Due to the recent popularity of the Viewsonic Pro8100 and the various technical information/ owner feedback being spread over 4,000+ posts, some owners requested we create a new summarized thread to assist current and potential owners looking for information. I was volunteered (which of course grants me some freedom of opinion
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) The original thread can be found here. I also put this thread in the under 3K forum since MSRP is now less.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=935509
Many new purchasers seem to have chosen the Pro8100 based on the feedback and support provided by existing owners in the original thread. You might it time well spent to read through the whole thread before making a purchasing decision.
Release History
Based on on-line information and owner feedback, the Pro8100 was originally released in early 2008 with a MSRP of $4,999 and targeted for custom installers. There are at least 3 known build dates in 2008 with latest I found reported as May 2008 at the time. The Pro8100 then seemed to disappear (or was not widely reported on) by end of 2008. There are some reports of purchases in 2009 but popularity increased substantially when it started to became available again from an on-line retailer in the $1,200-$1,700 range. Recent purchasers report build dates of Nov/Dec 2009 and Jan/2010. There is no indication at the time this was written if there will be a successor to the Pro8100 or how long it will continue to be made available.
OP.Note: Just some common owner speculation. Recent units are reported as new, look prestine including new packaging but it's unclear if production is actually restarted or new units are being assembled from previous original part manufactoring, i.e. availability of this projector in the future is uncertain
Key Links
Manual PDF, Firmware updates and PC Monitor driver - Viewsonic
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/pr...rs/pro8100.htm
Viewsonic Warranty (some owners have actually had to show VS CS their own policy to get Express Exchange).
http://www.viewsonic.com/assets/025/7700.pdf
Screen size and Throw distance calculator
http://www.projectorcentral.com/View...ulator-pro.htm
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Technical Specifications from Viewsonic Site
TECHNOLOGY
Type 3-panel LCD 0.74 Poly-Si TFT with micro-lens
Pixel Format 1920x1080
Lens Power zoom, power focus
Lens Shift Powered V/H lens shift; vertical 250% (± 75%/side), horizontal 120% (± 10%/side)
Zoom Factor 1.6x
Keystone Vertical ± 30º, Horizontal ± 40º
DISPLAY
Display size 1.02m - 7.62m (40" - 300") (Diagonal)
Throw Distance 1.2m - 93.4m (49" - 368")
Throw Ratio 1.41~2.28:1
Lamp type 160W, 2,000 hours normal
Eco-mode*: 128W shut off time 5,000 hours
Brightness 1,000 ANSI lumens (ed. ** Other sources suggest this is 1,200 ANSI lumens)
Contrast Ratio 13000:1 (typ)
Aspect Ratio 16:9 (native)
COMPATIBILITY
PC Analog: VGA up 1920x1080
Mac® Analog: VGA up 1920x1080
INPUT SIGNAL
Frequency Fh : 15-100kHz; Fv : 56-90Hz
Video RGB analog, NTSC M, NTSC 4.43, PAL, SECAM, HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, 1080p/24) SDTV (480i, 480p, 576i)
CONNECTOR
RGB Input 15-pin HD, D-sub
Composite Input RCA
S-Video Input Mini-DIN 4-pin
Component Video Input RCA (x2 sets)
HDMI (input) HDMI 1.3 (x2)
RS-232 9-pin D-sub
Screen Relay (12V) DC power jack
POWER
Voltage 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz (universal)
Consumption 230W (typ)
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Temperature 32° - 104° F (0° - 40° C)
Humidity 10% to 90% (non-condensing)
NOISE LEVEL
Normal 23 dB (typ)
Eco-mode 18 dB (typ)
DIMENSIONS
Physical (WxHxD) 21.2" x 6.7" x 15.3" (537mm x 170mm x 388mm)
WEIGHT
Net 19.8 lb. (9.0 kg)
Gross 33.1 lb. (15.0 kg)
OTHER
Silicon Optix Reon-VX with HQV, Precision Color System, auto iris, H/V lens shift, backlit remote, daylight mode
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Projector, power cable, RGB cable, HDMI cable, micro-fiber wiping cloth, soft projector cover, remote control with batteries, Quick Start Guide, ViewSonic Wizard CD (with User Guide)
WARRANTY
3-year limited warranty on parts and labor, 1-year or 1,000 hrs. on lamp and frst year free Express Exchange® service
On-Line Reviews
(all from 2008 when it was first released). Most of the reviews provide screen shots with commentary so I have not included any in this summary since screenshots are misleading and need to be qualified to what is actually seen on-screen versus the picture.
