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Topic: New LCD Projector
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted October 29, 2008 11:11 AM
Mal,
Don't worry, if yours has been going for that amount time you have at least 6 months left.
Mine is acceptable for viewing in colour, but black & white viewing is a problem, to me. Note that non amateur projectionists in the household don't see a problem.
I think it's a problem with mirror alignment, although not 100% sure. If you go into the service menu that's the secret one hold down OSD and you can open a service screen, this should be white, mine has a green tint running down the middle, about 50%. This is not visible normally when projecting a colour film, unless you really look for it, but as i know about it i tent to scrutinize what I’m watching. Black and white it is very noticeable to me.
The projector had this problem after 11 months I sent it back to the internet shop and they sent it on for repairs, when it came back to them one of the LCD panels was cracked. They sent it back where they replaced all three panels, they were not happy as this cost them a small fortune. When I eventually got it back it was still not 100%, but I had a feeling it would be nothing but a nightmare to carry on sending it back as they were getting funny with me. Anyway it wasn’t too bad, but as time went on it got worse. I wouldn’t buy another VP unless it came with 3 years warranty like the Epson one I left a link to.
A problem that was fixable by me was the video banding I got when the unit was left on standby. Now it never gets left on standby and I get no banding.
These projectors were the bees when they first come out, and still the picture is pretty good compared with the new budget models coming out. But I am keen to go 1080P and also i want the contrast ratio that these new VPs have got. The AE700 2000:1 against the TW2000 50,000:1 I'm told the difference is like day & night, and i believe it.
I have never had these problems with my ciné projectors, that should tell me something.
-------------------- Chris Quinn Rides again.
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Kevin Clark
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 978
From: Bapchild, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2004
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posted October 31, 2008 05:42 AM
Hello Chris
Thankfully no rainbows for me or the family with this VP - I realise though some people are more susceptible to the rainbow effect than others but this should be lessened now that faster RPM DLP colour wheels are used.
You know me as a bit of a bargain hunter, so with regards to feeding HD content to my Optoma I use two Toshiba EP30 HD-DVD players. I picked them both up brand new for £49.99 each earlier this year, one from Play.com and one from scAmazon UK, available so cheaply (they were originally priced at over £200 each in December 2007) as Warners pulled the plug on HD-DVD production thus making it effectively a dead format. However, as the players each came with five free disks I quickly sold the disks thus making the players almost F.O.C. Since then HD-DVD disks have been available from HMV etc. for £2.99 so I have a large box of HD content to keep me happy until BluRay prices drop below £100 for players and £10 for new (not old catalogue) titles. It will happen soon trust me - only yesterday John Lewis sold off their Sony BDP-S300 players for £99 each although being profile 1 and not upgradable, and pretty slow and clunky in operation, I'd personally wait for the newer models to reduce in price first. Link to the John Lewis Sony player is as follows:
http://www.johnlewis.com/230443430/Product.aspx
Sadly at the moment all my AV kit is boxed up waiting for the slowest DIY builder in the world (ME !) to finally finish my home cinema conversion. The end result of Super 8, 16mm, DVD & HD projection (and a soundproof place to play my drum set too) in a permanent set up will be a dream come true though.
Regarding your Panasonic projector I would consider going to Panasonic direct, complaining in writing that the service level received via the supplier was less than impressive, and that your expectations regarding reasonable long term use and reliability of what was their top of the range model have not been met - often a well worded letter to the customer service department of a large manufacturer will have a more positive outcome than complaining to the supplier who, these days, are just box shifters really. Even if out of warranty Panasonic should still help you especially as your problems started within the warranty period but were never fully resolved. You have nothing to lose by complaining and everything to gain.
Kevin
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted October 31, 2008 10:06 AM
Kevin, Thanks for replying. Yes i was playing around with the idea of getting a cheap HD player to play with, but have not come across any as cheap as £49!!! You are Mr. Bargain.
I am very tempted with your VP, i have seen them for around £460, but i am going to wait now, as you said prices are dropping quickly.
I may well do as you said and have a go at complaining to Panasonic, although i have herd from the AV forum that the customer service department is not very helpful to say the least, still one can but try.
You must and i mean MUST, post pictures of the home cinema conversion when completed, i am soooo envious.
Catch you at the BFCC. Chris.
-------------------- Chris Quinn Rides again.
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Steve Klare
Film Guy
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 02, 2008 02:28 PM
Ah, but people follow the herd, especially where technology is concerned, even if they don't really understand the difference. I love the way the word "digital" is thrown around these days. When I went to electronics school we were in the second year before we studied that concept and now it's become buzz word that everyone uses but few really understand. (Would they like it so much if they found out it's really about [gulp!] math!!)
My brother in law has about a 48 inch plasma screen and what intrigues me about it is the variabilty of the picture quality. It will look apectacular and then all of a sudden there will be a rapid motion on screen and there will be image smearing. HD really does look better, but unfortunately for the years they've been using the thing it's been mostly broadcast TV, which looks pretty bad.
-fortunately for them, they don't really notice the difference.
I think I'd be happier with a CRT TV half the size, but that ship has pretty much sailed these days.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
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