Runco LS-7 – Review Summary-2 Posted on June 24, 2010 By Art Feierman 1. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review - Runco LS-7 Projector Overview2. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review-2 - LS-7 Projector Highlights - Projector Specs for Runco LS-7 - Runco LS-7 Special Features3. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review-3 - Frame Interpolation - Constant Contrast - Runco LS-7 Picture In Picture4. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour - Runco LS-7 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output5. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour-2 - Runco LS-7 Menus - LS-7 Lens Throw - LS-7 Lens Shift6. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour-3 - Runco LS-7 Remote Control - Anamorphic Lens7. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality - LS-7 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones8. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-2 - JVC LS-7 Black Levels & Shadow Detail9. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-310. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-4 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-512. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-613. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-714. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-815. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-916. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Runco LS-7U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Runco LS-7 – Performance - Runco LS-7 Measured Brightness - The Effect of low lamp (eco) mode on brightness - Sharpness18. Runco LS-7 – Performance-219. Runco LS-7 – Performance-320. Runco LS-7 – Performance-3 - Runco LS-7: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Runco LS-7 Image Noise - Runco LS-7 Audible Noise21. Runco LS-7 Projector Calibration and Settings - Runco LS-7 Color Temperature - Runco LS-7 Basic Settings - Gamma settings22. Runco LS-7 – Screen Recommendations - Runco LS-7 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Runco LS-7 – Competitors24. Runco LS-7 Projector – Warranty25. Runco LS-7 – Review Summary - Runco LS-7 Projector - The Bottom Line - Runco LS-7 Brightness - Runco LS-7 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities26. Runco LS-7 – Review Summary-2 - Runco LS-7 Projector: Pros - Runco LS-7 Projector: Cons - Runco LS-7 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Runco LightStyle LS-7 Projector Specifications Runco LS-7 Projector: Pros Excellent Color Brightest “best” movie mode we’ve seen since the last 3 Chip DLP review several years ago. Roughly 1500 lumens does an awesome job even on large screens like my 128″ Firehawk (or larger) Definitely an “ultra-high contrast” projector despite the mere 20,000:1 contrast claim. Extremely dynamic image (a lot of Pop and Wow), but without looking over the top Very good shadow detail performance Click to enlarge. SO close Dynamic iris action is overall pretty good. Some yo-yoing in dark, slow scenes that cut back and forth between two people. Better than the majority Outputs 24 frame per second sources at 48 fps (not creative interpolation) Very good remote control with excellent range, excellent backlight Excellent color management, as one would expect for a projector of this type Focus, Zoom and Lens shift all motorized Very good menus, nicely laid out Very good documentation (a rarity) Pricey, especially for a 720p, but then 3 chip DLP’s do bring a lot to the party, including lots of lumens Click Image to EnlargeRunco LS-7 Projector: Cons Click to enlarge.SO close It’s only 720p native resolution Only slightly more lumens in brightest mode, than best (but considering the brightness, it’s hardly a net weakness Lacks CFI (creative frame interpolation) Excellent sharpness – for a 720p projector – while it’s a very sharp 720p, it’s still not a match for even an average 1080p projector, when both are fed 1080p source material Although most reasonable – audible noise wise, the RS35 could be a little quieter with lamp at full power. Few would consider this an issue though Expensive Click Image to EnlargeRunco LS-7 Projector: Typical Capabilities Selection of inputs Lamp life typical, or perhaps a little low – 2500 hours in “eco-mode” is a little below the far more common 3000 hours in eco-mode average. My last thoughts: I need to put this in perspective. The easiest way is to compare to my JVC RS20, or better, the RS25 and RS35. While the Runco image does not look as sharp, the color is at least as good as my JVC, the image has more pop, it’s got about twice the lumens, and, if anyone offered me an LS-7 even up in exchange for my RS20 (or even the RS25), I would definitely make the trade. True, the JVC’s have the more natural black levels, no iris action to even occasionally be noticeable, and a sharper picture, but everytime I’d watch a sequence on the Runco, and then run it again, on my RS20, the huge brightness advantage made me want the Runco every time, for movie watching. I’d miss the slight loss of sharpness, but I’d make the trade up to the LS-7, every time. And that’s despite the lack of CFI, which I’d like to have for my sports, but have managed to survive without so far. 1. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review - Runco LS-7 Projector Overview2. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review-2 - LS-7 Projector Highlights - Projector Specs for Runco LS-7 - Runco LS-7 Special Features3. Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review-3 - Frame Interpolation - Constant Contrast - Runco LS-7 Picture In Picture4. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour - Runco LS-7 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output5. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour-2 - Runco LS-7 Menus - LS-7 Lens Throw - LS-7 Lens Shift6. Runco LS-7 Physical Tour-3 - Runco LS-7 Remote Control - Anamorphic Lens7. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality - LS-7 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones8. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-2 - JVC LS-7 Black Levels & Shadow Detail9. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-310. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-4 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-512. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-613. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-714. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-815. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-916. Runco LS-7 Projector – Image Quality-10 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Runco LS-7U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Runco LS-7 – Performance - Runco LS-7 Measured Brightness - The Effect of low lamp (eco) mode on brightness - Sharpness18. Runco LS-7 – Performance-219. Runco LS-7 – Performance-320. Runco LS-7 – Performance-3 - Runco LS-7: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Runco LS-7 Image Noise - Runco LS-7 Audible Noise21. Runco LS-7 Projector Calibration and Settings - Runco LS-7 Color Temperature - Runco LS-7 Basic Settings - Gamma settings22. Runco LS-7 – Screen Recommendations - Runco LS-7 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Runco LS-7 – Competitors24. Runco LS-7 Projector – Warranty25. Runco LS-7 – Review Summary - Runco LS-7 Projector - The Bottom Line - Runco LS-7 Brightness - Runco LS-7 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities26. Runco LS-7 – Review Summary-2 - Runco LS-7 Projector: Pros - Runco LS-7 Projector: Cons - Runco LS-7 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Runco LightStyle LS-7 Projector Specifications Runco LS-7 – Review Summary Runco LightStyle LS-7 Projector Specifications