Sony HMZ-T2 Personal 3D Viewer HMD Dedicated Thread - Page 27

I know, and already done that when i've wrote that post. I've put it on the lowest position and thought it was not enough. But since it doesn't need to touch the nose, it's ok, i guess. I'll see later...
Edited by DG25 - 1/25/13 at 1:37pm

The Japan 100v unit DOES work in Europe, without any voltage transformer. I've just changed the plug with a compatible one (or you could use an adapter) and it worked. It does not overheats or anything else. I just wanted to confirm this, and thanks to the original poster who discovered this first.

Here are my impressions (see at the end for the bad and ugly):


The good:

-very, very good 3D, the best my eyes have seen.
I've seen Avatar at Imax, but the HMZ does 3D better, imo, much more natural looking. I've only tested it on my PC, some 3D movies and one game (also in 3D). I have Doom 3 BFG ed, which has 3D settings integrated in menus and i can not tell you how much impressed i was about the experience. The resolution seemed low (i'm not sure how Doom 3 BFG does side-by-side 3D, but it seemed it was lower than 1280x720 per eye), but oh man, the immersion it gave to that old game....Games benefit greatly from 3D, much more than movies. I cannot wait for Oculus Rift to appear on the market.

-the sound (with the default earbuds, because i didn't have time to test it with my full open headphones). The included buds sound very good, clean and have bass. Sony did a great job with the sound virtualization, in both games and movies. I was not expecting to like it, but i did.

-plug and play
Pretty easy to set up and connect it to pc and PS3. Easy to button and menus are nice. When connected to my PC, windows found it as Sony HMZ and changed the resolution to 1280x720. Even if you have it at 1920x1080, the HMZ does the scaling to 720. But i've noticed a strange thing with my movie players (Splash Pro and PotPlayer), every time i switch to full screen, the screen goes black for 1-2 seconds and then it resumes; like it changes resolution or something. It's definitely a PC software issue, because if i turn off GPU video acceleration, all returns to normal.

-(low) resolution.
A plus because it didn't bother me in movies and games (though games need a little AA).

-no discernible input lag
I'm no pro player, but i know how input lags feels (i've returned a pc monitor and a wireless mouse because of this). I've played a little bit of fast paced Unreal Tournament 3 on it and didn't feel anything wrong.


-the image, when in focus, is clear and does appear big. Very good contrast, at least to my eyes. Cinema size or projector size big. Not sure how big, but i need to move my eyes from corner to corner, like i would when sitting a bit too close to a screen. You need to watch it in total darkness, because otherwise you lose half the effect and it just becomes a normal, tv like screen. So yes, it is big and cinema like....BUT:




The bad:
-tunnel vision. I finally understood what some were saying. Although the image appears BIG (in total darkness), you feel exactly like you're sitting at the cinema with scuba diving goggles. It's not because you feel something on your head or face, it's because the light from the screens is reflected on the black plastic around each lens, the deep plastic rim that's there to allow each lens to be adjusted left and right. I think this could be corrected somehow, but i'm not sure how easily. But i can say 99.9% sure it's not because of optics, they are fine (but of course they will reflect light from outside, if you don't use the blockers or don't watch it with the lights off). This tunnel effect you can ignore...or not. Depends on what you're expecting. I wouldn't say it breaks the immersion, but you must learn to deal with it and just focus on what's on screen.



The ugly:
-apparently i have a mutant large head, because i can't get it to stay in place. It just slides, under the weight, up front, onto my nose bridge. The lateral straps are at max and the forehead pad is at the lowest position (otherwise i can't put it on my head, not enough for my eyes to fully see the screens). The two straps at the back (including the elastic one) just keep sliding through my hair and can't keep the whole thing in place, until it rests on my nose, like some heavy glasses. And since it sits on my nose, my eyes are too close to the optics, resulting in smudges from humidity (i guess). The thing is i can get a clear picture pretty easily, no optics adjustments needed, it just doesn't sits there for too long.


