Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 3 Posted on July 15, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Mitsubishi HC8000D Home Theater Projector Review - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Overview2. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features - Adding 3D to the HC8000D - 3D Gaming with the Mitsubishi HC8000D: Lag Times! - HC8000 6X Color Wheel vs. Rainbow Effect - HC8000D Lamp Life3. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features Part 2 - 1.5:1 Zoom Lens - HC8000D Projector - 3D Performance4. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features Part 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000 Projector: 2D to 3D conversion - HC8000D Creative Frame Interpolation - CFI - smooth motion5. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Appearance - HC8000D Control Panel - HC8000D Projector - Input/Output6. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Physical Tour Part 2 - HC8000D Menus - Mitsubishi HC8000D Remote Control - Mitsubishi HC8000D Lens Throw - Mitsubishi HC8000 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC8000D Out of the Box Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Flesh Tones - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Flesh Tones8. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HC8000 Projector - Bottom Line9. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000D - Overall Color & Picture Quality10. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 4 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance - Mitsubishi HC8000D Brightness - HC7900DW - Post Calibration: User "best" mode (placed in User AV Memory 1) = 465 lumens12. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance 2 - HC8000 D in Eco-mode vs. Full power - Mitsubishi HC8000D Pre-Calibration Color temp, Cinema Mode - Post calibration: AV Memory 1 Mode HC8000D Color Temp over IRE Range - Mitsubishi HC8000D13. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Mitsubishi HC8000D: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise14. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Calibration and Settings - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best Mode - Lumen Output and Color Temp for various Picture modes at 100 IRE - Mitsubishi HC8000D Basic Settings15. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - HC8000D RGB Settings - Calibration settings16. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)17. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Screen Recommendations18. Mitsubishi HC8000D – Competitors - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Epson Pro Cinema 6020 UB and Home Cinema 5020 UB - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Sony VPL-HW50ES - HC8000D vs. Sharp XV-Z3000019. Mitsubishi HC8000D – Competitors 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Optoma HD8200, HD8300 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Viewsonic Pro 9000 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. PT-AE800020. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Warranty21. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - The Bottom Line22. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 2 - HC8000D Color and Overall Picture Quality23. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 3 - HC8000 DW Projector - Brightness for 2D viewing - HC8000 Projector - 3D Brightness - The Very Bottom Line on the HC8000D projector24. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 4 - BenQ W1070 Projector: Pros and Cons - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Cons25. Mitsubishi HC8000D Full Specifications HC8000 DW Projector - Brightness for 2D viewingThe HC8000 was measured at 465 lumens calibrated (486 before calibration), with the zoom at mid-point. That’s pretty close to the 500 lumens we call average. That said, it proves to be one of the least bright (calibrated) in the price range. That 465 lumens is in full power mode (a little noisy, but not exceptionally so), is with Brilliant Color Off. The HC8000D is definitely visibly better with BC turned off if you are looking for the best possible picture. But if you turn it on, the HC8000 still produces really good color. The brightest alternative is to change the color temp of the Mitsubishi to High Brightness – but, to me, that’s pretty much unwatchable, the green is so dominant, and you can’t adjust that setting. (See what it looks like compared to “best” mode by clicking here and scroll down to the “green” image). Too bad, really. If they provided enough control, maybe the ugly 1174 measured lumens, might have yielded a more watchable 1000 or 1050 lumens (with the zoom at wide angle/closest). Even bumping up contrast to +11, mid on the zoom, which does affect color accuracy detrimentally, still produes less than the average 1000 lumens, specifically 888 lumens measured that way. In speaking average, we really should raise that to about 1200+ lumens for 3D capable projectors at their brightest. Consider there are even a few projectors today, hitting 2000 lumens with reasonably good color. Those “shine” on 3D. HC8000 Projector - 3D BrightnessWith a basic white screen with typical modest gain: 1.3 to 1.4, I think the HC8000D is best doing 3D on screens 92″ diagonal or less. At 100″ diagonal I was personally never satisfied with brightness in 3D, and that’s in a very dark theater. The call though, is yours. As I