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Panasonic PT-AE4000 MSRP $1999 - Page 57

post #1681 of 8336
11/18/09 at 12:55pm
the colucator is off a little, I was at my max zoom with epson and colculator says 18ft, I had my set at 13.5ft (it was at its max thoe)...
anyone with 2:35:1 ?, how close your projector to screen and size of screen?
I really want this projector, I hope I can make it work or will I have to shrink the screen a little?
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post #1682 of 8336
11/18/09 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deja Vu View Post

Go to the Projectorcentral website and read both the Epson 8500 and Panny AE4000 reviews. Apparently the super resolution and FI features help with standard DVD image quality.

www.projectorcentral.com

Thanks I read that and that is what got me started looking at sending the 8100 back. My only issues are the warranty and bulb life. What has performance been like in the past on the panasonic's have there been any reliability issues? I am starting to really think the panasonic is going to outperform the 8100 significantly
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post #1683 of 8336
11/18/09 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziptiecowboy View Post

For anyone who already has an existing Chief RPA mount, making a custom mounting plate for the AE4000 is very easy.

Since I already had a Chief RPA for my AE700, naturally I wanted to reuse it for the AE4k; however the price of the SLB181 plate is ridiculous.

So, I bought myself an 8 x 12 x ΒΌ TH 6061 Aluminum plate for $12 and used the AE4k CAD drawing from the Panny website to locate and drill the 4 projector mounting holes as well as a CAD drawing from the Chief website to locate, drill and tap the 4 holes for the RPA bracket. I threaded 10-24 x 1 screws into the holes for the RPA and reused the tapered knurl nuts to secure the RPA to my new plate...simple, solid and saved significant coin.

Welcome to AVS!

Great first post. The idea of using Aluminum is a good one. On another thread I suggested using plexiglass. Your idea is better.

So where does one buy TH6061 spec Aluminum?

You're right about the price of the SLB brackets. About $100 or even more.

Joe
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post #1684 of 8336
11/18/09 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronco70 View Post

Welcome to AVS!

Great first post. The idea of using Aluminum is a good one. On another thread I suggested using plexiglass. Your idea is better.

So where does one buy TH6061 spec Aluminum?

You're right about the price of the SLB brackets. About $100 or even more.

Joe

Try a local machine shop. You really just need any 'scrap' (as left over from another job in the shop) piece of Aluminum. No need to specify the alloy-- a mounting bracket doesn't have any exotic requirements. I got one for $8 at the first shop I went to.
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post #1685 of 8336
11/18/09 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by frank1940 View Post

Try a local machine shop. You really just need any 'scrap' (as left over from another job in the shop) piece of Aluminum. No need to specify the alloy-- a mounting bracket doesn't have any exotic requirements. I got one for $8 at the first shop I went to.

Thanks.
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post #1686 of 8336
11/18/09 at 5:08pm
Well I have had my 4000 for a little over a week now and must say how Impressed I am with the zoom quality.


Here are a few shots of the picture zoomed to fit my 12' wide SmX 2.35 screen from my front row seats at about 12' away. Projector is mounted at about 19' back







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post #1687 of 8336
11/18/09 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronco70 View Post

Welcome to AVS!

Great first post. The idea of using Aluminum is a good one. On another thread I suggested using plexiglass. Your idea is better.

So where does one buy TH6061 spec Aluminum?

You're right about the price of the SLB brackets. About $100 or even more.

Joe

Thanks.

I got the AL plate from McMaster-Carr already cut to size.

This site won't let me post links yet, but if you go to mcmaster.com and search Aluminum plate, you can choose the size you want (8 x 12 x ΒΌ Thick works perfect).

I used P/N 8975K445 (cost $11.60 + shipping). I have an open business account with them...I'm not sure if they sell to the general public.
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post #1688 of 8336
11/18/09 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronco70 View Post

Welcome to AVS!

Great first post. The idea of using Aluminum is a good one. On another thread I suggested using plexiglass. Your idea is better.

So where does one buy TH6061 spec Aluminum?

You're right about the price of the SLB brackets. About $100 or even more.

