Hi All,
Was in Costco up here in Canada yesterday, and see that they have stocked the Optoma HD640 with a 92 Panoview screen for $980.

Does anyone know much about this projector?

I see it's 4000:1 contrast ratio, and has 1600lumens on Optoma's website.

How does it compare to the HD6800,HD7100 they also have for sale on Costco's website? Is this considered an entry level system?

What does it mean if it's native 720P, but supports 1080P?

I'd be mounting it on a shelf behind our couch in the basement. Probably about 15' back from the wall. For the price seems alright, but just wanted to see how the specs are and what kind of picture quality it offers? Would be running xbox360 via vga, and upconverting dvd player. Will likely also get HD cable box, but only for occasional viewing.
Thanks

I can comment on how this compares to HD7100 from the specs... this is brighter, has lower contrast, has the newer chip with newer color processing from TI.

HD7100 has horizontal and vertical lens shift, and an iris, increasing its contract as well as some custom optics. HD7100 has some known issues around signal syncing as well startup.. . there is a whole thread devoted to HD7100 on 3K+ forum.

For your installation on the shelf, vertical lens should come handy... however, if you don't need that, I would buy this as opposed to the HD7100, because the 7100 is 3 yr old technology.

Make sure you go on Optoma Canada site and do the image calculations... what size image a 15' throw distance will yield, as well as the offset from the center of the lens to the edge of the image to make sure that the projector will work for you.

This is the canadian version of the HD65. There is a long thread on it in this forum.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I'll head on over and have a read of the HD65 thread. You'd think Canada and the US would just keep the same model numbers.....

Thanks for comparing to the HD7100 also.

It's not Canada and the U.S., it's Canada and [retailer we're not supposed to mention]. [retailer we're not supposed to mention] uses different model numbers to circumvent purchasing agreements that Optoma has with other Canadian retailers who do sell the "U.S." models. For instance, the HD70 is available in Canada at other retailers for as much as $1,200 CAN. But [retailer we're not supposed to mention] sells the HD32, which is, for all intents and purposes, identical to the HD70 (only rated higher in lumens, and with just a one-year warranty) for $980. Technically the same thing, but "legally" different, and less expensive.

Where do you buy lamps for this projector?

I prefer the HD32 (HD70) that retailer has on their website at the same price with the screen. From 15 feet back, the HD65 throws a ridiculously big image - we're talking 120"+ and the lack of zoom is annoying.

huh? on the projector calculator thing I was able to get the 92" for the screen at like 10'4 at 1.10x zoom..or am I doing it wrong?

>From 15 feet back, the HD65 throws a ridiculously big image - we're talking 120"+ and the lack of zoom is annoying.

Big, bright, beautiful picture = ridiculous. LOL

What does it mean if it's native 720P, but supports 1080P?
ThanksThat means that is a 720p projector (1280 x 720 resolution). It will accept a 1080 input (and will internally down-scale it to its native 1280 x 720).

NOTE: Have you read: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=805880 and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=500886?

So can the HD65 fit on a 92" screen from 10'4 feet with 1.10x zoom?

If the 10.4' feet (10' 5") is measured from the front of the lens to the screen, then yes it will (just barely). It's minimum focal distance is 10' 4" (screen to front of lens) for a 92" screen (see http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD65-projection-calculator-pro.htm).

thanks.