The official Epson 8700UB thread - Page 11

I was going to pull the trigger on the Mits HC 6800 but it had to low of contrast Ratio...
So got the 8700 twin brother 9700ub...
I will be upgrading in the New year to the New Epson when its released or New Mits...
Not just sure yet which model..
I do hate...... and i mean Hate the manual zoom on this 8700/9700 unit...
it is a royal pain in the Beep.....

That is one main reason i will upgrade to the Epson 61000 or Mits New MOdel...

Will be posting some pics later as promised...

How important is the zoom feature? I know Panasonic can zoom using the remote, but Epson is manual. Will I regret not having this feature?

If you don't own one, maybe you should not comment on the quality issues. Go read the 6500UB and 8500UB threads, you will see there are hundreds on this board alone with the same issues. When they work right, they are amazing. That's why I deal will all the hassle of returning them until I get a good one. I have seen the Panasonic in action, and wasn't that impressed. It is not uncommon for people to return their Epson at least 5 times.

So how do you know if you get a bad one. Is it bad right away or do these things have a tendency to start breaking over time. Im worried now that it will "go bad" right after the warranty ends.

I just got my 8700UB, and am prying that things are OK with it, I haven't hooked it up yet.

I think that the flaws described to some degree are subjective. My father picked up an 8500 last year. Yes, it has *MINOR* convergence issues, but you have to be 12" from the screen to see it. In some cases, some users may demand better performance, and the fact that Epson is willing to stand by that, I commend them. However, from what I've been reading, it is usually an issue that is evident right away, not something that develops over time.

Also, be aware that spending lots of time on these forums is akin to reading a medical book and self-diagnosing every ailment. In most cases, you wouldn't even be aware of the issue, but if it is pointed out, it will drive you nuts. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Keep in mind that the forums usually attract people that want to discuss problems/solutions, and many users that are completely satisfied may not post anything at all. Therefore using forums as a statistical survey of product quality may be misleading because it may not accurately represent a correct ratio of good to bad units.

Purchasers of these units (myself included) demand performance, and quality. While I'm disturbed by the repeated quality issues described here, I'm also impressed that most people are willing to tolerate it to get the ultimate quality.

If you can go through an outfit that will pre-screen the projector for you, it may add a little bit of confidence to your purchase!

Good luck, and wish me the same

Its a pain for me cause i have it ceiling mounted,
which every time i want to adjust got to get the ladder out .
also i find that the movements are really trigger happy..
i usually go to far either way
thats where if i had a powered zoom it would be very convient..
but i knew that before going with the unit.
and I would rather have a higher contrast ratio and greater blacks then go with a competitors product
..

Okay got 30 hrs on the unit going to turn on the auto iris to normal...
SO far picture looks good..
....
and yes i smell the turkey cooking
Nothing like Turkey , Stuffing , Pecan Pie and Dr Pepper.....
Hey Dysfunction your invited for Dinner......lol

You will know right away, I would say within 48 hours of hooking it up. If you get one that works from the start then there isn't anything to worry about. Epson's customer service is the best, period. Even if there is an issue, you will get a replacement.

I would suggest purchasing through AVS, as they do quality control checks. I did not have that option, as it was a free upgrade. I would probably be a lot happier if I got mine through AVS.

Agreed, and I would have done that, but here in Canada it is a slight PITA to deal with companies in the US due to border, brokerage, etc, etc.....although after this whole $200 rebate fiasco, I'm regretting not going through the US.

Received a 8700UB last week and showed wavy fringe pattern when adjusting the focus on the lens to achieve the sharpest image (used the blue pattern on remote control and TV program). Talked to Epson service and they suspect may be problem on LCD panel or something and overnight shipped me a replacement. I was surprised that the new one still show the similar fringe pattern if you try to get the sharpest focus. The pattern changes when you change the zoom range and get away when defocus a bit. Could anyone know what the cause could be? Has anyone had the same issue? I don't have the problem on my old Panny PT-L300 on the same 92" Da-Lite pull down mode B HCMW (grey) screen (will upgrade to a Carada fixed screen). Mine is ceiling mounted 10' away from screen and use component video signal. Here are screen shots showing the fringe patterns. Thanks for any inputs.

Getting that wavy pattern on two projectors may indicate a problem in the component/cable chain somewhere, besides the projector.

Not the projector...it is the screen. Essentially it is a moire like effect that the HCMW has due to its texture. It is rare, but can happen. If you take a piece of paper over one of those spots, I'd bet it will go away where the paper is.

Here is a couple of pics
Thinks i still need to do some dialing in
THX Mode

Jason is totally right take a piece of paper on an area where the problem is and it will likely go away....

Did some more adjustments and went with the Projector review calibration setting
THX Mode
BluRay Last Airbender
Popcorn Hour C-200

Jason, Stephan, fraisa,

Thanks for your replies and suggestions. I tested with a piece of paper on the textured area and the pattern disappeared. I also projected on the wall (pull up the screen) and no patterns. Thank God it's not the PJ and I'll keep it. I'll order a Carada 92" screen for the 8700UB. Still try to figure out whether to order Classic Cinema white or Brilliant white. My seat to screen is 10', ceiling mounted right above seating. Side window covered with blind curtain. White wall and ceiling. any suggestion? Thanks.

