Epson Home Cinema 5010 Projector - Image Quality 2

Shadow Detail Performance

The Epson has particularly good dark shadow detail, as you can see from the mages below. In fact, few can beat it. It's virtually all there. This is year two, for that statement. Until the 8700UB replaced the older 8500UB, I had been complaining that the Epson was on the weak side of dark shadow detail. Well, for the second year, no problem at all. Of note, the Espson Home Cinema 5010 is producing more dark shadow detail than the Panasonic PT-AE7000 when using both with Mike's calibrations. I do fool with the Brightness setting though to make sure upping the Brightness by one or two on a menu, doesn't reveal any more detail.

Epson Home Cinema 3010: Epson's lower cost, $1599. Not an ultra-high contrast projector. Note: The 5010, has higher contrast.
Optoma HD33: Lower cost, competes with Epson's 3010 projectors, and not up to this contest.

Optoma HD8300: Note, prior to the Panasonic review, my expectation was that the PT-AE7000 and the Optoma would be about a tie, both trailing the Epson 5010. Turns out The Optoma's blacks are blacker than the Panny, though still not quite up to the Epson 5010.

Epson Home Cinema 8700UB: Still the black level champ of the projectors selling for around the Panasonic's price or less, though only $2000. The better blacks definitely add some extra "pop and wow", on these really dark scenes.

Mitsubishi HC4000: Excellent lower cost DLP projector, but no dynamic iris for improving blacks.

BenQ W6000 (ultra high contrast, 2D): A direct competitor, and a very good DLP for a bit less. No 3D. W7000 due soon.

Sony VPL-HW30ES: Really nice blacks, but like the Optoma HD8300, not quite up to the Epson, nor is its shadow detail