My Review of the Panasonic AE-3000

[Daniel Hutnicki]

Once again, I was invited to see Panasonic's newest projector at their facility right next to Universal Studio in Hollywood although to be honest its really closer to North Hollywood than Hollywood.

As for specs, the projector is rated slightly higher going from 1500 lumens in the AE-2000 to 1600 in the AE-3000. I have always been impressed on the brightness of the Panasonic projectors and this one continues with a nice bright picture. The big increase comes in the the contrast department. The projector goes from 16,000 in the AE-2000 to 60,000 in this new projector.

Most if not all of the features that came with the AE-2000 are still found in the AE-3000. The box itself is almost identical except that the ring around the lens is now silver.

The biggest new feature is the lens memory control. You now have the ability with a touch of a button, to make the lens fill up a 2.35 screen with a 2.35 movie and then with the same button move the lens so that it will display a 16x9 size image in the 2.35 screen. You also have the ability to program other aspect ratio. Now, this is what we call the poor mans 2.35 system. There is no anamorphic lens, no scaling involved and no full use of the 16x9 chip. This is the cheaper way to do 2.35 and while there are many good reason to go the lens route, going this way will still produce a bright and beautiful picture. The only limitation results from the use of the lens shift. I think the Panasonic can lens shift up to 100% of the screen, however if you intend to use the memory lens control, you are limited to 50% lens shift. Even with that limitation, it should work with most people's setup

Another feature is the frame rate control (I think i have the name wrong). You have the ability to turn on or off the 120hz feature. Unlike Smoothscreen, you have the ability to turn this on and off. Makes a big difference in the picture. They showed a picture of a map going from left to right and the image with the feature on was a lot clearer adn sharper. Works great with high motion sequences. They give you the ability to turn it off as with static images you may want the feature off

I asked about the dust blob issues and they are very well aware of the issue. They have added additional filters inside the machine to take care of this. They feel that these additional measure should take care of any dust issues.

As for the picture, I was very impressed with it. I own a Williams Phelps calibrated RS-1 and I think it has a very good picture. The AE-3000 blacks were superior to what I have. The image is very sharp. Panasonic has been criticized for having the Smooth Screen feature which gets rid of screen door. While I agree that it prevented the image from being ultra sharp in the AE-1000 and prior machines, the AE-2000 and AE-3000 both have sharp looking image. Panasonic has been able to remove any the side effects from the Smooth Screen with their processor.

I spent about three hours there talking and watching movies and you kind of forget things so you if you have any questions please ask. The one thing i did forget to ask is that game mode people are talking about. I am sorry about that. However, I should be getting a demo model to take home soon, so when i get it I would have a better opportunity to test the projector

I was very impressed with the projector and would more than happy to include it in my home theater

[RobZ]

Sounds like a big leap in CR. I had an AE2000 and it's black level did not compare to the RS1 on a fade to black.

[conan48]

Do you know if the benefit of the 120hz still help reduce motion blur even when it's set to off? I hate the "soap opera" look for movies, but it works wonders for stuff like Planet Earth and animation.

[conan48]

wow. GOOD news in the LCD front. 446:1 ANSI contrast!

http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...news071808.htm

[peteer01]

Some questions, most of which will probably need to wait until you get your hands on a demo model:

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

I asked about the dust blob issues and they are very well aware of the issue. They have added additional filters inside the machine to take care of this. They feel that these additional measure should take care of any dust issues.

Is the user replaceable filter identical to the AE2000?

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

I think the Panasonic can lens shift up to 100% of the screen, however if you intend to use the memory lens control, you are limited to 50% lens shift. Even with that limitation, it should work with most people's setup

If you aren't too busy, I'd be happy to hear how different levels/mixes of lens shift affect memory lens control, and if you can test this out with the demo, that'd be very helpful. Also, if we're throwing our 16x9 image as close as possible, how much brightness (in fl) will we lose with 2.35:1? Is it possible to automatically use eco in 16x9 but have it jump to normal bulb mode in 2.35:1?

