Optoma HD8600

It looked OK, but was hard to really evaluate as it was on a 106" diagonal Black Diamond screen with quite a bit of ambient light.

It wasn't a show stopper for me anyway. I'll write more this weekend.

I would be really interested in others opinions as this one is high on my list.

Cheers

Hi every one
nothing new about this projector, someone have seen it in action?
by

On the US site:
link


Not sure how this is $2500 better than the SP8602.

As of now there is no 8602, still coming.
It also has a 9 step static Iris.

no 8600 either.

Yes Rob the 8600 is available now. A dealer has one that I'm gonna go see.

Excellent. Be sure to post impressions.

Anyone know if it uses the smaller DC3 chip like the 8200 or the larger one?

Mark,

The .65 but I've seen it and it's very sharp, sharper than the 8200.
They have much better lenses than the 8200. It is actually one of the nicest projectors I've seen.
The 9 step lens iris is sweet(not a dynamic one).
Actually the Dynamic Black is MUCH better implemented than the 8200. Basiclly you can't see it.

http://marketing.optomausa.com/PDFs/..._Datasheet.pdf

Scott

Elk,
I only watched for about 15 minutes. We turned the DB off for a bit and blacks were still very good because of the 9 step static iris. Could make it bright or darker for better blacks.

Scott

Looks like I'll get one soon, Wing got our friend the top guy in Taiwan on it for me. Great to have friends in high places. They,re still working on the LED's, LED's and Lasers is where we're headed.

LED light sources no wheels, no bulbs and that's all she wrote for the recent champion LCD/SXRD/DLIA bulb based machines. Won't be long

I wonder if Optoma has improved the quality of their build yet...we still have not had good luck with them (as recent as the HD8200).

Scott, sounds like some nice improvements. I'd really like to compare a projector with good optics that has the .65" DC3 to the larger DC4 to see if the earlier comparison with the HD8200 vs the Planar was just an anomaly. The Mitsubishi HC3800 also has the .65" DC3 and is rumored to have good optics.

Naah people were way to fussy or hard on the HD8200 dynamic black. I enjoyed it. There's allot of politiics on the different machines and different company names. I'll bet the HD8600 is very close to the Planar, but some complained about the planar also. End it and bring on the LED's and Lasers that's what I say. That will put the nail in the coffen for the panel projectors, they just can't be as crisp as the DLP chip and can't compete on ANSI contrast. A better future is coming and it's DLP driven.

If the HD2200 adds a 5x or 6x color wheel and keeps the same offset and 4000hr bulb life as the HD20, I would be all overt it. I'm watching the Mits HC3800 but have not done anything waiting for the random shutdown issue to be resolved. This one is also supposed to have better contrast than the HD20 (a better design for preventing stray light coming out perhaps?), that would put it right on there against the HC3800

Tom what I love most about Optoma is that they "push" the industry and their limits.

The people I have met from Optoma have been competent knowledgeable individuals.

However, anyone.... anyone Tom who reads through the Optoma threads would have to come away with serious questions about Optoma's Customer Support and Quality Control.

I am not saying other CE companies do not have issues....... trust me I have had plenty with Pioneer and Onkyo on AVR issues...., but that is not an excuse and should not be a reason to give any other company a "pass."

Optoma has some brilliant people working for them, but they need to "finish" their products and provide first rate support.

I am talking about the type of support we have seen from Epson (2 to 3 year warranties with advance replacement with Epson picking up the shipping both ways) and the great Customer Service and Support we have seen from Monoprice and Oppo.

HiHoStevo, I agree.

Optoma seems to be great in product design and the technology, but their customer service needs work. I've been trying to get some information from optoma but so far they are just ignoring my emails, and I know I'm not the only one.

I respect companys who take care of their customers, and respond to emails even when the answer is not what the customer wants to hear.

HD86 should arrive here next week and I will take a look at it and possibly get to compare it to HD82.

Be sure you report back.

scott

They sent me the order forms today so probably next we'll see what's up with the HD8600.

Perfect, we'll wait and see

Can't wait to hear what you think. Even though this looks like not being 3D ready I have a really itchy trigger finger...

One board member has had the 86 all week, lets see if he will post some impressions

I actually picked up the HD82 and didnt bother to check out the 86 yet. I'll use the 82 untill the 86 prices drop and maybe replace it due to the 82's nasty flaw which makes it annoying in htpc use. I heard the HD86 has similar problems when it detects the pc signal as 1080p 60hz instead of 1920x1080 60hz, funny how it makes a difference.

Yeah I didn't use a HTPC when I tested the HD8200 I do have one though. I expect the PJ tomorrow or the next day. Two Irises should be interesting, they bettered the Dynamic one and believe me I know Optoma can make it do every bit as good as any Plannar. Can't wait

Well, I got my HD86 (UK version of the HD8600) yesterday and up on the ceiling.

First impressions are fantastic, out of the box the settings were very good. There are a heck of a lot of options though so I think there will be many happy months of tweaking.

There seem to be many questions about the DB, well I watched over 8 hours of blu-ray, HD-DVD and HDTV lastnight and even when setting DB to Cinema 2 myself nor my mate who helped with the install (it is a beast by the way) could see any flickering, or light modulations, full stop! The manual iris works well, I am not sure how much the DB actually buys you anyway...

If anyone is interested I have some photos of the install?

Cheers

Yes of course ,thanks,and please you're impression about the image quality(shadow detail,black level,sharpness etc)
kipkab

I will add some more impressions once I have had a chance to really play, but the out of the box settings appear very good. Shadow detail is particularily impressive, I had the manual iris wound down to 3 (I have light coloured walls and carpet). Black levels are also impresssive compared with my HD72i, it is light years ahead.

Does the 8600 have power focus and shift controls?