Joe

Another source for metals (any size piece with NO minimum quantity) is OnlineMetals.com http://www.onlinemetals.com/
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post #1689 of 8336
11/18/09 at 6:15pm
is this projector better than the Epson 1080UB? i think that projector is awesome.
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post #1690 of 8336
11/18/09 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kimwyn View Post

is this projector better than the Epson 1080UB? i think that projector is awesome.

in my opinion, yes. I have had the 1080 and the 1080ub. I think the panny image is superior. once again, my opinion only, but i have seen my fair share of pj's...
Best,
Chris
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post #1691 of 8336
11/18/09 at 6:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by frank1940 View Post

Try a local machine shop. You really just need any 'scrap' (as left over from another job in the shop) piece of Aluminum. No need to specify the alloy-- a mounting bracket doesn't have any exotic requirements. I got one for $8 at the first shop I went to.

Yeah, sorry for the technical stuff with the 6061 grade and all, I'm a Metallurgistthat stuff just pours out of me.

frank1940 is certainly correct, any grade of AL ΒΌ thick will be sufficient to support the AE4000.
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post #1692 of 8336
11/18/09 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by W00lly View Post

Well I have had my 4000 for a little over a week now and must say how Impressed I am with the zoom quality.


Here are a few shots of the picture zoomed to fit my 12' wide SmX 2.35 screen from my front rows seats at about 12' away. Projector is mounted at about 19' back








Wow!!! That looks stunning!!!

What screen are you using? And what size is that?

Regards,
Simon
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post #1693 of 8336
11/18/09 at 7:07pm
I concur with Woolly.
I just got my 126" wide 2.37:1 Carada screen installed yesterday right before Star Trek BD arrived. It's my first zooming experience and wowzers, was I ever impressed. My seating and throw are about 14' from screen. Because I can dial in the focus for each zoom that I save in lens memory, every movie that I've tried so far has been sharp as a tack.
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post #1694 of 8336
11/18/09 at 8:12pm
I was wondering why the menu is slanted in at the top its not straight on the left and right what should i be doing?
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post #1695 of 8336
11/18/09 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoomBot View Post

I was wondering why the menu is slanted in at the top its not straight on the left and right what should i be doing?

Level your projector.
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post #1696 of 8336
11/18/09 at 8:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RapalloAV View Post

Level your projector.

Really that will help it ok, ill give it a try but that means i need a longer pipe from the ceiling to bring it down further darn.

Thanks
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post #1697 of 8336
11/18/09 at 9:17pm
Simon

The screen is a 12' wide 2.35 SMX Proline screen 1.16 gain

http://www.smxscreen.com/index.html
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post #1698 of 8336
11/18/09 at 9:20pm
For those that had the ae3000 before this, do you think there's any point in waiting until after xmas to order and save some money? I'll likely be ordering from an online source. Based on older models, when do they drop in price?
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post #1699 of 8336
11/18/09 at 10:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrs91 View Post

For those that had the ae3000 before this, do you think there's any point in waiting until after xmas to order and save some money? I'll likely be ordering from an online source. Based on older models, when do they drop in price?

A trusted source from an AVS sponsor suggests looking on or about 5pm ET, yeah that specific, on Wed. 11/25 for the black Friday deals.

Or if not in a hurry, wait until about July/August when sales are slow and the new units are about to be announced and old stock has to be moved.

Joe
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post #1700 of 8336
11/18/09 at 11:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoomBot View Post

Really that will help it ok, ill give it a try but that means i need a longer pipe from the ceiling to bring it down further darn.

Thanks

Why would you need to bring it down further to level it? Just get a cheap 8" bubble level and VERY carefully adjust the mounting screws that hold the projector up. Not sure which kind of mount you have. The one I use allows you to level it at ground level (or on a table), after which you place the levelled mounting plate (which is screwed into the projector threaded holes) onto the pole bracket and twist it on. Of course, the pole needs to be plumb. Obviously, it's a lot safer if you don't have to try to level it eight feet or more off the ground.
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post #1701 of 8336
11/19/09 at 4:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by W00lly View Post


The screen is a 12' wide 2.35 SMX Proline screen 1.16 gain

http://www.smxscreen.com/index.html

W00lly, what picture mode are you using in those screen shots?