Projector Reviews: http://www.projectorreviews.com/view...8100/index.php
Audioholics: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...ic-pro8100-lcd
ProjectorCentral: http://www.projectorcentral.com/viewsonic_pro8100.htm
Cine4Home (translated): http://translate.google.ca/translate...%3Den%26sa%3DG
Common Positive Comments Reported by Owners
Build Quality and Unboxing
- Looks expensive and well made
- The included silk wrapping and velvet dustcover are a nice touch
- It's huge
Image Quality
- Convergence is rarely reported as a problem
- Beautiful image
- Image is very sharp
- Great color
- Bright even in econ mode (most owners report using econ as primary setup)
Fan Noise
- Most have to put their hand near the exhaust to know if the fan is running in econ mode
Common Opinion
- Worth every penny
Common Issues Reported by Owners
Horizontal Banding
Some recent purchasers have reported constant horizontal banding (looks like scan lines) when viewing light solid colors (grays, beige, blue skys). While infrequently reported, this seems to be a defect in the unit and needs to be exchanged.
Moved to common issues due to increased frequency of occurrence on newer units. At this time, the only real solution is to exchange the unit
Vertical Banding (workaround exists)
A fair number of owners report light vertical streaking on the image when powering up the projector if it is left plugged into the wall socket. For most owners, the streaking will disappear within 30-60 minutes of use. Owners have confirmed this can be 100% avoided should it occur by either unplugging the unit (after the cool down cycle is complete) or putting a wall socket timer on the wall plug set to power off the unit in the early morning hours for 2-3 hours (i.e. power is removed at 3am till 6am automatically). Note, not all units suffer from this issue. Some owners have never had the issue after hundreds of hours plugged in.
Insufficent Dust Filter (workaround exists)
While reports of dust blobs are infrequent, the Pro8100 has a cheap foam filter that many owners have chosen to improve by applying a cheap aftermarket filter (noted below). A few owners that did report dust blobs also managed to clear them by just running the fan in High Altitude mode for 10 minutes. The replacement filter (applied with the original filter) used by some owners does not seem to impied air flow with no reports of overheating (I have done the mod and it stays at normal operating temperatures). The most common replacement is a Endust generic vacuum filter that you can cut to size (makes 8) and placed white side out along with the existing filter.
Example of the filter. Has been also located at some Walmarts.
http://www.totalvac.com/store/mercha...duct_Code=5900
Iris Yo-Yo effect (fixed)
Firmware 2.5x will resolve the early reported issue of the auto-iris adjusting being too visible. Owners can perform firmware updates themselves (see below). Strange, but new units still do not have the most recent firmware so expect to update it.
Infrequent Issues Reported by Owners
Broken HDMI port
At least one owner reported the HDMI port broke off the circuit board inside (which is a reminder to always ensure any hanging cables are not putting unnecessary stress on the ports, take the weight off the cable by hooking them to something solid)
Purchasing Evaluation
In any purchasing decision, what others think is 'the best thing' may or may not the right choice for you. Below are very common remarks taken from the owners thread (including my opinions of course). What you consider more important only you can decide.
