[aag]

I have bought and installed a PT-AE4000 a week ago, replacing a 2-yr old PT-AE2000. When trying to set the focus, I noticed a light-blue halo around vertical lines. Also, the vertical line pattern seems slightly out-of-phase. I have attached a few pictures to that effect.

These defects are clearly due to the projector, as they show up in the internal pattern that is projected to help focusing - even when the sources are all off.

I wonder whether this might mean that there is a misconvergence of the LCD panels. On the other hand, something may be wrong with the settings - but this is unlikely since all settings are essentially as from factory. Any ideas on this issue would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Sheridan1952]

That isn't convergence. Convergence would be to ONE side or the other, not BOTH sides. That is a signal or image processor issue. If this were a CRT-based projector, I would tell you that the Blue is out-of-focus or is set at the wrong zoom. But this is an LCD and neither of those conditions are possible for one color only. I'd talk to Panasonic about it, it isn't normal.

 

[tbadiuk]

Pretty sure that's normal, there was a threat about it a while back and the conclusion was it was an artifact in the image itself that is being used by the projector. I'll double check mine tomorrow but I'm fairly certain that is normal.


PS: Your alignment on the green lines - and | looks fairly crisp, as good if not better than mine!


Ted

 

[aag]

Dear Tbadiuk, it would be great if you could point me to the thread you mention.


Honesrly, I would be utterly surprised that Panasonic would build into their own projector an image that suffers from such an obvious problem. Besides, my previous PT-AE2000 did not suffer from any of the like...

 

[aag]

I have now found a very weird phenomenon. If I hook up a laptop via VGA, and then switch to the focusing pattern (by pressing the LENS button on the remote), the patterns appears to be sharp and miraculously devoid of any defocusing!

I then pull out the VGA plug from the laptop, and two things happen: (1) the overall brightness of the image decreases significantly, and (2) the pattern becomes again defocused.

I conclude that the issue is none of optics. The projector is optically fine, yet it intentionally "unsharps" the image when it senses that there is no computer source attached!


All of this is more than weird! I would be interested in whether any other PT-AE4000 owner can replicate these issues.

 

[airscapes]

This may not have anything to do with your problem but the next thing I would check is the sharpness settings when the image is correct verses incorrect. Each input will normally have it's own setting, at least on my projector (not an AE4000)

 

[aag]



Quote:
Originally Posted by airscapes /forum/post/18310464


This may not have anything to do with your problem but the next thing I would check is the sharpness settings when the image is correct verses incorrect. Each input will normally have it's own setting, at least on my projector (not an AE4000)

Actually the image becomes immediately defocused as soon as the VGA plug is pulled off the laptop. The input is not changed...

 

[airscapes]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aag /forum/post/18310573


Actually the image becomes immediately defocused as soon as the VGA plug is pulled off the laptop. The input is not changed...

Well if it is auto detect and there is no input could the projector possibly be going to some default? Does not sound like normal behavior regardless.

Good Luck!

 

[duramadre]

put sharpness -1 and resolve!

 

[Bob Whitefield]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aag /forum/post/18309533


I have now found a very weird phenomenon. If I hook up a laptop via VGA, and then switch to the focusing pattern (by pressing the LENS button on the remote), the patterns appears to be sharp and miraculously devoid of any defocusing!

I then pull out the VGA plug from the laptop, and two things happen: (1) the overall brightness of the image decreases significantly, and (2) the pattern becomes again defocused.

I conclude that the issue is none of optics. The projector is optically fine, yet it intentionally "unsharps" the image when it senses that there is no computer source attached!


All of this is more than weird! I would be interested in whether any other PT-AE4000 owner can replicate these issues.

Much to my surprise, I was able to replicate your observations tonight. I'd never connected the VGA input on my AE4000 before, only HDMI. But you're right, when a computer is connected, the "ghosting" around test patterns goes away.


Here's the upper right corner of the focus screen with computer input selected, but nothing connected to the VGA port:

And here's with a laptop connected to the computer VGA input at 1920x1080 resolution:

The camera focus is poor in the first photo, but the ghosting is exactly as it appears, and it definitely goes away when the VGA input is in use. The computer resolution doesn't seem to make a difference, just having a device present on the VGA port is sufficient.


As you observed, disconnecting the VGA cable while the focus screen is shown causes the display to blank briefly, then reappear at lower brightness, and now with the ghosting patterns present.


What's the explanation? I have no idea. Clearly the AE4000 electronics are doing something different when it detects a VGA computer signal. I also found it interesting that computer input at 1920x1080 showed the mode as "SXGA60+", which I've never seen before in the menu.


