Dear Friends

I will appreciate your input on this

After much research what I have is that these are the two top 720p PJs. I consider lens shift an absolute requirement as in a home enviornment it eases placement

Panasonic PROS
- brighter
- smoother (less screen door effect / pixelation)
- 2 hdmi in's
- has a gaming mode, better response time and better dark details

Panasonic Cons
- Warranty (though you get two years by mail in rebate, epson has a 2 yr replacement warranty, where they send you a PJ with a box for you to ship the old one back)
- price $1250 best I found
- some flicker issues reported on the forums (unsure how serious this is)

EPSON PROS
-better blacks and contrast
-warranty ( see above)
-price (1069 after Mail in rebate)
-free bulb ( after MIR, useful if you are using the projector a lot and also peace of mind)

EPSON CONS
-less bright
-screen door effect at closer distances
-I am unsure about gaming performance
-no separate bright / lessbright (economy) mode for lamp

AFTER all this I cant decide which one to get,
-price and free lamp make the epson very attractive
-no screen door and brightness make the panasonic feel superior (but im worried about the flicker issues)

PLEASE GIVE YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINION , HELP ME DECIDE.
THANKS

For me it was the HC720:

-EXCELLENT warranty
-bright enough
-1 HDMI no big deal for my setup
-I got a super deal especially with the rebate

thanks , any difference in standard definition on the two , does either do a better job

Regarding the Epson 720. I dont think you should worry about brightness - it is a light cannon :D. I personally don't see screen door myself, on a 100" 16:9 viewing setup, I see exceptional viewing at approx 13-14'. Unfortunately we sit closer at 10-12' and see a slight grainy picture.

thanks anonymouse99 , could you tell me how standard def looks on the 720

I demoed both prior to buying the Epson HC720. IMO it was a better all around PJ.
With the ever growing list of problems with the Panny I wouldnt touch it now with a ten foot pole.

Please fill us in in the growing list of problems? What a 1% flicker rate? One or two people talking about flicker issue is not that bad out of 1000's that have been sold. SInce I own one I would like to be on top of this list.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940122&highlight=AX-200

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=934356&highlight=AX-200

Just a couple threads about the many problems of the 200. This coupled with the previous problems the last 4-5 Panny models have had, along with a short warranty make this a no brainer. Like I said after seeing both, the Epson had a better picture anyways. SO for me it was a non issue anyways. Better PQ, better warranty, overnight replacement program, free spare bulb, $100 rebate, it was a rather easy choice.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940122&highlight=AX-200

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=934356&highlight=AX-200

Better PQ how is that? is your 720 beter than all other 720s?i bet your dad can beat up my dad!:rolleyes:

how is that? is your 720 beter than all other 720s?i bet your dad can beat up my dad!:rolleyes:

When I went looking to upgrade I spend the better part of two weeks demoing. I drove over 300 miles in the process and saw about 15 different units in action. I choose the Epson because it had excellent PQ. Based on my journey, I had 4 PJ's on my short list. I ended up going with the Epson over the others because of their excellent customer service, track record, and free spare lamp. The Panny was not on the short list for a few reasons.

- soft picture thanks to smooth screen
- poor warranty and track record of service and problems
- bulb issues that every Panny PJ has had over the last 5 years

I made my decision based on my eyes, and on track record. The Epson had the Panny beat on both counts. The Mits 4900 was also a big consideration but at my seating distance I didnt get a benefit from going to 1080 so the added cost wasnt worth it. All of the PJ's in this price range has flaws and are inferior in some ways to the high end models (poorer lenses for one). In the end I feel I got the best PJ I could get for the money, and am glad I took the time to demo, even though it was a royal pain in the ass.

I am also thrilled that your Dad is a tough guy. Good for him.

..The Panny was not on the short list for a few reasons.

- soft picture thanks to smooth screen
- poor warranty and track record of service and problems
- bulb issues that every Panny PJ has had over the last 5 years...

I have to call "********" on your three points.

One of the huge advantages of the Panasonic smoothscreen technology is that the image looks the way it is SUPPOSED to, not overly "digital".