Pro
- Excellent price to feature ratio
- Zoom, lens shift and focus all motorized (can be controlled by remote or unit)
- Full 1080p resolution (supports 1080p 24f)
- Generally good convergence and build quality reported
- Extremely quiet in econ mode
- Good placement flexibility (75% vertical shift/ 10% horizontal), keystone correction
- Good out-of-the-box color (but it's not perfect if your a perfectionst)
- General consenus is this is a brighter projector than the specifications suggest including in econ mode
- Long potential bulb life (up to 5,000 hrs in econ mode)
- Good warranty inclusions (1 year express exchange, 1 year/1,000 hours on bulb, 3 year parts/labour)
Con
- Uncertain long term availabilty (in regard to get replacement units or part repairs later)
- For those chasing perfect calibration, it can be calibrated better but like many projectors, it cannot achieve perfect results (green is slightly off, near perfect grayscale substantially reduces brightness, no individual brightness controls for primaries, colors are oversaturated which can be improved but not perfected and gamma tracks reasonably well but not perfect). To answer the question if you shouuld care, try this approach. Is your TV calibrated by you or a professional? If not, you'll never notice these issues in day-to-day use.
- Black levels are acceptable but not outstanding (screen choice is a factor here)
Screen Choices
From the original owner thread, Pro8100 owners seem to have had good success with numerous screen types from gray screens, matte-white through to Da-lite 2.8 HP. Viewsonic of course recommends a 1 gain, matte-white screen. Depending on your lighting enviroment and desired brightness, screen choice seems pretty flexible to your personal preference and conditions.
Mount Options
Owners have reported using various mounts including shelf mounting (the unit is big). Some mounts used by owners include,
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Precisio...dp/B000TXNS6G/
Firmware Update Process
The Pro8100 firmware can be updated by the owner. The process is fairly simple and can be completed in a few minutes. Most Windows OS's can be used but Vista owners have reported it took multiple attempts to perform (try using XP compatibility setting in Vista and Win7). The update process requires a A/B type USB cable (commonly used for USB printers)
Example of cable required: http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-...e-type-ab.html
1. Download VS Firmware updater program
2. Download current Firmware (currently 2.51 is for older single on/off button remotes, newer units use firmware 2.50)
3. Unzip the firmware to a location you can find later
4. Unzip the device driver program and the Updater program to a new folder
5. Follow instructions in the included PDF file within the Updater program zip
6. Projector should be off, but plugged in (green light blinking slowly)
7 . To put the projector in service mode, using the side control buttons, press and hold the 'menu' button down and press the power button until the top green light starts blinking rapidly.
7. If it fails or comes out of service mode before you get the firmware updated, just repeat the process
8. The projector will automatically come out of service mode if left untouched within a minute
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=935509
Many new purchasers seem to have chosen the Pro8100 based on the feedback and support provided by existing owners in the original thread. You might it time well spent to read through the whole thread before making a purchasing decision.
Release History
Based on on-line information and owner feedback, the Pro8100 was originally released in early 2008 with a MSRP of $4,999 and targeted for custom installers. There are at least 3 known build dates in 2008 with latest I found reported as May 2008 at the time. The Pro8100 then seemed to disappear (or was not widely reported on) by end of 2008. There are some reports of purchases in 2009 but popularity increased substantially when it started to became available again from an on-line retailer in the $1,200-$1,700 range. Recent purchasers report build dates of Nov/Dec 2009 and Jan/2010. There is no indication at the time this was written if there will be a successor to the Pro8100 or how long it will continue to be made available.
OP.Note: Just some common owner speculation. Recent units are reported as new, look prestine including new packaging but it's unclear if production is actually restarted or new units are being assembled from previous original part manufactoring, i.e. availability of this projector in the future is uncertain
Key Links
Manual PDF, Firmware updates and PC Monitor driver - Viewsonic
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/pr...rs/pro8100.htm
Viewsonic Warranty (some owners have actually had to show VS CS their own policy to get Express Exchange).
