Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 3 Posted on October 8, 2008 By Art Feierman 1. Sanyo PLV-Z700 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review - Sanyo PLV-Z700 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Basic Specifications3. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Physical Tour - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Physical Tour4. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Image Quality Sections - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Out of the Box Picture Quality5. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 2 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Skin Tone Handling6. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Black Level and Shadow Detail - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Black Level Performance7. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 5 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Thumbnails Comparison8. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 4 - Black Level Comparison - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Shadow Detail Performance9. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 6 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Sanyo PLV-Z700 projector - Projector Comparison10. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 7 - Thumbnail11. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 8 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison - Monitor Comparison12. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 9 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Performance: HDTV and Sports - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Overall Image Quality - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Overall Picture Quality: Bottom Line13. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance - PLV-Z700 User Memory Settings - PLV-Z700 Projector: Remote Control - PLV-Z700: Lens Throw and Lens Shift14. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 2 - PLV-Z700: SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - PLV-Z700 Projector: Brightness - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Pre Color Calibration - Measurements Settings - Brightness Changes - The Iris setting also has a similar, large impact (Brilliant Cinema, Lamp on Normal)15. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Post Calibration - Z700 Brightness: Bottom line - PLV-Z700 Projector: Light Leakage - PLV-Z700: Audible Noise Levels - PLV-Z700: Projector Screen Recommendations16. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 4 - PLV-Z700 Projector: Measurements and Calibration - Advanced Settings - That resulted in these measurements - A quick calibration was also done to Brilliant Color - A quick calibration was also performed on Dynamic - PLV-Z700: Image Noise 17. Sanyo PLV-Z700 3LCD Home Theater Projector: Warranty18. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary19. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Cons - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Typical Capabilities20. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 2 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Competitive Aspects - PLV-Z700 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB21. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Optoma HD80 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. BenQ W5000 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 610022. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 4 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Panasonic PT-AE3000U - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Bottom Line23. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Specifications Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Optoma HD80This is one of Optoma’s entry level 1080p projectors, and not long ago was still selling around $2500, but I see now that it is in the $2000 and under range street price, which makes it a competitor. The Optoma HD80 should have slightly better black levels, a touch more image noise, and is definitely much noisier in terms of audible noise. As a basic DLP design it has no lens shift, and a 1.2:1 zoom, so it’s no match in terms of placement flexibility. From a brightness standpoint, it’s real “best” mode performance around 560 lumens is brighter than the 350 of the PLV-Z700 without compromising the PLV-Z700’s performance at all. In brightest mode the Sanyo has the advantage with over 1200 lumens vs. the Optoma’s 1000 measured. The Optoma has a distinct advantage in richness of colors in dark areas, which gives the image a little more impact, although in typical daytime scenes, I slightly favor the Sanyo. Optoma provides a two year warranty, compared to the Sanyo’s three. Tough call between these two. Overall they are more different, than better/worse. Each will have appeal to a significant slice of the entry level 1080p projector buyers. Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. BenQ W5000The W5000 is a serious 1080p home theater projector. When it was selling for more than $3000 it picked up our Best In Class – Runner-Up award in the under $4000 category. That makes it really tough competition for the Sanyo PLV-Z700. The Sanyo’s big strengths compared to the BenQ, are in terms of price (the BenQ seems to have a street price of $2500 right now, or a little lower. No question, the BenQ wins at black levels, and should have a slight edge in shadow detail. The PLV-Z700, on the other hand, comes with a 3 year warranty, vs. the BenQ’s one year, and while both have lens shift, the Sanyo has more range, and a 2:1 zoom, while the BenQ has a very limited 1.2:1 zoom ratio. The BenQ, though, is the only DLP projector anywhere near the price of the Sanyo, to offer lens shift, and therefore may work for a shelf mount in the rear of your room. The BenQ also suffers a little in terms of image noise, but newer versions than the one I tested are reported to have improved in this area. Forgetting all the assorted options in terms of image settings, these two projectors are very close in brightness in both best and brightest modes. Both have sharp images, but I’ll give the BenQ a slight advantage. I seriously doubt it will be noticeable during movie watching, but on a good HDTV signal, you just might spot a difference. Any difference though, is too small to be real factor. Placement issues notwithstanding, enthusiasts will favor the BenQ, while the “average joe” should be happy with either! Upcoming 1080p projector model competition: A little conjecture Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100This Epson, not due out until December some time, may be the biggest threat to the PLV-Z700. It claims 18,000:1 contrast vs. 10,000:1. Considering Epson’s excellent black level performance in general, the new Epson will most likely have the advantage in this area. Most likely the Sanyo will still be sharper, and quieter in operation. The Epson is expected to have an MSRP of $1999, so price wise they should be selling for the same money (but, Sanyo loves rebates, so they may have one on the PLV-Z700 by the time the Epson ships). The Epson will not support an anamorphic lens and sled, which the Sanyo will. I question though, if anyone will pair an anamorphic lens with an entry level 1080p projector when an anamorophic rig, can cost almost twice that of the projector. 1. Sanyo PLV-Z700 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review - Sanyo PLV-Z700 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Basic Specifications3. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Physical Tour - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Physical Tour4. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Image Quality Sections - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Out of the Box Picture Quality5. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 2 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Skin Tone Handling6. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Black Level and Shadow Detail - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Black Level Performance7. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 5 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Thumbnails Comparison8. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 4 - Black Level Comparison - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Shadow Detail Performance9. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 6 - Shadow Detail Comparison - Sanyo PLV-Z700 projector - Projector Comparison10. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 7 - Thumbnail11. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 8 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison - Monitor Comparison12. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: Image Quality – 9 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Performance: HDTV and Sports - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Overall Image Quality - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Overall Picture Quality: Bottom Line13. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance - PLV-Z700 User Memory Settings - PLV-Z700 Projector: Remote Control - PLV-Z700: Lens Throw and Lens Shift14. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 2 - PLV-Z700: SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - PLV-Z700 Projector: Brightness - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Pre Color Calibration - Measurements Settings - Brightness Changes - The Iris setting also has a similar, large impact (Brilliant Cinema, Lamp on Normal)15. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Post Calibration - Z700 Brightness: Bottom line - PLV-Z700 Projector: Light Leakage - PLV-Z700: Audible Noise Levels - PLV-Z700: Projector Screen Recommendations16. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector Review: General Performance – 4 - PLV-Z700 Projector: Measurements and Calibration - Advanced Settings - That resulted in these measurements - A quick calibration was also done to Brilliant Color - A quick calibration was also performed on Dynamic - PLV-Z700: Image Noise 17. Sanyo PLV-Z700 3LCD Home Theater Projector: Warranty18. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary19. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Cons - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Typical Capabilities20. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 2 - Sanyo PLV-Z700: Competitive Aspects - PLV-Z700 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB21. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 3 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Optoma HD80 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. BenQ W5000 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Epson Home Cinema 610022. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 4 - Sanyo PLV-Z700 vs. Panasonic PT-AE3000U - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Home Theater Projector: Summary - Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Bottom Line23. Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector Specifications Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 2 Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities – 4