There is no LCD on the same level as the ZD. As for dimness I own a 65 inch B7 and it is without a doubt very dim in game mode. You can literally google lg oled dim game mode and a ton of sites will appear. I don't know why you are saying that all modes look the same...that isn't subjective that is a straight up wrong.
I recommend folks use settings in topic on avsforums called HDR game settings. Before that I hated how Destiny looked in HDR, but now think it is gorgeous.
I have heard that it was a firmware update that made the Game Mode dim. I am just basing that off of peoples posts at AVS forums. On my E7 with the latest firmware it is a huge difference in brightness level between game mode and other modes. I tried setting the input to PC which gives all picture modes the low input lag, but that also introduces color banding, so that is a no go for me. I don't understand your comment when you say "I've come from an LCD which is at the same level as a ZD"? From my research and postings over avs forums, nothing comes close to the NIT output of a ZD9.
Input lag on the E7 is higher by quite a bit in the non-game mode picture settings. However, they look better than in game mode. So you can have higher input lag and brighter picture if using the other picture settings.
I can only say what I'm seeing, and I've compared the non game modes on numerous scenes, and the only time non game modes look any brighter is when active HDR is activated, but on the contrary to that, I've seen game mode HDR look brighter!!
The LCD I'm talking about is an Panasonic DX902, it has 100 or so less zones and a bit less specular brightness, but for full field nits, black level, pixel response, DCI coverage, the 902 outpaces the ZD9.
Since I've owned the B7 it's proved to me that peak nits on an LCD, is a bit of a fallacy! Because the very thing that an LCD is supposed to be good at ie specular highlights, ends up being the opposite, because the backlight system is struggling to balance deep blacks, with bright highs; to what extent I didn't realise until I got the B7! Much more impressive.
Same thing here, there's something that need to be investigated further, because I watch a lot of HDR and DVD contents and it's not brighter than games.
I also tried switching between game mode, technicolor, ISF, and there's no difference. I'm using FFXV for the test, because that's the best example of HDR I've seen.
Even setting dynamic contrast to high is not making the screen brighter, it just change the picture, but the screen don't emit more light.
The only thing that dim the screen is in DV mode when I switch between cinema home and cinema. There's a real difference in brightness here, but I don't see the same thing with HDR game mode.
Completely agree with that, I'm finding the exact same results, I can only think that the firmwares are varying from region to region, or some people have energy saving and/or eco mode on, that really has an impact.
I think it's because your TV came with the dimmer game mode by default, whereas others (like myself, 6 series) went from the default brightness to a dimmer picture after an update, so it's harder for you to understand the difference.
LG actually has a web page up specifically for this because so many people complained about the dimmer game mode.
http://www.lg.com/ca_en/support/product-help/CT20098005-20150410129990-others
I get what you are saying, but it doesn't change the fact that the other modes look exactly the same.
I agree as well. You're pretty much getting screwed if you don't do some heavy research online.
Then again, I think most people don't even know what HDR is or even care to know.
Haha, I was preaching to the unconvertible last night, trying to show HDR on the B7, and all I got was "it looks ok, but need to see it next to a TV without it"
Very frustrating.
