[mikepalm]

When I first got my 507W I only noticed the rainbows occasionally. Recently I’ve been noticing them a little more – not sure if it’s just the movies I’ve been watching the last few days are more susceptible or I have the contrast set higher or what. It’s not that they are really annoying, but somehow the brain keeps registering them and letting me know. I keep telling it back that rainbows are worth it for better blacks and no dead pixels.


Besides closing ones eyes before removing the eyes from the screen (which is hard to remember to do) are there any other tips for avoiding the rainbows?

 

[Sting]

Not really, except maybe not watching material that is prone to creating rainbows, namely images with bright, thin lines against a dark background.

 

[Salmoneous]

There's a chance you are stuck is a nasty feedback loop. The more you see them, the more you think about them. The more you think about them, the more you see them. By trying to not see them, you may be making things worse.

 

[Thalydimide]

My experience has been just the opposite. While I did not go looking for rainbows, I was aware of them and one of the first DVDs I watched was unfortunately prone to the phenomenon (Minority Report). Then, for a good 3-4 weeks, I saw them all the time and was very upset by it, especially in the first 2 weeks. But I began to realize that I was seeing them less and less. Now, I occasionally see them and they do not bother me any more.


Good luck.

 

[Bishamon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Thalydimide My experience has been just the opposite. While I did not go looking for rainbows, I was aware of them and one of the first DVDs I watched was unfortunately prone to the phenomenon (Minority Report). Then, for a good 3-4 weeks, I saw them all the time and was very upset by it, especially in the first 2 weeks. But I began to realize that I was seeing them less and less. Now, I occasionally see them and they do not bother me any more. Good luck.

I had the same experience; I hardly ever see them now and they don't bother me at all.

 

[sovereign]

This is interesting. I just bought a HLN507W last weekend. For those whose rainbow sightings are decreasing over time, what do you think accounts for it? Is it lamp wear, or UM/SM adjustments, or blinking control ;-), or some mind control trick? Are there any UM adjustments known to reduce or eliminate the effect?


Just curious

 

[pspun]

Quote:

Originally posted by Thalydimide My experience has been just the opposite. While I did not go looking for rainbows, I was aware of them and one of the first DVDs I watched was unfortunately prone to the phenomenon (Minority Report). Then, for a good 3-4 weeks, I saw them all the time and was very upset by it, especially in the first 2 weeks. But I began to realize that I was seeing them less and less. Now, I occasionally see them and they do not bother me any more. Good luck.

I don't see them as offen neither. I guess I don't look for them any more.

 

[dgsmith]

Yep, I hardly notice them now. I guess its one of those things you just ignore over time. Sometimes I look from left to right and back quickly just to make sure they are still there

 

[dscotta]

I have had my HLN617W 61" Samsung DLP for almost two weeks now and have not noticed a rainbow. For a while I was trying to see them, but now I don't want to see them because then i would probably see them all the time. I have had quite a few people over to watch a variety of programming and nobody has seen them yet. i may be one of the lucky ones....

 

[Marissadad]

I borrow a DLP HD INFOCUS projector from work to take home and I have varying degrees of rainbow with it. Sometimes it's rarely there and other times it drives me up a tree. I have yet to determine what type of programming is more prone to it, be it HD OTA or DVD material.

 

[OrangeKid]

I have had the same experience as others reported here.


When I first got my HLM507W in November I noticed quite a few rainbows in the first few weeks, even though I spent 4 hours looking at two different sets in stores and never was able to see them.


Now. almost 6 months later I hardy ever see them any more. For me, rainbows are a non-issue.

 

[htwaits]

It's simple. Those who "no longer" see rainbows have just gotten bored shaking their heads and wagging their eye balls from side to side.

 

[les_bloom]

What is this rainbow effect that you are refering to? Could you please explaing this phenomenon? I don't own a Samsung DLP set .. yet. So, I have not witnessed anything first hand that might be what you are refering to. Thanks


Les (but not the other Les that posts here)

 

[Bishamon]

Quote:

Originally posted by sovereign This is interesting. I just bought a HLN507W last weekend. For those whose rainbow sightings are decreasing over time, what do you think accounts for it? Is it lamp wear, or UM/SM adjustments, or blinking control ;-), or some mind control trick? Are there any UM adjustments known to reduce or eliminate the effect? Just curious

I don't think it has anything to do with the set; I think I've just gotten used to it.


