*Official* Optoma HD80 thread

[richds]

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Optoma Introduces Sub-$3,000 DLP-Based 1080p Home Theater Projector
Optoma's New 1080p Projector Snaps Price Point in DLP Front Projection Category

MILPITAS, CA (June 4, 2007) - Optoma, one of the leading manufacturers of digital projection and display devices, introduced the HD80 1080p home theater projector. The HD80 is the company's new 1080p home theater projector that offers outstanding features, functionality and value.

The HD80 features the latest 1080p DLP® DMD chipset from Texas Instruments and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio with Optoma's proprietary ImageAI™ technology, which allows the HD80 to deliver extraordinary color saturation and subtle details for incredible image quality. The Optoma HD80 allows conscientious home theater enthusiasts to enjoy 1080p pictures without compromising performance.

With 1300 lumens and a native 16:9 aspect ratio, the HD80 also offers studio-grade resolution with its internal video/color enhancement processing system, which delivers an advanced three-stage process flow that offers personalized adjustment settings at each stage. The HD80 also boasts Texas Instruments' BrilliantColor™ color processing technology to deliver higher brightness and provide truer, more vibrant colors to the projected picture.


Features
1080p DLP® chipset and BrilliantColor™ technologies by Texas Instruments
Native 1080p (1920x1080) resolution
1300 lumens with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio (with ImageAI™)
Three-stage video processing system offers personalized adjustment options: decoding, image enhancement and color reproduction enhancement

Specifications
Display Technology: Single 0.95-inch 1080p DMD DLP® chipset
Brightness (typical): 1300 lumens
Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1 (with ImageAI™)
Resolution: 1080p native (1920 x 1080)
Video Compatibility: Full NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV (720p, 1080i/p), SDTV (480i/p, 576i)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 native, full automatic 2.35:1 with Anamorphic Lens
I/O Connectors: 2x HDMI (1.3), DVI-I w/HDCP, S-Video, Component Video, Composite Video, RS-232, 12V trigger, External IR receiver port
Image Processing: Motion Adaptive 480i, 576i and 1080i de-interlacing, 10-bit image processing, advanced 3D comb filter, 3x presets, 3x programmable display formats, advanced noise reduction and sharpening
Color Management: User definable gamma, three user definable modes, ISFccc color settings
Weight: 10 pounds (projector)
Warranty: 2 years limited parts and labor; 1 year on lamp


The Optoma HD80 home theater projector will be available in July 2007 for an estimated street price of $2,999 through authorized Optoma dealers and retailers.

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[erick.s]

It's about time we had a 1080p DLP to compete with Panny and Epson's LCD. Bravo Optoma!

[joerod]

This will help drive down pricing even further...

[reconlabtech]

2 HDMI 1.3 ports, 1 DVI-I with HDCP, optional anamorphic lens with sled

Looks like competition is shaping up on more than one front!

[galvin]

Is this projector wobulated?

[floridapoolboy]

Looks like I'll be waiting a bit longer to upgrade my PJ!

[reconlabtech]

Originally Posted by galvin

Is this projector wobulated?

It says NATIVE 1920x1080 DMD

Native 1080p resolution, not effective resolution

[CaspianM]

HD81 has been problematic. Need to wait and see how this one will turn out.

[blakehew]

i don't see anything about horizontal or vertical shift on this projector. That feature makes projectors so much more versitile. Any word on whether or not this projector will have that or not? If not is there any paticlular reason why most LCD projectors have this feature while DLPs do not?

[Lawguy]

Originally Posted by CaspianM

HD81 has been problematic. Need to wait and see how this one will turn out.

Agreed. Very poor contrast, among other things. BENQ W9000 is close to that price already though.

Nice to see that psychological barrier broken though. Many more to follow.

[Robert Whitehead]

Optomas have not had H or V shift in the past. Most DLPs have fixed offsets. BenQs are an exception, but the amount of shift is small (top of the screen to bottom of screen mounting). InFocus generally has a fixed offset of 16% of the screen height, which translates to mounting 8" above the top of a 100" screen. The Optoma HD81 has a staggering 35% of the screen height offset.

The other problem with DLPs is they have a very limited range for mounting the projector from the screen. For example, all the 1080p DLPs can be mounted no closer than 13' for a 100" screen. The max distance is typically 15' or so.

As to why LCDs are so much more flexible than DLPs, all I know is it has something to do with the way DMD chips are engineered in a front proj, and the size of the chip.

On the other hand, almost every DLP proj. has a sealed optical path, so dust blobs are never a problem.

[blakehew]

Any one think that the 1080p LCD manufactures will lower their prices on their projectors to compete? I mean it seems that generaly speaking DLP projectors are regarded as better than LCD equvilants and in most cases there has always been price disparity where LCD was much cheaper. So im wondering if panasonic and epson will have to go to like 2K$ to discourage everyone from just jumping ship and going DLP?

