Sony VPL-HW40ES projector visual test: a slide show as the measure of truth

– REVIEW – MEASUREMENT TEST

There are situations when you need to evaluate quality of a device monitor, projector or TV , but you have no colorimeter or spectrophotometer at hand. In these situations, I prefer to evaluate image quality visually, by real-world examples – and photos are the best way to do that. That’s why I have a folder on my notebook computer’s desktop with reference pictures which I know inside out in great detail.

I must say I did not see much difference between the budget projector for 30 thousand Dollars and the one for 100 thousand Dollars, despite all the smart innovations. Photography buffs, print professionals and image aficionados all know that it’s hard to get legible shadows and un-embossed highlights on projectors. But how did I get it wrong?! The slide show on the projector looked perfect!

For the visual evaluation of the Sony VPL-HW40ES, I chose the Sample mode, which is not biased for image adjustments. We chose a very simple method for subjective testing: we turned off the lights, turned on the projector and flipped through the exquisite photos on the big screen. Here’s what we saw.

Device: Nikon D7000. Lens: 11-16mm f/2.8G. Focal Length: 11 mm. Focus Mode: Manual.

Exposure

Aperture

: f/2.8. Shutter Speed: 30 sec. Exposure Mode: Manual. Metering: Matrix. ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100.

I use the first image to test shadows. What makes this image unique is that it consists of shadows the dark part of the histogram and that these shadows are very different in color. The sand is slightly yellowish, the rocks are grayish green, the algae on them are brown, etc.d.

That way I should see not only the gradation of shadows in light, but also in color. The projector we tested was more than adequate. I can definitely say that the image on the IPS matrix of my notebook ASUS UX31A is not any better than on a projector.

Device: Nikon D7000. Lens: 11-16mm f/2.8G. Focal Length: 11 mm. Focus Mode: AF-S. AF-Area Mode: Single.

Exposure

Aperture

: f/10. Shutter Speed: 1/2.5 sec. Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority. Exposure Comp.: +1.0EV. Metering: Matrix. ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100.

In this picture, I am still evaluating shadows, but no longer in the I, but in the II quarter of the histogram. And at the same time I start looking at colors, I know for a fact that there are no highlights on clouds and streams. If I can see them in the image, it means that the colors are not displayed correctly.

Device: Nikon D7000. Lens: VR 105mm f/2.8G. Focal Length: 105 mm. Focus Mode: AF-C. AF-Area Mode: Single. VR: ON.

Exposure

Aperture

: f/11. Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec. Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority. Exposure Comp: +1.0EV. Metering: Matrix. ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100.

Together with the butterfly I continue my excursion to the light areas of the image. This picture has an interesting peculiarity: as you can see in the EXIF underneath, I forgot to remove the exposure compensation, which resulted in the white spot behind the moth its second wing being centered.

But the transition from overlight to light is very smooth, and on a good monitor or projector it is not visible or conspicuous. This is exactly what happened on the Sony projector: you couldn’t see the transition. This is just a masterpiece result for a projector!

Device: Nikon D600. Lens: 8mm f/3.5. Focal Length: 8mm. Focus Mode: Manual. AF-Area Mode: Single. Exposure Aperture: f/8. Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec. Exposure Comp.: +1.0EV. Metering: Matrix. ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100.

I usually use this photo of the southernmost point of Russky Island in Primorye to check the color temperature and overall contrast. The picture is warm, if the projector or monitor makes it even warmer, it’s striking. If it is cold, the image turns out to be non-atmospheric, which is also immediately noticeable.

The contrast on the projector was just perfect. I feel like I’m not looking at a projector screen, but at a professional RGB-backlit monitor.

As for the color temperature, subjectively it seemed to be almost perfect too. Subsequent measurements confirmed the first impression. For this mode it averaged about 6800K in brightness levels instead of the reference 6500K. Not a big difference at all.

Conclusions

Summary of subjective evaluation: the image is excellent! Contrast and color gamut are up to the mark, no blown-out lights, a little bit light shadows. Not bad at least not annoying color temperature.