Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality Posted on July 10, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Optoma HD25-LV Home Theater Projector Review - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Overview - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Highlights2. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Special Features - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Pricing - Gaming with the Optoma HD25-LV - Optoma HD25-LV 3D Performance - HD25-LV Lamp Life - 1.2:1 Zoom Lens - HD25-LV Dynamic Black3. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Physical Tour - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Appearance - HD25-LV Control Panel - HD25-LV Projector - Input/Output4. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour 2 - HD25-LV Menus - Optoma HD25-LV Remote Control5. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour 3 - Optoma HD25-LV Lens Throw - HD25-LV Projector - No Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen6. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Image Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Flesh Tones7. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 2 - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance - Black Levels Comparison8. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 3 - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD25-LV Projector - Bottom Line9. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD25-LV Projector - Bottom Line10. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 4 - Optoma HD25-LV - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: HDTV and Sports Viewing - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports11. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance - Optoma HD25-LV Brightness - Projector's Measurements - Color Temp over IRE Range (Bright mode) - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 1497 lumens Bright "brightest" mode 1794 lumens - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Bright mode)12. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 2 - HD25-LV Brilliant Color - Effect of Brilliant Color setting on lumen output (Bright mode) - HD25-LV Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration) - Comparing Image Modes13. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 3 - Optoma HD25-LV Sharpness - Optoma HD25-LV: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage14. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 4 - Image Noise15. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD25-LV Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Bright mode) - Optoma HD25-LV Basic Settings - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom) - Optoma HD25-LV Basic Settings - Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis) - Optoma HD25-LV Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode16. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - HD25-LV RGB Settings - HD25-LV Post Calibration settings17. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)18. Optoma HD25-LV – Projector Screens - Optoma HD25-LV - Projector Screens - Optoma HD25-LV in a Dedicated theater - What type of High Contrast Grey Projector Screens 19. Optoma HD25-LV – Competitors - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Epson Home Cinema 3020 - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Optoma HD33 - HD25-LV vs. Panasonic PT-AR100U - Optoma HD25-LV vs. BenQ W1070, BenQ W1080ST20. Optoma HD25-LV – Competitors 2 - Optoma HD25-LV Competitors - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Epson HC8350 - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Acer H9500BD21. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Warranty22. Optoma HD25-LV – Review Summary - Optoma HD25-LV - Review Summary - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - The Bottom Line - HD25-LV Brightness - Optoma HD25-LV 3D Projector23. Optoma HD25-LV – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the HD25-LV projector - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Pros and Cons - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Pros - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Cons24. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Specifications Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Image QualityA lot of processing goes on from the start of a photo shoot until you are viewing the Optoma HD25-LV images on your computer screen. As a result, these images are reasonable indications, but not accurate enough for truly comparing color, saturation and other aspects. Note: Selected images relating to shadow detail, and especially black level performance can be somewhat effective at demonstrating how the HD25-LV compares to other home projectors. Different computers, browsers, displays, graphics cards, and software affect how the image looks on your screen. The HD25-LV images came out looking very good, although when viewed on my Macbook Pro screen, a slight bit oversaturated. If you think these pictures look good, just wait until you take an HD25-LV home. 7/10/2013 – Art Feierman Optoma HD25-LV Out of the Box Picture Quality Out of the box, the HD25-LV projector is decent but far from wonderful. It’s watchable in the sense that buying an LCDTV, bringing it home and watching it in the “store demo” mode, which is optimized for dynamic, and wow, at the expense of right, and accurate. The tendencies aren’t exactly that, out of the box, but the point is that it’s watchable, but this projector improves immensely post calibration. The HD25-LV needs calibration settings, more than most in the price range, but still respectable for the family room, casual viewer. If you become a real enthusiast, get the HD25-LV calibrated. Or to save money, try our settings. Again, right out of the box, the HD25-LV is pretty watchable, but it becomes a serious projector with calibration (and hopefully, if there’s not much variation from lamp to lamp), by just using our calibration numbers that we provide elsewhere. Good luck. Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Flesh TonesFor a family room projector, picture quality (notably skin tones), are very pleasing, post adjustment. Sometimes too much red often surfaces though, normally in less bright scenes with faces, especially if you are using the default settings. I’ve found the HD25-LV is a little forgiving when viewed, but not a lot. I wasn’t overly thrilled with the brief time I spent with a standard DVD, much better with Blu-ray, or even HDTV. Leeloo (The Fifth Element) looks fantastic! Here it appears that the HD25-LV can really have really good skin tones at times. I would normally say that the film is a touch thin on reds in this scene, which come out nicely with the HD25-LV’s tendencies. The use of Brilliant Color, and the image noise issue, keep the projector from being considered natural in terms of look and feel. Calibrated though, I’m overall happy with the skin tone handling, even if it could always be better. Keep in mind this is still a low cost projector, even if it’s a good cut above entry level! Below are our three James Bond images from Casino Royale. Each has a different lighting scenario, the first – full sunlight, the second image; indoor fluorescent, and finally, filtered sunlight in the third image. And as one would expect, that causes each image of James Bond – Daniel Craig – to have different looking skin tones. All look pretty good! More images we like for considering skin tones: I do not know where this yellow orange is coming from in the priest image below from The Fifth Element. Take a close look, as this is about as bad as the HD25-LV manages to look on a skin tone. I’m talking about the issue that needs a closer look, which is is the affect of image noise on close ups of faces. You can see that colors in the face are harsh and limited in the image above (Priest from The Fifth Element). We discuss this further on the Performance page (next) under Image noise. You’ll definitely want to check out the images there. 1. Optoma HD25-LV Home Theater Projector Review - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Overview - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Highlights2. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Special Features - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Pricing - Gaming with the Optoma HD25-LV - Optoma HD25-LV 3D Performance - HD25-LV Lamp Life - 1.2:1 Zoom Lens - HD25-LV Dynamic Black3. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Physical Tour - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Appearance - HD25-LV Control Panel - HD25-LV Projector - Input/Output4. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour 2 - HD25-LV Menus - Optoma HD25-LV Remote Control5. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour 3 - Optoma HD25-LV Lens Throw - HD25-LV Projector - No Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen6. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Image Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - Flesh Tones7. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 2 - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance - Black Levels Comparison8. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 3 - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD25-LV Projector - Bottom Line9. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD25-LV Projector - Bottom Line10. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 4 - Optoma HD25-LV - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: HDTV and Sports Viewing - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports11. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance - Optoma HD25-LV Brightness - Projector's Measurements - Color Temp over IRE Range (Bright mode) - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 1497 lumens Bright "brightest" mode 1794 lumens - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Bright mode)12. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 2 - HD25-LV Brilliant Color - Effect of Brilliant Color setting on lumen output (Bright mode) - HD25-LV Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration) - Comparing Image Modes13. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 3 - Optoma HD25-LV Sharpness - Optoma HD25-LV: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage14. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 4 - Image Noise15. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD25-LV Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Bright mode) - Optoma HD25-LV Basic Settings - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom) - Optoma HD25-LV Basic Settings - Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis) - Optoma HD25-LV Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode16. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - HD25-LV RGB Settings - HD25-LV Post Calibration settings17. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)18. Optoma HD25-LV – Projector Screens - Optoma HD25-LV - Projector Screens - Optoma HD25-LV in a Dedicated theater - What type of High Contrast Grey Projector Screens 19. Optoma HD25-LV – Competitors - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Epson Home Cinema 3020 - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Optoma HD33 - HD25-LV vs. Panasonic PT-AR100U - Optoma HD25-LV vs. BenQ W1070, BenQ W1080ST20. Optoma HD25-LV – Competitors 2 - Optoma HD25-LV Competitors - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Epson HC8350 - Optoma HD25-LV vs. Acer H9500BD21. Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Warranty22. Optoma HD25-LV – Review Summary - Optoma HD25-LV - Review Summary - Optoma HD25-LV Projector - The Bottom Line - HD25-LV Brightness - Optoma HD25-LV 3D Projector23. Optoma HD25-LV – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the HD25-LV projector - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Pros and Cons - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Pros - Optoma HD25-LV Projector: Cons24. Optoma HD25-LV Projector Specifications Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Physical Tour 3 Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Image Quality 2