In conclusion, i'm not sure what i'll do, sell it or keep it and try to mod it. If it were cheaper, i would definitely keep it. But for now, if someone is from Europe and wants to buy it, leave me a PM and i'll think about it.
Edited by DG25 - 1/29/13 at 4:25am

So from what I read here, buying the T2 with the intent to use it in a motion simulator (like Joyride Atomic A2) is a bad idea. I better wait for the Oculus?

What is the best"Display" settings for the ps3..?

Is this the best...:-)

Display:
Choose "VIVID"
Next: "Reset" to factory DEFAULT settings.
Next: Change "Color Temperature" to "Warm 2".
Next: Change "Sharpness" to +6 (Maximum).

Hi, I'm currently using T2 for my racing motion simulator. The immersion is great. I did add extra 'memory' foam so that I can wear it comfortably and it does not move (relative to my head) during the motion rides.

Hey guys, we have made a few updates to our site.

First off, all the Comfort 3 cushion pads, Pitch Black Light Blocker and carry bags have had an extra $5 added to the price. This is because we will now be using Registered Air Mail for all orders. This makes it better for you our customers as we will now be able to send a tracking number so you can locate your order. It also helps us know that you receive your order with no problems.

Before, we were using regular air mail which had no tracking. Numerous customers would write asking for a tracking number or where their order is. Sometime it would be sitting in customs for days before even getting to them.

With Registered Air Mail it should be a bit faster and it will insure your package gets to you.



We are now selling the Sony HMZ-T1 for only $600 and the Sony HMZ-T2 for only $900
We also have the HMZ-T2 with our Limited Edition Pads and Pitch Black light blocker with 2 of our 3D movies free for only $995, that is a great deal!

To the good people of this forum with HMZ-T2 hands-on experience, I am really hoping to get some guidance pre-purchase (I live in Canada). I'm a sports junkie and want to watch 2D sports programming with a big-screen experience and surround sound, but do not have the wall space or budget for a proper home theater. I have been reading about the HMZ-T2's for some time as we have a PS3 and a cable box with an HDMI-out. Could anyone who has a HMZ-T2 tell me if they have ever tried watching a sporting event (ie, soccer, hockey, football etc.) with them, and if so, was it a quality immersive big-screen experience?

I know these are mostly used for 3D gaming, but I'm hoping some people on here can offer some insight on the quality of experience watching 2D content with them.

Also, I have seen some people talk about refresh rates etc., is that concern for watching sports with them?

Much thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to respond. Much appreciated.

I have watched numerous sporting events in 2D on my HMZ-T2 and love it. I watch hockey games and using the T2 it feels like I am there at times. I have watched a few soccer games also which looked great.
Just a note though, watching for long periods will hurt your head if you don't have some kind of cushion pads to help.

Yep that sound like me when I got it. My head is large too. Let just say most baseball caps don't fit on me.

I can wear it loose on laying back on a recliner, I like this position because I can't do this with either my TV or my projector. Basically you pinch the two rear headstraps between my head and the headrest of the recliner. The weight of the HMZ is supported by the forehead and the lateral straps become a stand of sort supported by the recliner. I'm very still sort of person, so I can watch movie or play game this way for hours. I wear it loose enough If I stand the HMZ would drop to my nose. I find this is the most comfortable position with HMZ bar none.

Anyway if the unit drop to your nose that means you are not putting it on tightly enough. The forehead pad meant to be the pivot. If it is dropping to your nose, that mean it didn't pivot at your forehead. don't put the forehead pad at the lowest setting, pull it out just a little bit. And pull in the lateral straps some more, tighten it up.

Also you know you can pull in and pull out the lateral straps right ? There are two buttons on top that you press to loosen the lateral straps. And you can adjust the straps some more. I mean I can set the HMZ really tight that I can jump around and the unit would not move from the sweet spot.

Like I said earlier it took me a week or so of playing around with the fit. But it's well worth it.

A bit of a long shot, but does anyone have a spare plastic backing from one of the pads of a HMZ-T1? I've misplaced the backing of one of the pads, and discovered this when I was about to sell the device and as a result the sale fell through. I know it isn't absolutely necessary as the other two pads have the backing and can be swapped out, but it is more for anyone looking to buy so I can say the machine is in perfect condition.

