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Optoma H30 review & screenshots - Page 2

post #31 of 8029
1/15/04 at 12:40am
Optoma claims this projector's native resolution is 800x600. if this is not the case, then Optoma is going to have a lot of angry customers.

(I certainly won't be ordering one until this is straightened out.)

http://www.optomahometheater.com/content/H30.asp

~ Kiran
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post #32 of 8029
1/15/04 at 1:42am
H30 native resolution IS 800x600.

I had a pre-H30 in the beginnig of December at my home.

Tapani
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post #33 of 8029
1/15/04 at 1:46am
Infocus claims that every projector of theirs is carefully calbrated to the D65 color standard. Does Optoma mention a similar "guarantee" anywhere about the color reproduction on their models?
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post #34 of 8029
1/15/04 at 4:32am
So Tapani-

Could you use the entire 800 X 600 panel in 4:3:? Based on guitarman's findings, the chip is masked internally and you cannot use the entire panel-the users manual, in its list of features indicates "masked 480p" panel.

I think most of us are incredulous that Optoma would do this-I mean, usually if there is lightspill, the flipside is that you can use the entire 4:3 panel for gaming, etc. Here we seem to have lightspill with no way to use that part of the panel. I just can't figure out what someone was thinking. I mean, if you're gonna mask, then at least do an awesome job of masking-i.e., NO lightspill.

Robert
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post #35 of 8029
1/15/04 at 5:01am
This has been done before. Just look at the Toshiba MT500 - a 1024x576 projector which was really an XGA with part of the panel permanently turned off - not masked.
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post #36 of 8029
1/15/04 at 8:15am
Thread Starter 
Mike, The picture has more snap than the HT1000 because of the higher bright level, contrast is high and images are opened up more is the best way to describe it.

You don't hv to defocus the screen with this one. 1.85 back and you're fine. The area around the pixel is light and thin. Not so pronounced like the HT1000 or SharpDT200.
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post #37 of 8029
1/15/04 at 8:29am
Quote:


Originally posted by rlundy
So Tapani-

Could you use the entire 800 X 600 panel in 4:3:? Based on guitarman's findings, the chip is masked internally and you cannot use the entire panel-the users manual, in its list of features indicates "masked 480p" panel.


Yes, I got pixel perfect 800x600 using a HTPC.

Tapani
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post #38 of 8029
1/15/04 at 8:33am
Quote:


Originally posted by guitarman
You don't hv to defocus the screen with this one. 1.85 back and you're fine. The area around the pixel is light and thin. Not so pronounced like the HT1000 or SharpDT200.

Yes Tom, I made the same observations with my pre-H30.

Tapani
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post #39 of 8029
1/15/04 at 8:41am
from what i learned from taiwan's forum. with firmware update, it will open the native 800X600. However, still waiting confirmation from those guys. post it if i got latest news about this.
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post #40 of 8029
1/15/04 at 9:07am
Thread Starter 
I never used HTPC. I just tried s-video grasping and things are the same. The only time I saw what may have been the full panel was with OTA or HDTV. But if you use the full panel for HDTV widescreen ofcourse it's streched up. If you use the full panel for OTA fully cropped material it also is stretched up out of shape. Man this is quirky, no wonder optoma took so long to get these out. It's still a work in progress.

If you use the projector as recommended you hook a a DVD player with a component to VGA cable and use a 16.9 screen. I run my Sony HD100 with a switch box also going through the same VGA cable. With this setup the only aspects that work are the plain 16.9 or 4.3 not the native, native expands the picture a little and you lose information on the sides. This also is conflicting as optoma's original manual stated 16.9 or 4.3 native displays with zero overscan.

The tech guy yesterday knew the projector is meant for just 16.9 and that the unused portion of the chip shows light spill.
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post #41 of 8029
1/15/04 at 9:41am
well if you can use the full panel for OTA or HDTV, I dont see why a firmware update wouldnt fix the problem. If i knew a fix was coming down the line i would would be all over this projector.
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post #42 of 8029
1/15/04 at 12:44pm
Thread Starter 
"Tom! Incredible pics. With screenshots,"

Thx, I acquired a nack for getting screenshots right, good subjects and just the right freeze.

