[keyman]

Sounds like most are excited or at least interested in the Panasonic AE700. Well, I pre-ordered one so I'll let you all know my opinion down the road (good or bad).


I have an optical question about the unit that may be generic to most projectors. The projector has a 2.0X zoom lens so that you can sucessfully use a variety of throw distances to produce the same image size. I'm using a 45 x 80" screen and can install the projector from 10 to 14 feet from the screen. Is there a way to determine what the optimum distance is for this lens with this screen size?

 

[Ian Fleet]

I found there was no problem with the projector lens. Projectors always have excellent lenses. It was the lumen's of typical theater projectors.

Good theater projectors are designed with minimum lumen's so that there are better black levels.

If it's a light cannon then you sacrifice black levels, a negative gain screen will improve the black levels in that case.

The Panasonic is a 1000 lumen projector.

My experience was to put the projector as close as possible, 10' in your case so that if you want to further improve the black levels down the road with possibly grey screens, filters and econo mode to save lamp hours. All of these tweaks will effect the overall amount of brightness the projector will emit on the screen.

I have not seen a Panasonic AE700 therefore I don't know what it's black levels look like. It's contrast levels are 2000 :1 according to projectorcentral so it might be quite good on a white wall. You're going to have to be the judge eventually, to see what's best you can get out of that projector.

 

[keyman]

Thanks, Ian! Closer to the screen makes sense, but I was wondering if (for this particular lens) there was an optimal focal length setting at a specific throw distance for my screen size of 45 x 80.

 

[Ian Fleet]

For the focus of a lens it's obvious the further away the projector is the light going through the lens is straighter as opposed to closer where the light has to bend more as it goes through the lens.

You've got two things cancelling out each other lumens and focus. As you get futher away the the picture becomes darker and slightly sharper.

Black levels are the biggest problem with projectors so it makes sense the closer the better so you can have minimum amount of light and maximum blacks not greys.

 

[keyman]

Your points are well taken. When I use the "Projector Calculator" for this model, at a ten foot throw the optical zoom is at 1.85X. At twelve feet and four inches the zoom is 1.5X or the midpoint between 1.0 and 2.0X (the range of the lens). If I can control the light level in the room (dark), is it best to set a throw distance that falls in the middle of the lenses' range? I'm mounting the projector on my ceiling, so experimentation will be difficult.

 

[dazbug]

i was told and also read in PC review that the further the better away from the screen?