PLAYBACK 22: Optoma HD8200 1080p DLP projector

High-End Looks, Midrange Price Tag

Shadow Detail

That same scene has the director’s back to the camera, only indirectly lit, and the Optoma provides very good shadow detail rendition.

Artifacts/Noise

None noted.

Broadcast HDTV Evaluation: Today Show  (NBC)

Detail

A segment covering wedding jewelry has a number of close-up shots, showing the various pieces’ intricate detail, which looks sharp as a tack, along with a complete absence of jaggies on straight edges.

Color

Nice and rich, the color has a slight over-emphasis that can’t be completely dialed down, but it never veered toward the garish. Do trim back the color control just a few steps from the default middle setting to make skin tones their most realistic.

Blacks

Some of the rings are displayed in jet black boxes with deep black velvet and shiny black embroidery with the close-up shots showing rich, inky blacks with superb contrast surrounding the shiny rings on display.

Shadow Detail

While the entire Today Show set is very brightly lit, a close-up of one of the hosts has the set’s coffee table casting a dark shadow over the light carpet, and the Optoma picks up the details of the carpet’s pile underneath.

Artifacts/Noise

None noted.

BOTTOM LINE:

While not inexpensive, the HD8200 is a fine all-around performer, delivering very good color and contrast performance. The light output at the lower lamp setting is sufficient for most standard-sized screens, which reduces power consumption, extends lamp life, and delivers darker blacks in the process. The video processing engine provides deinterlacing and upconversion performance on par with expensive outboard video processors, and with three digital video inputs plus the legacy analog inputs and a PC input as well, the connectivity should be enough for just about any user.

The coarse granularity of the optical adjustments is the only downside here, which will make setup a chore, but once it’s properly dialed in, the HD8200 puts out a great-looking picture. The anamorphic vertical stretch mode is a plus for users wanting to go the 2.35:1 widescreen route (with a suitable anamorphic lens, of course), and in the low lamp mode the projector runs very quietly indeed. Optoma also provides a more generous warranty period than most with this model, both on the projector as well as the lamp, and also provides express unit replacement instead of the usual repair-and-return.

SPECS & PRICING

Optoma HP8200 1080p DLP projector

Pixel resolution: 1920 x 1080
1:1 Mode: Yes
Video inputs: 2 HDMI, 1 DVI, 1 component, 1 S-video 1 composite, 1 RGB PC
Other connections: 2 12v trigger outputs, 1 RS-232
Dimensions (W x H x D): 14.6” x 7.6” x 19.2”
Weight:  17.6 lb.
Warranty: 3 years parts & labor, 1 year on lamp
Price: $4,999.99

OPTOMA
(408) 383-3700
www.optomausa.com