Da-Lite Screen Material Review

[mechman]

Cinema Vision and the High Contrast Cinema Vision

Cinema Vision close up



High Contrast Cinema Vision close up



As in the title Cinema Vision is on the left.


Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

Cinema Vision and the High Contrast Cinema Vision Conclusions

Pricing for a 16:9 100" electric tensioned Cosmopolitan screen: $2458.00

Surfaces can be cleaned. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing angles are slightly different here and yet again if you look at the off axis shot there is still no drop off. More than likely due to the proximity to unity gain.

As you would expect the colors are still vibrant and sharp.

The ambient light shots show less of a drop off on the High Contrast Cinema Vision as it is a bit darker and .2 less in gain. And yet the Cinema Vision isn't much of a slouch!

[mechman]

Video Spectra™ 1.5 and the Pearlescent





As in the title, VS on left.


Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

Video Spectra™ 1.5 and the Pearlescent Conclusions

Pricing for a 16:9 100" electric tensioned Cosmopolitan screen:

Pearlescent $2,337.00

The Video Spectra is a bit different in that it is a fiberglass material. For a 16:9 Cosmopolitan 100" screen - $950.


The gain for these two screens is 1.5 making them similar enough to shoot together. They still hold the Da-Lite line as they're both flame retardant, mildew resistant, washable surfaces.

The viewing angles are also similar, yet a bit tighter than those previously reviewed. And again in my off axis shot, they both seemed to virtually no noticeable drop off. Colors were lucid and the images crisp.

Ambient light performance for these two was a bit more noticeable than the previous but still commendable. I thought the Pearlescent did a bit better job than the Video Spectra but it's a photo finish. The Pearlescent is bit darker so that probably accounts for the better performance here.

[mechman]

High Contrast Audio Vision




Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

Click on each thumbnail for a full size image!

[mechman]

High Contrast Audio Vision Conclusions

Pricing for a 16:9 100" electric tensioned Cosmopolitan screen: $2,503.00

This is another vinyl material that is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

It is also alone as I didn't think any of the other screen samples matched up well with it.

It has a gain of 0.8 and a viewing angle of 45 degrees. This is one angle that I won't argue with. I took a couple shots at roughly 45 degrees and the screen started to drop off. Look at the above photos of the grasshopper head and the bee on the flower.

Colors take a slight hit due to the darkness of the screen and the perforations. Sharpness is also slightly affected by the perforations.

Ambient light performance is just what you'd expect from a gray screen - very good.

Considering how well the Audio Vision did with ambient light, I'd recommend that screen over this except for the most extreme ambient light conditions.

[mechman]

Silver Matte



Before I decided to do just shots of 'Bugs!', I did a whole set for the Silver Matte. Therefore there will be more pictures for the Silver Matte, as well as the 'heavily acclaimed' High Power. One thing to note as viewing these images is Da-Lite's company line for the Silver Matte:

Silver Matte
A uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Gain: 1.3 Viewing Angle: 30°

I do not agree with this limitation at all but I'll keep a tight lip for now!

Bugs! and some hockey.


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That off axis shot is around 60 degrees. There will be better off axis shots later. Including a direct comparison...