Haven't kept up with the under 3k forum for a while but are there any under 3k 1080p projectors available or officially (not speculated) announced?

TIA

Epson Home Cinema 1080 $2999

Check out the review at projectorreviews.

New to the forum but, I see that Panasonic is offering a $1000 rebate on the PT-AE1000U. That puts it under 3K after rebate. I really wish I had 3K. I have a $500 Evo that I am really enjoying but afraid to move to HD because it will render the EDTVs I have unwatchable.

1080p for 3K is a great deal. In the mean time, I will continue to lurk and save my cash for the upgrade!!!

I hate rebates..., soon Panasonic will be forced to simply lower there price to compete with the Epson.

Panasonic loves rebates. Although they might reduce the price, I bet there will still be a rebate.

Epson Home Cinema 1080 $2999

And you can get it right now from an authorized Epson dealer with a free 4 year extended (6 years total) warranty on the PJ and 2 years on the lamp but you must hurry and I mean hurry.

And you can get it right now from an authorized Epson dealer with a free 4 year extended (6 years total) warranty on the PJ and 2 years on the lamp but you must hurry and I mean hurry. :mad:AND I can't hurry! :(

And you can get it right now from an authorized Epson dealer with a free 4 year extended (6 years total) warranty on the PJ and 2 years on the lamp but you must hurry and I mean hurry.

I'm really tempted to buy a Pannie from the un-nameable warehouse store and use a printed coupon for the $1K rebate.

But I'm going to wait. I smell a price war.

Any comparisons of these two units that anyone can provide online or in the forum?

Any one interested in 1080p be aware that Sony replacement for Pearl is not going to be that expensive. I would think street might well be right around $3k and that is LCos with no sde.

Any comparisons of these two units that anyone can provide online or in the forum?

I would read the reviews on www.projectorreviews.com

Someone nudge me when the 1080p under $1k thread shows up :)

*turns on HD1000u and ignores the fact that less than half the HD-DVD pixels are being displayed*

Someone nudge me when the 1080p under $1k thread shows up :)

*turns on HD1000u and ignores the fact that less than half the HD-DVD pixels are being displayed*

And at normal viewing distance even if they were displayed you would be pressed to tell the difference.

I sit 10.5' from a 96" diagonal 16:9 screen (1.3x) and I'm happy that I was able to move up. I'm hoping with 1080p I'll be able to either move up or go for a larger screen. I do concur, though, that 720p is a very sweet spot right now!

I can tell a huge difference just watching 720 vs. 1080 on 60" rear projection sets, let alone on my 134" projection screen.

A huge difference? Really? What is your source? HD-DVD or Blu-ray? Otherwise I can't believe the difference would be that dramatic.

And you just moved to the Epson right? What were you using before?

Just so I'm clear. You have observed "substantial" improvement with 1080P compared to 720P fed from the same sources?

Any one interested in 1080p be aware that Sony replacement for Pearl is not going to be that expensive. I would think street might well be right around $3k and that is LCos with no sde.

Is there any site that list a time frame for this beast? I just went with the Epson, and I'd probably still pass on a new LCos if the brightness is still well below the Epson.

"Adzees Light, I need Light Adzees"! (my best recollection of the scene)

Older projector was Sanyo Z2. And yes, I percieve a substantial difference between 720 and 1080 being fed the same 1080p native source. For one, the complete removal of SDE. Second, more 3d like image, more visual pop. More ability to resolve finer details. YMMV.

Why do I get the sense that this offends you in some way? :rolleyes:

Thanks for sharing your information. Did you happen to look at the Pearl?

I am trying to decide which 1080p would be best for me. I have a Mits HD1000u right now and have total light control in my theater room.

I was looking at the Pearl and HC5000 until the Epson came along. The epson is price right and with the extra warranty and mount free it's a hard deal to beat.

I know I would see a "huge" improvement. I don't sit at "normal" viewing distances, I sit at "my" preferred viewing distance, which is approx. 1 screen width away from my 100" screen. So I can still see some screen door with my HC3100. But from what I've seen at some home theater demos, that screen door would completely disappear unless I decided to sit closer than .5 screen widths.

I know I'd see quality improvement also. I'd try to explain it, but I tried that twice before in another thread. And even though I spelled out an explanation of my example images in excruciating detail, nobody understood me. Or more likely, didn't take the time to read the extremely extensive posts.

So tonight I sat 12 feet from my 8 foot screen (7' wide, 8 diagonal) and wished my screen was bigger. Yes, I could have just slid my arm chair closer (easy to do on my (acoustic nightmare) tile floors), but there's something about size that's hard to quantify. For me it's almost like how nobody wants to sit the optimal 3' from a 37" 1080P LCD TV and thus 99% of people don't take advantage of its full potential. I'm sure some of you would argue about how great your vision is from 5' on your tv - don't bother. I'm just saying the simple logic here that 'viewing ratio is everything' while somewhat consistent with my experience, isn't quite a fool-proof statement to me.

