I am getting really close to being ready to purchase a new projector. I would like to see anything I am considering buying in person before I pull the trigger. Up until now I have been ignoring DLP because of the possibility of seeing the rainbow effect, so I am not familiar with the latest models. I have read a lot of nice things about DLP lately (especially the 3D pop), so I am adding them to my growing consideration list. As of right now I am leaning towards the AE4000, RS15, RS25, RS35, and VW-85. I also have a Lumagen HDP to help with CMS needs if necessary. I am really considering the AE4000 due to the automatic zoom and shift, but if DLP or the others on my list have a much better picture, then I will give up the cool zoom and shift feature.

In order for me to consider DLP, I need one with a FAST colorwheel. It also needs to have electronic zoom and lens shift functions for my 2.35:1 screen needs. I am willing to pay more to get more features and better picture quality up to around $8000. Please also only recommend projectors that can compete with the others I have listed.

Thanks!
Mike

While I have not owned any of them, I did a lot of reading and the top DLPs are the Marantz VP11S2 and the Planar 8150. Call Jason, AVS carries both. He is better suited to answer your question. He is a DLP fan unless he converted recently. He has experience with a number of PJs.

Are you wanting to do the zoom method for CIH? If so, pay close attention to zoom ratios of the DLP's as they tend to have smaller zoom ratios.

I think Jason already answered this today in the R35 impressions thread when he said the Planar was the best DLP under $10K for the most part.

Are you wanting to do the zoom method for CIH? If so, pay close attention to zoom ratios of the DLP's as they tend to have smaller zoom ratios.

Yes. I did a projector search on projector central and came up nearly empty. I can't believe there aren't DLP's out there that will do this without having to adjust it manually on the projector itself.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. I will definitely check out further the projectors you mentioned.

Speaking of which, how hard is it to dial in the zoom and focus manually? I would imagine the zoom is easy, but the focus could be a pain from across the room.

In the under $8k range, I'd say overall the Planar. In fact, it's closest competitors are both over $8k street price (over $10k MSRP).

Thanks again Jason.

Kris: I read your great review of the Planar. Did they ever fix the issue with the HDMI clipping the peak whites? Edit, nevermind I saw your post on here that says it has been fixed.

It sounds like if I want to go with DLP, I will have to either get an anamorphic lens that I can put in place and remove, or set up the DLP to fill the 2.35:1 screen wasting pixels above and below and use my Lumagen HDP to switch aspect ratios. In that scenario I would have 1920x817 pixels for 2.35:1 movies and 1452x817 pixels for 16:9. At least the 16:9 resolution would be better than 720p. That is how I had it set up with my CRT and it worked ok. I was hoping to get more resolution by zooming and shifting though.

I hope that the Sony VPL-VW85 turns out to have a similar 3D pop as DLP and has great black levels, and that I can find a way to make it fit in my room. I may have to remove the doors on the closet on the back wall and put it at least partially in there.

Now I just had a conversation with my wife and she doesn't like spending $8000 and I may end up with nothing and sticking with my CRT. :(

Speaking of which, how hard is it to dial in the zoom and focus manually? I would imagine the zoom is easy, but the focus could be a pain from across the room.

I have an Optoma HD80 DLP with manual focus and zoom. I use two screens, a wall screen for 2.35, and a pulldown for 16x9. I can do the necessary zooming and image shifting in probably twenty seconds when I change screens. The "HDMI 1080P" graphic that comes up in the lower right when I switch to my source from the receiver is what I use for focusing. Just look at it carefully and zero in on the focus. The whole process is very straight forward and easy.

Thanks! 20 seconds is quite doable! On the Planar, it looks like you need to use a tool to do the adjustments and it might take quite a bit longer, but I am not sure. I am also not sure if it has enough zoom range for both 2.35:1 and 16:9.

Thanks! 20 seconds is quite doable! On the Planar, it looks like you need to use a tool to do the adjustments and it might take quite a bit longer, but I am not sure. I am also not sure if it has enough zoom range for both 2.35:1 and 16:9.
My Optoma only has a 1-1.2 zoom lens so I'm pretty sure you could do it, with the right size screen(s) and planning.

I checked the calculator on Projector Central and with the Planar I can't make it all the way from 2.35:1 to 16:9 by making adjustments to zoom and lens shift.

However, now I am thinking about purchasing a 16:9 screen (can't believe I am considering this) that is just as wide as my current 2.35:1 screen but much taller. I will have enough wall space for this option and I am thinking I can make some masking frames that I can pop on and off the top and bottom so I am not giving up my 2.35:1 size at all and will have a huge 16:9 screen for HDTV and 1.85:1 movies.

