Runco's D-73d Projector Receives Rave Detailed Review from UltimateAVmag.com

Monday, June 13, 2011

Scott Wilkinson's 4-part review the Runco D-73d 3D projector for UltimateAVmag.com covers a detailed analysis of the specs, technology, and features of the projector in addition it's overall performance during his hands-on test at Runco's training facility in Beaverton, OR.

Highlights include Wilkinson's evaluation of the lampless LED Infinilight™ Technology that powers the light source of the D-73d, the unique two projection engine system, the color features of the projector (including the Personal Color Equalizer), the brightness, black levels and contrast, as well as a review of general performance while the D-73d was put to the test with a showing of Avatar, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monsters vs. Aliens, Grand Canyon Adventure and a number of other quality 3D movies.

The results? Wilkinson had great things to say about the overall quality and performance of Runco's D-73d projector:

"...the 3D experience provided by this projector is unsurpassed by anything I've seen for the home and even in most commercial cinemas..."

Check out Scott Wilkinson's full, four-part review of the D-73d on UltimateAVmag.com:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Don’t Judge a Cover by its Book

Thursday, June 02, 2011

By James Wood

Roger Ebert doesn’t like 3D movies, in fact he would go so far as to say that he “hates 3D” and he thinks you should too. Most of his critiques center on a technology that is often not executed well. Using projectors that are too dim and screens that don’t reflect enough light the produces a dark, detail poor movie or alternating the left and right-eye images on the screen, which causes eye fatigue and even head-aches. The good news is that Runco has addressed the technical issues associated with 3D projection. The D-73d 3D projector is so good that it was able to convince at least one vocal skeptic that 3D projection can be done right.

The problem isn’t always with the technology though. James Cameron’s Avatar broke the mold for 3D movies. Heck, he invented whole new technologies just to make the movie right. Every frame is fully immersive in three dimensions. He made a big deal about breaking the plane of the screen and drawing viewers into the world of the Na’vi. But then there’s a movie like Clash of the Titans that was never filmed in 3D, but had the effect added later through computer animation. The result is an altogether fake-looking product that is more of a distraction than enhancement to the story telling process. When 2D movies are up-converted to 3D it can look like a bunch of cardboard cut-outs suspended in front of the screen rather than full-bodied characters.

With any new technology it will take time for the artists to learn how to use it well. Some directors like Cameron will take the time to learn this new technology and master the craft of telling a story in three dimensions. Other times the studio will decide after a director is already done filming that a summer blockbuster should be done in 3D.

When you sit down with a bowl of freshly popped popcorn and fire up your D-73d 3D projector to show you a bright, fatigue free, eye-popping 3D movie, make sure you’re doing your projector justice with the movies you feed it. The top notch DHD video processor that accompanies the projector will show a beautiful representation of what the movie ought to look like, but if the best it gets is second rate, after-thought 3D imaging slapped on by the producers in post-production then it will give you the best looking version of a not-so-good looking movie.

Here are some quality 3D releases that we would suggest:

Alice in Wonderland
Grand Canyon Adventure, River at Risk
Monsters vs. Aliens
Bob’s Big Break
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Step Up
Avatar

Open Response to rAVe Publications post: "Slippery Slope of 3D Brightness"

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

By Jennifer Davis

In response to the blog post by by Chris Chinnock of Insight Media via rAVepubs.com, on: "Slippery Slope of 3D Brightness"

Thanks, Chris, for bringing this matter to light (no pun intended). Perceived brightness is a complicated calculation. This is one of the main reasons why Runco products, for example, have always been specified in what we call CSMS, as a measure of foot-Lamberts off the screen rather than lumens out of the projection lens. Further complicating things is 3D. We have found that it isn’t just brightness loss that is the problem in theater design, but rather the variance between the 2D and 3D modes in the same theater set-up (which of course affects everything from screen size and material to viewing distances). We have found that getting the 2D and 3D modes to be within 20% or so of each other makes a huge difference in overall owner satisfaction because most don’t watch 3D 100% of the time and want the flexibility. This principle played heavily into our design of the Runco 3Dimension D-73d projector.