Acer PH530: 720p Home Theater Projector Review - Image Quality2

Posted on October 23, 2007 by Art Feierman

Acer PH530 Black Levels and Shadow Detail

Acer

BenQ

❮ ❯

Click to Enlarge. So Close.

OK, one last comparison. Click on the thumbnail image below left for the PH530 image (overexposed so you can make out what details in the satellite on the left, are visible on the screen). The right image is a similar frame, shot with of the Mitsubishi HC1500. Unfortunately, the level of overexposure isn't identical (never is), but you can still understand which projector makes it easier to make out these shadow details.

Click Image to Enlarge

Here's a closeup of the building above.

Above is the Acer, below, the BenQ

While you are observing the two images above, also look at the sharpness. You can see that the BenQ is definitely the sharper of the two.

Ok, back to our black levels and shadow detail.

The satellite photo looks pretty good, but blacks are not as dark, "inky black", as more expensive projectors. Most of the dim stars are visible.

This overexposed (above) image of Clint Eastwood in Space Cowboys, reveals a respectable amount of shadow information in the wall on the right half of the image, but the blacks don't get black enough to bring out all the information.

Next is an image from Lord of the Rings. This image below is badly overexposed so you can see the details that the projector captures in the shed on the right, along the ground and the structure on the left. This image is available in most reviews done in the last couple of years.

Our last image is from Space Cowboys, and is an overexposed image of the re-entry scene. Click on the left thumbnail image. Look for subtle detail in the right side of the earth. The image to the right will be from the Panasonic PT-AX200U, a projector I am reviewing right now. It will be plugged in in a few days, and I'll update this content.