Somnium VR1 VS Pimax Crystal - Through the LENS! Is it REALLY SHARPER? But HOW?! Let's DISCUSS! MSFS

A direct through the lens comparison between the Somnium VR1 and Pimax Crystal. But How can one be sharper than the other when they both have the same panels? Well, let me (try) and explain...

Please note: I haven't had the VR1 very long and my time has been limited, so this video is an informal discussion on my thoughts and opinions so far. As I'm sure you can appreciate, things can feel very different testing the headset in my own environment vs a time limited demonstration.

Also... The VR1 featured in this video it NOT final. In fact, it's quite old now (things are moving very fast) so this won't be a review. Not yet anyway... Think of it as a new series, a journey even, as I learn more about it.

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VRFSG

#microsoftflightsimulator #vr #simulator

[artursychov]

Thank you for this video Steve. It warms my heart that you noticed all these details. VR1 has been built around our optical stack. We have spent enormous amount of time, engineering and money to refine our optics to the micro details. Each lens is undergoing automated visual QA process twice.

[colin]

I think I'll be happy with the clarity when I get the Crystal light.

[SargonDragon]

The panel is only one part of the whole optical stack. Lenses are a big deal. I think that's something consumers are only starting to become aware of due to the Quest 3. Its resolution isn't actually much higher than the Quest 2, but it gained much more clarity. Most of that is coming from the lenses, not the panel!

So yes, it's very possible for there to be a big difference in clarity between two VR headsets that have the same panel resolution. There are so many other factors involved in both the software and hardware sides of the pipeline. Reviewers should be establishing objective measures of the total performance of the optical stack through the use of tools like MTF charts, Snellen eye charts, etc.

Through the lens footage can be helpful, but it can also be misleading since it's subject to the limitations of the camera used and to potentially inconsistent quality of the capture itself. And other than that, we've usually only got the reviewers subjective impressions to go by. More objective and precise comparisons are possible than this, and not all of it requires fancy equipment.

[danceoffAsh]

Damn that difference is massive! It's like wearing a pair of corrective glasses. Grats to the VR1 team.

[ben]

Thanks for this comparison- I find it fascinating. I’ll be very interested to hear how the XR4 fits into that spectrum.

[arride]

Vr1 looks sharper. I would love to try this headset.

[Lonsome]

What would be interesting is what the really best VR headset you would recommend having tested them all.

[walltar]

That first trhrough the lens video seems like there is a massive difference... I hope that I can get my hands on VR1 soon. Cant wait to give it a spin in DCS.

[L_Emir_de_Passy]

Steve, thanks a lot for the video! very informative. Your time is precious but I wouldn't mind some extra side by side comparisons, especially at night. and maybe DCS. Thanks again!

[kevinbrook]

Good video Steve, can definitely tell an instant difference. Is there any difference when in motion, i.e does the Somnium have less motion blur when moving around? The image looks very stable.

[seattime]

Difference was quite noticeable...seems as with the quest 3, good lenses are the key.

[diegostalder]

i am wondering, how do you compare the VR1 with the aero in terms of weight and comfort ? i do mostly simracing and i do have a motion, i wonder if that could be a problem with the VR1 because of the size, shape and weight.

[eugene]

Maybe it finally makes sense for Pimax to add Almalence natively to Crystal :) :) :)

[dtrjones]

So cool you put a side by side with these two jugganaut VR headsets! Looking at the side by side, I'm not sure you could say the image quality is close? There is definately more clarity in the VR1 and it's not down to brightness. One of the reasons could be sweetspot but the most obvious reason from the video is the chromatic aberration is much better controlled in the VR1 and it looks bad in the Pimax. Now I've seen that, I can't unsee it, so the Pimax Crystal light now seems a distant memory again, shame that. I'll know for sure when I'm hoping to try both of these at the FSExpo in June.

[sirgriffinman]

Will you be doing a ditect comparison to the aero in all the major categories? I am an Aero owner and would love.a comparison on the big categories like comfort, spftware stack, lenses, displays, eye strain, etc etc.

[corjansen]

Hi VR Flight Sim Guy. When are you going to tell us the negative points of the VR1? You told in a previous video that there are some, but that you would Somnium give the chance to correct them first. So when can we expect the complete story?

[CTTechGaming]

I'm looking at upgrading my quest 2 and the crystal light came on my radar when they announced it, on the crystal how clear is the writing and displays? As the quest was always blurry on the textures. Still loved it but would love one to know that the charity of the text and displays are in real world usage

[quantumsoftware]

Making is hard but selling super hard.
Making is all about been an engineer.
But selling is about an engineer who focus on market research, knowing at which specification and at which price point that people finally give you their hard earned money.

[technikchegger]

Exciting impression but the price is of course a decisive factor for many in the end.

[dathyr]

Thanks for the information on the differences between the two VR headsets. Not familiar with the VR1 and not too sure how expensive it is. I did google search on pricing and they say it is around 2050 dollars, which is too much money for doing VR games for me.