I have had both projectors, and I ended up switching the Mits for the Sanyo Z5, because I was bothered by the DLP motion, DLP clarity, and the DLP artifacts. Let me first say that both of these projectors have their ups and downs with image quality, but I think the Mits has many more downsides than the Z5 for PQ. Also, I am going to do this review based solely on image quality and not technical ease or performance. There is plenty of information already on the web and in these forums regarding the differences in mounting ease and technical abilities of the 2 projectors. Before reading the below summary, let me first say that the Mitsubishi is intuitive and simple to calibrate. The Z5 is a techno beast, and some of the weaknesses I see in the Z5 are likely due to the fact that I am still learning it. I will try to update my review to see if I can improve the Z5's color pop.
Summary
I can sum this up quite easily. The Mitsubishi HD1000 looks more like a RPTV (specifically a Mits DLP), and the Sanyo Z5 looks more like your local movie theater, except I think the Z5 has even more pop than most non-digital theaters. For closeup shots, like a butterfly on a leaf, I would BARELY prefer the Mitsubishi due to color pop, but the Z5 is right up there. However, for normal and wide lens shots, I would prefer the Z5 WELL OVER the Mits, because it looks more clear, and this is especially noticeable when looking at distant backgrounds behind the primary scene. The Z5 also seems to have a more consistent focus to the image, whereas the Mits seems to have trouble with focus during movement. The Mitsubishi has more vibrant colors and is definitely more accurate with colors, various reviews have also stated this. The Z5 produces a clearer image and has less defects (fewer artificats, less noise, sharper, clearer, and better motion).
Compared to other LCD sets I've seen, RPTV or otherwise, the Z5 has an incredibly silky smooth image, with no vertical banding or SDE. Forget being worried about SDE or vertical banding with this projector, I saw basically none (it was so slight that when I thought I saw it, I wasnt even sure if it was vertical banding). I was watching only a 70" screen, but I was sitting 7.5' away and still did not see it. The sky and clouds looked completely natural on the Z5, and I emphasize that I saw NO pixelation in the clouds like you see on some LCD TV's, this actually shocked me. The only category the Mitsubishi wins in is color pop and brightness in my opionion. The Z5 is plenty bright for screens 92" or less, you might want to get a mild gain screen for 100", and high gain for over 100".
1) Background Clarity: Z5 wins
2) All movement fast or otherwise: Z5 wins
3) Color Pop: Mitsubishi wins, but not by a huge margin
4) Film Look: Z5 wins
5) Black Levels: Z5 wins usually, but Mits wins sometimes, it really depends on how well you have it calibrated. The Z5 has more raw power with black levels if you can find the sweet spots.
6) Realism: Z5 wins
A few more weaknesses of the Mitsubishi compared to the Z5:
The Mitsubishi crushed whites and made snowy scenes too shiny and glowing. The Z5 had none of these problems with snow, clouds, etc... Initially, I thought the black levels of the Mits were slightly better, but I was dead wrong once I figured out all the Z5 settings, wow what a difference a few tweaks make with the Z5 and black levels.
The main problem I had with the Mitsubishi was eye strain and a weird unnatural look to movement. With the Z5, the movement is "CRT good". I kid you not, I have never seen any LCD technology look this smooth with movement. It beat the Sony RPTV I saw at the stores. It is also comparable (as far as my eyes can tell) to my 4 millisecond LCD computer monitor, and this amazes me. Forget ghosting, I saw none, Forget SDE, I had to be so close to the screen it was a joke. Forget pixelated clouds, the Z5 has none of this.
When I walked away after watching a movie on the Mits, it took my eyes like 3 hours to regain focus in real life. I had some minor eye strain with the Z5, but it was a different type, and it was at least half of the severity of the Mits. I would also say for some reason the Mits looked better with SDTV, and I believe this was due to the fact that it is not as sharp, so it did not show-off the defects in the resolution as the Z5 did. The Z5 being less smooth and more clear tends to accentuate the SDTV issues, but SDTV did not look great on either projector, so please do not use this as a reason to buy one over the other.
