Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 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 In this section, we consider the brightness (including measurements), sharpness, and other issues including image, light leakage, and audible noise of Optoma’s HD25-LV home projector. Not a whole lot of surprises. Although be sure to read the short section on image noise below. Optoma HD25-LV BrightnessThe HD25-LV is a very bright home theater /entertainment projector. It claims a massive 3200 lumens, but don’t let that go to your head. Typically we find that Optoma’s claims are a lot less “conservative” than most of their competitors. On the other hand, we only care about what the projector’s brightness measures here, that’s what counts in the decision on whether it’s the right projector for you. So, let’s just come to terms early on, that when we measured this projector, at its brightest, it was within a hundred lumens of 2000, not 3000. Keep in mind we don’t go hunting every last lumen, we only care about useable ones. Sometimes you can, for example, get another 10 or 15% more brightness by cranking up some controls. You end up with an unwatchable image, but it will measure brighter. So, we can scold Optoma for their advanced “optimism” (or total lack of reality) but the bottom line is that roughly 2000 measured lumens is a lot of lumens, and makes this a projector that can tackle many family rooms and living rooms while providing a good picture. Projector's Measurements Cinema 1734 @ 6755 Bright 1794 @ 6667 Photo 1770 @ 7792 Reference 1378 @ 6578 User equals whichever mode you started from What matters most is the projector’s actual abilities! Time to consider the Optoma HD25-LV projector’s measurements These were measured with the zoom lens at mid-point, so not as bright as if the projector lens was zoomed to its largest, brightest image (wide-angle): Color Temp over IRE Range (Bright mode) 30 IRE 7033 50 IRE 6889 80 IRE 6733 100 IRE 6673 This is an unusual situation. Mike points out that Bright mode is as good as any mode the projector offers. I guess that’s not surprising as all the modes but Reference are similar in brightness. In color temp Cinema, Bright and Reference are also similar with only Photo being a lot “cooler” – more blue. Those numbers above, lumens and color temperatures, are all “right out of the box”, without any adjustments to settings like contrast or brightness, which can affect overall brightness. Here’s what Bright mode looked like as far as color temperature across the brightness spectrum: NOTE: Every mode except Photo has similar grayscale balance, with green low and blue high throughout the IRE range. Mike noted this about Grayscale Calibration: Optoma usually has full grayscale calibration abilities in their projectors. Not so with the HD25-LV. Instead of having Gain and Offset RGB controls to cover both ends of the IRE range, there is a single trio of RGB controls (that act full range) under “White” in the “Color Settings” portion of the menu. This can work if the RGB values are consistent throughout the range to begin with, but with the HD25-LV, they’re not. Nonetheless, I was able to get a decent grayscale balance with an average Delta E of 1.8. So, what are the final brightness numbers? Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 1497 lumens Bright "brightest" mode 1794 lumens Due to the saving settings issue, if not using the ‘calibrated” user, then the standard unadjusted Bright is the brightest with 300 extra lumens. Effect of zoom on lumen output (Bright mode) Zoom out 1915 (“wide-angle”) (placed at its closest to a screen) Mid-zoom 1794 Zoom in 1638 That 1915 was the most lumens we could measure without hunting for more, which normally means (if more lumens are found) degrading the image quality, such as wiping out lots of highlight detail. No surprises above. With a zoom lens with limited zoom (we don’t have a dramatic drop in brightness between wide and tele), and as you can see, the variation is only about 17%. On projectors with 2:1 type zooms, the drop can be as much as 40%. Of course, the trade-off is placement flexibility. 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 Quality 4 Optoma HD25-LV Projector – Performance 2