Mitsubishi HC7900DW Projector - Performance

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Art Feierman

This section covers the HC7900DW's brightness (including many measurements on color temperature), sharpness, and image noise. Also covered on this page, are other physical attributes including light leakage and audible noise for the HC7900DW projector.

Mitsubishi HC7900DW Brightness

Lumen Output and Color Temp for various Picture modes at 100 IRE
Cinema	713 @ 6855
Video	713 @ 6650
3D	962 @ 7431
Game	962 @ 7424
A/V Memories	713 @ 6550

I'll start off by pointing out that the Mitsubishi HC7900DW is very typical in terms of "best mode" brightness when compared to other projectors in its price range. On the other hand, it doesn't do as well when you need the brightest image, and still expect respectable color.

There's more information, and all the settings Mike came up with, on the Calibration page. In addition Mike provides some calibration notes and opinions.

Let's focus on the actual measurements, and how they might work for you.

Those numbers are all "right out of the box", without any adjustments.

Post Calibration: User "best" mode (placed in User AV Memory 1) = 701 lumens

That's healthy, for a calibrated projector. The HC7900DW calibrated, is fractionally brighter than the competing Panasonic and Epson LCD projectors, and also measured almost 5% brighter than last year's HC7800D.

Click Image to Enlarge

HC7900DW Brightest Mode (that you would never want to watch)

1315 at full wide angle, 1236 at mid-point on the zoom.

Note, I didn't even bother to give you a larger image to click on. Would you want to watch skin tones like those in this image above from Victoria Secret, or give up about 20% of brightness to have picture quality approaching the image above it? (More comparison images below!)

Click Image to Enlarge

HC7900DW Brightest "Watchable" mode Game (or Cinema), Brilliant Color on, Contrast at +10: 1112 lumens

Here you go. Brighter than "best" calibrated, but still drastically better than "brightest":

Sorry folks - the High Bright color temp mode of the HC7900 offers no way to improve its color which is extremely green, and has almost no red. I mean it's looking a lot like the green caste in The Matrix (if you recall).

Click Image to Enlarge

Effect of zoom on lumen output (Game mode)
Zoom out	1024
Mid zoom	962
Zoom in	883

Sorry folks - the High Bright color temp mode of the HC7900 offers no way to improve its color which is extremely green, and has almost no red. I mean it's looking a lot like the green caste in The Matrix (if you recall).

But, this projector is still capable of over 1000 lumens - in fact 1112 lumens with pretty decent "brightest mode" color. And that's at the usual "mid-point" on the zoom lens. If you can place at the closest, that jumps about 6% to approximately 1181 lumens.