Panasonic PT-AE4000 MSRP $1999 - Page 116

I'm having a similar issue. The projector appears to be squeezing the entire right side of the image even though I have it aligned perfectly perpendicular to the wall. Seems the lens is slightly out of horizontal alignment. Rotating the projector a smidge to the right fixes the issue, but is there any way to realign the lens itself? I also looked for a horizontal keystone adjustment, no dice. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Have something that's been nagging me that I hope to get clarified...

I'm planning on a 120" diag 2.35:1 screen using the 4000 with around 17-18' throw distance. I am under the impression that the lens of the 4000 needs to be within the top edge of the screen in order to use the 1.78:1 or 2.35:1 memory function. Is this correct?

If so, are there any options to keep the projector closer to the ceiling and still use the memory zoom? As you can probably read into this, I will be having a problem with head room with my second row seating/riser.

Since I will be doing CIH and set the proj up for the 2.35 screen area, would 1.78 projected content even need a separate memory/custom setting, or will it just automatically project within the height boundaries of the 2.35 screen and I'll have black bars on the sides I can mask?

If that's the case than maybe the proj height problem is moot.

I remember when I ceiling mounted mine I was scared to hang it because the screws it came with were so tiny I didn't think it would hold up. I am surprised they don't use bigger screws.

Yes, if the lens is above the screen, the electronic shift isn't sufficient to position both 2.35 and 16:9 images fully onto the screen.


With that throw distance, you may be able to mount the AE4000 higher and tilt the projector down slightly. This will cause some keystoning (image is wider at the bottom than the top). But people have reported doing this successfully, and the keystone amount was small enough to ignore with masking. Avoid the keystone correction if at all possible.


You will definitely need a 16:9 setting, the projector must load that lens memory to zoom out to fit a 16:9 image within the screen height. It zooms in to fill the 2.35 screen with 2.35 content when you load that memory.

I believe if you have a 2.35 screen and when you watch 1.78 (16:9) content you will have black bars on the left and right sides. I have a 1.78 (16:9) and when I watch 2.35 or 2.40 content I have bars on top and bottom you should have the reverse.

That bottom screw hole that is below the sticker is supposed to be used for the safety wire. Don't put the bracket there like you have it. Look at the manual.

Thanks for the reply/info Bob...that's basically what I expected to hear I could mount it underneath my rear soffit in a hush box (behind rear seating), but could have a head get in the way from the second row if someone gets up for a break. I'd rather stay away from any keystone corrections due to picture quality issues.

Rich, yes I am expecting L and R black bars on the set-up I'm proposing.

Floyd, might you raise your screen some? You say you have a riser, so I high screen might fit nicely. My screen is 8" from the ceiling and it puts my eyes a third from the bottom with my rear two rows being on a 13" riser.

My 4000 is mounted on a homemade mount (from a ball and socket type speaker bracket). The top of lens is about at the 8" level, which matches the screen. With verticle adjustment at about +32, the memory functions work like a charm.

I have 8" high soffits all 4 sides of my room (including over the stage). The AT screen/frame will basically butt up against the soffit over the stage, so can't go any higher with it. The problem is the "perfect storm" of low ceiling height, 12" riser, and the need to keep the proj within the screen area. Not much else I can think to do but to locate the proj where it will be least invasive which is either directly above or directly behind second row seating, or possibly just above and a bit behind first row seats.

I'll have to play with it a bit to see where it fits best and also have to take into effect the various throw distances involved.

greetings to all:
My initial post and a little OT. got my AE4K last week but has yet to set it up on a mount. So I was researching on couple of Chief and Peerless products but they seems a little pricey. Has anybody used this product? and did you order them online?

www.professionalav.com/ceiling-wall-mounts/wall-mounts.html

(sorry pls c/p the above. my initial post, no URL link allowed)

Or if you have other options for a wall mount, pls let me know. As it will be installed on the highest end of a cathedral ceiling, a ceiling mount is not an option.
TIA

Here's what I did to the 130" 16x9 screen cuz of my 12'6" TD (miscalculation)...ended up sliding in strips of felt on both sides of the frame (left and right)...

How well would this projector do in a living room with light walls/white ceiling and lights on?

and in this invironment compared to the Mit. HC3800?

w/ the lights on...not good! Don't know about HC3800...

I don't think that's true. Same contrast, it's just going to be brighter at every level. You won't be able to tell any difference in the contrast.

Finally I found someone with the same problem I have! I thought maybe I wasnt setting it up correctly. I have 9' ceiling with the 2.35 screen 25" below the ceiling. The projector is 10" below the ceiling. the zoom between the 2.35 and 16.9 moves the picture off the screen vertically(even if I move the 2.35 picture up the height of the black bar on top of the 2.35 image). I played with tilting the projector and keystoning, but the problem is you can get the keystone to work perfectly with 2.35, but when you go back to 16:9, the keystone needs adjustment. ...and the lens memory doesnt store keystone. part of my problem may be because I am at 13' from the wall, with a 117" diagonal 2.35 screen. This requires quite a bit of tilting of the projector

Has anyone found another solution?