I am thinking of getting a Carada 142" (same brand I have now), but I am not sure if I should get the 1.0 or 1.4 screen gain. I want to get good black levels and I am not sure if the 1.4 will make them worse or not. I also want to experience that DLP 3D pop, and I am not sure if I would need 1.4 for that.

If I get the Planar, I will need to get the short throw lens which seems to cost extra unfortunately, and I am not sure you can even buy the Planar's anymore (might have to wait for the Runco rebrand).

The big question still in my mind is whether the Planar will beat out the Sony VPL-VW85 (which is more expensive and more than I (or my wife) might want to spend).

Planar is now Runco, right? A Runco recommendation would be a first for AVS, especially best DLP under $10k.

Thor, I did inexpensive a-lens, zooming, and now masking. Inexpensive a-lens can do more harm than good. "zoom method" typically includes adjust zoom, focus, and sometimes lens shift. Even adjusting all 3 with a remote from the couch gets old fast if you try to switch back & forth. I'm masking 16:9 down to 2.35 now with Carada, but I find scope is to small and TV is too big. Next I want to try Scope with masking down to 16:9 which I think may be better. All my opinion of course, YMMV.

Sony & Runco have a good B&M dealer network, so it should be easy to see in person and get a feel for things.

Thanks for your insight. It is hard to imagine "too big" but I know what you mean when I picture a 16:9 at the width of my current 136" diagonal 2.35:1. If you are in the San Diego area, I may have a 2.35:1 Carada available. :D

However I can imagine a huge 16:9 would absolutely rock for driving games. I have a playseats racing chair with a Logitech G25 steering wheel with stickshift and the whole nine yards. :) It always kind of bugged me playing games not having the whole screen so sometimes I cropped the top and bottom to fill it.

Based on what you are saying, I think you will like the 2.35:1 masking down to 16:9 option. The 16:9 inside the 2.35:1 screen never felt too small to me. The way I was running it though was not using all of the 1920x1080 pixels (1920x818 resolution on a CRT and used a Lumagen to change the aspect within that for 16:9). That is why I wanted to zoom and shift. Now I am thinking of going the other way and I will have all of the pixels without having to zoom and shift or use an anamorphic lens.

Thanks again,
Mike

We actually sell the Planar and Runco...they are the same parent company, but different divisions. Never-the-less, the Planar PD8150 is still a great projector.

We actually sell the Planar and Runco...they are the same parent company, but different divisions. Never-the-less, the Planar PD8150 is still a great projector.

Have you viewed the Sammy A900? If so how do you rate it verses the 8150? Also I remember reading last year that you were wowed by the Marantz 11s2. How does the 8150 compare to that?

Is the Runco version of the 8150 the same street price as the Planer 8150?

Thanks to darinp2 in another thread, I found this link: http://www.videovantage.com/?p=11

This has made my decision much easier for me. I am pretty sure I am going to get the Planar/Runco.

Looking at the first pair of screenshots under the "Next Up - Planar 8150 vs JVC RS20" section, I was able to see a side by side comparison of DLP verses LCOS (well top and bottom comparison anyway, lol). The SDE (or "visible pixel structure" as many like to call it) is way more visible on the DLP. However, when looking at the small versions of the pictures on my monitor I was able to move back from the screen until it disappeared. Then looking at the two pictures, I definitely preferred the look of the DLP better. The JVC looks eerily similar to my CRT and now I can finally see what people are talking about with sharpness differences. However, I was still concerned about SDE and did my calculations to see how far away from the screen I would have to be in order to not see it anymore. It came out to slightly under one screen width away. I was planning to sit one screen width away, so this should just barely work, which I guess is a good thing because it will give me the sharpest picture possible. If I sit even further back, then my eyes won't be able to resolve all of the sharpness detail. I just hope I don't see rainbows all the time.

My only question left is, what screen gain should I get to go with this projector (1.0 or 1.4)? I want to get a Carada Precision 142" diagonal 16:9, unless someone can recommend a better bang for the buck option. I have been happy with my current Carada Criterion 136" 2.35:1 1.4 gain screen and it was an improvement over my DALITE model C 120" 4:3 rolldown. I haven't really looked at other options, but I don't want to spend much more than the Carada price. I am currently planning on having a completely dark room with black felt all of the walls and ceiling. The carpet is a light to medium brown, so that will reflect the most light. I may cover the floor with black felt in the front of the room too, or at least get a black rug to put down.

Thanks,
Mike

Have you viewed the Sammy A900? If so how do you rate it verses the 8150? Also I remember reading last year that you were wowed by the Marantz 11s2. How does the 8150 compare to that?

Is the Runco version of the 8150 the same street price as the Planer 8150?

I have seen the Sammy but not really given it the full evaluation. We are a dealer but are time limited at the moment (holiday season is approaching). The VP11S2 is a great projector, but for the price difference over the Planar really makes it tricky to justify (especially since in some ways the Planar is superior).