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Another feature is the frame rate control (I think i have the name wrong). You have the ability to turn on or off the 120hz feature. Unlike Smoothscreen, you have the ability to turn this on and off. Makes a big difference in the picture. They showed a picture of a map going from left to right and the image with the feature on was a lot clearer adn sharper. Works great with high motion sequences. They give you the ability to turn it off as with static images you may want the feature off

The frame creation is what you mean, right? Even with frame creation off, the projector still uses 120 Hz for 60 fps and 96 Hz for 24 fps material, right? Or does the refresh rate actually change depending on whether you have frame creation on? (I would imagine that a higher refresh rate would possibly be helpful for lower image lag and less blurring, even with frame creation turned off)

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Another feature is the frame rate control (I think i have the name wrong). You have the ability to turn on or off the 120hz feature. Unlike Smoothscreen, you have the ability to turn this on and off. Makes a big difference in the picture. They showed a picture of a map going from left to right and the image with the feature on was a lot clearer adn sharper. Works great with high motion sequences. They give you the ability to turn it off as with static images you may want the feature off
...
I asked about the dust blob issues and they are very well aware of the issue. They have added additional filters inside the machine to take care of this. They feel that these additional measure should take care of any dust issues.
...
The one thing i did forget to ask is that game mode people are talking about. I am sorry about that. However, I should be getting a demo model to take home soon, so when i get it I would have a better opportunity to test the projector

Is the user cleanable/replaceable filter identical to the AE2000?

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

The one thing i did forget to ask is that game mode people are talking about. I am sorry about that. However, I should be getting a demo model to take home soon, so when i get it I would have a better opportunity to test the projector

If you can test out the image lag with/without "game mode", especially against other recent projectors you might be able to get your hands on, that would be extremely helpful. With "game mode", I'm much more interested in image lag and image quality.

Thanks again for the review, and sorry for the large number of questions.

[erkq]

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

I own a Williams Phelps calibrated RS-1

Thanks for the review!

So... what can Mr. Phelps do with an RS-1? I'd be very interested. I thought his main "thing" was working with the LUT, which the RS1 doesn't have.

[ResOGlas]

Originally Posted by peteer01

The frame creation is what you mean, right? Even with frame creation off, the projector still uses 120 Hz for 60 fps and 96 Hz for 24 fps material, right? Or does the refresh rate actually change depending on whether you have frame creation on? (I would imagine that a higher refresh rate would possibly be helpful for lower image lag and less blurring, even with frame creation turned off)

120Hz panels always refresh at 120Hz, whether the frame interpolation is enabled or disabled. I believe this PJ is using Epson's panel, so the AE3000 and Epson 6500 should have a similar look, aside from the differences in effects of the Dynamic Iris from each company.

My main area of interest is if the "low" frame interpolation mode looks good on 24fps material without making it look fast forward (or high, for that matter).

[Flausch]

Originally Posted by ResOGlas

120Hz panels always refresh at 120Hz, whether the frame interpolation is enabled or disabled.

I don't think so, because the panels can show PAL-sources (50 Hz / 25fps) without juddering. So they must also run on 100 Hz or another multiple of 50.

[ResOGlas]

Originally Posted by Flausch

I don't think so, because the panels can show PAL-sources (50 Hz / 25fps) without juddering. So they must also run on 100 Hz or another multiple of 50.

I don't know, pretty much EVERY modern display, especially 120Hz models, can display PAL and NTSC signals and no one has brought this up yet.


Mr Flausch, you're a world shaker.

[Flausch]

Originally Posted by ResOGlas

Mr Flausch, you're a world shaker.

No, I am just a mathgenius, living in PAL-land...

[jamis]

Did they give a hint as to the release date?

[aquafire]

This unit looks sweet! Any idea on street price?

[conradjohnsonfan]

If the blacks are better than your RS1, and as it is specified a brighter projector than the RS1, then the dynamic contrast system is providing significantly higher contrast than anything currently on the market, certainly higher than the approx. 10,000:1 measurement that Cine4Home reported.

I am curious to see more user reports and professional reviews. LCD seems to have caught up to the competition most impressively. One report has measured the ANSI on this unit at over 400:1. That is getting closer to typical DLP performance.


