Peter Putnam has measured a Sanyo Z2000 at 364:1 ANSI CR. A friend at a West Coast post production house just told me that a Panasonic 2000 sample he tested just measured ~400:1 ANSI CR, along with dead accurate colorimetry, ~3,200:1 on/off CR and ~8,000:1 DI CR!

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/3LCD.html

This is looking to be the year of LCD... I can't wait to test out this new Panny! :)

well if the 400:1 ANSI CR holds true in more reviews then that is very very impressive for LCD. heck the RS1 only got 305:1 and the vw60 350:1 ish.

maybe there is some truth in the Pany having better contrast in certain scences over the sony.

look forward to some indeph reviews on the pany now.

That's exactly what I saw too. It just gave more what most people call "pop" on all scenes, which was improved a lot over the Pearl and came much closer to what DLPs have too. Gamma is also fantastic on the PT-AE2000u, coming very close to the CRT perfectly smooth ~2.2 gamma.

Impressive.

Peter Putnam has measured a Sanyo Z2000 at 364:1 ANSI CR. A friend at a West Coast post production house just told me that a Panasonic 2000 sample he tested just measured ~400:1 ANSI CR, along with dead accurate colorimetry, ~3,200:1 on/off CR and ~8,000:1 DI CR!

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/3LCD.html

The D7 panels do appear capable of about 400:1 ANSI. Several reviewers find Z2000 and AE2000 in this range. For some reason Z2000 seems to come up short on on/off - only about 1250 according to cine4home at D65 color compared to much higher quoted for epson and panasonic like 3200:1. Where did Sanyo go wrong?

Just by way of comparison, what would be the ANSI contrast of my AE1000 (D6 panels)? I find that in bright scenes the picture is great, but I get annoyed during dark scenes/with bright patches when the 'black' areas become a big grey patch on the screen.:( I'm considering changing to the AE2000 or possibly a HD1 (as I can get a good deal here in the UK for the JVC).

I have a black 'tent' when watching films that effectively gives the front 6 feet of the room black walls and ceiling and good light control. I think the room is pretty much maxed out as far as is resonable; I can't see my hands in front of my face during a fade to black scene for example.

EDIT: I found out that the Mitsubishi HC5000 (D6 panels) was measured by HDTV Expert at 276:1 ANSI contrast, so the D7 panels would seem to be quite some improvement.

Just by way of comparison, what would be the ANSI contrast of my AE1000 (D6 panels)? I find that in bright scenes the picture is great, but I get annoyed during dark scenes/with bright patches when the 'black' areas become a big grey patch on the screen.:( I'm considering changing to the AE2000 or possibly a HD1 (as I can get a good deal here in the UK for the JVC).

I have a black 'tent' when watching films that effectively gives the front 6 feet of the room black walls and ceiling and good light control. I think the room is pretty much maxed out as far as is resonable; I can't see my hands in front of my face during a fade to black scene for example.

EDIT: I found out that the Mitsubishi HC5000 (D6 panels) was measured by HDTV Expert at 276:1 ANSI contrast, so the D7 panels would seem to be quite some improvement.


But the very same D6 panels measured at 313.1 ANSI contrast on the Mits HC6000 by HDTV. It appears Mitsubishi did something to the
light engine to boost the ANSI contrast.

But the very same D6 panels measured at 313.1 ANSI contrast on the Mits HC6000 by HDTV. It appears Mitsubishi did something to the
light engine to boost the ANSI contrast.

Regardless, we are still looking at around a 25% to 40% (off the top of my head) improvement for the D7 panels... that's substantial. :)

While that is an impressive achievement, DLPs routinely get ANSIs in the 600s.

While that is an impressive achievement, DLPs routinely get ANSIs in the 600s.

If that is so, then is that what I should be looking for to improve the dark scenes in films like Training Day? Is ANSI contrast more important for dark scenes to stop them from washing out in grey like my AE1000 currently does?

No.

No
Predominantly dark scenes are not decided mainly by ANSI. In the very dark scenes a good native on/off contrast is very important.

and some DLPs in the 480s>600s as well, there not all high ANSI monsters.
if you have a bat cave perhaps you may even be able to see the high ANSI on offer.

comniation of high ANSI CR and High on/Off is what we really want. one without the other is a weakness. so DLP still needs to up there ON/OFF.

