Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 3 Posted on July 17, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Runco Lightstyle LS-5 Projector Review - LS5 Projector Highlights - Runco LS-5 Projector Overview2. Runco LS-5 Special Features - Frame Interpolation - Picture in Picture - Runco LightStyle LS-5 Dynamic Features - Runco SatCo - LS-5 Long Lamp Life3. Runco LS-5 Physical Tour - Runco LS5 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output - Runco LS5 Menus - Runco LS5 Remote Control - LS-5 Lens Throw (double check) - LS5 Lens Shift - Runco LS-5 Anamorphic Lens Options4. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality - LS-5 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones5. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Runco LS-5 Black Levels & Shadow Detail6. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Runco LS-5 Shadow Detail Performance7. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Runco LS-5 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports8. Runco LS-5 – Performance - Runco LS-5 Measured Brightness9. Runco LS-5 – Performance 2 - Sharpness - Runco LS-5: Bottom Line Sharpness - Runco LS-5 Light Leakage - Runco LS-5 Image Noise - Runco LS-5 Audible Noise10. Runco LS-5 Projector Calibration and Settings - Runco LS-5 Color Temperature - Runco LS-5 Basic Settings - Runco LS-5 Calibration Settings11. Runco LS-5 – Screen Recommendations - Runco LS-5 Projector Screen Recommendations12. Runco LS-5 Home Cinema Projector – Competitors13. Runco LS-5 Projector – Warranty14. Runco LS-5 – Review Summary - Runco LS-5 Projector - The Bottom Line - Runco LS-5 Brightness Summary - The very bottom line:15. Runco LS-5 – Review Summary 2 - Runco LS-5 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Runco LS-5 Projector: Pros - Runco LS-5 Projector: Cons - Runco LS-5 Projector: Typical Capabilities16. Runco LS-5 Projector – Full Specifications Excellent! By the time I had gotten to checking out the night train scene I photograph in Casino Royale, I already knew what I would see. Really exceptional shadow detail. Okay, not the blackest blacks around, (which does make the darkest detail hard to spot), but the black level performance of this DLP projector is still excellent, with only those JVC’s doing appreciably better. The amount of detail you can see in the shrubs on the right behind the tracks and in the trees, is second to perhaps only one or two projectors in the $4000 and up price range. That’s more than I ask for, to be pleased. Let’s just say, don’t worry about shadow detail once your projector is adjusted. For my own viewing, I’ve already knocked Brightness down one more number than Mike recommends, giving up a tiny amount of dark shadow detail for a small drop overall, in the black levels. Runco LS-5 Shadow Detail PerformanceHere, a previously never used image from the latest Narnia: The Dawn Treader: The Library on the The Dawn Treader. Below, the Space Cowboys / Clint Eastwood very dark image. First is the Runco LS-5 projector, then, of course, the LS-10d, followed by the LS-7, then the JVC RS25, the Sony VPL-VW85, the Mitsubishi HC7000, and the Epson Home Cinema 8500UB. Note the noticeable difference in color is due to the different camera used for the LS5 shoot. Click Image to EnlargeRunco LS-5 LS-10dLS-7JVC RS25Sony VPL-VW85Mitsubishi HC7000Epson Home Cinema 8500UBPreviousNext Again, from Space Cowboys, this is a cropped image. The right side is very bright (so dynamic irises will not be effective). The LS-5 (top left) does very well, in terms of shadow detail. Next to it on the first row, is the LS-10d Those images are followed by the InFocus SP8602 and the Epson 8700UB (second row). The third row is the JVC RS-35 Mitsubishi HC7000 (left), and the Sony VPL-VW85 is last. LS-5LS-10dInFocus SP8602Epson 8700UBJVC RS-35Mitsubishi HC7000Sony VPL-VW85PreviousNext On the left, below, is the Runco LS-5, the middle, the JVC RS35, and on the right, the VPL-VW90ES. The exposures are all a little different, but you should be able to appreciate the combination of shadow detail and dark blacks Runco LS-5JVC RS35VPL-VW90ESPreviousNext Next, perhaps the most revealing of the images: There is simply a great deal of detail to be seen in the shrubs. also in the the lower part of the woods. This image has been greatly overexposed to make the detail more visible. When comparing with the same photo from other projectors below, remember that the exposures are all a bit different, and you have to compensate, if you want to draw your own conclusions. Runco LS-5JVC DLA-RS35JVC DLA-RS25Sony VPL-VW90ESEpson Home Cinema 8700UBMitsubishi HC7000Optoma HD8600PreviousNext 1. Runco Lightstyle LS-5 Projector Review - LS5 Projector Highlights - Runco LS-5 Projector Overview2. Runco LS-5 Special Features - Frame Interpolation - Picture in Picture - Runco LightStyle LS-5 Dynamic Features - Runco SatCo - LS-5 Long Lamp Life3. Runco LS-5 Physical Tour - Runco LS5 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output - Runco LS5 Menus - Runco LS5 Remote Control - LS-5 Lens Throw (double check) - LS5 Lens Shift - Runco LS-5 Anamorphic Lens Options4. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality - LS-5 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones5. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Runco LS-5 Black Levels & Shadow Detail6. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Runco LS-5 Shadow Detail Performance7. Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Runco LS-5 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports8. Runco LS-5 – Performance - Runco LS-5 Measured Brightness9. Runco LS-5 – Performance 2 - Sharpness - Runco LS-5: Bottom Line Sharpness - Runco LS-5 Light Leakage - Runco LS-5 Image Noise - Runco LS-5 Audible Noise10. Runco LS-5 Projector Calibration and Settings - Runco LS-5 Color Temperature - Runco LS-5 Basic Settings - Runco LS-5 Calibration Settings11. Runco LS-5 – Screen Recommendations - Runco LS-5 Projector Screen Recommendations12. Runco LS-5 Home Cinema Projector – Competitors13. Runco LS-5 Projector – Warranty14. Runco LS-5 – Review Summary - Runco LS-5 Projector - The Bottom Line - Runco LS-5 Brightness Summary - The very bottom line:15. Runco LS-5 – Review Summary 2 - Runco LS-5 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Runco LS-5 Projector: Pros - Runco LS-5 Projector: Cons - Runco LS-5 Projector: Typical Capabilities16. Runco LS-5 Projector – Full Specifications Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 2 Runco LS-5 Projector – Image Quality 4