Is there something wrong with my projector?

[bernhund]

I bought an Optoma projector just before Christmas last year, but feel sure the image is not as good as when I first set it up. The image is milky looking and though I've played about with all the settings, it just doesn't seem to have the richness anymore. There is a 'dynamic black' button, which appears to do nothing and if I ramp up the contrast, faces look terrible.
Any ideas? I didn't want to pick up charges if sent back under warranty to find nothing wrong.

[gizlaroc]

What projector?

Post your settings.

In fact go on avforums and check user picture settings, it sounds like the gamma and brightness is all wrong.

You have got a dark room? Not the fact it is staying lighter later and you are getting more ambient light in the room?

[bernhund]

I'm not at home right now, so can't give too much info. I think it's this one.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/projectors/...

How long should a bulb last? It's used virtually everyday instead of a tv!

[kingston12]

bernhund said:

I'm not at home right now, so can't give too much info. I think it's this one.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/projectors/...

How long should a bulb last? It's used virtually everyday instead of a tv!

You should be getting thousands of hours out of the bulb, so you would have had to have it on 24/7 to get anywhere near that.

As gizlaroc mentions above, could it be to do with ambient light conditions? I have a Benq W1070 (fairly similar) and I use it in a room with a venetian blind. The image is excellent as long as it is dark outside. Any light coming in at all really steals contrast and washes the image out.

I have started watching movies later as a result. Last year at the height of summer, I bought a temporary blackout blind because the projector wasn't really watchable much before 9.30.

[JustinP1]

Are you using a screen?

For the last year I've had a Draper screen, which is a mid-dark grey colour. The difference in usability is enormous - you can watch casually in the day with the curtains open, with only a small loss in contrast. Additionally, for summer nights where you don't have full darkness, you certainly get improved contrast.

[bernhund]

I do have a pull down screen, so that has remained constant. To be honest, I think the ambient light isn't the problem as it's rare I watch anything until 8:00pm onwards.
All good ideas to check out so far, so thanks for that. I don't remember the projector getting knocked about or anything, but if it had received a bump sometime, could that affect the lamp without blowing it?

[bernhund]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Cheers for that. Tonight I will try this https://www.avforums.com/threads/my-first-projecto... to see how it compares.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to buy a lamp as a spare anyway, then try it out if the settings don't work.