Help me with my final push towards FPTV (1 Viewer)

[JohnJB]

I'm hopefully going to order a Panasonic PT-AE100 tomorrow but have a few small issues I'd love some feedback on:

a) will it handle 4:3 images similarly to my old RPTV i.e. just centre within 16:9 frame with grey/black bars down the side

b) I'm planning on getting a 106" (7 foot 8 inch by 4 foot 4 inch) roller screen, projector to screen distance is 13 foot max, I pressume the little beauty will fill it.

c) on the subject of filling it, I pressume you can focus it in so that the edges are fairly precise in finishing at the black boarder of the screen.

d) does composite and/or component input have auto 16:9 switching so it automatically changes ratio back and forth from 4:3 to 16:9

e) *MOST IMPORTANT* I've read about some problems with the fixed ceiling bracket, apparently there is only one (dedicated) type worldwide and it may not be upto the job, some guys projector's fell from the ceiling???

f) any idea of the cost of a replacement bulb, I heard about US$210

Thank's in advance, I don't know how I bought anything before the net!

 

[Michael Caicedo]

I'll give this a shot:
a) Yes.
b) Yes. I have the AE100 English manual and can e-mail to you or you can get it from pricejapan.com. This will give you exact formulas for calculating the throw. Found another link: http://members.localnet.com/~kallsop...ser_Manual.pdf
c) Yes. Manually, much like a camera.
d)Not sure what you mean but changing the aspect ratio on the remote is a single button away.
e) Can't help you here since mine is table mounted but there are plenty of people who have fashioned their own mounts with little difficulty. The AE100 only weighs 6 lbs.
f)Replacement bulb is 350 USD from Japan but why worry now? In economy mode you can get 5,000 hours.

 

[Gabriel_Lam]

I'm sure there are a lot of ways to ceiling mount it. You might want to wait until you get it and listen to it (fan noise) before deciding whether you want a normal ceiling mount or a hushbox.

 

[ChristopherT]

JohnJB,
b.) Here is another great link for screen size/distance. It is brand specific. Projector Central
d.) I have read that some people say the best picture is had by using a VGA connection. This can be done by converting component to VGA. One option I read about was the Audio Authority 9A61 . Michael Caicedo what is your set-up like? I have read others using the VB50 .
f.) Replacement bulb
I am a newbie to all of this, but have found the AVS Forum full of information and many people who own the AE100. I intend to be one of them in the next 3 months.
Cheers

 

[Michael Caicedo]

ChristopherT:

Right now my setup is interlaced Toshiba dvd player to AE100 using component. I am hoping to upgrade to prog scan dvd player in the next few months, but the picture is very good ( much better than I was hoping for ) even with this setup. The prog-scan dvdplayer ==> AA transcoder via RGB ==> AE100 is reported to have excellent picture quality. JPinto over in the AVS forum currently has screenshots posted. I would _guess_ my setup is probably 80% the quality that he is getting. I have heard mixed reviews about the VB50, though some claim improvement in PQ when using it with other sources, i.e. cable, OTA.

 

[Jon_B]

I am using a malata 996 dvd player with vga out. It puts the projector into the "magic" wide480 mode which is suppose to result in the best picture possible. I am very happy so far. I am having fun going through my small dvd collection and seeing how every dvd looks. I only have 3 non-anamorphic dvds. Of the three, only one is unwatchable. ---> Stargate (Live Entertainment

version) The other two, "The Edge" and "Top Gun" aren't bad but not as good as they probably could be.

Many people have complained about the screen door being unbearable. I do see a little screen door in certain scenes, but I've noticed that with many of the newer dvds; "The Man Who Wasn't There", "Fifth Element" (superbit), "Behind Enemy Lines", etc., it is virtually impossible to detect the screen door effect. You might be able to if you walked right up to the screen, but otherwise it's a nice smooth picture.

BTW, I'm using a 91" screen.

Jon

 

[Michael Caicedo]

John B

I also find the screendoor effect hardly bothersome. Are you defocusing just a bit? The only problem for me so far is the color uniformity. I have a tinge of magenta on the upper left corner and green on the upper right. I found that setting the picture in "Normal" mode and "Normal" temperature helped a bit.

 

[Jon_B]

Yes I do defocus just a tad. I also have the picture set to normal.

Jon

 

[JohnJB]

Firstly thanks for all your help.

OK so I ordered one today locally (i.e. UK) for US $1,850 (sourcing on Japan not really an option as I'd definately be hit with circa 25% tax (VAT & import duties) anyway nice to have some warranty)

I've ordered a 9 foot diagonal (108 inch) roller screen and I'm about to order the final key part which is the Unicol dedicated ceiling mount which Unicol themselves have convinced me is safe (i.e. adaptor plate attaches to bottom using four fit for purpose holes not the one for tripod) this mount is adjustable, distance from ceiling to projector can be from 8 inches to 28 inches, now my questions:

a) silly but thought I'd ask anyway, I presume the Panny AE100 has image invert so it can be played upside down without any compromise to picture quality, damage done to projector and obviously the picture being the right way up

b) I have 7.5 foot high ceiling and will have circa 11 foot between projector and screen, am I right in thinking that the top of the display part of the roller screen should be positioned about 14 inches off the ceiling and the projector should be positioned about 16 inches off the ceiling to avoid the necessity of tilting the projector and therefore having to use the dreaded keystone correction.