http://www.viewsonic.com/assets/025/7700.pdf
Screen size and Throw distance calculator
http://www.projectorcentral.com/View...ulator-pro.htm
Technical Specifications from Viewsonic Site
TECHNOLOGY
Type 3-panel LCD 0.74 Poly-Si TFT with micro-lens
Pixel Format 1920x1080
Lens Power zoom, power focus
Lens Shift Powered V/H lens shift; vertical 250% (± 75%/side), horizontal 120% (± 10%/side)
Zoom Factor 1.6x
Keystone Vertical ± 30º, Horizontal ± 40º
DISPLAY
Display size 1.02m - 7.62m (40" - 300") (Diagonal)
Throw Distance 1.2m - 93.4m (49" - 368")
Throw Ratio 1.41~2.28:1
Lamp type 160W, 2,000 hours normal
Eco-mode*: 128W shut off time 5,000 hours
Brightness 1,000 ANSI lumens (ed. ** Other sources suggest this is 1,200 ANSI lumens)
Contrast Ratio 13000:1 (typ)
Aspect Ratio 16:9 (native)
COMPATIBILITY
PC Analog: VGA up 1920x1080
Mac® Analog: VGA up 1920x1080
INPUT SIGNAL
Frequency Fh : 15-100kHz; Fv : 56-90Hz
Video RGB analog, NTSC M, NTSC 4.43, PAL, SECAM, HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, 1080p/24) SDTV (480i, 480p, 576i)
CONNECTOR
RGB Input 15-pin HD, D-sub
Composite Input RCA
S-Video Input Mini-DIN 4-pin
Component Video Input RCA (x2 sets)
HDMI (input) HDMI 1.3 (x2)
RS-232 9-pin D-sub
Screen Relay (12V) DC power jack
POWER
Voltage 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz (universal)
Consumption 230W (typ)
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Temperature 32° - 104° F (0° - 40° C)
Humidity 10% to 90% (non-condensing)
NOISE LEVEL
Normal 23 dB (typ)
Eco-mode 18 dB (typ)
DIMENSIONS
Physical (WxHxD) 21.2" x 6.7" x 15.3" (537mm x 170mm x 388mm)
WEIGHT
Net 19.8 lb. (9.0 kg)
Gross 33.1 lb. (15.0 kg)
OTHER
Silicon Optix Reon-VX with HQV, Precision Color System, auto iris, H/V lens shift, backlit remote, daylight mode
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Projector, power cable, RGB cable, HDMI cable, micro-fiber wiping cloth, soft projector cover, remote control with batteries, Quick Start Guide, ViewSonic Wizard CD (with User Guide)
WARRANTY
3-year limited warranty on parts and labor, 1-year or 1,000 hrs. on lamp and frst year free Express Exchange® service
On-Line Reviews
(all from 2008 when it was first released). Most of the reviews provide screen shots with commentary so I have not included any in this summary since screenshots are misleading and need to be qualified to what is actually seen on-screen versus the picture.
Projector Reviews: http://www.projectorreviews.com/view...8100/index.php
Audioholics: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/p...ic-pro8100-lcd
ProjectorCentral: http://www.projectorcentral.com/viewsonic_pro8100.htm
Cine4Home (translated): http://translate.google.ca/translate...%3Den%26sa%3DG
Common Positive Comments Reported by Owners
Build Quality and Unboxing
- Looks expensive and well made
- The included silk wrapping and velvet dustcover are a nice touch
- It's huge
Image Quality
- Convergence is rarely reported as a problem
- Beautiful image
- Image is very sharp
- Great color
- Bright even in econ mode (most owners report using econ as primary setup)
Fan Noise
- Most have to put their hand near the exhaust to know if the fan is running in econ mode
Common Opinion
- Worth every penny
Common Issues Reported by Owners
Horizontal Banding
Some recent purchasers have reported constant horizontal banding (looks like scan lines) when viewing light solid colors (grays, beige, blue skys). While infrequently reported, this seems to be a defect in the unit and needs to be exchanged.
Moved to common issues due to increased frequency of occurrence on newer units. At this time, the only real solution is to exchange the unit
Vertical Banding (workaround exists)
A fair number of owners report light vertical streaking on the image when powering up the projector if it is left plugged into the wall socket. For most owners, the streaking will disappear within 30-60 minutes of use. Owners have confirmed this can be 100% avoided should it occur by either unplugging the unit (after the cool down cycle is complete) or putting a wall socket timer on the wall plug set to power off the unit in the early morning hours for 2-3 hours (i.e. power is removed at 3am till 6am automatically). Note, not all units suffer from this issue. Some owners have never had the issue after hundreds of hours plugged in.