I spent this morning tearing my house apart and haven't found it yet. I'm beginning to worry. It was in a room that was my study, but is now my daughters.... On top of that Sony couldn't help me when I visited them today, nor could their spare parts supplier, despite me spending ages on the phone.

Any help in getting one of these would be mightily appreciated. (I don't even need the pad, just the plastic part the 'leather' attaches to)

Trying to decide if the HMZ-T2 is right for me. Can any owners comment on their experience with 2D blu-ray content? Specifically something like 'Planet Earth' or any other wilderness documentary?

My main concern is the resolution. Watching 'Planet Earth' at 1080p on a 60" display is a revelatory experience, the super wide shots are full of detail. I'm worried that going back to 720p will feel like a downgrade, even though you gain the bigger FOV and OLED characteristics.

Its a down grade from 1080p but if u add a darbee that help with the resolution loss on the T2 making it atleast sharper but the 1mill pixles thats aint there cant be replaced sadly

Honesty, since the OLED screens are small you can't tell much difference between 1080p and 720p, in fact the HMZ-T2 picture is so much more clear than my Sony 46" or LG 55" 3D TV's.

The black levels on the HMZ are amazing!

Lots of misconception about 720p vs 1080p

They did a scientific test on what the effective resolution of regular 35mm theater film prints [4th generation from the original negative with a loss in resolution at every generation] actually was in terms of what humans see and it approximated to watching a 720p presentation at around 10+ feet.

Before people start flaming me, this was confirmed by a very well-known film preservationist on another forum who brought it up in a thread dedicated to a very famous movie that he had a big hand in bringing back from the dead and he is very careful on what he says online.

Also, I watch very high-bitrate 720p MKVs from a Mitsi HD1000u which is a 720p projector [on an 87" screen sitting at 11 feet] and I can testify to this being true as Blu-Rays xferred from film sources look just like they do in the theater at that distance.
I have been using it since Sep 2007, watching a movie almost every night, I dont wear glasses and I dont watch anything on it unless its in 720p and there is nothing in the video chain and its factory default settings all the way for the image.

Its actually why I am in this thread contemplating the purchase of a T2 because the alternative for 3D was the Mitsi HD8000 which is a CEDIA-only unit that does 3D as 1080p @ 60 per eye BUT it costs US$3K.
There would be minimal benefit in 2D so why spend so much money.

720p will do the job as far as the T2 is concerned.

About the resolution, for me it's only acceptable for movies, video content. I connected it to my pc and the desktop looks kinda bad, the pixelation is pronounced when it comes to small text, icons and such. Games also suffer from this, they don't look so crisp as on my 1080p tv, no matter how much AA i put. Still better than my PS3 games, though...But when you enable 3D, you forget all this. That's why i don't really care about Oculus Rift's low resolution.
I know about the lateral straps, they are at max. Tried and tighten all the straps, but i'm afraid the rubber strap will break, as it has some week points where it's glued to the plastic strap. And besides, it still slides, because i have long, straight hair and the straps can't get a good grip. I'll see if i can make a comfort mod, as i decided not to sell it yet. I really like the 3d quality, cinema like screen and the whole world isolation it provides. But if i could turn back time, i would have bought instead a cheaper T1 and mod it.
Edited by DG25 - 1/31/13 at 1:51am

Hi, I watch soccer matches a lot with my previous T1 and now T2, both for 2D and 3D broadcasts. I am very satisfied.

If a T3 comes with 1080p ill get it as 720p is getting old now with 4k around the corner

I'm selling a brand new hmz t2 with extras if anyone is interested...

Got to try the T1 and I see the limited sweet spot. So here are my questions on the T2:

Are there any adjustments for people like me with glasses beyond the lenses width?
Do glasses limit the ability to pull the T2 closer to your face?

I see that the T2 has been brought to Japan and now in Canada. I don't see why it wouldn't make it to the states so I wonder if it would be the same unit, or somehow even more enhanced for release?

For gaming and excitement I don't know how you'd keep your head still, so how does that affect visibility and play?

How long is typical delivery from Japanese sights?

Thanks..Hope to take the plunge soon.

