Viewsonic PJD-7835HD Projector Review - Performance

PJD-7835HD Brightness

Overall brightness of this projector is impressive.  There are two "brightest" modes (one which they actually call Brightest Mode, the other is Dynamic).  Both produce tons of lumens, but neither has great color. Still what they do pump out is fine for most presentations, or collaborations where color isn't critical.

When better, more accurate color is needed, that's where the other three modes come into play, they do better reds and yellows than the brighter modes.  2000 lumens is still a healthy amount - way back "in the old days."

Yep, 12-15 years ago, 2000 lumen projectors were what companies used for small auditoriums and hotel ballrooms (lights down or out).

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Multiple Lamp Modes

PJD-7835HD Sharpness

The good news is the higher the resolution the projector, the easier it is to read the smallest type sizes, and to resolve more detail.  The downside is that on low cost projectors, the optics aren't as good as on far more expensive ones.  As a result, projectors like the Viewsonic could have sharper lenses.  No surprise there.

Overall sharpness is very good, definitely not exceptional, despite being a single chip DLP.  I point the blame finger to the low cost lens.  Still, if you look at the images here, even the really small type - 8 point - is just readable, but remember, that's 8 point type at 1920x1080, so that type is barely half the size (1/4 the area) of the same 8 point character displayed on an XGA projector!

As you can see, you can easily read the type on web pages, and formal documents of all types, and that's what we're looking for.

❮ ❯

Edge to edge sharpness was pretty good, if you focus dead center, there's just a little softness in the corners.  Ideally you'll want to focus this (and most projectors) so that they are at their sharpest about 1/3 out from the center, for best overall sharpness.  No sign of defocusing as the projector warms up.

Bottom line on sharpness:  Pretty typical for sub $1000 projectors.  No complaints.  Edge to edge sharpness a little better than most competitors.  Readability of small type on normal documents in not a problem (as long, of course as you aren't viewing from too far away).

Audible Noise

The PJD-7835HD is a bit noisy.  Even in Eco and Super-Eco the fan never really gets pretty quiet.  Eco and Super-Eco audible noise is still likely just about 30 db.  At full power the Viewsonic fan gets louder, but not dramatically so.  I would say that many competitors are a touch noisier in full power, and a touch quieter in low power modes.  The fan noise is a little higher pitched than some, but not in a range that's annoying.

Even when the fan is at its loudest you won't have to shout to talk over this Viewsonic projector, but you likely will be raising your voice slightly.

Overall the fan tends to hold steady regardless of the mode.  That's better, I think than some projectors which are constantly speeding up and lowering the fan speed to keep the projector running at proper temperature.  Better a steady level than a changing one, which is more distracting.

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Image Noise