Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 3 Posted on June 9, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review2. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Overview3. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 3 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 4. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-2 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights5. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 - Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 Physical Appearance - XV-Z15000 Projector - Control Panel6. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-3 - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Special Features - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 7. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Inputs and Outputs - Sharp XV-Z15000 Menus8. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 4 - XV-Z15000 Lens Shift - XV-Z15000 Anamorphic Lens9. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Image Quality - XV-Z15000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Flesh Tones10. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - XV-Z15000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 312. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance13. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 514. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 615. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - XV-Z15000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality16. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 8 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Brightness18. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Sharpness - Sharp XV-Z15000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Temperature - Sharp XV-Z15000 Basic Settings20. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 2 mode - RGB Settings21. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Projector Screens - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Competitors23. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Warranty24. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - The Bottom Line25. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros26. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Cons - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Specifications All of the Sharp XV-Z15000 images below are from either Blu-ray or HDTV, with the exception of Lord of the Rings (standard DVD). Remember, by the time these Sharp XV-Z15000 projector images get to you through digital camera, software, browsers, and monitor, there are definite small color shifts, saturation differences, etc. The images are to support the commentary, but keep in mind the limitations when trying to compared images from the XV-Z15000 with other home theater projectors. In reality, all projectors, including the XV-Z15000, always look better live than the images in our reviews. XV-Z15000 vs 6500UB 5thelement starship largeXV-Z15000 vs 6500ub 5thElement starship O l g XV-Z15000_vs_6500UB spacecowboys satellite2 over large HD8200 5thElement starship large HD8200 5thElement starship large W20000 5thelement starship large HC5500 5thElement starship large PT-AE3000U 5thelement starship large Epson 6500UB 5thelement starship large Epson 6500UB 5thelement starship large XV-Z15000 DVE skyline large XV-Z15000 DVE timessquare large PreviousNext In the overexposed version of the starship, above, you can see the differences in the black levels in the letterbox area, and also in the starfield. (again, note: Sharp on the right.) I should mention that with dynamic irises, different scenes behave differently, on the starship above, the black levels of the Epson are “more better” than on some other dark scenes. In some cases the Sharp matches the Epson. For general black level performance examples we’ll start with my favorite, the Starship image found The Fifth Element. The first is our Sharp XV-Z15000. Immediately below it, is the Optoma HD8200, the last competing DLP projector we reviewed. Unfortunately, brightness varies even more (than with the side by side images) on these photos, making accurate comparisons of black levels a little difficult. BenQ W5000: Mitsubishi HC5500: And below is the Panasonic PT-AE3000: Next is the Epson Home Cinema 6500UB: Finally, here’s the BenQ W5000 (it’s an old image and, unforutnately, much darker than the others): Consider two additional (digital) images which are good ones for observing black levels. The image immediately below is from The Dark Knight. I’ve intentionally overexposed it to make a point. This is the type of scene where the difference in black level performance makes a huge difference. Because the outside areas of the scene, and for that matter the men’s jackets are pretty black, with little detail at all, projectors with just “good” black levels look very flat – I’ve achieved that effect here. The XV-Z15000 actually does very nicely on this image, but the difference between the XV-Z15000, and say, the more expensive JVC RS10 and especially the RS20 is stunning. Even the less expensive Epson Home Cinema 6500UB , looks significantly better on this scene. Because the bright area of the image is of moderate brightness, projectors like the XV-Z15000 or the Epson, can’t even get to their blackest blacks, whereas the JVCs, which do incredible blacks without an iris, would look drastically better. Right below it is an image from Quantum of Solace (but not overexposed), which is a very different scene type, but another where black level differences are almost “night and day”. (I can’t believe I’m getting away with that line! -art) The rocks on the left and right would be where the differences are. Click to enlarge. So close The dynamic iris, of course is key to the excellent black levels. I figure this is as good a time to comment on the iris’ impact on viewing. Below are two images from the beginning of one of the Star Wars movies (same exposure). The iris is one of the slower ones. As a result as I mention elsewhere, some times it is very evident. Below are two images from the opening credits, you can see the difference in brightness (brighter) when the credits are up. Seems like just as the credits come on, the iris has just finished lowering the brightness from the previous time. Then it slowly (a second) brightens back up just as the next credit is going off. The good news is the iris action is smooth, not at all jerky, and rarely will be obvious. Click Image to Enlarge 1. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review2. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Overview3. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 3 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 4. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-2 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights5. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 - Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 Physical Appearance - XV-Z15000 Projector - Control Panel6. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-3 - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Special Features - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 7. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Inputs and Outputs - Sharp XV-Z15000 Menus8. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 4 - XV-Z15000 Lens Shift - XV-Z15000 Anamorphic Lens9. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Image Quality - XV-Z15000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Flesh Tones10. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - XV-Z15000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 312. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance13. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 514. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 615. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - XV-Z15000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality16. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 8 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Brightness18. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Sharpness - Sharp XV-Z15000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Temperature - Sharp XV-Z15000 Basic Settings20. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 2 mode - RGB Settings21. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Projector Screens - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Competitors23. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Warranty24. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - The Bottom Line25. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros26. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Cons - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Specifications Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 2 Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 4