It would be very trying for me to get a larger screen than I already have (I live in India) but long-term, that's what I want. 1080p and 120"... for that 'Aziz' will need to produce a lot of light :)

Okay, after some more thorough comparisons between my new Epson 1080 and my old Sanyo Z2, I think there is a "marked" difference in picture quality. Is that fair?

-Colors, contrast is better on the Epson (right out of the box)
-The Z2 has too much of a "greenish" hue. I'll need to explore my settings further.
-Image on the Epson is definitely sharper, smoother, and devoid of SDE.
-The Epson is more filmlike.

-My Z2 still does show off a great HD image, even at 1,375 lamp hours.

Here are some A-B comparisons between the two projectors. I tried to get close to the same frame on each. You make the call.

Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/466854225_dbd2c36e2c.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/466774287_37e6569a4b.jpg
Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/466833260_5c97ad0f42.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/466780341_3a4725a5e6.jpg
Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/230/466853308_f4b35eb383.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/466772359_2f985849ce.jpg

I guess my big question, Kej2u, is whether there's an appreciable detail increase or just a more accurate, film-like, sde-less image? We all expect a brand new $3k machine to outperform a 2-3 year old unit from roughly the same price bracket, but the question at hand is the ability to appreciate finer detail with more than 2x the pixels, or is it just smoothness and lack of sde?

I think most of us have convinced ourselves we need 1080p projectors, but it'd be nice to hear from someone who just upgraded if the benefits are as tangible in terms of detail, sharpness, as we're hoping for.

I guess my big question, Kej2u, is whether there's an appreciable detail increase or just a more accurate, film-like, sde-less image? We all expect a brand new $3k machine to outperform a 2-3 year old unit from roughly the same price bracket, but the question at hand is the ability to appreciate finer detail with more than 2x the pixels, or is it just smoothness and lack of sde?

I believe there is an appreciable increase in detail. However, the question really becomes, how much $$$ is that appreciation worth? I find the Epson to have superior colors, clarity, smoothness. An overall better picture. Still, my Z2 is nothing to sneeze at. It makes me pause to think whether the difference between the two warrants a $3k price tag. I am leaning towards no. Perhaps if we were talking about the RS1, I might say yes, but that is too expensive for me to consider.

Here's some more A-B shots to consider:

Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/466840846_8c6040dcc8.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/466776389_e987a9eb91.jpg
Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/466854733_8b7435a95b.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/466773061_d657b29bee.jpg
Z2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/466869063_22c58c0320.jpg
EPSON
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/466769561_7c35bd6d68.jpg

At a viewing distance of 1.1 times screen width, getting rid of SDE is worth the $3000 price tag alone for me. Just trying to decide which projector to go with...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/230/466853308_f4b35eb383.jpg
The above Z2 image is suppose to have a white background, correct? Unless the screen shot is misleading, that blue tint would bug the hell out of me.

Are you kidding the Z2 looks like a Zenith console TV from 1975 compared to the Epson 1080. And the picture tube is going out, mom call the TV repairman.

Seems to me like the z2 is really poorly calibrated.

Seems to me like the z2 is really poorly calibrated.

To say the least!!!! It looks like someone went out of their way to make it completely inaccurate!!! lol.

Agreed the Z2 has to be way out of calibration, purposely or not. Why don't you tell us the setting on that z2, I bet you could get a few suggestions for improvement :)

I guess my big question, Kej2u, is whether there's an appreciable detail increase or just a more accurate, film-like, sde-less image? We all expect a brand new $3k machine to outperform a 2-3 year old unit from roughly the same price bracket, but the question at hand is the ability to appreciate finer detail with more than 2x the pixels, or is it just smoothness and lack of sde?

I think most of us have convinced ourselves we need 1080p projectors, but it'd be nice to hear from someone who just upgraded if the benefits are as tangible in terms of detail, sharpness, as we're hoping for.
I also just got an Epson Home Cinema 1080 after having a Toshiba 720p DLP for two years, and the difference in detail, edge smoothness yet sharpness (is that a contradiction?), and lack of stair-stepping is very clear. Yes, that pun was totally intentional, but the comment is entirely appropriate. This Epson is just awesome!

The sharpness projected with the Z2 still looks very good IMO. With some help from some of the forum members or tweak threads on color settings, [tint for sure] I would definitely keep the Z2 another year or so or until the lamp goes out. At that time the 1080p projectors will be selling for under $2000 IMO.

If possible get the color or tint corrected on the Z2, save your money and take a nice little vacation !

Regards :)

:eek: I need only to think of the Sony Qualia at 30 to 40k only a few years ago that can be had at 1/4 of the price today. :D