Second, the one year warranty is not unreasonable for consumer electronics and is doubled with the current "rebate" offer. The apparent "track record of service and problems" is overblown and considering the number of PJs sold, not out of line with any other manufacturer. There is a reason the AX-200 is so popular -- it is a damn good projector from a company with a long history of producing good PJs most HT enthusiasts can afford.

Finally, regarding your claim that "every Panny PJ has had [bulb issues]", there is a four-and-one-half year old Panny PJ, re-boxed and sitting in my HT closet, that has well over 5500 hrs all on the original bulb and which would still be in use today if I had not upgraded to my AX-200 a few months ago.

You can call what ever you like. I just call it like I see it. If that bothers you, dont read my posts. You panny owners are sure a defensive lot though.
Enjoy your PJ.

I am in the same boat as you, except I already own the ax200 (considering returning it and purchasing the hc720). I don't know if it is just me, but the picture seems very soft - almost blurry. I sit about 13' from a 92" screen. I have about 100 hours on the projector and no problems to report, although with the light harmonizer on the picture likes to fluctuate when the projected image goes from dark to light and vice versa. I will follow this thread for additional input on the 720 before I jump the gun (I still have 2 months left to decide).

I've owned both and put them head to head for some time....

Panasonic PROS
- brighter
- smoother (less screen door effect / pixelation)
- 2 hdmi in's
- has a gaming mode, better response time and better dark details

Alll true, but I found the gaming mode to be largely useless, hype only.
The auto sensing light feature was cool I thought.
except better dark details on the epson for me.


Panasonic Cons
- Warranty (though you get two years by mail in rebate, epson has a 2 yr replacement warranty, where they send you a PJ with a box for you to ship the old one back)
- price $1250 best I found
- some flicker issues reported on the forums (unsure how serious this is)


All true.

EPSON PROS
-better blacks and contrast
-warranty ( see above)
-price (1069 after Mail in rebate)
-free bulb ( after MIR, useful if you are using the projector a lot and also peace of mind)

All true, plus add that it is sharper and slightly quieter in low bulb mode. Plus it's placement options are much larger.

EPSON CONS
-less bright
-screen door effect at closer distances
-I am unsure about gaming performance
-no separate bright / lessbright (economy) mode for lamp

Not much brighter, but it is. Screen door, not an issue at most sitting distances, but could be for you if you sit super close. Gaming is fine for me. It's uglier to me, I liked how the panny looks better.

AFTER all this I cant decide which one to get,
-price and free lamp make the epson very attractive
-no screen door and brightness make the panasonic feel superior (but im worried about the flicker issues)

Overall I feel the epson puts out a better picture in most instances, though I do miss the film like image the panny has. It's cheaper too.
Honestly you really can't lose either way, they are both great for the price.

Anyone considering a panny projector should definitely demo one before buying. The smoothscreen has it's pros and cons. It makes the image more filmlike, but it does make the image softer. I'm sure people will argue that is doesn't and I can find plenty of reviews that says it doesn't. However, MY EYES tell me it does. I'm not saying it's good or bad, it's just different.

dvdvideo , thanks for your input, i really appreciate your comments , just wanted to ask if you had anything to say on Standard Definition performance on both these PJs , which did a better job and how. Thanks

One more comment on smoothscreen....it does make it softer a bit however I a stickler when it comes to too soft. It still manages to present what appears to be a fairly sharp image, wish lots of detail. Not as tack sharp as the epson....but still very nice.

What do you mean by "softer"? Could you explain this in a bit more detail? I am also in the same boat and considering both projectors. Thanks.

thanks anonymouse99 , could you tell me how standard def looks on the 720Standard def using Dish network looks OK - some channels look better than the others, overall very viewable. Standard DVD will look wonderful if you can upscale it using a 1080p player, like I do (PS3).

My Ax-200 is an excellent projector the picture quality is outstanding,plenty of settings to play with so you can have a razor sharp image or whatever you prefer.