It still will not touch a 2 thousand dollar Marantz VP-12S4 for ANSI Contrast.

It has double of what the AE2000 has!! that's right DOUBLE :eek:

Using an 8x8 checkerboard we measured ANSI contrast at an astounding 800:1. This is the highest ANSI contrast we've ever measured from a DLP projector (or any other type of projector for that matter). This contributed directly to the depth and dimensionality of the image. DLP is by far the best front projection technology in this regard and the S4 represents the pinnacle of what we've seen for ANSI contrast.

This is looking to be the year of LCD... I can't wait to test out this new Panny! :)

In the very dark scenes a good native on/off contrast is very important.
So it's the native bit that I need to consider as my DI contrast is claimed as 11,000:1 (not that I belive this figure:rolleyes:). Cine4home measured the native contrast of the AE1000 at 1930:1 in the Colour1 mode at min zoom (close to my setup), so I'd need maybe 4,000:1 native to see a noticeable improvement I'd guess? Is the AE2000 likely to be that much better?
if you have a bat cave perhaps you may even be able to see the high ANSI on offer. Unfortunately I don't have a bat cave, merely dark throws, dark floor rug, dark screen wall and a three sided black tent that covers the first 6 feet out away from the screen. But when I turn off the PJ I need to hit a button on my backlit remote to see my way to the light switch....hopefully that all means that if I can deceide on a 'better' PJ then I will be able to see the benefit in my room.

well considering people on here have said the led lights from there equipment has lowered there contrast, it seems you need ultra black out for the very best.

but it sounds to me your room will give a good DLP room to breath

While that is an impressive achievement, DLPs routinely get ANSIs in the 600s.Some do, some don't. OTOH, how may 1080p DLP PJs are doing so at a $2700 price point and also achieving close to 4,000:1 native and 18,000:1 measured on/off CR? As you know, it takes both types of CR for a good allaround picture. That's the point, LCD is making big strides in both at the lowest prices on the market. LCD might not rule the specs world, but they have certainly come a long way!

If that is so, then is that what I should be looking for to improve the dark scenes in films like Training Day? Is ANSI contrast more important for dark scenes to stop them from washing out in grey like my AE1000 currently does?
No, on/off CR plays a much bigger roll in dark scene performance than ANSI. This is why many feel DLP looks better on bright material (good ANSI) and PJs such as the LCOS displays with good on/off tend to be superior in darker material. I looks like the D7 panel 3LCD PJs from Epson and Panasonic might be the contenders this year for the better balanced CR performance, but we'll have to wait and see if that proves to be true.

No
Predominantly dark scenes are not decided mainly by ANSI. In the very dark scenes a good native on/off contrast is very important.
I don't know that I'd go as far as to say it's the native CR since well implemented DI machine have largely been quite successful. All things being equal, I'd rather have a PJ with a high on/off w/o having to use a DI, but a DI executed properly is a close contender.

Some do, some don't. OTOH, how may 1080p DLP PJs are doing so at a $2700 price point and also achieving close to 4,000:1 native and 18,000:1 measured on/off CR? As you know, it takes both types of CR for a good allaround picture. That's the point, LCD is making big strides in both at the lowest prices on the market. LCD might not rule the specs world, but they have certainly come a long way!


18,000:1 measured? Where? First post says 8,000:1 w/ DI.

Thats what cine4home got

http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecine4home%2ede%2findex2%2ehtm

Here is the projector is extremely bright at the same time good black level, the factory indication of 16000:1 is exceeded, 18000:1 reached Pre-Productionsample... Also impressive is the contrast in native closed Aperture: With up to 3700:1 (depending on the zoom) exceeds the PT-AE2000 his predecessor once again, it has not promised too much. Not at D65. . Once we have a serial device, we will further review tuning opportunities, we believe contrast values of over 4000:1 native and 20000:1 with adaptive aperture for realistic

The Cine4Home d65 calibrated/color accurate measurements were 2,500:1 iris off and 6,800:1 auto if I read the translation correctly

The Cine4Home d65 calibrated/color accurate measurements were 2,500:1 iris off and 6,800:1 auto if I read the translation correctly

Good catch, I missed that for some reason when I read the preview. :o