Definitely weird. Of course none of these artifacts are noticeable on real video content, but I'm surprised this got past Panasonic. I'd assumed the color ghosting was an optical effect, or an artifact of smoothscreen, but you've shown us it's not--nice work!

 

[aag]

Now, the really crucial question is: will an external test pattern be ghosted when fed through HDMI, but non-ghosted when fed through VGA? If the issue is limited to the internal test pattern, there's nothinjg to worry about. If however video materials is treated similarly, I would consider making a fuss with Panasonic.


My laptop doesn't have an HDMI output, hence I cannot test this. Anybody with the necessary rig (a laptop with dual output HDMI + VGA, both cables, and Photoshop or any pixel-based software for generating an appropriate test image), might want to test this question as a service to the community - I would be immensely grateful...

 

[Innova]

I almost have the necessary equipment...I have the laptop, but I just ordered the ae4000 on Friday. Hopefully, I should have it in a week or two, then I'd be happy to test this out.

 

[johnzm]

i have all the equipment (pc with VGA/HDMI output)


ill see what i can do about testing this when i get a chance (might not be until friday)

 

[Blue Rain]

WOW the difference is clear as night and day .Wish I had a PC with HDMI to test this when I get my Panny in 2 days but I don't.




Hopefully someone is testing it as we speak.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Whitefield /forum/post/18312624


Much to my surprise, I was able to replicate your observations tonight. I'd never connected the VGA input on my AE4000 before, only HDMI. But you're right, when a computer is connected, the "ghosting" around test patterns goes away.


Here's the upper right corner of the focus screen with computer input selected, but nothing connected to the VGA port:




The camera focus is poor in the first photo, but the ghosting is exactly as it appears, and it definitely goes away when the VGA input is in use. The computer resolution doesn't seem to make a difference, just having a device present on the VGA port is sufficient.


As you observed, disconnecting the VGA cable while the focus screen is shown causes the display to blank briefly, then reappear at lower brightness, and now with the ghosting patterns present.


What's the explanation? I have no idea. Clearly the AE4000 electronics are doing something different when it detects a VGA computer signal. I also found it interesting that computer input at 1920x1080 showed the mode as "SXGA60+", which I've never seen before in the menu.


Definitely weird. Of course none of these artifacts are noticeable on real video content, but I'm surprised this got past Panasonic. I'd assumed the color ghosting was an optical effect, or an artifact of smoothscreen, but you've shown us it's not--nice work!

 

[johnzm]

hey guys,


i checked this out tonight on my setup. the results are not great. pics to follow shortly..

 

[johnzm]

VGA

HDMI

VGA

HDMI

FOR KICKS HERE IS COLOR1 HDMI
HDMI

For reference, the VGA input was a geforce GT210, and the hdmi was also via the Geforce GT210.


unlike others on here my screen did not automatically flicker/adjust with the insertion of the vga cable. this might be due to the fact that the vga was NEVER (in the 3 times i tried) autodetected by the pc and had input going thorugh.


in every case, i had to switch to hdmi, enable dual displays and switch back before i saw any difference on the setup screen on vga.


in other words, on my setup,


if the vga was plugged in, and the card NOT setup for dual displays, the lens setup screen still looked "wrong"

 

[Bizill]

nice. mine displays the same weird ghosting on this test pattern. otherwise, pic is awesome. this blows. oh well, at least not as bad as the epson 8500 threads which are littered with complaints.

 

[aag]

The other question which can only be answered by a poll is: "Is the ghosting pattern seen in all PT-AE4000 projectors, or only in a fraction thereof?"


This issue is totally crucial. If #1 is true, we might try to submit a bug report to Panasonic (as this would be most likely a firmware issue). If #2 is true, then this becomes a warranty issue affecting a subset (maybe a specific lot) of units.


Hence my question: does anybody own a PT-AE4000 that does not exhibit any ghosting on the lens focusing pattern?

 

[Hughmc]

I only see the ghosting on the vertical lines and not the horizontal lines in the test pattern. To me it looks less like ghosting and more intentional. Also, I have to get within five feet to see it as I don't readily see it at 10-11 ft.

 

[hooman]

I think the problem is actually optical. Or at least it's completely pervasive anyway. I think the problem only appears to go away in VGA mode because of the change in brightness. Look at the attached image in HDMI vs VGA. In HDMI, notice the blue/green images have more ghosting. In VGA, the black/gray/white images have more ghosting. Notice the Windows tray icons look fine in HDMI but terrible in VGA.


If someone can actually produce the same colors in both VGA and HDMI, independent of the brightness change, or just make the brightness not change, then we'll know a little more. If the same colors have a difference in ghosting, then it's not optical. If the same colors have the same ghosting, it's likely optical.


I can't screw with mine anymore, because I think I'm sending it back.