Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-3 Posted on December 6, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review - Optoma HD8600 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review-2 - HD8600 Projector Highlights - Pure Motion - Creative Frame Interpolation - Pure Motion - Creative Frame Interpolation3. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review-3 - Color Management System (CMS) - Pure Color - comparision - Interchangeable Lens System - Pure Detail4. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour - Optoma HD8600 Physical Appearance - Input/Output5. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-2 - Optoma HD8600 Menus6. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-3 - Optoma HD8600 Remote Control - DLA-HD8600 Lens Throw7. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-4 - DLA-HD8600 Lens Shift - HD8600 Anamorphic Lens Support8. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality - HD8600 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones9. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-2 - Optoma HD8600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - comparision10. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-3 - Optoma HD8600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail-211. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-4 - Shadow Detail Performance12. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-5 - comparision13. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-614. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-7 - comparision15. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-816. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-9 - comparision17. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality18. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-11 - Optoma HD8600U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports19. Optoma HD8600 – Performance - Optoma HD8600 Brightness - Optoma HD8600 Projector - Uncalibrated - Brightest Mode20. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-221. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-3 - BenQ W20000 - Light Leakage22. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-4 - Optoma HD8600 Image Noise - Optoma HD8600 Audible Noise23. Optoma HD8600 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD8600 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best Mode (Pre calibration) - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE - Optoma HD8600 Basic Settings24. Optoma HD8600 Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - Optoma HD8600 Post Calibration Grayscale - Calibrated color temps, 20 – 100 IRE - Gamma settings - Regarding the HD8600 Manual Iris - Optoma HD8600 RGB Settings - Calibration settings25. Optoma HD8600 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD8600 - Projector Screens26. Optoma HD8600 – Competitors - HD8600 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - Optoma HD8600 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. BenQ W6000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Planar PD8150 and Optoma HD8600 - HD8600 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP8602 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. JVC DLA-RS20, DLA-RS15 and RS35! - Optoma HD8600 vs. Sony VPL-HW15, VPL-VW85, Optoma HD860027. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Warranty28. Optoma HD8600 – Review Summary - Optoma HD8600 Projector - The Bottom Line - Brightness29. Optoma HD8600 – Review Summary-2 - Fancy features - Optoma HD8600 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities30. Optoma HD8600 Projector: Pros31. Optoma HD8600 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD8600 Projector: Typical Capabilities32. Optoma HD8600 Projector Specifications Optoma HD8600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail-2I’ve even got a couple of side by side images for you, all are comparing the Optoma HD8600 (right) to the Panasonic PT-AE4000 (left). I chose the Panasonic PT-AE4000 because it represents very good quality black level performance, and excellent shadow detail. I had considered using the Epson 9500UB instead, but, overall, the Optoma is more similar to the Panasonic, and the Epson is definitely not as good on shadow details. Here are two more dark scenes comparing the Optoma (right) and Panasonic (left) from Space Cowboys. To give you an idea of how different dynamic iris operations can affect different images, check these out. For example, in the first image, the blacks are virtually identical. In the second image pair, though, the Panasonic is doing the blacker blacks (that frame is just a couple of seconds before the first one, in the movie.) That brings us to the third frame, with the least amount of medium or bright areas, and now the Optoma’s blacks are slightly better than the Panasonic’s. Then, in the fourth image, again, about tie, but if there is an advantage, it would be favoring the Optoma. These two all digital images images below are good ones for considering black levels and dark shadow detail. Look for the richness in the black part of some of the buildings and also, the sky, in the second image. Both of these first two, are digital hi-def images from the DVE-HD calibration disc. Nothing like space scenes to show off great blacks. In the image below, however, this is the real thing – an image from the Hubble telescope, not something created in a computer graphics lab. 1. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review - Optoma HD8600 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review-2 - HD8600 Projector Highlights - Pure Motion - Creative Frame Interpolation - Pure Motion - Creative Frame Interpolation3. Optoma HD8600 Projector Review-3 - Color Management System (CMS) - Pure Color - comparision - Interchangeable Lens System - Pure Detail4. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour - Optoma HD8600 Physical Appearance - Input/Output5. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-2 - Optoma HD8600 Menus6. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-3 - Optoma HD8600 Remote Control - DLA-HD8600 Lens Throw7. Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour-4 - DLA-HD8600 Lens Shift - HD8600 Anamorphic Lens Support8. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality - HD8600 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones9. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-2 - Optoma HD8600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - comparision10. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-3 - Optoma HD8600 Black Levels & Shadow Detail-211. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-4 - Shadow Detail Performance12. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-5 - comparision13. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-614. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-7 - comparision15. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-816. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-9 - comparision17. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality18. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-11 - Optoma HD8600U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports19. Optoma HD8600 – Performance - Optoma HD8600 Brightness - Optoma HD8600 Projector - Uncalibrated - Brightest Mode20. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-221. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-3 - BenQ W20000 - Light Leakage22. Optoma HD8600 – Performance-4 - Optoma HD8600 Image Noise - Optoma HD8600 Audible Noise23. Optoma HD8600 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD8600 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best Mode (Pre calibration) - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE - Optoma HD8600 Basic Settings24. Optoma HD8600 Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - Optoma HD8600 Post Calibration Grayscale - Calibrated color temps, 20 – 100 IRE - Gamma settings - Regarding the HD8600 Manual Iris - Optoma HD8600 RGB Settings - Calibration settings25. Optoma HD8600 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD8600 - Projector Screens26. Optoma HD8600 – Competitors - HD8600 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - Optoma HD8600 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. BenQ W6000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Planar PD8150 and Optoma HD8600 - HD8600 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP8602 - Optoma HD8600 vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - Optoma HD8600 vs. JVC DLA-RS20, DLA-RS15 and RS35! - Optoma HD8600 vs. Sony VPL-HW15, VPL-VW85, Optoma HD860027. Optoma HD8600 Projector – Warranty28. Optoma HD8600 – Review Summary - Optoma HD8600 Projector - The Bottom Line - Brightness29. Optoma HD8600 – Review Summary-2 - Fancy features - Optoma HD8600 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities30. Optoma HD8600 Projector: Pros31. Optoma HD8600 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD8600 Projector: Typical Capabilities32. Optoma HD8600 Projector Specifications Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-2 Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-4