PT-AE900U Picture is too Dark ?

I just bought this PJ used. I replaced the old 1800 hour lamp with a new genuine Panasonic lamp. PJ distance to screen is 14 feet. PJ is sitting on shelf about halfway up back wall. I'm running a 35 foot 22 awg (THICK) hdmi cable from the bdp directly to pj. I'm using two 8 inch long high speed port savers on the ends fwiw.

I'm using a 100" Grandview fixed frame white 1.0 gain. Viewing distance from screen is 13.5 feet.

The room is painted a flat dark grey, with dark black out curtains. At night time the ambient light is mostly under control other than minor seepage around curtain sides and top.

The problem is the picture is just way too dark. It does look bright in Dynamic picture mode but it is also the most artificial looking. I have had two Samsung plasma's up to 50" and I loved the smooth film like quality, but they also had plenty of brightness. However, this picture is just flat and bland.

Another issue, is the screen door effect which is supposed to have been eliminated with this PJ due to the whole smooth screen technology. I call BS to that! It's very distracting at times. I can see it on peoples faces in lighter scenes. Again, I'm sitting almost 14 feet back. Is this unusual? My brother also noticed it and he wears glasses.

Please help..
Edited by WesM228 - 7/15/12 at 2:22am

I was thinking it might help some to get the PJ calibrated, but how much better will it be for the $ spent?

Thanks for your reply Mr. G.

I'd like to find a good used projector under $500 that can output more light than the 900 and doesn't have any issue with screen door effect. Any suggestions?

Is the Sanyo PLV-Z4 rather equal or better in terms of brightness?

I checked out the AR100U you mentioned. That's quite a bit more than I can afford or desire to. I need to stick to looking at projectors that are maybe a few years old at least but no earlier than say, 2007..?

Well, I'm still amazed I'm noticing the screen door effect when it was supposed to be eliminated with this projector. Are the 1080p projectors immune to this or are my eyes just that good that it won't matter? :/

How about a used Epson 8100? That's a later model projector with 1080p resolution. A little bit outside of my price range but I probably can swing it. Any issues with screen door effect?

I was thinking maybe the PT-AX200U because it's a more refined model in the PT- line, puts out more lumens, and is still reasonably priced used. But I'm a little nervous to stick with Panasonic because of the SDE that was supposed to have been eliminated.

So, which would likely result in more "pop", switching to a brighter PJ with 1080p or getting a high gain / HP screen with better light reflection? I really only have the money for one or the other right now.

I guess what it comes down to for me is I can't live with seeing this SDE during every movie. Every blu-ray I have watched thus far, I've noticed it on faces and on light backgrounds, and it's incredibly distracting. It looks like I will be upgrading the PJ for now and maybe screen down the road.
Edited by WesM228 - 7/17/12 at 5:58am