Optoma HD66 - First 3D home theatre/gaming projector - Page 2

Because it's not anaglyph. Recording with a single camera would record both eye's images as one image, thus destroying steroscopy.

While it looked like a single image in the theater, you were actually seeing 2 separate images overlapping one another.

Each image was either A. Polarized differently B. Color filtered via Dolby 3D/Infinitec, or, less likely C. Frame sequential through LCD shutter-glasses.

It sounds like you saw a polarized presentation. The only way of reproducing this at home is with 2 projectors, each with different polarizing filters and matching polarized glasses.

The only way (practically) of being able to walk into a theater with a single video camera and record a 3D movie is if that movie was a crappy anaglyph (red/green) presentation.

Otherwise you would need 2 cameras, 2 lenses/filters matching 3D presentation (dolby 3d, RealD, imax...etc) and both cameras would need to be aligned properly with screen. Then once you got home you would have combine the two video streams into a single file/format that is readable by stereo3D player software OR if you had a fast enough computer play both videos at the same time on different video ports...or play each video on separate computers synced to each other.

Just to extend on what Sisyphus said to help you understand further why this cannot be done:

RealD works using frame-sequential circular polarized projection (unless it's using a Sony 4K projector, but it for simplicity I'm only going to explain the normal RealD presentation). In this method the projector is running at 144hz, with a RealD Z-Screen synchronized in front of the lens. When you take off the glasses, you are still only seeing the left or right eye image at a rate of 144fps (144hz). If you can get a video camera that can record at 144fps and stay in sync with the projection while also changing from left-to-right eye polarization in sync, than I think that theoretically you could record the video.

RealD still projects one image and then the other (frame-sequential), and not both at the same time mashed on top of eachother. It is simply switched between left and right by using the Z-Screen device placed in front of the projector lens instead of the glasses doing the work.

In an attempt to thwart you hijackers , I'll ask this question. What compromises, if any, in the widely-accepted quality of the HD65 would be necessary to make it a 3d projector?

When is somebody gonna get one of these and review for us?

Just noticed it is now up for order on bestbuy.com... It looks like a white version of the Optoma business projectors to me, doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Funny, it looks very much like the HD65 to me. Maybe they changed the picture.

The HD 66 is listed as brighter, and that would be an improvement for 3D use, because 3D shutter glasses filter out some of the light. But using the HD66 on 2D video we all might want to make it a little less bright. Otherwise, no compromises at all.

I am getting ready to pick up an HD65 - I primarily use the projector for Blu Ray movies - is this projector better for the movies or should I stick with the 65? Not really a gamer

The 66 Might be a bit better for you.. Though you arent a gamer, pick up a PS3 for a Blu-Ray Player (Since it is 3D BR Compatible) and an HDMI 1.4 Cable.. You will have a perfect setup for viewing the newer 3D Movies like Avatar when they start hitting the shelf later this year.

I don't think the PS3 can truly output HDMI 1.4? or will it fall into the exception thing?

whats the difference between its maximum resolution of 1080p and native resolution of 720p? Does it just mean it can play and downgrade 1080p content to 720p?

I await some reviews as I'm quite interested in the HD65/66

I made a thread about it. It will be here on January 5th. Ill put it through the motions and let everyone know how it works. Im looking at this NVidia 3d stuff, it looks kind of neat. 200 dollars for a pair of glasses though. Reading about them, it looks like you can get generic shutter glasses for 20 bucks off ebay and such. I have a 8600GT Nvidia video card but it looks like Ill need to upgrade to use the Nvidia brand glasses. It makes almost more sense to buy a couple sets of IGlasses for 200 a piece, they have 2 lcd screens in them so they are naturally 3d.

However, like I said, I purchased the HD66, it will be here the 5th. Ill be posting in my thread how it performs.

Thanks for the advice - already have a PS3 and not a huge 3D movie watcher but if its the same price and I dont lose any quality on regular Blu Ray Movies - might as well pick up the 66 for the added feature
Thanks again

how come this projector can support 1920x1080 but is a 720p projector?

Like so many other projectors and display devices, it likely uses an internal scaler or other processing equipment to convert the 1080p image/stream to 720p.

Here is my concern.

After reading the "does 1080p really matter" article (google it) and doing some calculations, the human eye will detect a difference between 720 and 1080 with my planned screen size (120") at the optimum viewing distance.

Anybody here compared a 720p projector next to a 1080p on a 120" screen?

Constantly... night and day difference to me. I sit 11 feet from a 120" screen, can very much notice a difference between my old 720p projector and my "kinda" new 1080p (its almost a year old now). Saying that, I lived perfectly with a 720p proj. for 3 years, and it still looks great, just not anywhere what the 1080p does.

