typical lamp pricing. Of course 6000 hours, represents 40 hours a week for 3 years, not an unreasonable amount for those of us who use our systems as our general TV, as well as for movie watching. If you want to best the life of the Mitsubishi lamp, the only one I can think of, that’s noticeably better are the Epson’s which claim up to 5000 hours in any mode. Still, the Mitsubishi lamp should outlast most of the competitions! 1.5:1 Zoom LensNothing has changed with the lens setup: The HC4000 is one of a recent batch of DLP projectors that are finally offering more than the absolute minimal 1.2:1 zoom lenses. Finally, you’ll have a bit of placement flexibility if you need it. I’m not sure how many people buy 3LCD projectors over DLP projectors simply because of placement flexibility advantages of the typical 3LCD projector. That said, the HC4000 still lacks adjustable lens shift so it can’t be rear shelf mounted, although with the longer zoom range, in some rooms that aren’t too deep, you could mount the projector under a shelf on the rear wall, or a mount coming from the rear wall. Ultimately, though, a projector either works in your setup or not. The HC4000 has more chance of working, then, say the lower cost Optoma HD20, which is more limited. Related to the zoom lens, is the HC4000’s compatibility with using an anamorphic lens, which it does. The HC4000 projector however has two anamorphic modes, the usual, designed to work with the lens for Cinemascope movies, and the second mode, so you can watch everything else without removing the anamorphic lens. In other words no motorized sled needed). This is discussed further in the Performance section of this projector review. 1. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Review - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Overview2. Mitsubishi HC4000 Special Features - Black Level Performance - DarkChip 3 - HC4000 Lamp Life - 1.5:1 Zoom Lens3. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - Appearance - HC4000 Control Panel - Input/Output - HC4000 Menus - Mitsubishi HC4000 Remote Control - Mitsubishi HC4000 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - Flesh Tones5. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Mitsubishi HC4000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail6. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 37. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Mitsubishi HC4000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports8. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance - Mitsubishi HC4000 Brightness - Effect of Brilliant Color on lumen output (Sports mode):9. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance 2 - Lumen Output on Low Lamp (Sports mode, Medium Color Temp, Brilliant Color off) - Mitsubishi HC4000: Bottom Line Sharpness10. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Performance 3 - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise11. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Mitsubishi HC4000 Basic Settings - Mitsubishi HC4000 Post Calibration Grayscale - RGB Settings12. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Projector Screens - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Screen Recommendations13. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Competitors - HC3800 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8100 and Home Cinema 8500UB - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500, HC6800 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z700 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. BenQ W600014. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Competitors 2 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Sharp XV-Z15000 - HC3800 vs. Optoma HD20 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. BenQ W1000 - Mitsubishi HC3800 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300015. Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Warranty16. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Review Summary - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector - The Bottom Line - The Very Bottom Line on the HC4000 projector: - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Cons - Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector: Typical Capabilities17. Mitsubishi HC4000 – Full Specifications Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector Review Mitsubishi HC4000 Projector – Physical Tour