Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality 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 images below are from either Blu-ray or HDTV, with the exception of Lord of the Rings (standard DVD). Remember, by the time these images get to you, through digital camera, software, browsers, and monitor, there are minor color shifts, saturation differences, etc. The images are to support the commentary, but keep in mind the limitations when trying to compared images from the HD8200 with other home theater projectors. In reality, all projectors, including the HD8200, always look better live, than the images in our reviews. HD8200 Out of the Box Picture Quality The HD8200 isn’t bad, right out of the box, but the image is definitely on the cool side – too much blue, not enough red. Skin tones definitely show that bit of thinness in terms of red, tending to make people look as if under flourescent lighting. Oh, the picture is definitely watchable, but will improve significantly with a good calibration. Optoma HD8200 Projector - Flesh TonesOnce the HD8200 has been calibrated, the balance between red and blue, becomes excellent, and skin tones now look extremely good. They look good enough, that once or twice, (since I change projectors frequently when reviewing), I could occasionally forget that I had the HD8200 up, and not my reference JVC RS20, at least in terms of accurate skin tones. Here, first are a pair of images from my favorite movie not available yet on Blu-ray: Lord of the Rings, played from standard DVD. Both look very good. Below are the usual three images of Daniel Craig, as Bond, in Casino Royale, under different lighting conditions. As I always point out, Skin tones should look different under different lighting conditions. You can expect significantly different looking skin tones, when switching from bright sunlight, to nighttime, flourescent lighting, incandescent lighting, or even lighting in the shade, or a cloudy day. Consider these three imagfes, the first, in direct sunlight, the second is a scene with flourescent lighting, and the third, a sunny day, but Bond is sitting in the shade – indirect lighting. 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 – Physical Tour – 3 Optoma HD8200 Projector – Image Quality – 2