To all of those "gurus" in the forum, thank you. I've been reading (and reading and reading...) about the benefits between the various projectors. Now, it's time for me to make my decision and get moving on my HT project.

I have narrowed the choices down to the HD1000u and the PT-AX100. I really like the price point on the Mitsubishi, but I have an 87" ceiling to deal with. I'd like to have either a 92" screen or a 106" screen, but with the ceiling what it is, that would mean an image 22" or 15" off the floor respectively. (Still haven't decided on the screen manufacturer either, but it seems the consensus is to go grey for the contrast boost).

My main question at this point is: What amount of keystoning is acceptable? What really happens if I need to keystone the image? It is the answer of this question that will push me toward the Panny with it's lens shift.

Also, with the Panny, I cannot find a calculator to give me the same info as the Mitsubishi calculator, so any assistance there would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Traveler

If you search/read the HD1000 owners thread you will find quite a bit of discussion on how it does with keystoning. I had mine for about 3 weeks before I was able to ceiling mount it and had it on a shelf in the back of the room. So I had to use the adjustable feet to bring the image down off the ceiling and with 6 clicks of keystoning (-6) I noticed no degradation of picture quality.

I'm not a videophile either so to each his own but there are plenty of people using the HD1000 with what might be considered significant keystoning and still loving the image they get. Keystoning will have a more noticeable effect if you connect a PC but for video sources it would not have bothered me at all.

By the way, I owned the Panasonic AX100 for several months too and prefer the Mits for its sharper picture and best of all --- it' PRICE!

Just based off the research that I have done and no actual viewing...I think the panny is going to be able to provide a very nice and bright picture on the 92-106" screen. I am considering the panny because the smooth screen feature that actually reduces the sharpness, but I am going to project onto 135" and I don't want to see any screen door effect, I need the brightness for the size. Some have said the extra brightness leads to problems because of the heat, but it won't be my daily viewer so my hours logged will be low.

My impression from what I have read is that the mits will provide the brightness as well as the sharpness but may produce a rainbow effect (which may or may not be annoying but I have never seen it)

If you are watching during the day or in a bright room I would say go panny. If you are watching many hours upon hours of tv I say go mits.

I don't know if you want to get into it but did you look at the epson 400 and the sanyo z5? Personally I may have time to wait for the price on the epson 810 to come down in price or a home version to be released (current 810 is a pro version)

Thanks for the (only) two responses. I think the Mitsubishi will have some keystoning, anyone in a similar boat with an 87" ceiling that can tell me how much and how it affects your picture?

I will go the Panny if I cannot figure this out.

Any thoughts on screens?

Thanks again.

Traveler!