EDIT--

After re-reading the cine4home preview, although they measured at D65 between 10,000-13,000:1 dynamic contrast, the maximum native contrast of the panel was around 6,000:1, with a dynamic contrast that exceeded 60,000:1 !!! Which led them to conclude that there is room for tweaking and improvement, so it is entirely possible that the unit can deliver much higher readings while still maintaining a good calibration. Impressive.

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

Once again, I was invited to see Panasonic's newest projector at their facility right next to Universal Studio in Hollywood although to be honest its really closer to North Hollywood than Hollywood.

As for specs, the projector is rated slightly higher going from 1500 lumens in the AE-2000 to 1600 in the AE-3000. I have always been impressed on the brightness of the Panasonic projectors and this one continues with a nice bright picture. The big increase comes in the the contrast department. The projector goes from 16,000 in the AE-2000 to 60,000 in this new projector.

Most if not all of the features that came with the AE-2000 are still found in the AE-3000. The box itself is almost identical except that the ring around the lens is now silver.

The biggest new feature is the lens memory control. You now have the ability with a touch of a button, to make the lens fill up a 2.35 screen with a 2.35 movie and then with the same button move the lens so that it will display a 16x9 size image in the 2.35 screen. You also have the ability to program other aspect ratio. Now, this is what we call the poor mans 2.35 system. There is no anamorphic lens, no scaling involved and no full use of the 16x9 chip. This is the cheaper way to do 2.35 and while there are many good reason to go the lens route, going this way will still produce a bright and beautiful picture. The only limitation results from the use of the lens shift. I think the Panasonic can lens shift up to 100% of the screen, however if you intend to use the memory lens control, you are limited to 50% lens shift. Even with that limitation, it should work with most people's setup

Another feature is the frame rate control (I think i have the name wrong). You have the ability to turn on or off the 120hz feature. Unlike Smoothscreen, you have the ability to turn this on and off. Makes a big difference in the picture. They showed a picture of a map going from left to right and the image with the feature on was a lot clearer adn sharper. Works great with high motion sequences. They give you the ability to turn it off as with static images you may want the feature off

I asked about the dust blob issues and they are very well aware of the issue. They have added additional filters inside the machine to take care of this. They feel that these additional measure should take care of any dust issues.

As for the picture, I was very impressed with it. I own a Williams Phelps calibrated RS-1 and I think it has a very good picture. The AE-3000 blacks were superior to what I have. The image is very sharp. Panasonic has been criticized for having the Smooth Screen feature which gets rid of screen door. While I agree that it prevented the image from being ultra sharp in the AE-1000 and prior machines, the AE-2000 and AE-3000 both have sharp looking image. Panasonic has been able to remove any the side effects from the Smooth Screen with their processor.

I spent about three hours there talking and watching movies and you kind of forget things so you if you have any questions please ask. The one thing i did forget to ask is that game mode people are talking about. I am sorry about that. However, I should be getting a demo model to take home soon, so when i get it I would have a better opportunity to test the projector

I was very impressed with the projector and would more than happy to include it in my home theater

[arobot]

David-
Thank you for the preliminary review.
As I currently have a Sony VPL-HW10 on order with AVS, I'm especially interested in how the Sony compares? Could you comment?
Thanks,
Andre

[Daniel Hutnicki]

Do you know if the benefit of the 120hz still help reduce motion blur even when it's set to off? I hate the "soap opera" look for movies, but it works wonders for stuff like Planet Earth and animation.

To me with its setting to on, it helped reduce motion blur and with it off it there was a difference. There was motion blur

Is the user replaceable filter identical to the AE2000?

I didnt ask, but the box itself really wasnt modified very much. Whatever you had in the AE-2000 is still in the AE-3000. Difference results from modifications or new stuff

If you aren't too busy, I'd be happy to hear how different levels/mixes of lens shift affect memory lens control, and if you can test this out with the demo, that'd be very helpful. Also, if we're throwing our 16x9 image as close as possible, how much brightness (in fl) will we lose with 2.35:1? Is it possible to automatically use eco in 16x9 but have it jump to normal bulb mode in 2.35:1?