Anyone considering a panny projector should definitely demo one before buying. The smoothscreen has it's pros and cons. It makes the image more filmlike, but it does make the image softer. I'm sure people will argue that is doesn't and I can find plenty of reviews that says it doesn't. However, MY EYES tell me it does. I'm not saying it's good or bad, it's just different.

You need glasses.Another fool that thinks the ax200 is soft.Sick of this bashing.My ax200 is as sharp as most 1080p.Really get your eyes checked,BOB:eek:

You need glasses.Another fool that thinks the ax200 is soft.Sick of this bashing.My ax200 is as sharp as most 1080p.Really get your eyes checked,BOB:eek:


That was a little too harsh. On the other hand, I got a new pair of glasses last week (same prescription but minus three years worth of scratches) and my AX-200 image looks even better than before. The focus is crystal clear but the image has a film-like quality. There is absolutely no screen door effect.

IF the AX200 uses the same panels and optics as the AX100, I will say that the image is a bit soft to my eyes.
Of course I am comparing pictures of the same scenes to a PJ I used to own, which was a Sharp DT-500 DLP, using the same camera, settings, screen size, and distance.

Is it blurry soft? No
I see the term " Film Like" used alot, not sure if that is accurate or not, but.....

As far as the bulb issues...
I don't know anything about that, I put over 2000 hrs on my bulb in < 10 months without issue, I just replaced it, and will keep it as a spare.

Having recently seen the AX200 and owning the Epson 720, the 720 is noticably sharper than the AX200. However the AX200 is sharp enough that I don't see how this is an issue.

Exactly, if you own only the AX200 likely you won't find it "soft". It's just not the crazy sharp like the hc720. It's plenty sharp, looks great and still presents lots of detail.

I appreciate all the comments.

Could someone pm me the best deal on the hc720? I have a ae900 and may just have to try a different company this time, although the panasonic was certainly nice. I've got about 2100hrs with no problems.

thanks

The "orange" sponsor has had the HC720 as their "Deal of the Day" a few times over the last few months. When I bought mine they were offering a free Oppo 981 with purchase. I wanted the Oppo, so I basically got the HC720 for $1,070 since the Opp is a $230 player. Then I got the $100/bulb rebate. If you have a need for an Oppo 981 that turns out to be one of the best deals I've run across.

for those who have owned both or tested both, which one did you love more and for what reason, please tell us, it would be nice to know

I've gone through this entire debate for the last month or so. I ended up going with the HC720 simply because I couldn't pass up the price. I paid $1090 and am getting a free replacement lamp. I would have paid $1190 for the A200u and no free bulb.

I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival and I'll let you know what I think. Someone on this thread was also wondering about a Standard Def PQ. I'll let you know what I think on that one as well as I am temporarily using a SD signal until I can get an updated HD DirecTV receiver.

I've struggled with a screen selection as I didn't have a ton of $$ leftover after ordering all my accessories. I went with an Accuscreen, which is a somewhat cheapo screen that gets decent reviews. Hopefully, I'm happy with it all.

EDIT: I got my Epson Powerlite HC 720 and I couldn't be happier. I find that the blacks are deep and the PQ is awesome. I haven't received my pull down screen yet, but the image is still huge and satisfying on a painted wall. I'm also amazed by the lens shift feature on this projector. This gives you the ability to essentially mount or place this projector anywhere you want in your room.

thanks guys .... i went for the epson 720 ...will post my thoughts when i have it

I have not received my 720 yet but can the epson be slightly defocused to match the AX-200 smooth tech with a softer picture?

got it and loving every moment of it ..thanks everyone

I do have panasonic 200 and not too happy with it. I started with benq w500 and thought panasonic 200 would offer better picture, nothing too impresive. You can tell when playing ps3 on both that pan 200 is briter and little sharper and 450 more $. It is going back and I'm torn Mitsubishi hc 1500 or Epson 720.
I'm in complete light control (basemant).

I do have panasonic 200 and not too happy with it. I started with benq w500 and thought panasonic 200 would offer better picture, nothing too impresive. You can tell when playing ps3 on both that pan 200 is briter and little sharper and 450 more $. It is going back and I'm torn Mitsubishi hc 1500 or Epson 720.
I'm in complete light control (basemant).

