In the front projector market, it has become common practice for manufacturers to use a dynamic iris to boost contrast numbers and deliver blacker blacks. By temporarily reducing light output during dark sequences, blacks appear deeper making for a better picture. Unfortunately, it’s usually easy to tell whether or not a projector is using a dynamic iris; when a dark scene cuts quickly to a bright one, the iris needs to adjust and some can take up to a second or more before the image suddenly returns to normal brightness. Some machines also have a noisy iris and every time it adjusts you can hear it happen. None of this is a problem with the DLA-HD100.
Considering its price tag, the DLA-HD100 is likely destined for a ceiling installation in a dedicated home theater more often than not and thankfully this is one flexible projector. Vertical and horizontal lens shift adjustments work in conjunction with a generous 2.0x zoom to make the DLA-HD100 a snap to locate in your room. This zoom capability means you can achieve a 100-inch diagonal image with a throw distance anywhere between ten and twenty feet. For rear shelf installations, the DLA-HD100 offers the added convenience of front air intake and exhausts. The only downside of this arrangement is some minor light spill from the front grille.
The remote control supplied with the DLA-HD100 is one of the better ones I’ve seen for a front projector. First and foremost it’s completely backlit. Secondly, you get direct access buttons for each of the various inputs. Menu navigation is merely average but nothing was terribly difficult to find. There is a convenient set of test patterns which you can access quickly by hitting “Test” on the remote. This is also where you can adjust the unit’s electronic zoom and focus. The focus adjustment is rather annoying as you can only base your setting on the word “Focus” which takes center stage above a test grid. I’d prefer the ability to pause my own test material and focus on the fly.
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