Sony VPL-VW95ES Projector - Performance

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Art Feierman

On this page we take a look at the VPL-VW95ES projector's brightness, sharpness, and image noise. We'll discuss brightness in conjunction with 3D usage, as well. Also considered here are the physical attributes of light leakage and audible noise.

Sony VPL-VW95ES Brightness

VPL-VW1000ES Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom)
Dynamic	859 @ 10495, 954 lumens @ 8508 with Color Temp on Custom 5
Standard	804 @ 8824
Cinema 1	718 @ 6908
Cinema 2	646 @ 5719
Cinema 3	722 @ 6917
Game	721 @ 6923
Photo	523 @ 5663
User 1	723 @ 6923
User 2	715 @ 6921

Sony rates the VPL-VW95ES projector as a 1000 lumen projector. As it turns out, they are right. Mike's highest measurement was 1031 lumens. The next few screens will deal with pre-calibration information, including photos of how each of the modes look. Further down you'll find the post calibration information including the measured brightness for D65 and for an improved "brightest mode". This is how it plays out:

First are the lumen measurements for each of the preset and user modes. Also included was the measured color temp for white, for each mode.

Cinema 3 was the best looking image before Mike calibrated. All measurements were all taken with the zoom set to mid-point unless noted.

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All the images above were taken with the same exposure so you can get a hint at the relative differences.

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The last two are post calibration. First below, is User 1, the result of Mike sacrificing a limited amount of lumens to improve the overall color of the brightest mode. And below it, User 2, which is the D65 calibrated Cinema 3.

Above, note that User 1 is actually a touch brighter than the default Dynamic mode (above it), but without the very cool (too blue) whites. It shows that you don't have to choose when you need brightness between something nicely calibrated, and something way off.

Below - D65 calibrated. You'll see the numbers below. Very tight -Believe me, any color shifts you see in the posted images, aren't the fault of the Sony.

Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode)
Zoom out	928, (1031 using Custom 5 Color Temp)
Mid-zoom	859
Zoom in	701

That translates into a roughly 25% drop in brightness going from the closest placement to the furthest placement allowed by the 1.6:1 zoom lens. Closest position is only about 8% brighter than mid-point, while furthest position is almost 20% less bright than mid-point.

Lumen Output (Low Lamp, Dynamic mode): 497

That works out to a surpisingly large drop of 42%. Most projectors drop 20 - 30% when switched into low lamp mode.

Below: sample color temperature snapshot, pre-calibration - not quite as good as last year's projector, as default is a bit too cool.

Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration): Cinema 3
30 IRE	7453
50 IRE	7275
80 IRE	7121
100 IRE	6917

Effect of Iris settings on lumen output (Reference mode)
Iris on Manual (maximum opening)	786
Iris on Manual (50% open)	653
Iris on Manual (minimum opening)	392
Iris Off or on Auto 1 or 2	859

Interestingly, the various iris settings of the Sony projector do affect measured output. For example, the projector is almost 10% brighter with the iris turned off or on Auto modes (dynamic) than when in manual use:

As you can see, in manual mode, the maximum you can close it down is 50% in terms of brightness.

That should give you a pretty good idea of the relevant settings and how they affect the projector's picture.