The (Infocus) IN78 Owners Thread - Settings, screenshots etc

[RICKYJ]

After much deliberation, I decided that I wanted to sell my AX100E. I had used an Optoma HD70 previously, and did like the DLP picture, but the offset just did not work in my converted garage, but after stumbling across an advert for the IN76, I realized that it had a much better offset 115-116% (dependent on what you read), which would work in my room, with some small alterations to the screen.

Order History/Experience/Background

So I set about finding a good price for the IN76, only to discover that Infocus actually offer refurbished/overstocked units on ebay via their own ebay shop. I often feel that refurbished units are often offer a different value than original new units, as they have often been inspected before resale, rather than just come off a factory belt. They do only have a 12 month warranty though.... To my surprise, they had the IN78 for sale for under £700 inc delivery. The IN78 had retailed at over £2,000 when they were released in late 2006, and had received very good reviews, as can be seen from the following links:

Home cinema choice - winning the best projector under £3000 in the 2007 awards

Trusted reviews

Other review quotes

The specifications, and official Infocus links


So I cashed in on my AX100E on the forums, taking a bit of a hit on the purchase price, but technology never stands still I also cashed in the extended cover that I had on the unit, which made me in the region of £700 enough to cover a (IN78) purchase.

So after some questions to Rafe (the Infocus ebay contact), I purchased an IN78 via an ebay auction on Tues 3 June, for the grand total of £675. Please note ebay's estimated conversion for £ is a little off when paying by paypal - it was about £25 out (for the worse) for me. I received an email later that day to say that they had run out of refurbished projector, so I was actually getting a brand new unit

On Wed 3 June, I received confirmation that the unit had been sent from Holland via UPS, and was provided with a tracking number. Delivery date was scheduled for Friday (to my work address). I tracked it to the door, and it was delivered on time on Friday, but I was out of the office, so did not get the unit until Sunday.

Setting the unit up

All the accessories were evident, although the main manual is on CD. It also included a UK 3 pin lead. I wasn't sure it would do as it came in from Europe.

I moved the mount, (the screen still needs to be dropped a little), and set about connecting the unit up.

Observations

The colours (skin tones etc) appear to appear be very accurate. The blacks appear to be much better than the AX100E, and the punch on the dark scenes appear to be better.

It appears to take a little while to sync to a source, but does tell you it is syncing....

It takes a 1080p24 from the PS3, but my unit came with firmware 1.3. so I need to upgrade to 1.4 before I can see whether it outputs it correctly. I am yet to try my EP35 to see whether it accepts the 24p signal, as unlike the PS3, it is not forced.

The unit seems quiet in whisper mode, while plenty bright enough.

Conclusion

I have used the unit for under an hour, so more to follow.

Pics and more information will follow in the coming days, but at under £700 this is an outstanding unit.

[fishman09]

nice one for the new thread m8

i'm looking at either the in78 or 76, so any screens/info you can post over the coming days would be greatly appreciated

fish

[Klippie]

£675..., that's an outstanding price, I bought mine for £1900 when they came out and I thought that was a good price for the quality of the image it threw. Its a very under rated machine the IN78 and unless RBE bothers you I can guarantee you’ll not see a better 720p picture unless you spend an awful lot more money. If thats what the IN78 costs there's no point buying an IN76.

I've got a PS3 hooked up as well, fantastic is all I can say...

[Andy30]

I've got to say I'm impressed with mine and I've only had it up since the weekend.

I got it from the same seller on Ebay for about £660 inc p&p, mine was also a brand new machine and very quick delivery as well.

The only mistake I made was to buy a cheap screen and it's letting the picture down quite badly so I now have to look for a better screen do really do it justice.

The golf on the 360 looks amazing though even with the bad screen.

[Osamede]

Just got mine a couple weeks ago and have a Grandview screen arrriving tomorrow. Looking forward to setting it all up!

[RICKYJ]

Sorry for the delay in posting back to this thread. I have had a few personal matters to attend to....

I have now been able to spend a few hours with the projector, and initial impressions are that the picture on SD-DVD is, and on normal sky it appears improved over the AX100.

Blu-ray looks excellent, especially now that I have been able to update the firmware to 1.4 for smooth 24p playback. The picture from the PC is also excellent

Also I used a THX disc to do a calibration, and it was very close out of the box

More feedback to come in due course, but in the meantime here are some pictures from sky-hd, and spiderman 3 on blu-ray....

[Andy30]

Can I ask which screen are you using?

Just trying to make a final decision on the screen I'm going to buy.

Thanks.

[RICKYJ]

Originally Posted by Andy30

Can I ask which screen are you using?

Just trying to make a final decision on the screen I'm going to buy.

Thanks.

I use a goo painted screen, although it needs changing as i still see roller marks caused by a pattern on the roller

I was going to go for a drh fixed screen, but actually noticed you were disappointed with your manual screen. Why was that?

