Projector Reviews

FULL-ON/FULL-OFF CONTRAST RATIO: 1,046:1


The measurements here were made using CalMAN measurement software from Portrait Displays (www. portrait.com), together with a Photo Research PR-650 color meter, Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and a Murideo/AVPro (Fresco Six-G) test pattern generator.

Pre-calibration measurements were made with the BenQ V7050i's Filmmaker picture mode active in the default settings. Post- calibration measurements were made in the User mode. All measurements were made with the projector paired with a 1.1 gain, 92-inch diagonal Stewart CIMA projection screen.

The projector's full-on/full-off SDR contrast ratio was measured in Bright Cinema mode with Normal Light Output active. Using this combination, black measured 0.047 ft-L and peak white 49.2 ft-L for a contrast ratio of 1,046:1. Full-on/full-off HDR contrast was only slightly higher at 1,098:1.

Before calibration, the BenQ's grayscale showed a pronounced blue deficit with the Filmmaker mode's default settings active. Selecting Cool Color Temperature option instead of the default Normal improved grayscale tracking considerably, while a calibration using the RGB Gain/Offset adjustments in the White Balance menu yielded a maximum 3.1 Delta E at the 50 percent brightness level. (Delta E is a figure of merit indicating how close the color comes to the standards, either D65 for the white point or the color coordinates for each of the primary and secondary colors that define the color gamut under test. Values below 3 are generally unnoticeable.)

With the Filmmaker mode's default settings active, the Delta E of the V7050i's color points averaged out to 6.4, with a maximum error of 15.3 for cyan. After making adjustments in the projector's color management system menu, that number was reduced to 3.3. Coverage of the Rec. 709 color gamut topped out at 90.5% (with Color Enhancer adjustment at maximum), DCI-P3 at 94% (with Wide Color Gamut On), and BT. 2020 at 67.2%.

Post-calibration, gamma mostly tracked a 2.4 target, with a maximum Delta E of 3 at 50% white. In HDR10 mode with Normal Light Output selected, peak brightness was measured at 216.6 nits on a 10% white window, with measurements at other window sizes ranging from 1% to 75% remaining within a +/- 10% range.

Picture uniformity was excellent: white full-field test patterns showed minimal brightness drops between the center and edges of the screen, and no color shifts. Our suite of video processing tests revealed below-average performance, with the BenQ tripping up on HD 2:2 pulldown patterns, along with several 2:3 pulldown cadences and mixed film/video tests.

Best case measured input lag with a 1080p source was 78ms in Filmmaker mode, making the BenQ a below-average option for high-def gaming.—AG

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