![]() ![]() Lens owners will need to scale their video in an external device such as a video processor or (for those fortunate enough to own one before the company stopped production) an OPPO Blu-ray player. In fact, the projector's aspect ratio controls don't work on HD or 4k content at all, only on standard-definition video. What the 4010 does not have is the ability to vertically stretch an image for projection through an anamorphic lens. (Resetting back to the defaults is a little faster.) This may be a bit of a nuisance, but thankfully the number of movies with this problem is still pretty small. It's a slow process and there's no way to save the results to a Memory preset. What's more, you need to adjust the top of the image and the bottom of the image separately, bumping each up from 0 to about 135. Unfortunately, you'll have to do this manually every time and reset it afterwards. Within the Signal section of the projector's setup menu is a Blanking feature that can be used to mask off the excess picture, turning it into letterbox bars. When watching those, scenes that contain IMAX footage expand in height, leaving you with image content distractingly projected onto the wall. The only scenario in which the Zoom Method of Constant Image Height may be problematic is the small selection of movies with a variable aspect ratio, such as The Dark Knight or Dunkirk. The "Pattern" button on the remote will even bring up a grid with markings that are useful for finding the proper 2.35:1 lens shift position. I programmed Lens 1 for 16:9 content, which will appear pillarboxed in the center of the screen, while Lens 2 will zoom the image up to fill the screen width and let a 2.35:1 movie's letterbox bars spill off the top and bottom onto the wall. That's a huge benefit for viewers such as myself with 2.35:1 Constant Image Height screens. The projector also has two automated lens memory positions that are selectable from buttons on the remote. I got the 4010 aligned on my screen with hardly any effort. The last projector I reviewed was a DLP model with a high image offset and limited zoom or lens shift, which made placement extremely difficult. It's a breeze to install in either ceiling-mounted or shelf-mounted locations. The HC 4010 has a very long 2.1:1 zoom range and extremely flexible lens shift latitude in both the vertical and horizontal directions. You have to go online to get the full owner's manual. Other than the projector itself, all you get with the 4010 are a power cable, the remote, a pair of batteries, and a Quick Start setup guide. It's a few hundred dollars more expensive, but it also comes with a ceiling mount and a spare lamp that you won't find here. Buyers who are concerned about this may note that Epson's Pro Cinema 4050 model is essentially the same projector in a black case, sold through the professional installer market. I'm not overly fond of the white plastic molding, which clashes with my dark home theater décor, but I'm sure it would look fine in a living room or great room space. With dimensions of 20.5" x 17.7" x 6.7", the projector is a fairly substantial physical presence, but its 24.7 lb weight is lighter than it looks. ![]() (Those also using the projector as a computer display may be more demanding.) Quite frankly, the added pixels are one of the least compelling advantages of the UHD format anyway. While this falls short of the full 3840x2160 Ultra HD resolution, most viewers at typical seating distances will never be able to discern the difference on normal movie content. (More on this below.) It's also a so-called "Faux-K" model that supports 4K video content by shifting a 1080p pixel grid rapidly back and forth, with some overlap between pixels. According to Epson, the unit will deliver 100% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut used in digital cinemas, though that's only available in one of the setup modes. The HC 4010 is a 3LCD projector with separate color panels for red, green, and blue. I'm glad I did, because this projector has certainly made me reconsider those old prejudices. However, when Epson offered the opportunity to evaluate the HC 4010, I was happy to approach it with an open mind. Honestly, I've hardly given LCD projectors much thought in ages. This mainly stems from the early days of digital projection, when LCD models had a distinctive look that tended to be flat, smeary, and very "digital." Even as the technology improved in leaps and bounds over time, I've continued to favor the Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) display technology in JVC and Sony projectors for a richer, more film-like image quality, with DLP as a secondary preference. I need to admit up front that, for many years, I've had a bias against LCD projectors. ![]()
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