Optoma MovieTime Home Theater DLP Projector With Built-In DVD Player
`REEL` HOME CINEMA
Within 10 minutes of opening the box I had a 10 feet perfect image of `Shrek` projected.<br /><br />This is a beautiful projector with fantastic image clarity and colour saturation. Movies were made for large screen presentation and films like Polar Express, Bridge on the River Kwai, Sound of Music, Great Excape, Titanic lose impact when shown on television.<br /><br />The Movietime has a native format of 16:9 which is ideal for most movies and HDTV.  Of course many films have different formats like 235:1, 240:1 and 255:1 (King and I) and the classics movies were mostly shot in almost square 4:3.<br /><br />The DV10 handles them all fantastically.  You can watch any format in 16:9 and it will scale the picture to fit.  If you want to see the movie in its theatrical ratio you can switch it whilst in play in a second.<br /><br />This is a very easy to use projector with a superb visible menu which takes only minutes to master.<br /><br />The picture is superb out of the box and it does exactly what it claims to do.<br /><br />Where can you see a large 35mm quality cinema like projection of films like Casablanca these days.  At last the Marx Bros, Laurel and Hardy or Buster Keaton `come to life` again.<br /><br />Wide screen epics like Ben Hur, Braveheart of Spartacus (I have a 65mm transfer which is no less than spectacular on this machine).<br /><br />With ImageAI or Cinema Mode it seems to analyse the image as it plays to give the most fantastic picture.  This projector really loves movies!<br /><br />Using the DLP system (which tends to be the best for movies) the picture quality is astounding meaning that a 10` wide movie can be watched at a much closer range which really immerses the viewer. Obviously different machines, but DLP is the type of projector being installed in digital theatres now.<br /><br />Even the two stereo speakers pack a good enough punch but for the true cinema sound experience hook it up to a surround sound system.<br /><br />In order to produce such an image the lamp is hot and has a small odour as any projector would (even film)which personally, I did not notice.  There is an O2 filter which deals with that and you will not even notice the cooling fan.<br /><br />Overall I have nothing but praise for this machine.  It is an excellent value, superb quality DVD projector - in fact so good it will soon pay for itself as I will hardly be visiting the local multiplex any more!<br /><br />UPDATE 12/12/2005<br /><br />Now a couple of weeks has passed and the projector has been in use everyday it has handled every kind of movie I have thrown at it magnificently.<br /><br />Because the projector is matched to the onboard DVD player digitally each pixel is matched.  Using best quality DVD transfers the quality appears equal to film and in some cases like Disney`s restored Snow White it is better.  The colours explode off the screen.<br /><br />Optoma recommends their Panoview Greywolf 92\\" diagonal screen which is an easily wall or ceiling mounted and gives an excellent picture.<br /><br />For special screening I use a Harkness Hall (screen manufacturers since the advent of sound films) matt white which is around 136\\" diagonal and the picture quality/contrast and colours are literally stunning.<br /><br />Watching Polar Express was almost like a roller coaster.<br /><br />One final point about the lamp `smell`.  This is as another reviewer stated because it is a new lamp.  The odour (which is not poisenous) goes after a few hours use.<br /><br />I have not listed any bad points as I have not found any.<br /><br />FINAL UPDATE 20.12.2005<br />I can only comment that for those who have encountered any problems with this may have a bad unit. A good test has been `Steamboat Bill Jnr` with Buster Keaton using a good transfer to DVD of an almost 80 year old film.<br /><br />The Image AI works wonders on these classic films compared to television. Whilst the transfer is excellent on TV it is enhanced on this machine. For instance in this film when Buster sends a telegram to his father stating he is visiting some fo the words are not visible on a tv set, however when projected in its theatrical 4:3 mode the whole telegram can be read.  In other scenes more image is visible than on any TV.<br /><br />I have projected a 64 square feet image of `It`s a wonderful life` which looks stunning.<br /><br />I rest my case<br />IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION<br /><br />It is now February 5th 2007 and the projector still performs as new.  I am still on the first lamp and it has never disappointed in any respect. It is so easy to use that we take it with us when we are staying away as even projected on a it wall gives a much more exciting and larger picture than even a plasma tv.  Being a film fanatic and collector also of 16mm film prints I am very fussy about getting the best images on screen.  Would I buy another Optoma model? Absolutely!l 4:3 mode the whole telegram can be read.  In other scenes more image is visible than on any TV.    I have projected a 64 square feet image of `It`s a wonderful life` which looks stunning.    I rest my case  IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION     It is now February 5th 2007 and the projector still performs as new.  I am still on the first lamp and it has never disappointed in any respect. It is so easy to use that we take it with us when we are staying away as even projected on a it wall gives a much more exciting and larger picture than even a plasma tv.  Being a film fanatic and collector also of 16mm film prints I am very fussy about getting the best images on screen.  Would I buy another Optoma model? Absolutely!