When I first got the set, I could easily see rainbows, but it wasn't that bad, as I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect was the eye fatigue and headaches that accompanied extended (3 hours+) viewing. This was a major concern, since I had no way of returning the set. Luckily, after about a week, there was no more fatigue or headaches.

 

[JonR800]

3 hours of staring at anything will give you a headache and eye strain.


I don't see them at all on my HLN5065. I never "tried" to find them and since I haven't seen them yet I doubt I will. I do see a lot of internal reflections though.

 

[vfrjim]

the best way (IMO) to avoid seeing rainbows is to not look for them.


Jim

 

[sovereign]

Last night my wife and I tried to make rainbows appear while watching Six Feet Under (which looked pretty darn good, though somewhat grainy, with a STD cable input). She was able to see them without fail by moving her eyes (not head) very quickly from one corner diagonally to the other. I could see a vertical rainbow (nearly top to bottom of image, about 1 inch wide maybe) only rarely if I moved my eyes quickly off of the TV and back. So, I think what htwaits said above makes a lot of sense.


Not sure about eye fatigue yet -- maybe I need to watch Gettysburg or some other 3-4 hour movie. I will say that watching the 507W from 6-8 feet is too close for me -- reminded me of the front rows in a theater. Ten feet is much more comfortable for my eyes (that and turning the brightness down). Oh, Panorama mode with 4:3 material is a trip -- watching that for several hours might make me lose my cookies.

 

[Marissadad]

Quote:

Originally posted by les_bloom What is this rainbow effect that you are refering to? Could you please explaing this phenomenon? I don't own a Samsung DLP set .. yet. So, I have not witnessed anything first hand that might be what you are refering to. Thanks Les (but not the other Les that posts here)

Les, DLP uses a spinning color wheel that throws out the 3 primary colors and they mate on the screen to give you the illusion of color. Kind of like the old Christmas tree color wheels of years ago only they spin at several thousan RPMs.


If you use a DLP projector like I do, you can put your hand in front of the image and shake your hand back and forth and all you will see are the 3 primary colors displaying on your hand, hence the Rainbow Effect.


If you move your eyeballs side to side scanning the picture, you will see a rainbow flash similar to what I described with the hand. As mentioned above it also occurs with certain high contrast scenes involving white moving diagonally.


Some people also experience eye strain and I am one of them. My eyes feel strain almost as soon as I sit down to watch it. The effect varies with the material, lighting, etc. I have not yet figured out the proper format to ease the effect.

 

[Iceblade]

Quote:

Originally posted by Marissadad Some people also experience eye strain and I am one of them. My eyes feel strain almost as soon as I sit down to watch it. The effect varies with the material, lighting, etc. I have not yet figured out the proper format to ease the effect.

Hi Marissadad,


Just wanted to see what your viewing environment is like when you are having the eye strain. I have an HLN617W that I watch fairly often as of late and have been lucky not to have any noticeable strain even though I see rainbows quite often. One thing that MAY be helpiong relieve some strain is the fact that although I have a completely darkened room, I use a 6500K bias light behind my DLP. I went with the original Ideal Lume by Cinemaquest Inc. I read about bias lighting alot before I decided to plop down my $60 or whatever a little over a year ago. At the time, I was using this light behind my 36" direct view HDTV in my family room. It does make a noticeable difference in terms of my eye "freaking out" from sudden changes in brightness on the tube. I wear contacts, so I am a little more susceptible to the "freak out" thing than perhaps people who don't. Anyway, perhaps the bias light thing is something that may help? I just ordered my second bias light for the DLP so I can move the old one back down behind the direct view again. Let me know if you think this might help.


Regards,

Jeff

 

[voripteth]

htwaits, it isn't as if we're constantly TRYING to see rainbows, it is simply a deficiency of how a single DLP chip is implemented. Personally I see rainbows whenever there is any action on the screen and can happen even when I hold my head and eyes perfectly still. (Samsung 50")


My guess is that if you played Pong on a DLP set, everyoune would see rainbows galore with the white ball moving on the black background.


Instead of blaming the people who do see rainbows, how about getting the manufacturers to solve the problem? Once they do I can then add DLP sets back onto the list of sets I would consider to buy.