If I am understanding you correctly, i think you can memorize 7 types of lens zooms. As for the bulb, no you cant program it so that one lens zoom is at eco and another is set a normal. As for brightness, its no so much that you lose brightness, its that you are filling up a bigger screen so you are spreading on the lumens that the projector has. However, with 1600 lumens, for any normal size screen, I dont think you will have a brightness issue. I had the AE-2000 projecting at my 120 wide 2.35 screen last year and the image was plenty bright

I believe this PJ is using Epson's panel,

you are correct sir

So... what can Mr. Phelps do with an RS-1?

the real questions is what cant he do.

Did they give a hint as to the release date?

You would think that would have been my first question. I didnt ask, but based on previous year and the time between showing it to me and shipping out, it should be relatively soon. Next couple of months, but thats my guess

I don't think so, because the panels can show PAL-sources (50 Hz / 25fps) without juddering. So they must also run on 100 Hz or another multiple of 50.

If i remember correctly, during the presentation, it state it would 120 and 100

[Daniel Hutnicki]

One further thought, no 12volt trigger and for you environmentally aware folks, the bulb automatically uses less power during dark scenes and more during bright scenes resulting in a 30% saving in electrical use. Good WAF incentive, maybe

[Daniel Hutnicki]

David-
Thank you for the preliminary review.
As I currently have a Sony VPL-HW10 on order with AVS, I'm especially interested in how the Sony compares? Could you comment?
Thanks,
Andre

The name is Daniel, but I forgive you

[pottscb]

Originally Posted by conan48

wow. GOOD news in the LCD front. 446:1 ANSI contrast!

http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...news071808.htm

No joke, this should've been the biggest news out of Cedia and there wan't any mention until a month later...any reason I had with going for DLP (despite my rainbow sensitivity) is now gone...I will embrace LCD (now, I just have to find a really sharp/bright one, Epson...come through, please?)

[fuji4556]

would this projector work in a dim room with a 175"+ screen??? any solid info on bulb life....this is a huge concern of mine. My application is roughly 4+ hrs a day??

also any suggestions as to screen material. i need it to be easy viewing from 160 degrees and again "pop" in a dim room.

thanks in advance.

[conradjohnsonfan]

Originally Posted by pottscb

No joke, this should've been the biggest news out of Cedia and there wan't any mention until a month later...any reason I had with going for DLP (despite my rainbow sensitivity) is now gone...I will embrace LCD (now, I just have to find a really sharp/bright one, Epson...come through, please?)

Yeah, LCD has really closed the Gap on DLP, well, at least until the next gen LED DLP units are out, which won't be in this price range, anyway.

LCD native and ANSI contrast is in the DLP ballpark now, with only the highest end DLP units holding advantages.

[conradjohnsonfan]

Originally Posted by fuji4556

would this projector work in a dim room with a 175"+ screen??? any solid info on bulb life....this is a huge concern of mine. My application is roughly 4+ hrs a day??

also any suggestions as to screen material. i need it to be easy viewing from 160 degrees and again "pop" in a dim room.

thanks in advance.

Sounds a little too big a screen size for this projector... calibrated lumens, like most projectors, will be much lower than the maximum available. Even at maximum lumen output, I think it is too big.

[arobot]

Originally Posted by Daniel Hutnicki

The name is Daniel, but I forgive you

I stand corrected.
Now as for my question?

[pottscb]

Originally Posted by conradjohnsonfan

Sounds a little too big a screen size for this projector... calibrated lumens, like most projectors, will be much lower than the maximum available. Even at maximum lumen output, I think it is too big.

I second this...a 180" screen has four times the surface area of a 90" screen and will require the same factor more lumens to hold constant brightness...you might should be looking into pjs like the Panasonic PT-5000, 5500 which have 3-5000 lumens. They are also MUCH more expensive than regular HT pjs...

[pottscb]

Originally Posted by arobot

I stand corrected.
Now as for my question?