My comparison setup:
1) Scientifica Atlanta 8300 DVR on Time Warner HD
2) Watched HBO HD, Discovery HD, etc...
3) Played regular DVD's.
4) Saw Star Wars Episode III in HD on both projectors
Please feel free to ask any questions you have related to how the 2 compared that I did not cover.
Thanks.
Summary
I can sum this up quite easily. The Mitsubishi HD1000 looks more like a RPTV (specifically a Mits DLP), and the Sanyo Z5 looks more like your local movie theater, except I think the Z5 has even more pop than most non-digital theaters. For closeup shots, like a butterfly on a leaf, I would BARELY prefer the Mitsubishi due to color pop, but the Z5 is right up there. However, for normal and wide lens shots, I would prefer the Z5 WELL OVER the Mits, because it looks more clear, and this is especially noticeable when looking at distant backgrounds behind the primary scene. The Z5 also seems to have a more consistent focus to the image, whereas the Mits seems to have trouble with focus during movement. The Mitsubishi has more vibrant colors and is definitely more accurate with colors, various reviews have also stated this. The Z5 produces a clearer image and has less defects (fewer artificats, less noise, sharper, clearer, and better motion).
Compared to other LCD sets I've seen, RPTV or otherwise, the Z5 has an incredibly silky smooth image, with no vertical banding or SDE. Forget being worried about SDE or vertical banding with this projector, I saw basically none (it was so slight that when I thought I saw it, I wasnt even sure if it was vertical banding). I was watching only a 70" screen, but I was sitting 7.5' away and still did not see it. The sky and clouds looked completely natural on the Z5, and I emphasize that I saw NO pixelation in the clouds like you see on some LCD TV's, this actually shocked me. The only category the Mitsubishi wins in is color pop and brightness in my opionion. The Z5 is plenty bright for screens 92" or less, you might want to get a mild gain screen for 100", and high gain for over 100".
1) Background Clarity: Z5 wins
2) All movement fast or otherwise: Z5 wins
3) Color Pop: Mitsubishi wins, but not by a huge margin
4) Film Look: Z5 wins
5) Black Levels: Z5 wins usually, but Mits wins sometimes, it really depends on how well you have it calibrated. The Z5 has more raw power with black levels if you can find the sweet spots.
6) Realism: Z5 wins
A few more weaknesses of the Mitsubishi compared to the Z5:
The Mitsubishi crushed whites and made snowy scenes too shiny and glowing. The Z5 had none of these problems with snow, clouds, etc... Initially, I thought the black levels of the Mits were slightly better, but I was dead wrong once I figured out all the Z5 settings, wow what a difference a few tweaks make with the Z5 and black levels.
The main problem I had with the Mitsubishi was eye strain and a weird unnatural look to movement. With the Z5, the movement is "CRT good". I kid you not, I have never seen any LCD technology look this smooth with movement. It beat the Sony RPTV I saw at the stores. It is also comparable (as far as my eyes can tell) to my 4 millisecond LCD computer monitor, and this amazes me. Forget ghosting, I saw none, Forget SDE, I had to be so close to the screen it was a joke. Forget pixelated clouds, the Z5 has none of this.
When I walked away after watching a movie on the Mits, it took my eyes like 3 hours to regain focus in real life. I had some minor eye strain with the Z5, but it was a different type, and it was at least half of the severity of the Mits. I would also say for some reason the Mits looked better with SDTV, and I believe this was due to the fact that it is not as sharp, so it did not show-off the defects in the resolution as the Z5 did. The Z5 being less smooth and more clear tends to accentuate the SDTV issues, but SDTV did not look great on either projector, so please do not use this as a reason to buy one over the other.
My comparison setup:
1) Scientifica Atlanta 8300 DVR on Time Warner HD
2) Watched HBO HD, Discovery HD, etc...
3) Played regular DVD's.
4) Saw Star Wars Episode III in HD on both projectors
Please feel free to ask any questions you have related to how the 2 compared that I did not cover.
Thanks.