Hey have you looked at the SI Black Diamond ,,
I really love mine....
Awesome in ambient light
blacks are black

Please help, multiple opinions appriciated... I have two options in my living room which has a fair amount of ambient light. Both will have an 11' viewing distance. One, is a 12' Throw, What is the largest screen size i can get and still have a good pic? Two, I can do a 12' throw or a 16' throw and up to a 120" screen. I am worried even with a da lite hp 2.8 gain screen I plan on using I will have a poor pic during the day with a 120. Should I stay with a 100'/106 at a 12' throw or go for the 120? Bigger is better imo but not willing to sacrafice pq for it.. Please help. I have done my reasearch and reading but need opinions!!!!!

okay in ambient light SI Black Diamond is the answer....
as for your screen size i would go with 100 inch at that distance to be safe..
Black Diamond 1.4 Gain would be ideal

What is the cost of one of those screens?

I am in Canada so not to sure what the MSRP is in the USA

What does it cost in Canada?

A black diamond screen is out of my price range but thank you for the advice.... Please help, multiple opinions appriciated... I have two options in my living room which has a fair amount of ambient light. Both will have an 11' viewing distance. One, is a 12' Throw, What is the largest screen size i can get and still have a good pic? Two, I can do a 12' throw or a 16' throw and up to a 120" screen. I am worried even with a da lite hp 2.8 gain screen I plan on using I will have a poor pic during the day with a 120. Should I stay with a 100'/106 at a 12' throw or go for the 120? Bigger is better imo but not willing to sacrafice pq for it.. Please help. I have done my reasearch and reading but need opinions!!!!!

You can get a 113" Black Diamond II from Projector People for $3,300, it's a little out of my price range. That's the largest 16:9 screen they offer it seems. I'll just stick with my Carada 118" BW.

Yeah, that's ridiculous. $3,000 for a screen when you have a $2,000 projector...no way. $500 seems reasonable for a projector in that price range, less would be even better.

MSRP In Canada is More But...
It is so worth it....
you cant just look at the price...
Its price vs performance
I love my Black Diamond Screen and would buy one again tomorrow...
We will be watching the Grey Cup today
Got over 30 people comeing over
and we will be watching it with the lights fully on...
no washed out colours or faded blacks...

A Black Diamond Screen Matched with the Epson 9700ub is every mans Dream...
its just ...........Awesome

The screen is as important and depending on the situation maybe more important than the projector. In a perfectly black room bat cave any basic white screen will work well. Sure you'll get better picture quality out of a Stewart Studio Tech 100 or Da-lite Affinity but the difference won't be as big as Black Diamond in a poor room with the lights on compared to a white screen.

If you have a light colored room and ambient light you want a gray(black and silver also included when I say gray) screen with some gain. The gain will help reduce light being reflected from the walls/ceiling as long as the reflections are out of the viewing cone. The gray base layer will bring down the black levels for increased contrast.

Gain can be a be misleading, in general the higher the gain the smaller the viewing area. But a simple gain number doesn't tell the whole story. If you have a gray screen with no gain it will be absorb some light and have what they call a negative gain. A typical gray screen has a gain of ~.8 but this can vary quite a bit. So a gray screen with a 1.4 gain actually has a smaller viewing cone than a white screen with a 1.4 gain. Because to get to 1.4 gain its coating is actually a 1.75 gain on top of a base gray layer with a negative .8 gain.

The type of gain screen has to be determined for a given situation. If the PJ is mounted on a table or near eye height a retro-reflective screen will work best likes the Da-lite HP. Its high gain really helps reduce reflections and light coming from out of the viewing cone. Too bad they don't make an HP with a gray base and make it closer to a 2.0 gain overall.

Angular reflective works best for ceiling mounted projectors and the Firehawk or Silverstar would be a good choice. I think the Black Diamond is also angular reflective but I haven't used it.

For the budget conscious there are tradeoffs. The Da-lite HP can work well if you can mount it near eye height and keep light out of the viewing cone. For Angular reflective screens you might have to go with a gray screen and go with a slightly smaller screen because of the negative gain. Something like a Dragonfly high contrast or one of the many other gray screens. The Da-lite HCMW is a decent choice if it doesn't cause moire.

Moire will not happen at all screen sizes and LCDs tend to have more problems because of their larger gap between pixels. But, I have seen moire with other technologies as well. Some screen manufacturers can tell you if your PJ will cause moire with what size screens and materials.

Lastly, lumens of projectors. Don't use the manufacturers' rated lumens to calculate your screen size!!! Look at some reviews from places like projector reviews or projector central. See what lumens it produces in best mode, at your estimated throw distance and divide that number in half to account for bulb aging. Use that lumens number to find you a screen that will give you greater than 12ft/l. This will give you great picture quality throughout the life of your bulb (unless you don't mind replacing bulbs early) and plenty of spare lumens in the brighter modes for watching with ambient light.

Yifeng,

Between those two screens go with the BW as the gain will help reduce the reflections from the white walls and ceiling.

Nobuyersremorse,
Are you looking at a pulldown or fixed screen? Where is your PJ mounted? What is your price range? Go with a 120" HP if mounted near eye level or go with 100" or less gray screen if ceiling mounted and budget is tight. Otherwise a Firehawk, Silverstar or Black Diamond would be a better choice

Hope this helps.

Bob

Bob, I will be mounting the pj about one foot over seating level which is why I have been planning on a HP screen. My main concern is with my high ambient light. Will a 120 look poor during the day? The throw would be 16'. If needed I could do a 106" with a 12' throw. Bigger is better imo but not with a major sacrifice in pq.

I am happy with my cheap $100 screen, I'll stick with that and save about $3,000.