Optoma HD8200 Projector - Image Quality - 2

HD8200 Black Levels & Shadow Detail

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Black level performance of the HD8200 is pretty darn good. I have run the HD8200 side by side against the JVC RS20, the Epson Home Cinema 6500UB and others. While the HD8200 can't match most of the ultra-high-contrast 3LCD projectors it comes very close to the Sanyo PLV-Z3000, the least expensive of those, and the one with the least impressive blacks. The HD8200 is comparable, and possibly a bit better in black levels than the BenQ W5000. I reviewed the two projectors a full year apart, so it's hard to confirm that, but, let's say that the HD8200 should be as least as good as the W5000.

The first two images here, are side by side images comparing it to the Epson Home Cinema 6500UB. These images are seriously overexposed. Enough that the blue logo appears white, and the extremely dark background has been lifted enough that you can see the differences in black levels. As you can see, the Epson does have a real advantage. The second image is a more typical scene, from The Dark Knight. There are enough bright lights in this city night scene, that the irises on the two projectors are not able to stop fully down. In a mixed scene such as this, the difference in black level performance is not as immediately noticeable, but still there upon close inspection.

Images of the Starship, from The Fifth Element. The first is our Optoma HD8200. Immediately below it, is the BenQ W20000.