[Ovation]

I don't know, but lens shift is a critical feature to me, so until DLP starts offering it in sub-3000$ projectors, they will always be lower on my list of potential displays.

[rrhomes]

We need a pic and we need the offset. It's just a fact the price free fall is not over. I can see 720P DC3 at $999 and DC2 at <$600 very fast. Benq will match this I'm sure with their W9000 1080P thats now at $3499. I see 1080P in at $2000 by years end. Great News for all.

[joerod]

Either way though this is still a good price breakthrough...

[ctviggen]

Originally Posted by Ovation

I don't know, but lens shift is a critical feature to me, so until DLP starts offering it in sub-3000$ projectors, they will always be lower on my list of potential displays.

The Sharp 12k-Mark II offers verticle lens shift (you can put the projector anywhere between the verticle limits of the screen). It's about one-third less than your price range.

[bbdivo]

Originally Posted by rrhomes

We need a pic and we need the offset. It's just a fact the price free fall is not over. I can see 720P DC3 at $999 and DC2 at <$600 very fast. Benq will match this I'm sure with their W9000 1080P thats now at $3499. I see 1080P in at $2000 by years end. Great News for all.

Arrrgghhh, and i just ordered my HD70 on Friday (it's just shipped too)! Here are some pics from gizmodo:

http://us.gizmodo.com/photogallery/O...080pProjectors

[bbdivo]

Originally Posted by reconlabtech

2 HDMI 1.3 ports, 1 DVI-I with HDCP, optional anamorphic lens with sled

Looks like competition is shaping up on more than one front!

Wonder what the pricing will be and whether it can be used on the rest of the Optoma range.

[guitarman]

I should be getting one pretty soon, I'll post up a review and screenshots thread. From my testing of the HD81 you should expect top notch optics with it's larger lens, very high brightness near 28ft candles, high Ansi contrast, on/off without DI should be near 3000.1 tuned and 9000.1 with DI but I wouldn't count the DI as a real CR level. Stick with the high Ansi and fixed iris on/off.

[CaspianM]

Another Link

[Ovation]

Originally Posted by ctviggen

The Sharp 12k-Mark II offers verticle lens shift (you can put the projector anywhere between the verticle limits of the screen). It's about one-third less than your price range.

Unfortunately, horizontal shift is more important to me (I would need to place the projector about 2 feet ahead and one foot to my left). My current room is sub-optimal for a projector (I can't really go any bigger than 65 inches diagonal and I cannot centre the projector) but the HD per square foot is a better deal in projectors than other displays and I have total light control. Also, while I won't have a big screen by front projector standards, 65 inches (or even 60) will be a BIG step up from my 32 inch SD CRT.

[guitarman]

I had the HD81 setup and aligning well with my 106" diag screen, 8' ceilings helped. Actually I've been able to install the HT1000 NEC LT150 and many Optoma's with that setup. Right now I do have a Lens shift model the advantage here is I can drop it low and pick up some gain from the Graywolf or HP screens.

The HD80 is going to be a light canon though, it's got the 300 watt bulb and the larger chip also adds to brightness. I might have to buy the HD80, does it ever end.
This time I hope so, the HD81 was too much cash outlay for me.

[Monkey_Man]

Hooraaayyyy "it employs TI's DarkChip2 technology".

I hope I have set off everyones sarcasm meter.

[floridapoolboy]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Man

Hooraaayyyy "it employs TI's DarkChip2 technology".

I hope I have set off everyones sarcasm meter.

Wow, just read that, bummer! Guess I'll stick with the HC3000U, at least until the new HD81-LV gets to $under $3K!

[mjolson]

Originally Posted by Robert Whitehead

Optomas have not had H or V shift in the past. .

Didn't the H76-79 series have power vertical lens shift and focus? I'm not sure why they departed from those features. I guess lumens and resolution are the key selling points these days, but it's a pity that important features are being discarded in the process.

-Mike

[guitarman]

The lens was too small on the H7x's for the 1080p chip so they used the EP910 platform for the best match. HD2+ vs DC3 is not as big a deal as you may think. With this platform and the 300watt bulb I feel the HD80 may show some higher on/off numbers. We'll find out soon.

[thuway]

i'm wondering how bright it will be in real world terms. if it competes with overall brightness with the HD1000u, I think we'll have a seller on hand.

[bbdivo]

Originally Posted by CaspianM

Another Link

$4000 for the anamorphic lens according to that link!!!!

[rickster904]

Originally Posted by thuway

i'm wondering how bright it will be in real world terms. if it competes with overall brightness with the HD1000u, I think we'll have a seller on hand.

How well calibrated do you want to go?

So is this a 1080p version of the HD70? White segment on the colour wheel?

[Wet1]

Any idea what this PJ will have for throw? If it's short enough (and I doubt that), I might pick one up.

It's looks very interesting...