I'm firing the AE4k (just replaced AE700) onto a 96 wide Da-lite HCCV from 15' w/first row at 14' and I find I have to use normal' mode to get the brightness to my liking. The cinema and color modes just don't seem bright enough for me out of the box. I should add that I use the low lamp setting...I hate fan noise.

I'm contemplating a new screen in the 120 wide range and thinking I need about 1.3 gain to achieve the brightness I have on the HCCV at 96 wide. I also need to do some screen wall mods to accommodate a wider screen; when I designed and built my theater 8 years ago I never envisioned needing' a wider screen.
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post #1702 of 8336
11/19/09 at 4:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrs91 View Post

For those that had the ae3000 before this, do you think there's any point in waiting until after xmas to order and save some money? I'll likely be ordering from an online source. Based on older models, when do they drop in price?

The ae4000 is price so cheap that I do not see any deals coming up.Hell it is a great deal now.Buy one before their gone.
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post #1703 of 8336
11/19/09 at 4:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by buddahead View Post

The ae4000 is price so cheap that I do not see any deals coming up.Hell it is a great deal now.Buy one before their gone.

I agree. The current price of the AE4000 is a bargainI think I got the last one VA had in stock last week.

They showed out-of-stock right after I placed my order.
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post #1704 of 8336
11/19/09 at 5:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce3404 View Post

Why would you need to bring it down further to level it? Just get a cheap 8" bubble level and VERY carefully adjust the mounting screws that hold the projector up. Not sure which kind of mount you have. The one I use allows you to level it at ground level (or on a table), after which you place the levelled mounting plate (which is screwed into the projector threaded holes) onto the pole bracket and twist it on. Of course, the pole needs to be plumb. Obviously, it's a lot safer if you don't have to try to level it eight feet or more off the ground.

If i don't bring it down further then the image will be cut off at the top by a few feet or so if i level out the projector it self. That's what we are talking about correct not leveling the pipe on the mount which should be level.
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post #1705 of 8336
11/19/09 at 6:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by W00lly View Post

Ziptie

I'm running the bulb in normal & dynamic mode to get the brightness and colors to my liking. With the awesome zoom feature you should look into a 2.35 screen it seems almost all of the blurays releasing are in that format

Thanks for the infoI thought you'd have to use the AE4k's max light output settings to light up a 12' screen. Those screen shots look awesome. I don't like to hear the cooling fan at all in my theater, so I stick to the low lamp setting.

Yes, a 2.35 screen is what I'm considering and one of the reasons I decided to jump on the new Panny bandwagon; I'm just procrastinating making a big azz mess in my theater as I need to do some drywall modification to accommodate a wider screen.

Your theater looks great btw.
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post #1706 of 8336
11/19/09 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoomBot View Post

That's what we are talking about correct not leveling the pipe on the mount which should be level.

At very large screen sizes, leveling/alignment/squaring-up of BOTH pj AND screen become very critical to get it perfect. It's not always easy to do, but is worth the extra effort if your eyes are offended by minor geometry problems.
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post #1707 of 8336
11/19/09 at 6:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laserfan View Post

At very large screen sizes, leveling/alignment/squaring-up of BOTH pj AND screen become very critical to get it perfect. It's not always easy to do, but is worth the extra effort if your eyes are offended by minor geometry problems.

Guess i should since its a 123" screen
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post #1708 of 8336
11/19/09 at 6:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laserfan View Post

At very large screen sizes, leveling/alignment/squaring-up of BOTH pj AND screen become very critical to get it perfect. It's not always easy to do, but is worth the extra effort if your eyes are offended by minor geometry problems.

Does the panny have adjustable feet when shelve mounting like the espon does to help level it up (shelve isn't level for some damn reason )
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post #1709 of 8336
11/19/09 at 6:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PLUCKYB View Post

Does the panny have adjustable feet when shelve mounting like the espon does to help level it up (shelve isn't level for some damn reason )

Yes they do adjust
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post #1710 of 8336
11/19/09 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoomBot View Post

Yes they do adjust

Thanks so that only leaves one question how reliable is the pansonic's compared to the epsons? I love the warranty on my 8100 only had it a week but the reviews of the panny's got me itching to take it back.
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