For reference, the 720p was LCD, the 1080P is SXRD, and neither will ever play 3-D. Both retailed for roughly the same price at the time of purchase.

I have not but that's only because I have 720p panels at home (LCD and plasma).

Based on everything I've read, though, as well as what other people have stated in this thread - yes you will likely see a difference. Note that the quality of the source material (i.e. standard DVD vs BR) as well as the quality of the scaler used (1080i/p down converted to 720p vs 1080p native).

Ben

RealFloppyGuy,
Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the 66. I was decided on the HD65, then I saw this and have been back and forth since. I'm currently working on replacing my old sp4805.

From what I can tell, the 66 is no longer using the TI darkchip, but switching to a TI chip with "BrilliantColor" technology. I'm wondering if this has to do with the bump in effective brightness (to 2500 lm).

I'm really interested in the black level and shadow details as this is one area that the 65 really performed pretty well (at least from the reviews I have read)

- Jeremy

I haven't seen this unit in person but from pictures and from: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...specifications

It looks like BB may have the wrong info for the dimensions and the bulb life.

bh has the bulb life at "185W P-VIP
4000-hours in Standard mode
3000 hours in Bright mode"

And the dimensions at:
"11.28 x 3.98 x 7.6" (28.7 x 10.1 x 19.3 cm)"

I might have to add an HD66 to my home theater - here come the 3D Broadcasts:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/...-network_N.htm

The decision making process has become more difficult.

I realize that a majority of what people watch will be 2d, and having the superior resolution of 1080p would be ideal. However, having the capability to watch 3d, even with lower resolution, would be incredible.

I think BB has a couple of the specs wrong at least when compared to Projector Central:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/part...pare_list=3880

Max resolution is another area where the two sites differ...

Ben

I agree.

When I first noticed those specs, they confused me. Also, BB listed it as a business projector.

By the way, it is on sale at BB right now ...

Damn.. why cant they put a 1080p engine in there, even at double the price of HD66, it would sell like hotcakes for 3D.

According to specs it definitely supports 1080p, it's native resolution is not 1080 though.

Yeah.. thats the crux of the matter, native 1080p is a "must" for large format screens.

Even the DepthQ Polarizing Projector system is only 720p too, if anything you would think that would be an easy projector for them build as a native 1080p.

I am glad I am reading all of this. I was nervous about spending the money to upgrade to 1080P this year. I may wait knowing 3D is gaining some momentum. 1080P will be around the corner. It also gives me time to see if 3d really takes off.

Avatar was amazing in 3D. I would love to see it on my 120" at home.

Kudos to the film and electronic industry for figuring out a way to create demand for new displays and thwart in-theater pirating. What will they do next?

Avatar on DVD/Bluray ... ----> April 16th, 2010
Avatar 3D some month later on 3D BluRay

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I've tested my Acer H3560 projector - it works very well, clear and bright, no rainbow.

Connected to a Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz, 2 GB memory, Geforce 8600GS, Win7
For installing I used nVidia 3Dvision CD V 1.17 - it works fine (CD 1.11, delivered with shutter glasses, does not work/Win7 )

I tested with cheapest HDMI cables, 3meter and 5meter (both < € 7 .. free shipping from Hongkong < $ 9.99)

Projector H5360 1280x720/120Hz (HDMI-HDMI)
Monitor Acer 1920x1080/60Hz (DVI-HDMI)

It looks like BB was closer on the size of the projector, and Im willing to bet on the rest of the info too. Heres the size as I measured it.

11"W X 3.5H X 7.5D They probably measured it slightly different, adding the projector lense piece that sticks 1/4" out for instance, but thats what I came up with

I plugged the projector in and had it sitting on a boook shelf, the color was OK out of the box. I adjusted it and it looked great. Of the limited number of projectors I have had the opportunity to sit and watch, this is by far the best. At 720P it was flawless.

I turned it to the lowest level on the bulb and adjusted it to where I liked it. Its easily brighter than my Moviemate 33 was at 1200 lumens on high in its lowest mode. Granted I dont have any smancy equipment to test lumen output - but if I had to say based on my previous projector its putting out over 1200 in the lower light output modes with all the other stuff turned off. Even in lowest power output and lights on in the theater the screen looked awesome.

Blacks - Black levels many many times better than Im used to, I think the blacks were damn close to the black curtains around my screen.

Accessories included:

Standard yellow RCA
A VGA to Component cable
A power cable
And a remote.
The manual was on CD.


The remote control sucks. It works, and its OK. It has a few problems though.. Its not backlit, so no using in the dark, its tiny (couch monster appetizer), and it looks really cheap, like a remote for a 100 dollar room air conditioner. The remote doest matter to me, and Id use it if I had to, it just seems really small and lacking.

Thats it for now.

David

How long does projector central usually take to review a new, popular projector? Any ideas?