Hey, I am coming from an epson 8500ub I loved the picture but I got the red lines and it never wanted to sync with my blu ray very well at all. SOO I gotta switch, but here is my problem. I have a basement with full light control, but my walls and carpet are light. I have an hp screen, but it is rendered useless for the most part since I have decided to ceiling mount it again. tired of not being able to play video games and didn't like having people get blinded by the light walking into the room. Anyway I had gone with the epson for its brightness and decent color to watch football and tv with the lights on. I am concerned that this won't be bright enough or have as good color at the higher brightness to do what I want. It will be ceiling mounted about 11 to 13 ft from my 106in screen. I will say that I didn't have to go to the vivid mode to have a very watchable picture on the epson with the lights on. So any help would be greatly appreciated. I would like for this to work cause then I can take the savings and get an oppo bd player. Thanks

You can't get an extension for the mount? That would lower your projector....

Just received my unit last night, screen arrives next week. While browsing through the manual it seems a bit sparse for explaining the sub-menus. This is my first projector btw.

When using "Eco-lamp mode", what is the percentage of reduction of lumen output, specs don't say.

My altitude in Colorado is 5,630' (1716m), manual lists the option but doesn't give info to use it or not at this altitude. Should I enable? I am guessing "enable" as fan output decreases above sea level.

I will primarily be using this unit for 2.35 viewing only, I will use my direct view set for any 1.78 usage.

What would be the ideal menu selections to begin the 2.35 aspect ratio fit?

TIA,

Congratulations! Are you related to Captain Video?

The printed manual is just operating instructions, the CD has the functional manual on it, which actually describes how to use most features. You can also download it here:
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...t/main/manual/

They recommend enabling the high altitude mode above 4600', so you should probably enable it unless the projector is very well cooled. See page 41 of the functional manual.

I don't know exactly how much dimmer the eco lamp mode is. It's not a huge difference, looked like maybe 25% to me when the bulb was new. I'm using eco, reserving normal lamp for when the bulb ages.


I think you'll find you want to use the projector for most 1.85 aspect movies, you should create a lens memory for it, in addition to 16:9 and 2.35 settings.

Here's HMenke's guide to AE3000 initial setup, which is completely applicable to the AE4000:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post16275233

Hi Bob,

Not related, he just outranks me I'll check that CD, thanks for the response.

SgtVideo -- You might also want to read Art's review of the AE4000: http://www.projectorreviews.com/pana...4000/index.php. He has a lot of good info in it, including the difference between the high and low lamp modes (it's about 34%).

I got this same mount from Monoprice and you can't beat it for price and performance ratios. I used two extension brackets to reach all the mounting holes and I had to fiddle a bit to get the alignment right, but it wasn't too hard.

This replaced a 10 year old projector in a new house we just moved into so effectively it is my first projector for a dedicated theater room. Frankly, it is awesome.

Let me know if your Monoprice mount is set up and working for you. It does not have all the pivots that that the other mounts do for 8 times the price, but it has enough to make the adjustments you need. And once it is hung, you don't need to fiddle with it again!! Sweet!

Congratulations! Are you related to Captain Video?
***********
That question is a potential tip-off to a persons age. :>) Was he on the Dumont TV network??

Steve

Yes the show was on DuMont. But I'm not quite that old, you see when I was in college our dorm had a screening of some episodes. They were on 16mm film--I am old enough to have been a 16mm A/V geek.

Those shows were hilarious, one of the weapons Captain Video used was his "Cosmic Vibrator".

I have an older system with a 120" Greyhawk screen and an ancient JVC DLA15 projector. I'm ready to replace the JVC. Will the Panasonic be bright enough to use with the Greyhawk, which is a low-gain screen?

Yes I use a matte white screen at 120"

I've now put about 30 hours on the 4000 and have had enough time to have some preferences. I'm using it on a AT Seymour XD material DIY screen. CIH on a 168" horizontal for 2.35. Throw distance is roughly 20'.

I watched the first 20 hours on Economy with Color1 or Cinema1 not questioning the expertise available here. I was pleased, but it didn't have me blown away. For the last 20 hours I switched over to the higher bulb setting and Normal with the color backed down 2 clicks. This is where I think I'll be staying. It does more than simply "pull off" this screensize. It does it very well! I don't know why it didn't strike me earlier that my screensize would likely require different settings than those recommended. What might be garish on a 100" screen comes out just about right at 168". My problem now will be that this little Panny will have nothing in reserve to account for bulb dimming. That may be the price I pay for the screensize and will have to accept more frequent bulb changes than others can get away with.

tony123, you should ALWAYS question the "expertise" here, and not believe everything you read!

Who here is using the AE4000 with an Anamorphic lens today? Specifically a Prismasonic? I am looking for impressions and especially what settings to you use to do the Vertical stretch so your 2:35 material fits your screen using the anamorphic lens?

Based on the manual I downloaded, it looks like the correct setting would be Zoom 2, but the manual also says this setting is not available using HDMI. I'm concerned because I want to use this projector with my lens, but with NO external scaler if possible. I am NOT looking to do 2:35 without the lens.

Also, can this projector detect the input so that the setting changes automatically?

I could, but my room is 16' x 30' and the projector is at 13'. If I lowered it to 25" below the 9' ceiling, it would be at 6' 11". Might look really dorky in the middle of the room to have something hanging down 2'.

I did find a better solution to tilting. There is a S16:9 aspect ratio option on the projector. This seems to move the 16:9 image down vertically by about 20". The manual doesnt really say what it's purpose is. It still has a slight keystone. 1.5", but that is considerably less than tilting the projector

Does anyone know anything about the S16:9 aspect ratio setting