Optoma UHD30 True 4K UHD Gaming Projector | 16ms Response Time with Enhanced Gaming Mode | Lowest Input Lag on 4K Projector | 240Hz Refresh Rate | HDR10 & HLG: Electron $1100

Is it true 4k or faux 4k? for this price it must be pixel shifting faux 4k.

Is it true 4k or faux 4k? for this price it must be pixel shifting faux 4k.

Cheapest native 4k projectors new are about 5 grand and up, with Sony being the entry point there I believe.

There's really extremely little sharpness difference between the DLP 1080p x 4 pixel shifted 4k projectors and those native 4k projectors though at normal seating distance. You would only start to notice a difference very up close in sharpness between the 2.

Strongly suggest you call the company to find out how much it costs to buy a replacement bulb.

I have a Optoma HD141X Projector. It's a lower model than this one. My 1st bulb blew after about 50 hours (supposed to last 5,000 hours). We only use the projector once a week to watch one movie. They 'only' charged me 1/2 price and that was over $100 with tax and shipping.

Second one blew after about 350 hours. Better but no where near the claimed time. And when I say 'blew' I meant it! It literally shattered inside the projector with a loud POP! Had to shake the broken glass out. Crazy but from what I hear it is not uncommon with projectors.

For this new bulb I was charged full price which was about $200.

They also really encourage you to buy their brand bulbs. There is no where else to buy them other than from the company directly. It might be the printer ink business model. in other words, they make most profits from selling the bulbs.

Anyone else is selling off brand bulbs which the company warns might have less light or 'off' colors. Even so, I bought a bulb that fits from eBay. Despite the picture and description being on-point, they sent me a completely different bulb that I had to return. So it's a crapshoot. Will try again with eBay but it's not straight forward.

8.5.6

Sounds like you might have a bad projector. I've seen other companies replacing the whole thing when bulbs go out this quickly. Good to know that Optoma doesn't look like one of those. A lot of people do get close to the rated hours, especially when Eco mode is utilized.

Cheapest native 4k projectors new are about 5 grand and up, with Sony being the entry point there I believe.

There's really extremely little sharpness difference between the DLP 1080p x 4 pixel shifted 4k projectors and those native 4k projectors though at normal seating distance. You would only start to notice a difference very up close in sharpness between the 2.

Having seen a lot of the different technologies for resolution being implemented I'd say this:

- 1080p is 1080p, there used to be a time not that long ago where this was a great improvement over all the 720p projectors out there. I've got a Benq HT2050 1080p projector in my basement theatre and it's served me so well for years now at 120" at about 12 feet seating distance and throws out 2.07 million pixels...I will say though:

- Epson 1080p x 2 pixel shift for 4.15 million pixels (they call it "4k enhancement", it's not 4k due to being half the pixels required though), is a noticeable improvement sharpness wise over native 1080p non pixel shifted projectors, you can absolutely see the improvement sharpness wise, but then...

- All the DLP 1080p x 4 pixel shift (.47") projectors including the 1528p x 2 pixel shift projectors (.66") that throw out a true 8.3 million pixels for 4k resolution are a smaller step up from the Epson units sharpness wise than Epson vs. 1080p but an even MORE noticeable bump up in sharpness from the native 1080p units than the Epsons are. These things are very very sharp when you look at native 1080p and them in a similar situation. Especially on larger screens or if you sit closer.

- Native 4k projectors like the Sonys and JVC send out the same 8.3 million pixels as the pixel shifters above I mentioned, but natively. I honestly have a very hard time noticing any real difference in real world settings (normal seating distance) in the sharpness between these and the pixel shifters that also throw out 8.3 million pixels. The pixel shifters do an excellent job into "fooling" you into believing it's a native 4k image fro ma sharpness perspective. If you get up close, you can notice a difference in the "fine print" if you will, but again, in normal conditions you just wont notice much a difference. Now obviously those Sony and JVC units are on another level with things like contrast, black levels, color, etc...over these $1000-$3000 pixel shift projectors, and that's why they cost 5 grand and up.

Is it true 4k or faux 4k? for this price it must be pixel shifting faux 4k.

Strongly suggest you call the company to find out how much it costs to buy a replacement bulb.

I have a Optoma HD141X Projector. It's a lower model than this one. My 1st bulb blew after about 50 hours (supposed to last 5,000 hours). We only use the projector once a week to watch one movie. They 'only' charged me 1/2 price and that was over $100 with tax and shipping.

Second one blew after about 350 hours. Better but no where near the claimed time. And when I say 'blew' I meant it! It literally shattered inside the projector with a loud POP! Had to shake the broken glass out. Crazy but from what I hear it is not uncommon with projectors.

For this new bulb I was charged full price which was about $200.

They also really encourage you to buy their brand bulbs. There is no where else to buy them other than from the company directly. It might be the printer ink business model. in other words, they make most profits from selling the bulbs.

Anyone else is selling off brand bulbs which the company warns might have less light or 'off' colors. Even so, I bought a bulb that fits from eBay. Despite the picture and description being on-point, they sent me a completely different bulb that I had to return. So it's a crapshoot. Will try again with eBay but it's not straight forward.

I own this projector. The biggest shortcoming I'd point out is the lack of HDMI-CEC or any sort of reasonable standby management. I haven't figured out a way to wake the projector from sleep from another remote or signal, and I've spent a lot of time trying to figure it out. The only mechanism that's worked for me is a Harmony hub with an IR blaster in view of the projector.

If I were buying now I would hold out for the Viewsonic PX-701-4K to ship and compare some reviews. At $200 cheaper with HDMI-CEC, if the quality is similar it would be the better choice -- The throw distance range and physical dimensions/lens placement are almost identical.