UPDATE: I was wrong below, John Carmack is indeed right the HMZ 2 does indeed have a fair bit of input lag. In the past when i switched games to 3D mode i assumed the game got slightly sluggish (only very slight and does not effect offline FPS at all) and i mistook it for the 3D mode being more CPU intensive, hence the game slows down about. Recently i tried a Optoma GT750, it claims 0 Input lag... and boy it sure is! Playing crysis 3 and superstartdust on it is super slick. So smooth, normally on the HMZ i get between 40 to 60 million points using the HMZ, on the GT750 i got 130million on my first go! And i want to emphasis, both games on the HMZ, especially SSD play amazing on the HMZ. But the GT750 is so darn fast its quite amazing and sadly made me realize that the HMZ is not as good as i initially thought. But i am sending the GT750 back as its 3D gaming contrast, blacks (or should i say greys), and the colours are really muddy. A real shame. Hopefully optoma can make the image better in the future.

I have both a T1 and the T2. Regardless of what John Carmack says about it having a disappointing input lag... Its still more responsive than both my plasma TV's and the 3D image on the HMZ is far superioor. No contest. In both 2D and 3D gamin even in vidid mode.. The lag is so small you wont even notice it. Superstar dust HD is a cery fast paced game and i get my best s ores using the HMZ. I can play MW2 and pull all the head shots i achieve with using a TV.

The problem with the HMZ, its so good and natural, you take it for granted like i did (if you are the lucky ones who can get a good fit).

I bought 2 projectors to inprove my 3D big screen enjoyment. I had the optoma HD33 (£1000) and the Panasonic AE6000 (£2700). I had them tested side by side against the HMZ.

The HMZ simply blows them both out of the water. The projectors are certainly more rnjoyable for movies becuase hou can relax better, and the image is in 100% focus, which is important for movies.

But for gaming the HMZ is best. Both projectors are great for 2D gaming, extremely low lag input times. So good i noticed no difference from my good plasma TV.

However in 3D gaming the projectors both had the same aweful lag. Even in their "fast/game image modes". At arojnd 100ms (just a guess), the games are playable, buy feel sluggish. For example on super start dust on the projectors i could only consistantly achieve 10 million points or less. On the HMZ i can easily achieve 40million points.

The HMZ for 3D gaming is much brighter, more colourful, sharper, more perchieved detail (by a huge factor). So being native 720p, that exactly how the games display so the image is perfect.

The projectors upscaled the hames 720p to 1080p hence the lag in 3D gaming.

Hope this helps others. So really for £800, the HMZ should be considered a bargin. The inage quality if you can get a good fit by modding is unmatched. Its easily 3 times better than the best projectors.
Edited by 3DMamper - 3/8/13 at 8:36am

Yes, it has low input lag for gaming, comparable to some TVs and pc monitors. But for good VR, which Carmack's interest was at that time (and still is, i think), it's not enough. And HMZ is not a VR helmet, as you all know.
To me it's not worth £800, because even if the picture quality is best, it's still a low resolution screen at the end of the day. The ergonomics are bad, and getting full focus, perfect focus, is almost impossible. But yes, if you want the best 3D possible atm and you don't care about the money, then maybe it's worth it.
Edited by DG25 - 2/2/13 at 5:55am

I've found there's a big difference in price depending on the region. Amazon.co.jp is selling the HMZ-T2 for around $750, which is why there are japanese resellers on ebay offering them for $850 (or £540). At that price, do you still feel like they're not worth it?

I don't understand why so many say you can't get full focus. On my HMZ-T2 I get perfect full screen focus because I took the time to adjust it and find the perfect sweet spot for me.

I will always stand by it, the HMZ-T2 is the BEST device to watch 2D or 3D on and feel like your in a theater.

They are probably waiting to release the device in the US in conjunction with the PS4.

On Feb 20th, Sony has a special event for the press where they are considered very likely to announce the PS4.

I dont supposed Amazon JP ships internationally ?

Nope, looks like they only do international shipping on things like books, music, etc.

Hi! i wanted to know how do the Sony HMZ T2 performs with SD content? like 480p content?

I hate bad upscaling, it makes everything blurry and washed out, but have high hopes that this device upscales properly the contents

Amazon.jp sadly don't ship international, but I do I got 4 in stock left.