But it has to be a great procjector and the H30 sure is one. I'd like to get a look at the H56 now. Mabye someday when they come down under $2k. I'm finished buying projectors up near $5k. You're right in your comment on how good does it have to get. I've had some pretty lousy TV's from the past, things are sure looking great now.

My wife and I watched the OC last night and it looked super. Allot better than the DT-200. The colors were much more interesting and not so over done. And the OC is down resed digital. Very nice I'm going to keep this one up for a while.

A good test was the new Raiders of the lost Ark DVD. Which looked very dark and murky on the HT1000. Not so with the Optoma, it's luminance opens up all the dark movies. I'm seeing tons more stuff.
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post #43 of 8029
1/15/04 at 12:51pm
Quote:


A good test was the new Raiders of the lost Ark DVD. Which looked very dark and murky on the HT1000. Not so with the Optoma, it's luminance opens up all the dark movies. I'm seeing tons more stuff.

Pretty powerfull statement. Im impressed =)
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post #44 of 8029
1/15/04 at 12:58pm
guitarman-
Found this review on PC

Quote:


The picture quality is good with this projector, until you get to true red/blue/green. All of the mixed colors look great, but if any of the three (especially red & blue) are projected as the primary color, I am getting quite a bit of pixelation and color spray. For some reason it looks like red and blue are bleeding all over the other colors in a vertical line of pixels. This is really irritating on colorful DVDs such as Dune, Amelie, SW: AOTC, etc.

Do you find the same true on your setup?
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post #45 of 8029
1/15/04 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
No but I remember a statment like this and took a close look at the DT200. In text it did have a slight halo of red color on one side of the lettering. It didn't bother me. I'll take a closer look at the H30.
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post #46 of 8029
1/15/04 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
"from what i learned from taiwan's forum. with firmware update, it will open the native 800X600. However, still waiting confirmation from those guys. post it if i got latest news about this."

Great, keep us informed. Since there's no RS232 on the PJ I'd guess a dvd or CD burn of it would work. I'd give it a shot.

How do I get to the Taiwan site?
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post #47 of 8029
1/15/04 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally posted by guitarman
"from what i learned from taiwan's forum. with firmware update, it will open the native 800X600. However, still waiting confirmation from those guys. post it if i got latest news about this."

Great, keep us informed. Since there's no RS232 on the PJ I'd guess a dvd or CD burn of it would work. I'd give it a shot.

How do I get to the Taiwan site?

still waiting for their confirmation.
btw, here is the page that a guy called there is a firmware updatepls check here
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post #48 of 8029
1/15/04 at 4:37pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, heres a great update. I just got off the phone with the top tech at Optoma USA. He will have the update firmware when he gets back from Taiwan next month. For me I would hv to take the PJ over to Milpitas which is right near me and they would do the firmware for me. He said they have a certain cable connection that has to be used.

He also said that soon after the firmware is complete that future units would already have it installed.

One other thing the HTPC can open 800X600. He said when connecting straight with RGB/RGB the 800X600 is enabled. It just component to RGB that's not setup to work and will go into masked mode. Aren't there some DVD players with the VGA out? I think the Skyworth maybe.
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post #49 of 8029
1/15/04 at 5:00pm
Ah, well, if it's capable of using the full panel, then I think the H30 is still a reasonable choice. That's definitely good news. Have you measured the widescreen mode? Is it actually 1.78:1, or is it 1.67:1 as implied by the resolution?
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post #50 of 8029
1/15/04 at 5:15pm
Thread Starter 
The tech said as of now with the masked setup if you choose 16.9 native you get 800X480 pixels.
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post #51 of 8029
1/15/04 at 5:37pm
Tom,

Thanks for all your answers about the H30.

Quote:
He said when connecting straight with RGB/RGB the 800X600 is enabled. It just component to RGB that's not setup to work and will go into masked mode.

