Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 3 Posted on March 29, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Optoma HD8200 Projector Review - Optoma HD8200 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD8200 Projector Highlights - HD8200 Projector Highlights3. Optoma HD8200 Special Features - Optoma HD8200 Color Wheel4. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour - Optoma HD8200 Physical Appearance - HD8200 Projector - Control Panel - Optoma HD8200 Inputs and Outputs5. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Menus - Optoma HD8200 Remote Control6. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour – 3 - HD8200 Lens Throw - HD8200 Lens Shift - HD8200 Anamorphic Lens7. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality - HD8200 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD8200 Projector - Flesh Tones8. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 2 - HD8200 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison9. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 310. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison11. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 5 - Space Cowboys Comparison - Satellite Comparison12. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 6 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Satellite Comparison13. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 7 - Projector Comparison - Thumbnail Comparison14. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 8 - The Night Train Scene15. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 9 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports16. Optoma HD8200 – Performance - Optoma HD8200 Brightness - Brightness Measurements - Pre-Calibration(user mode) - Measured Color Temperatures17. Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Sharpness - Optoma HD8200 Sharpness Comparison - Computer Monitor Comparison18. Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 3 - Optoma HD8200: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Optoma HD8200 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD8200 Color Temperature - User Measurements - Optoma HD8200 Basic Settings - Our final settings (numbers in parens are the default numbers)20. Optoma HD8200 Projector Calibration and Settings – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Post Calibration Grayscale - RGB Settings - Calibration settings: (default in parenthesis)21. Optoma HD8200 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD8200 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors - HD8200 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Optoma HD8200 vs. Mitsubishi HC700023. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 2 - Optoma HD8200 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Optoma HD8200 vs. BenQ W500024. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 3 - HD8200 vs. InFocus IN83 - Optoma HD8200 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300025. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 4 - Optoma HD8200 vs. JVC DLA-RS1026. Optoma HD8200 – Warranty27. Optoma HD8200 – Review Summary - Optoma HD8200 Projector - The Bottom Line28. Optoma HD8200 – Review Summary – 229. Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Typical Capabilities30. Optoma HD8200 Projector Specifications Optoma HD8200: Bottom Line SharpnessContent is often a key determining factor, rather than the HD8200 itself, when it comes to having a sharp image. The better the source material, the sharper the HD8200 looks. Feed a standard DVD, standard TV, or even a 720p HDTV broadcast, and any differences in sharpness will be compromised by the lower resolution source material. Feed it a Blu-ray disc (1080p) or a 1080i source, though, and you can really appreciate the HD8200’s crisp image. All considered, I consider sharpness differences between most 1080p projectors to definitely be at the most, a secondary consideration. Still it should be at least a small factor in your decision process. In fairness, I do get emails from folks that have owned DLP projectors who have bought 3LCD or LCoS projectors, and if they have a complaint, it is that they consider their old projector to be sharper, even though they may be getting better black levels, and other improvements. Light LeakageThe HD8200 isn’t bad. It does, however leak light through the lens. That can be seen around the image. It’s pretty faint, but enough that in will be visible on your walls if light colored, when viewing a very, very, dark scene. Definitely not enough light leaks out to be considered a problem. In fact, I’d say that the level of light leakage out the lens is roughly the same as the JVC RS10, a definitely more expensive projector. Image NoiseThe HD8200’s image noise performance is very good, based on our using the HQV test disk. The Optoma did well on all the standard jaggie and standard motion artifacts tests. There is definitely a bit of background image noise, but at levels typical of DLP projectors. Overall, performance would have to be considered very good. Audible NoiseThe HD8200 is one of the quieter DLP home theater projectors. Overall, it would have to be considered about average when compared to projectors using the various technologies. Optoma claims 22db and 26db respectively for low and high power modes. That seems believable if perhaps a little optimistic with the full power number. Considering the noisiest home theater projectors, at full power, tend to be in the 31 – 34 db range, the Optoma is definitely, significantly quieter. If you have the dynamic iris engaged you can here its soft clicking sound, but it too, is quiet enough, most just won’t notice it at all. 1. Optoma HD8200 Projector Review - Optoma HD8200 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD8200 Projector Highlights - HD8200 Projector Highlights3. Optoma HD8200 Special Features - Optoma HD8200 Color Wheel4. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour - Optoma HD8200 Physical Appearance - HD8200 Projector - Control Panel - Optoma HD8200 Inputs and Outputs5. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Menus - Optoma HD8200 Remote Control6. Optoma HD8200 – Physical Tour – 3 - HD8200 Lens Throw - HD8200 Lens Shift - HD8200 Anamorphic Lens7. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality - HD8200 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD8200 Projector - Flesh Tones8. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 2 - HD8200 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison9. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 310. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison11. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 5 - Space Cowboys Comparison - Satellite Comparison12. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 6 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Satellite Comparison13. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 7 - Projector Comparison - Thumbnail Comparison14. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 8 - The Night Train Scene15. Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 9 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports16. Optoma HD8200 – Performance - Optoma HD8200 Brightness - Brightness Measurements - Pre-Calibration(user mode) - Measured Color Temperatures17. Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Sharpness - Optoma HD8200 Sharpness Comparison - Computer Monitor Comparison18. Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 3 - Optoma HD8200: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Optoma HD8200 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD8200 Color Temperature - User Measurements - Optoma HD8200 Basic Settings - Our final settings (numbers in parens are the default numbers)20. Optoma HD8200 Projector Calibration and Settings – 2 - Optoma HD8200 Post Calibration Grayscale - RGB Settings - Calibration settings: (default in parenthesis)21. Optoma HD8200 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD8200 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors - HD8200 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Optoma HD8200 vs. Mitsubishi HC700023. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 2 - Optoma HD8200 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Optoma HD8200 vs. BenQ W500024. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 3 - HD8200 vs. InFocus IN83 - Optoma HD8200 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300025. Optoma HD8200 – Competitors – 4 - Optoma HD8200 vs. JVC DLA-RS1026. Optoma HD8200 – Warranty27. Optoma HD8200 – Review Summary - Optoma HD8200 Projector - The Bottom Line28. Optoma HD8200 – Review Summary – 229. Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD8200 Projector: Typical Capabilities30. Optoma HD8200 Projector Specifications Optoma HD8200 – Performance – 2 Optoma HD8200 Projector Calibration and Settings