Sony VPL-HW50ES Projector Picture Quality 3

Once calibrated, the VPL-HW50ES is about as good as it gets in terms of overall picture quality for projectors under, say, $5000.

True, most projectors do really good skin tones, etc., when calibrated, but it's more than just that.  It is also clarity, pop, shadow details, blacks.  Some projectors are great on bright scenes, so-so on dark ones, for example.

So far, I haven't found anything serious to complain about with this projector.   The big buzz of course, is Sony's enhanced Reality Creation.  I've written pages about it in this review.   I want to be clear - I am really impressed...but, it's not something you may want to use all the time.

Most of the time RC (at moderate levels like 20) dramatically improves details, but there are times when it can give you a "gritty" look/feel to the image. Such as the Pippin image elsewhere in this review.

Ultimately, this Sony is now one of my all time favorite projectors in the under, let's say $7500 MSRP range.  This HW50ES projector establishes Sony as one of the very top performers in terms of picture quality - and value!