Insufficent Dust Filter (workaround exists)
While reports of dust blobs are infrequent, the Pro8100 has a cheap foam filter that many owners have chosen to improve by applying a cheap aftermarket filter (noted below). A few owners that did report dust blobs also managed to clear them by just running the fan in High Altitude mode for 10 minutes. The replacement filter (applied with the original filter) used by some owners does not seem to impied air flow with no reports of overheating (I have done the mod and it stays at normal operating temperatures). The most common replacement is a Endust generic vacuum filter that you can cut to size (makes 8) and placed white side out along with the existing filter.
Example of the filter. Has been also located at some Walmarts.
http://www.totalvac.com/store/mercha...duct_Code=5900
Iris Yo-Yo effect (fixed)
Firmware 2.5x will resolve the early reported issue of the auto-iris adjusting being too visible. Owners can perform firmware updates themselves (see below). Strange, but new units still do not have the most recent firmware so expect to update it.
Infrequent Issues Reported by Owners
Broken HDMI port
At least one owner reported the HDMI port broke off the circuit board inside (which is a reminder to always ensure any hanging cables are not putting unnecessary stress on the ports, take the weight off the cable by hooking them to something solid)
Purchasing Evaluation
In any purchasing decision, what others think is 'the best thing' may or may not the right choice for you. Below are very common remarks taken from the owners thread (including my opinions of course). What you consider more important only you can decide.
Pro
- Excellent price to feature ratio
- Zoom, lens shift and focus all motorized (can be controlled by remote or unit)
- Full 1080p resolution (supports 1080p 24f)
- Generally good convergence and build quality reported
- Extremely quiet in econ mode
- Good placement flexibility (75% vertical shift/ 10% horizontal), keystone correction
- Good out-of-the-box color (but it's not perfect if your a perfectionst)
- General consenus is this is a brighter projector than the specifications suggest including in econ mode
- Long potential bulb life (up to 5,000 hrs in econ mode)
- Good warranty inclusions (1 year express exchange, 1 year/1,000 hours on bulb, 3 year parts/labour)
Con
- Uncertain long term availabilty (in regard to get replacement units or part repairs later)
- For those chasing perfect calibration, it can be calibrated better but like many projectors, it cannot achieve perfect results (green is slightly off, near perfect grayscale substantially reduces brightness, no individual brightness controls for primaries, colors are oversaturated which can be improved but not perfected and gamma tracks reasonably well but not perfect). To answer the question if you shouuld care, try this approach. Is your TV calibrated by you or a professional? If not, you'll never notice these issues in day-to-day use.
- Black levels are acceptable but not outstanding (screen choice is a factor here)
Screen Choices
From the original owner thread, Pro8100 owners seem to have had good success with numerous screen types from gray screens, matte-white through to Da-lite 2.8 HP. Viewsonic of course recommends a 1 gain, matte-white screen. Depending on your lighting enviroment and desired brightness, screen choice seems pretty flexible to your personal preference and conditions.
Mount Options
Owners have reported using various mounts including shelf mounting (the unit is big). Some mounts used by owners include,
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Precisio...dp/B000TXNS6G/
Firmware Update Process
The Pro8100 firmware can be updated by the owner. The process is fairly simple and can be completed in a few minutes. Most Windows OS's can be used but Vista owners have reported it took multiple attempts to perform (try using XP compatibility setting in Vista and Win7). The update process requires a A/B type USB cable (commonly used for USB printers)
Example of cable required: http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-...e-type-ab.html
1. Download VS Firmware updater program
2. Download current Firmware (currently 2.51 is for older single on/off button remotes, newer units use firmware 2.50)
3. Unzip the firmware to a location you can find later
4. Unzip the device driver program and the Updater program to a new folder
5. Follow instructions in the included PDF file within the Updater program zip
6. Projector should be off, but plugged in (green light blinking slowly)
7 . To put the projector in service mode, using the side control buttons, press and hold the 'menu' button down and press the power button until the top green light starts blinking rapidly.
7. If it fails or comes out of service mode before you get the firmware updated, just repeat the process
8. The projector will automatically come out of service mode if left untouched within a minute
