Official Sony VPL-HW50ES Owners Thread - Page 2

I wonder if RC would have more of a positve effect in a 2K projector than in a 4K projector?

Rick. When you discuss RC, please give not only the detail setting but also the noise filtering setting. They are really quite related.
Edited by mark haflich - 10/7/12 at 7:33am

I couldn't find anything in Art's review that talked about black levels in 3D for the Sony HW50, but he did a 2D comparison as noted below. I looked hard for any mention that the DI on the Sony was active in 3D as well and couldn't find any reference to this. If someone has found this info in the review please quote it.

Art actually found the black level on the new Sony very similar to last year's Epson as set out in the following quote:

"This Sony is definitely right up there challenging last year's sub-$5000 champ, the Epson 5010/6010 in terms of blacks. I did a good deal of side by side viewing of dark scenes. Both home theater projectors use dynamic irises (as do almost all), for deeper blacks, and are the two best around.

While viewing the two, they were very comparable. On some types of scenes the Sony had the edge, on others the Epson. First time in years anything this affordable could take on the Epson. JVC's got their RS46 / X35 coming out in a few months, they manage to do really good blacks without an iris - they actually have more dynamic range, but can't actually get blacks as dark as the Sony."
Edited by Deja Vu - 10/7/12 at 8:41am

You guys just didn't read the whole review. This was on the comparison page talking about the 5010:


So yes, you can use the iris in 3D mode on the Sony.

was this in comparison the RS45 that had the blue tint issue? We have to keep some perspective with these statements until more direct A/B setups are done. Regarding their HW50 vs VW95 comparison - "the VW95ES definitely offers blacker blacks - really excellent, a step up. While I like the new Reality Engine, I'll still take the VW95ES every time, budget allowing."


I'm mainly curious about 2 things since I had the HW30 for about a year:

1. The lens is similar or the same as the HW30 which received some criticism last year for not being as sharp as the more expensive VW95 or any of the JVC's. Is the improvement based on a change in the optical path or is it a perception based on the result of the RC sharpening (The 'Darbee effect') ?

2. Has the 3D improved or the same as last year? The HW30 was very good in 3D last year, but still had some visible ghosting. I'd like to see the L/R patterns to know for sure. I'm highly sensitive to flicker. The HW30 was definitely better than last years JVC, but not quite as good as the 5010 and none were as good as the DLP's which is flawless in the regard.

Eric - The 3D ISO I'm going to send has a scene where there is a 100% IRE screen that you can measure 3D lumens. thanks for all your comments so far. Do you have a Darbee by chance? I'd like to see the HW50 with RC off vs. the Darbee and all various combinations to see how it looks.


When the HW50 lands in the US, I'll do some direct A/B comparisons to one of the current black level kings, the RS55. There's several qualities I liked with the HW30 so it's good to know they made some progress in the black level area. My RS55 is exceptionally sharp, so it will be curious to see how the HW50 compares with all processing turned off (e-shift and RC)>

The 4810 va. HW50 showdown will be intense this year based on Cine4home's early comments about the significantly improved 3D and dynamic e-shift (keeping blurred areas blurred, not sharpening background noise) vs. a static, all encompassing change that the RC's makes.

The RC looks very similar to the Darbee processing.

Rick, can you please please please tell me something about the blacks of the HW50 in 2D compared to the JVC RS45 (or any other JVC from the last 3 years)? I can get a good deal on my RS45 but ONLY untill tomorrownight (the guy who want to buy it wants to come over tomorrownight). If I will loose too much on the blacks when switching from my RS45 -> HW50 I won t go on with this deal and keep my RS45

When I asked what type of screen I meant who is your screen made by?

Rick: Is MotionFlow 'Film Projection' available in 3D? It dims the image so I'm wondering if it's even available in 3D. Thanks!

My black level comment was only in regards to 3D. I just didn't finish my thought. I know that Art said it was on par with the 5010 however we also have to keep in mind that his 5010 also had over 1000 hours while his Sony had around 100 hours which may also give the Epson and advantage is my assumption.

That quote was talking about the iris being used in 3D (as well as 2D) which was the answer that Deja Vu was looking for.

Deja Vu remarked about my comment saying he didn't see anything in Art's review about black levels in 3D but that the two were comparable in 2D. I assumed he quoted me because I didn't specify that my comment was in regards to black levels in 3D. When you quoted him saying you guys didn't read the whole review my assumption was that you were referring to me. I was just trying to clarify that my original comment of "Art at projectorreviews said the contrast was noticeably better on the HW50 over the Epson 5010" was in reference to 3D.

thanks for taking the time to check out the 3D demo ISO. It looks pretty much identical to the HW30 patterns I have from last year. I agree though, when watching actual content, it's quite good.

I thought the HW30 and 5010's performance were similar last year. Better than the JVC, not quite as good as the DLP's.

The extra 3D lumens is certainly welcome. The comments on RC sound similar to the first impressions when seeing the Darbee. We'll have to get some comparisons of the HW50 with the RC off + Darbee, vice versa and then both together.

Nice work RickAVManiac and Zombie.

I have read that the glasses are adjustable and that you can dictate how bright they are, almost like a brightness/crosstalk adjuster.
Have you tried various settings on the glasses?

How does the HW50ES compare to your Mits 9000 with respect to brightness, colour, sharpness, shadow detail, and contrast (especially interested in low light scenes)? I am looking to replace my JVC RS1. It sounds like the Sony will be as good as or better than the RS1 in every aspect, the one possible exception being black levels. You mentioned that the Sony does not have the black levels of the RS55. I have never seen the RS55, but it surely has lower black levels than the RS1, so perhaps the Sony would be close enough to the RS1 in black levels to make any difference insignificant. Thanks.

And that is exactly what s keeping me from making the change from my RS45 to the HW50

In 2D if you put the Sony in low lamp mode how much of a difference in black levels are we talking in dark scenes?

How about compared to the RS45?

Thanks Rick! Thanks for what you have provided thus far. Zombie10k should be able to do a side by side when he reaches his so we'll know for sure then but so far from everything you've said the HW50 sounds very promising.

Now the question will be how long will you be keeping this one?
Edited by xb1032 - 10/8/12 at 11:31am

Rick, how's the overall image compared to the VW95 ?
Edited by Ranger - 10/8/12 at 11:33am

Rick when you get tired of the 50 pm me a fair price.