I have a DTC-100 HD Satellite receiver which uses VGA so will 4:3 SD channels be able to use the 800x600 then without stretching the picture out to 16:9? I don't want to have all of my 4:3 SD channels stretched to fit my 16:9 screen. Also, does the projector come with an adapter that plugs into VGA input on projector that has component plugs? and does it have 1 VGA in or 2?

I am probably going to give this projector a try after I hear back about the VGA not being stretched. I was going to get a Benq 8700 but I just can't spend that kind of money right now especially when DLP projectors keep getting better and cheaper. I think I will get the H30 now and save my money for a 1920 x 1080 DLP after they get in the $5k-$7k range. The H30 is going to replace a 50" HDTV in the bedroom anyway.

Thanks again for all of your time Tom,
Mike
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post #52 of 8029
1/15/04 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
"DTC 100 VGA so will 4:3 SD channels be able to use the 800x600. I assume so. Not sure but I think my Sony HD100 has a VGA out, I'll run a test.

The projector has one VGA in and one VGA out for a monitor.
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post #53 of 8029
1/15/04 at 6:23pm
Good to know that the 4:3 res issue seems to be coming out in my favor. It will be interesting to compare it to my DT-200 once it gets here. The lens shift of the DT-200 will make it pretty hard to beat, but one never knows...

Later,
Bill
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post #54 of 8029
1/15/04 at 7:27pm
guitarman-
Well that sounds like great news, however how do i find a place near me that would update the firmware? Is that stuff covered under waranty or do you have to pay a dealer or local shop to do it?

Im really tempted to go with this projector, i would get it in a couple of weeks and i dont mind taking it somewhere to update the firmware if i can find a place in advanced. Thanks for all your coments. Now im just waiting to hear back from you on those bright colored dvds. =)
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post #55 of 8029
1/15/04 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally posted by guitarman
Thanks, heres a great update. I just got off the phone with the top tech at Optoma USA. He will have the update firmware when he gets back from Taiwan next month. For me I would hv to take the PJ over to Milpitas which is right near me and they would do the firmware for me. He said they have a certain cable connection that has to be used.

He also said that soon after the firmware is complete that future units would already have it installed.

One other thing the HTPC can open 800X600. He said when connecting straight with RGB/RGB the 800X600 is enabled. It just component to RGB that's not setup to work and will go into masked mode. Aren't there some DVD players with the VGA out? I think the Skyworth maybe.

Tom,
thx a lot for your info. The guys in taiwan's forum still haven't any response. But it seems that u got the answer already. It's really great.
I just get some other questions that need your help.

The guys in taiwan's forum are very interested in the H30 but cool down a lot as they find some problems with it. Can u confirm with it?
1. the pj is overheat in the part of airflow. some even claim the parts is melted
2. some said that when viewing DVD in progressive mode, the output will become a little darker
3. there is no back-light in the remote

Besides, I still figure out which pj to buy. Z2/AE500/low end DLP.
do u think H30 can display beautifully will HDTV (or other hi-res source input) in the future. (i'm living in Hong kong and no HDTV in the near future)
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post #56 of 8029
1/15/04 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,
No melt down

Not darker with anything

Yes, no backlight but easy remembered buttons

VP, if you would want the firmwave you would hv to send it to Optoma here in Cal. They wouldn't charge. There are probalby people who would prefer the projector as it is now.
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post #57 of 8029
1/15/04 at 9:50pm
So if the firmware update or using the VGA input can enable 800x600 mode, I take it the masking is electrical (part of the DMD turned off) vs. physical (a physical mask over the DMD)?

-cjs
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post #58 of 8029
1/16/04 at 1:12am
If the resolution is 800x480 it won't fit a 16:9 screen. Why on earth not do cropped 800x450 like the X1?

Or does it work well to have some of the image spill out on the masking over and under the screen, Tom?
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post #59 of 8029
1/16/04 at 8:07am
Thread Starter 
The mask idea is just having the 16.9 area at the bottom of the chip.

Also when you choose 16.9 aspect not 16.9 native you get 800X450.
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post #60 of 8029
1/16/04 at 11:17am
Guitarman -
It uses the bottom of the chip when table mounted and ceiling mounted? Im guessing it does since the light spill seems to be on the top both ways.
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