Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-2 Posted on September 1, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Overview2. VPL-HW15 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 Special Features - Sony VPL-HW15 Gamma Modes - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) - Individual SXRD panel adjustment3. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW15 Control Panel4. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-2 - Input/Output - VPL-HW15 Menus5. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW15 Remote Control - Sony VPL HW15 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality - VPL-HW15 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Flesh Tones - VPL-HW15 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-28. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-39. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-410. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-5 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-612. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-713. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-814. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-915. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-1016. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-11 - VPL-HW15 - Overall Color & Picture Quality17. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-12 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports18. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW15 Brightness - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)19. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Sharpness20. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-3 - Sony VPL-HW15: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise21. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW15 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Sony VPL-HW15 Basic Settings - RGB Settings22. Sony VPL-HW15 – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Sony VPL-HW15 – Competitors - VPL-HW15 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. BenQ W5000 - VPL-HW15 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300024. Sony VPL-HW15 – Warranty25. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - The Bottom Line26. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Typical Capabilities The VPL-HW15 claims 60,000:1. For reference, I shot it side by side with the soon to be replaced Epson Home Cinema 6500UB. The Epson bested the older HW10 in black levels, by a noticeable amount. This time around, the Epson (which btw, claims 75,000:1), still seems to have the advantage, however, it is never really a whole lot. In fact, once in a while, on just the right scene, because everyone’s dynamic irises work differently, the Sony can match the Epson. All considered, I’d say that the HW15, though it can’t beat the Epson, should have the advantage on other ultra-high contrast 3LCD projectors like the Panasonic PT-AE3000 and the Sanyo PLV-Z3000. Whether the VPL-HW15, however can outperform the expected new Panasonic, would be pure guesswork. With the new Epson Home Cinema 8500UB claiming 200,000:1 contrast, and considering how the Sony compares to the older Epson, the new Epson should definitely beat the Sony in black levels (though will still do better skin tones, etc.) In the overexposed version of the satellite, above, you can see the differences in the black levels in the letterbox area, and also in the starfield. (again, note: Sony on the left.) Even compensating for the extra brightness of the Sony (notice the pause icon in the lower left), the Epson has an advantage. Click to Enlarge.So close Below are a few side by side comparison images, and more will be added after the CEDIA show, this week. These images have the Sony VPL-HW15 on the left, and the Epson 6500UB on the right. The two projectors are pretty close in brightness, which helps, although the Sony measures a little brighter (and the Epson looks a touch more contrasty). First image, the satellite from Space Cowboys. That’s followed by an image from Quantum of Solace. Click Image to EnlargeIn the overexposed version of the satellite, above, you can see the differences in the black levels in the letterbox area, and also in the starfield. (again, note: Sony on the left.) Even compensating for the extra brightness of the Sony (notice the pause icon in the lower left), the Epson has an advantage. Below is a side by side, with a lower cost, but excellent projector I’ve recently reviewed, the new Mitsubishi HC3800 (which ships late Oct. 09). At half the price, the HC3800 has black level performance that’s better than entry level, but not “ultra-high” contrast projectors like the Sony. Look closely in the dark areas, and you can see that there is a very real difference between the two. 1. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Overview2. VPL-HW15 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 Special Features - Sony VPL-HW15 Gamma Modes - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) - Individual SXRD panel adjustment3. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW15 Control Panel4. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-2 - Input/Output - VPL-HW15 Menus5. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW15 Remote Control - Sony VPL HW15 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality - VPL-HW15 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Flesh Tones - VPL-HW15 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-28. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-39. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-410. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-5 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-612. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-713. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-814. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-915. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-1016. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-11 - VPL-HW15 - Overall Color & Picture Quality17. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-12 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports18. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW15 Brightness - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)19. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Sharpness20. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-3 - Sony VPL-HW15: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise21. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW15 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Sony VPL-HW15 Basic Settings - RGB Settings22. Sony VPL-HW15 – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Sony VPL-HW15 – Competitors - VPL-HW15 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. BenQ W5000 - VPL-HW15 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300024. Sony VPL-HW15 – Warranty25. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - The Bottom Line26. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Typical Capabilities Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-3