Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality 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 images below are from either Blu-ray, or HDTV, with the exception of Lord of the Rings (standard DVD). These images are not overly accurate compared to the image the HD8600 projector projects on the screen. There are color shifts (too much yellow, in this case), saturation differences, etc. These images are provided to support the commentary. In reality, the projectors always look better than the images in our reviews. From a color standpoint, my dSLR camera still adds a very slight green shift to some photo shoots that I have not been able to completely remove in most cases. I now visually attempt to adjust all the images to correct for major abberations in color between big screen and computer screen. In other words, while we can demonstrate differences in black levels and shadow details of the HD8600, the photos are only approximations of skin tone and color accuracy. HD8600 Out of the Box Picture Quality Right out of the box, the HD8600 really does look pretty good. Definitely not the best color performance but definitely watchable. Overall, the image in Cinema 2 mode (“best” for our purposes), is a bit warm – strong on reds, but not too much so. With the slight extra reds in mind, otherwise the skin tones looked pretty good. Ultimately, folks, this is an $8000 projector, and in this price range, you will want to get the most out of it. I would definitely recommend a professional calibration. Failing that, try our settings. Our calibration doesn’t calibrate as much (no CMS calibration) as most pro calibrators will, and there is color variation from lampt to lamp. Still, our numbers should provide visible improvement. Flesh TonesVery nice. Post calibration the skin tones on this Optoma are expecially impressive. Some of the best I’ve seen. I still hold the InFocus IN83 in awe, in this regard, but the HD8600 comes close. In terms of skin tones, I do believe I favor the HD8600 over my RS20 (just by the slightest), and that’s a pretty high complement. Below are a wide assortment of images to demontstrate skin tones. Remember, the same face will look markedly different under different lighting scenarios, such as full sunlight, filtered sunlight, gray overcast, nighttime, fluorescent lighting, and so on. Lau, above, from The Dark Knight, looks just about perfect, up on the screen, when it comes to believable skin tones. I am most enthused about the HD8600’s ability to reproduce excellent skin tones. After calibration, the HD8600 is one of the best I’ve seen. 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 Physical Tour-4 Optoma HD8600 Projector – Image Quality-2