I see you have already been enquiring, and have to admit Beamax looks like a possible solution, as it has some good feedback... But their fixed screens are quite expensive

[Andy30]

I'd prefer a fixed screen but unfortunately I have to have the screen in front of a plasma so have to compromise a little.

I was very happy with my DRH screen, it was just too small and 4:3 ratio.

I upgraded to a cheap electric screen which is the one I was dissapointed with, just trying to save a bit but you live and learn.

I am torn between the Beamax and the DRH screen, I have decided to spend the extra and go for an electric screen though.

The DRH is a £100 cheaper but I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Decisions decisions.

[mogge66]

Having first built a projector last year, which proved extremely good but was relatively large and looked like a dog coffin on the living room floor, I switched to an IN78 at the end of last year, and it's great. The g/f suggested getting one to replace the monster on the floor, and with great reviews and low pricing (cheaper from the ebay store but not by much compared to new which is what I went for), it was a no brainer. The Gadget show did a blind test recently of an Infocus and a top end LCD projector, and everyone without exception said that the Infocus DLP was better by miles than the LCD.

Optical Fault - Warped Prism?
It did develop problems in the optics after about 4 months and only about 400 hours, (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/26901008@N04/), and which I ignored at first but it got worse. Infocus were good and swapped the unit out a few days after reporting it so that we weren't left without one. Cross fingers the replacement won't go the same way.

Screen
For a screen, we simply project onto a wall painted with white Dulux Trade Matt Emulsion from about 3.5 to 4 meters away at maximum zoom (image about 2.5M wide) in our living room/media room. I'm curious about alternatives, but while goo (which we're thinking about) and expensive screens may be better, they would not as aesthetically pleasing as using a white wall that fits with the rest of the room, and the picture is stunningly good from the Dulux. Colours are rich and vibrant, and the image is bright just on regular brightness and even if the room is not fully dark.

Location
We used to have it on a coffee table, but just switched to a ceiling mount which is much better. There's no keystone correction required now which improves the image in some cases, and it's nice to get it out of the way. It's great to settle down on the sofa and press a button and have the lights dim, projector come on, and the room transform for a movie I just need to automate the Ikea blinds so that they shut automatically

Sources
Right now we play DVD's from a Mac mini with VLC (Apple DVD player gives a much worse image than VLC), but the default image profile on the Mac needs to be adjusted to improve contrast. Even through a 15M S-video cable Sky+ looks OK for most broadcasts, but improved a lot by setting sharpness on the IN78 to "Sharper". Should be much better from Sky HD and the HDMI though. Despite having a large and decent LCD TV, we now almost never use it in favour of the projector.

[Osamede]

There a lot of options in the picture settings, including colour, sharpness and brightness. Does anyone have a set of suggested settings for best picture for this projector? I use whisper mode only.

[cjmilner]

Originally Posted by RICKYJ

It takes a 1080p24 from the PS3, but my unit came with firmware 1.3. so I need to upgrade to 1.4 before I can see whether it outputs it correctly. I am yet to try my EP35 to see whether it accepts the 24p signal, as unlike the PS3, it is not forced.

Hi Ricky, just bought an IN78 from the same guy on eBay as yourself, for the same price (absolute steal, was a new model and not a refurbished one as advertised). I have tried to connect it to my EP35 and the projector will not display 1080p/24, I dont know what firmware edition is as I didnt think to check, but will do later when I'm at home. Have you managed to update your firmware to 1.4? If so, is the PJ now displaying 1080p/24 for you?

Cheers

Chris

[RICKYJ]

Originally Posted by cjmilner

Hi Ricky, just bought an IN78 from the same guy on eBay as yourself, for the same price (absolute steal, was a new model and not a refurbished one as advertised). I have tried to connect it to my EP35 and the projector will not display 1080p/24, I dont know what firmware edition is as I didnt think to check, but will do later when I'm at home. Have you managed to update your firmware to 1.4? If so, is the PJ now displaying 1080p/24 for you?

Cheers

Chris

I have updated my firmware:-) It definately has made a difference to the PS3, but can't comment on the EP35, as I have not yet connected it up. That is in the bedroom at the moment

Will try and connect it up on Thursday, and let you know how I get on, as it works in a different way to the PS3

Anyway Chris, when did you get the IN78, and are you getting on with it?

[cjmilner]

Originally Posted by RICKYJ

I have updated my firmware:-) It definately has made a difference to the PS3, but can't comment on the EP35, as I have not yet connected it up. That is in the bedroom at the moment

Will try and connect it up on Thursday, and let you know how I get on, as it works in a different way to the PS3

Anyway Chris, when did you get the IN78, and are you getting on with it?

I just got it yesterday and have only had it sat on a box, need to move my Voguls mount as I previously had a Panasonic PTAX100 like yourself, how accurate do you think I will need to be in getting the lens sitting in the middle of the screen? Dont have the luxury of the lens shift anymore!

Chris

[RICKYJ]

Originally Posted by cjmilner

how accurate do you think I will need to be in getting the lens sitting in the middle of the screen? Dont have the luxury of the lens shift anymore!

Chris

Very accurate