Optoma HD8600 Projector Review-3 Posted on September 9, 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 Color Management System (CMS)Optoma provides a primary and secondary color management system on the Optoma HD8600. The CMS has the usual ability to separately adjust each color. We do not normally do a CMS calibration, and achieved excellent color without doing so, with the HD8600. Pure ColorMost likely this is part of Optoma’s Brilliant Color implementation. It’s mostly like dialing up the “pop and wow” of the image. This feature can be really nice, but, like most dynamic features, takes a toll someplace else. You want the more dynamic look, you also get a slightly less natural look. That’s a typical trade-off. Compare the two images immediately below. Same exposure, first one has Pure Color off, the second, has it set to 2, which is very moderate. Study them if you like. Look at the diplomat’s upper left forehead – you can see how the lighter areas are lighter still with it on. Mostly though, having it on gives more punch, if you have the image looking great with Pure Color to off, then turning it on is a little too much for a purist. In most cases, I find settings of 0 to 2 to be perfectly acceptable for most content. comparisionPreviousNext Interchangeable Lens SystemChoose between two zoom lenses – the standard lens, which most will use for ceiling mounting, a longer zoom which will primarily be used by those rear shelf mounting, or a fixed wide angle lens suitable for rear screen setups, or very close, front ceiling mounting. The lenses use a bayonet mount and easily snap in. You can get the projector with any of the three lenses. It’s $7499 when ordered with the standard lens and $1000 or $1500 more when purchased with one of the other lenses. Pure DetailThis feature looks like it’s dynamically affecting contrast, and perhaps gamma. Crank it up and you definitely can see skin tones start looking a lot less natural (too contrasty). This is another dynamic feature you can play with, to use as needed (or preferred). And like most of them, you are altering the image, not just “improving it”. I recommend moderation. 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 Review-2 Optoma HD8600 Physical Tour