The BenQ W500 is the most underrated projector of all time. So I'm not surprised.

got my rebate and free bulb , the epson is great

I am considering buying either an Epson 720 or a PT-AX200U and I am seriously concerned about the abundance of issues discussed concerning the 200 versus any other model in it's class. Despite those issues, I am also concerned because I only have 11' to work with. I guess this means that from lens to screen, there would be about 10 feet to throw.

Which projector would be optimal for this situation (considering size of picture and contrast)? Additionally, could someone explain "screendoor effect" to me? Should I be concerned about this possibility if I will be viewing from about 10 feet?:confused:


Also, ProjectorCentral said that "The most remarkable feature of [the PT-AX200U] to me is the outstanding rendition of 1080p film material from HD DVD and Blu-ray. The compression into 720p sacrifices surprisingly little detail. Quite honestly, the image at first glace looks as if it were coming from a 1080p projector. You do notice the lower resolution in white block letters of titles and credits, where edges are just a bit less precise than they are on a native 1080p projector. But for the most part, the video image itself looks very close to 1080p resolution. In addition to the excellent compression, the complete absence of pixel structure contributes to this impression. We can discern subtle differences only because we spend many hours looking at these products with the same test clips. But the typical consumer would have no problem believing the AX200U was a 1080p projector if they didn't know differently."

Does the Epson 720 have the ability to accept and display a 1080p/24 signal?

Thanks!

> Does the Epson 720 have the ability to accept and display a 1080p/24 signal?

It accepts and displays 24p but won't display it at 24 frames per second but convert it to the usual frame rate.

> Does the Epson 720 have the ability to accept and display a 1080p/24 signal?

It accepts and displays 24p but won't display it at 24 frames per second but convert it to the usual frame rate.

I didn't see that listed in the spec's or the manual unless I missed it in there.

I don't read manuals, so I wouldn't know ;) Note that my statement is based on the TW700, the European version of this projector.

Looks like the TW700 does, the 720 does not.

I have owned the Panny AX200 and now own the Epson720.

Having owned both PJ's Im guna have to say I prefure the AX200 over the Epson720,,,, I think that opinion comes from being used to the smoothscreen (not soft at all),,,,, with the Epson I notice the SDE a tiny bit.
I also think the extra brightness of the AX200 gives it a bit of an edge in the way the colors look.

With that being said though Im very happy with my new Epson but mostly for the warrenty coverage and from what I read, great CS.

This might sounds nuts but my plan is to buy another AX200 in the next week or two, use that as my main projector and keep the Epson as a back-up to use if I have to send the AX200 in for any repair's.

A friend of mine got his NEW AX200 a few months ago, put 17 hours on it and the bulb EXPLODED and damaged the inside of the projector, he sent the AX200 back to Panasonic and they wont replace it, they are fixing it,,,,,, so far they have had his BRAND NEW "17 hour old" AX200 for over 6 weeks now,,,,,, needless to say, my friend is not happy.

Cheers
Davyo

Another thing inherent to UHP lamps, they can blow up at anytime.

The place he bought it from wouldn't help out in any way?

That's terrible CS from Panasonic on that deal too! Seems hit/miss.

I'm assuming, he sent it to Heartland?

Another thing inherent to UHP lamps, they can blow up at anytime.

The place he bought it from wouldn't help out in any way?

That's terrible CS from Panasonic on that deal too! Seems hit/miss.

I'm assuming, he sent it to Heartland?

He bought it from Projector People, not sure were he sent it (I will have to ask him), but 6 weeks,,, thats a bit much.
With only 17 hours on the PJ it really sucks Panasonic just didnt replace it.

Cheers
Davyo

IA friend of mine got his NEW AX200 a few months ago, put 17 hours on it and the bulb EXPLODED and damaged the inside of the projector, he sent the AX200 back to Panasonic and they wont replace it, they are fixing it,,,,,, so far they have had his BRAND NEW "17 hour old" AX200 for over 6 weeks now,,,,,, needless to say, my friend is not happy.