HA! I can just hear my grandfather saying "Daniel, eh? Stop trying to squirm out of it and just answer the question, David!"

[madshi]

Originally Posted by fuji4556

would this projector work in a dim room with a 175"+ screen??? any solid info on bulb life....this is a huge concern of mine. My application is roughly 4+ hrs a day??

also any suggestions as to screen material. i need it to be easy viewing from 160 degrees and again "pop" in a dim room.

Well. With a Da-Lite HiPower screen and a cine4home filter mod it might be possible to do 180" with the AE3000. Ekkehard said that he anticipates the AE3000 might do 1000 lumen when calibrated with the external cine4home filter. A Da-Lite HiPower screen might "gain that up" to about 14 fL with a new bulb. With a 2.35 setup with an external lense this would even increase to 20 fL with a new bulb. However, "easy viewing from 160 degrees" won't work with a high gain screen.

So I have to join the choir and say "no go".

[Daniel Hutnicki]

As for the 175+ screen. I think that to big for this projector. I think you would need to be in the 3000 lumen ball bark in order to lite up that size screen properly especially after the bulb dims

I stand corrected.
Now as for my question

To be honest, I have not seen that Sony yet so it wouldnt be right for me to compare them. Spec alone, the Panny wins due to higher lumens and contrast, but specs arent everything. I like Lcos projectors, I am on my second one. wish i can give you a better answer

[conradjohnsonfan]

Originally Posted by madshi

Well. With a Da-Lite HiPower screen and a cine4home filter mod it might be possible to do 180" with the AE3000. Ekkehard said that he anticipates the AE3000 might do 1000 lumen when calibrated with the external cine4home filter. A Da-Lite HiPower screen might "gain that up" to about 14 fL with a new bulb. With a 2.35 setup with an external lense this would even increase to 20 fL with a new bulb. However, "easy viewing from 160 degrees" won't work with a high gain screen.

So I have to join the choir and say "no go".

Why would using an anamorphic lens and a 2.35:1 screen offer that drastic an increase in brightness?

[erkq]

Originally Posted by conradjohnsonfan

Why would using an anamorphic lens and a 2.35:1 screen offer that drastic an increase in brightness?

A good anamorphic lens gives about 20% more light with 2.35 material. The light from the usually dead "black bars" area of the 16:9 panels is used. But a lower quality lens can actually cost you in overall brightness because they don't pass the light as well.

EDIT: I too have to join the chorus... 180" screen with 160 deg viewing angle and any projector remotely affordable is a big "no go". You're picking all the compromise points and pushing them in the wrong direction: big size, high angle of view, low cost... you get to have any two.

[peteer01]

Originally Posted by conradjohnsonfan

Why would using an anamorphic lens and a 2.35:1 screen offer that drastic an increase in brightness?

An anamorphic lens is going to stretch out a 16x9 image.

Let's say you have a 174" diagonal 1:2.35 screen. That means your screen is 68" high and 160" wide. (173.67, 68, 159.8)

If you're using a zoom function, such as the AE3000, or manually zooming in with another projector, your image has to be 160" wide in order to fill the screen. (That means you're throwing a 160"x90" image to fill the screen. That's a 183.35" diagonal in 16x9)

If you're using an anamorphic lens, the projector is stretching the image to make sure all the pixels are used. The height of the image is unchanged (68"), so you're throwing a 121"x68" 16x9 image (137.8" diagonal), which the anamophic lens is stretching to 160" wide, but still 68" high.

Both give the same dimensions, filling the whole screen with the 2.35:1 material as the end result, but the zoom method is throwing a 173.7" diagonal image, while the anamorphic lens method is throwing a 138.7" diagonal.

Obviously, the anamorphic lens method is going to give a brighter image.

Hope that helps.

[peteer01]

Originally Posted by erkq

EDIT: I too have to join the chorus... 180" screen with 160 deg viewing angle and any projector remotely affordable is a big "no go". You're picking all the compromise points and pushing them in the wrong direction: big size, high angle of view, low cost... you get to have any two.

I feel the same as the last few people who chimed in with this.