said, I tend to demand a bit more brightness than a decent number of my readers. The Very Bottom Line on the HC8000D projector Great color! Nice, sharp image without “gimmicks”. I really did enjoy watching the HC8000D as long as I didn’t go too large an image. In 2D, no problem watching a 2.35:1 movie filling my full 124″ diagonal 1.3 gain screen in my theater. That I found most satisfying. Black level performance of the HC8000 D is definitely “ultra-high contrast”. I find it to be better than all but a few projectors in the price range, and expect it has no trouble besting some fine projectors including the Panasonic PT-AE8000U and the BenQ W7000. The overall brightness we’ve discussed isn’t a problem, it simply sets limits on what type of room setup the HC8000D should go in, and the number of folks who will find it a really good match for their viewing preferences and environment. Overall, a most impressive projector. It’s not the right one for my room, and my tastes (which include lots of sports with intentional ambient light present), but it might be just what you are looking for, if you have a smaller screen. I believe that there are enough other really good competing projectors out there – most of which are brighter, that you consumers have lots of choice. DLP fans in particular, though, should give this one a close look. That said, the HC8000D does have a lot going for it, and it will be a great choice for a good number of people, especially those demanding great color and sharpness, and especially its handling of skin tones once calibrated. If you are a DLP fan, and the brightness and feature set of the Mitsubishi meets your needs, then consider the HC8000D projector to be one of the best choices available to you. 1. Mitsubishi HC8000D Home Theater Projector Review - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Overview2. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features - Adding 3D to the HC8000D - 3D Gaming with the Mitsubishi HC8000D: Lag Times! - HC8000 6X Color Wheel vs. Rainbow Effect - HC8000D Lamp Life3. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features Part 2 - 1.5:1 Zoom Lens - HC8000D Projector - 3D Performance4. Mitsubishi HC8000D Special Features Part 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000 Projector: 2D to 3D conversion - HC8000D Creative Frame Interpolation - CFI - smooth motion5. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Appearance - HC8000D Control Panel - HC8000D Projector - Input/Output6. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Physical Tour Part 2 - HC8000D Menus - Mitsubishi HC8000D Remote Control - Mitsubishi HC8000D Lens Throw - Mitsubishi HC8000 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC8000D Out of the Box Picture Quality - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Flesh Tones - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - Flesh Tones8. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HC8000 Projector - Bottom Line9. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000D - Overall Color & Picture Quality10. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Image Quality 4 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance - Mitsubishi HC8000D Brightness - HC7900DW - Post Calibration: User "best" mode (placed in User AV Memory 1) = 465 lumens12. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance 2 - HC8000 D in Eco-mode vs. Full power - Mitsubishi HC8000D Pre-Calibration Color temp, Cinema Mode - Post calibration: AV Memory 1 Mode HC8000D Color Temp over IRE Range - Mitsubishi HC8000D13. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Performance 3 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Mitsubishi HC8000D: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise14. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Calibration and Settings - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best Mode - Lumen Output and Color Temp for various Picture modes at 100 IRE - Mitsubishi HC8000D Basic Settings15. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - HC8000D RGB Settings - Calibration settings16. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)17. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector Screen Recommendations18. Mitsubishi HC8000D – Competitors - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Epson Pro Cinema 6020 UB and Home Cinema 5020 UB - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Sony VPL-HW50ES - HC8000D vs. Sharp XV-Z3000019. Mitsubishi HC8000D – Competitors 2 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Optoma HD8200, HD8300 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. Viewsonic Pro 9000 - Mitsubishi HC8000D vs. PT-AE800020. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Warranty21. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector - The Bottom Line22. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 2 - HC8000D Color and Overall Picture Quality23. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 3 - HC8000 DW Projector - Brightness for 2D viewing - HC8000 Projector - 3D Brightness - The Very Bottom Line on the HC8000D projector24. Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 4 - BenQ W1070 Projector: Pros and Cons - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector: Cons25. Mitsubishi HC8000D Full Specifications Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 2 Mitsubishi HC8000D Projector – Review Summary 4