Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Unveiled

Mike Davison · 11-03-09, 09:22 AM

Someone should change the batteries in his calculator. If PP can sell the PT-AE 3000 for $1799 why should BH charge $600 more for this discontinued model. Talk about squeezing the last drop of juice out of it.

blackbelt · 11-03-09, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Whitefield

FYI, Projector People has the AE3000 back in stock for $1799. Although I can't imagine why someone would choose it over the 4000 just to save $200...

Also since it was just $1699.00 just a while back I think.Why would they buy it over the 4000 unit for just a few hundred more?

Daniel Hutnicki · 11-03-09, 12:19 PM

In case anyone is interested, Panasonic will be showing me the AE-4000 at their facilities in Los Angeles. You are welcome to come see it with me this Thursday at 4pm. Give me a call if interested

Brajesh · 11-03-09, 07:07 PM

Just got my AE4000 from PP & put it through the paces for an hour... In a word, simply gorgeous! I upgraded from an AE3000, mainly for the auto 16:9/2.35:1 feature & other enhancements (new red rich lamp, improved CR, etc.). First things I checked were dead/stuck pixels & convergence. No issues; perfect. I had tried 3 AE3000U units before finding one that was good, but all 3 had some convergence issues. The convergence on the AE4000 unit I got is perfect. The focus on all 4 corners is also perfect. Very happy. PQ looks almost on par with the AE3000, but maybe it's a placebo effect, but on some content, especially darker movies on Blu-ray, the PQ looks better. More vibrant, more punchy, more 3D-ish. I'm using the 'eco' blub mode with 'normal' right now. I'm using a 120" 2.37:1 Da-lite HP screen with Blu-ray content from a PS3.

MIAB · 11-03-09, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deja Vu

If you guys are interested in a shootout in Ottawa let me know. I have an Epson 7500 I could bring to compare with the Panny. I live near Kingston and would drive up to the Ottawa area - I'm pretty much available anytime.

That could be interesting. I also have a friend with a JVC RS2 that might be interested.

cpc · 11-03-09, 09:47 PM

Does anybody know just what the difference is with the Panasonic AE4000 and it's 'partially-sealed' light path vs the previous AE3000?

How were the AE3000 for dust blobs, colour uniformity and sharpness/convergence? It's hard to consider the AE4000 without seriously considering the Sony HW15 with it's sealed light path, adjustable 'convergence' and from the track record of the HW10 and VW70, a mostly good colour uniformity and not too bad light corners issue.

My next projector is going to be either a Sony HW15, Panasonic AE4000 or I may go CRT for 6 months to a year.....

nuttall_chris · 11-04-09, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAB

That could be interesting. I also have a friend with a JVC RS2 that might be interested.

I'm also in Ottawa, I've got an RS2 fed by a Lumagen Radiance.

Chris.

nightfly85 · 11-04-09, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpc

Does anybody know just what the difference is with the Panasonic AE4000 and it's 'partially-sealed' light path vs the previous AE3000?

How were the AE3000 for dust blobs, colour uniformity and sharpness/convergence? It's hard to consider the AE4000 without seriously considering the Sony HW15 with it's sealed light path, adjustable 'convergence' and from the track record of the HW10 and VW70, a mostly good colour uniformity and not too bad light corners issue.

My next projector is going to be either a Sony HW15, Panasonic AE4000 or I may go CRT for 6 months to a year.....

I am in almost exactly in the same boat except for the CRT thing as I currently run an epson 800. I would pay $500 more for the sony if it had some of the features of the pana...ah sucks, maybe should wait a year. I just have your same fears regarding LCD tech as I've had all those issues with my Epson (convergence & blobs).

I just thought I'd sworn off LCD after swearing off DLP (due to RBE on the X1) and now here I am considering the tech again.

cpc · 11-04-09, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfly85

I am in almost exactly in the same boat except for the CRT thing as I currently run an epson 800. I would pay $500 more for the sony if it had some of the features of the pana...ah sucks, maybe should wait a year. I just have your same fears regarding LCD tech as I've had all those issues with my Epson (convergence & blobs).

I just thought I'd sworn off LCD after swearing off DLP (due to RBE on the X1) and now here I am considering the tech again.

It's the "partially-sealed" light path thing that has me curious. Otherwise, the fully sealed light path of the HW15 and the adjustable convergence is just so comforting

cdnscg · 11-05-09, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfly85

I just thought I'd sworn off LCD after swearing off DLP (due to RBE on the X1) and now here I am considering the tech again.

Is there any issue with motion blur with LCD projectors?

Daniel Hutnicki · 11-05-09, 01:58 PM

Well I will be seeing the AE-4000, if you have any questions for the Pansonic engineers, let me know

Bob Whitefield · 11-05-09, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Well I will be seeing the AE-4000, if you have any questions for the Pansonic engineers, let me know

Not a question, but a comment and request:

First, thank you to the Panasonic engineers! Another excellent projector, at an amazing price point.