6 WEEKS? After one week I would be on the phone every hour until I got someone with authority to move that PJ in 24 hours. I would also let them know that they will be named in a small claims court filing for denying me use of my equipment without due process. I would also call the US corporate office of Panasonic and annoy every exec possible about the extreme delay and unsatisfactory service.

Customer service relies on humans unfortunately and there are defective ones out there.

> Does the Epson 720 have the ability to accept and display a 1080p/24 signal?

It accepts and displays 24p but won't display it at 24 frames per second but convert it to the usual frame rate.

You send the 720 a 1080/24p signal and you get a choppy picture. It ain't the greatest of scalers.

Choppyness isn't a problem of the scaler but an inherent result of frame rate conversion. They'd have to support displaying 24 fames per second natively (or a multiple, like 48 fps) to get rid of it.

You send the 720 a 1080/24p signal and you get a choppy picture. It ain't the greatest of scalers.

That's because it doesn't support 1080P/24. The person who said that it does was talking about the TW700. Unless I've missed something.

every 24p BD ive ever seen has its choppy moments. 24p = trash. Give me interpolation every time.

Does the ax29=00 display 1080p/24 at the proper frame rate? (i.e. a multiple of 24?)

I am desperately looking for HC720 and AX200 users with over 3,000 hours to report the condition of their polarizers/lcds, err do you have yellowing or blue haze starting yet?

I am planning on putting 3000 hours a year onto one and the Epson seems to be winning my mind over. Warranty, longer expected bulb life, cheaper bulb overall.

Thanks AVS, I am a threadjacker!

So I think I have made my decision to go with the epson720, but where can you get one with this mail in rebate/free bulb? all i see is the 2 year warranty.
thanks for the help guys.

Anyone considering a panny projector should definitely demo one before buying.

^ too late, already have one being shipped out to me...coming from a HC5500 - yes...from a 1080p projector but I needed the ax200u for its brightness. A very large screen with a ax200u should look better than the HC5500.

I know screenshots are not very reliable, but from Art's review from projectorreviews.com of both the AX200u and the 720, the Panny is sharper. Check out the Aeon Flux Blu ray pic at the end. The AX200 is definitely sharper.

Anyone care to chip in here? I'm between the Epson and Panasonic and would gladly take that level of sharpness if it looks like Art's screenshots.

I don't have an Epson. the fan noise scared me off. It surprises me that no one has mentioned it yet.
I have an AX200 and the picture is amazing. It is also quiet enough to be unobtrusive in my 10 x11 foot theater.

I am also considering one of theses or a mitsubishi 5500. For a 76 inch screen 15 feet from the seating position, in a light controlled room, watching mostly sd DVDs and some blue ray. What would you recommend?

I know screenshots are not very reliable, but from Art's review from projectorreviews.com of both the AX200u and the 720, the Panny is sharper. Check out the Aeon Flux Blu ray pic at the end. The AX200 is definitely sharper.

Anyone care to chip in here? I'm between the Epson and Panasonic and would gladly take that level of sharpness if it looks like Art's screenshots.

I don't think you can really judge based on screenshots.....

I don't have the Panny (I have the 720) so can't compare them, but I can say that the 720 is very sharp. I sit about 12' from a 95" screen and I don't have any issues with SDE.

I am also considering one of theses or a mitsubishi 5500. For a 76 inch screen 15 feet from the seating position, in a light controlled room, watching mostly sd DVDs and some blue ray. What would you recommend?

At that screen size and seating distance and with a light controlled room the 720 should work very well. My room has windows on 3 sides and I still don't have problems viewing during the day with the shades down.
I do switch to a brighter mode during the day, so I don't do it frequently.

I don't have an Epson. the fan noise scared me off. It surprises me that no one has mentioned it yet.
I have an AX200 and the picture is amazing. It is also quiet enough to be unobtrusive in my 10 x11 foot theater.

In Theater Black mode (what I use for 95% of movie watching) I can't hear anything from my 720, and it sits barely 4' directly above me.

If I switch to Dynamic or Living room, the fan is noticably louder, but I only use those modes for sports or parties and with the ambient noise you can't hear the 720's fan at all.