Second, please give us a way to disable the flashing PROCESSING message on Lens Memory Auto Switching. This is the only flaw in an otherwise nearly perfect machine. Eliminating the message for Lens Memory Load is also desirable, so I can do it subtly during the start of the movie.

A global feature to disable any processing messages would suffice. I don't know if a firmware update is even possible for the AE4000 (I would even return it to have the message disabled), but at least consider this for the AE5000.

Thanks Daniel.

Tup · 11-05-09, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Well I will be seeing the AE-4000, if you have any questions for the Pansonic engineers, let me know

Ask about the new partially sealed light path. How much more dust resistant will it be?

CT_Wiebe · 11-05-09, 03:16 PM

cdnscg -- There is, but the Panasonic CFI (Creative Frame Interpolation) can be used to reduce the effect considerably (depending on your sensitivities). The newer LCD PJs seem to have less motion blur than the older models (and it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer - it depends on the design of the electronics).

NOTE: Some motion blur is caused by poor camera techniques (or circumstances beyond the control of the camera operator), and cannot be eliminated.

Art's reviews (www.projectorreviews.com) include a special section which discusses this problem (for each PJ that he reviews). His review of the AE4000 should be released in about a week, or so.

cpc · 11-05-09, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tup

Ask about the new partially sealed light path. How much more dust resistant will it be?

Ditto. I'm curious about this too.

cdnscg · 11-05-09, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT_Wiebe

cdnscg -- There is, but the Panasonic CFI (Creative Frame Interpolation) can be used to reduce the effect considerably (depending on your sensitivities). The newer LCD PJs seem to have less motion blur than the older models (and it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer - it depends on the design of the electronics).

NOTE: Some motion blur is caused by poor camera techniques (or circumstances beyond the control of the camera operator), and cannot be eliminated.

Art's reviews (www.projectorreviews.com) include a special section which discusses this problem (for each PJ that he reviews). His review of the AE4000 should be released in about a week, or so.

Thanks CT. I have a Sony rear projection sxrd 70", and the motion blur is noticeable, but not terrible. However, if the same blur exist from the AE4000 or Epson 8500ub, it may be unbearable on a 120" screen I plan to install. Do you think new technology like CFI is comparable to the 120hz or 240hz auto motion plus being used by Samsung in their new LED tv's.

Bujee1 · 11-06-09, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Well I will be seeing the AE-4000, if you have any questions for the Pansonic engineers, let me know

How did they calibrate it?
What kind of room was it in?
How far was it from the screen?
What kind of screen?

cpc · 11-07-09, 09:35 AM

Should the two AE4000 threads be merged or .... ?

CT_Wiebe · 11-07-09, 03:19 PM

cdnscg -- Yes it is. The AE4000 will be comparable to the 120Hz version - since that's what it operates at when using the CFI operation. The larger the screen the more disturbing the motion blur will be - especially if you are sensitive to it.

The problem is that if the CFI is used at it's maximum levels, it can introduce other artifacts that can be worse than the motion blur you are trying to eliminate. Also, using the CFI takes added processing time, which can result in lip-sync problems. This won't be a problem if your AVR has the ability to introduce audio delay.

The CFI implementation used in the AE4000 is supposed to be better than the same function used by other manufacturers. It is also improved over the same function in last years AE3000. I'm waiting until Art comes out with his review (www.projectorreviews.com) in about a week, or so.

magicj1 · 11-07-09, 04:32 PM

Trying to get my hands on a jvc hd350 (UK), but can't find any one close to the £2,400 mark. Any ideas??

Deja Vu · 11-07-09, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT_Wiebe

cdnscg The CFI implementation used in the AE4000 is supposed to be better than the same function used by other manufacturers. It is also improved over the same function in last years AE3000. I'm waiting until Art comes out with his review (www.projectorreviews.com) in about a week, or so.

Where did you get this from? Cine4Home claims the Epson 8500's CFI is at least as good as the AE4000's and in ProjectorCentral's shootout between the 8500 and 4000 the 8500 supposedly had the smoother application, albeit with a slightly more "video" look - so I guess it depends on whether you like the "video look" or hate it. I actually prefer it for animation and filmed live music concerts so it is a plus for me. From what I've read both the AE4000 and 8500 have a "better" CFI implementation than JVC and Sony projectors, but the jury is still out until we get some more feedback.

tbase1 · 11-07-09, 06:56 PM

What's the burn in time on this projector...I can hardly think they're a smash in the first hour out of the box? I know screen shots sometimes don't tell the true story, but can anyone that has one of these do a out of the box/factory screen shot?

dogone · 11-07-09, 10:07 PM