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Author
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Topic: Panasonic AE700 has died
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted November 08, 2008 03:41 PM
My Panny tonight has died. It sounds like the power supply has gone, spent a while checking out AV forums etc. Also found out that my other problem was the optical block, it seems these two things are quite common faults, if your unlucky enough to buy one that is going to develop these faults.
I am now wondering what to do about the Panny, as i don't think it is financially viable to have repaired. I have thought of taking into the garden and showing it my newly required heavy mallet, or taking it to Blackpool and let all the film guys pee on it, and i'll join them. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) To think that this useless box cost the price of two GS1200's ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
So what to do now, Well it's early days, but onwards and never let it be said that i learn from my mistakes, that will be the day. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif) I will spend the next few weeks, months trawling the internet and AV forums for a replacement. Once you get into VP, it's kind of hard not to have it. Still, i got my super 8 again, and i will console my self with the knowledge that i can sit here to night and watch a film on the big screen while sticking two fingers up and the dead box on the table. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Chris.
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Chris Quinn Rides again.
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 08, 2008 07:40 PM
Sorry to hear about your Panny Chris. I have now had my AE700 almost exactly 4 years. At 2.5 years the power supply went out, and as I had an extended warranty Panasonic replaced it at no cost. Otherwise it would have been about $500.00. Since then it has performed flawlessly and the picture still looks like new. Also I have yet to replace the lamp which is now at about 2500 hours. I am sure the brightness is down compared with new, but the picture still looks plenty bright to me.
My personal experience of the Panasonic AE700 has been good, and I regard it as an excellent product. When it does eventually fail I plan on replacing it with the new Pansaonic AE3000 1080P projector, which has the programmable lens memory feature (for zoom, focus, and vertical position) for instant Cinemascope with constant image height. Like you, I could not live without my VP. The thing I like most about the Panasonics is the 'smooth screen technology' feature, which eliminates all the screen door (chicken wire) effect, and gives a really film looking picture.
Unfortunately, video projectors are not built to last like GS1200'S, or even Pathe Baby's. They fall squarely into the realm of disposable electronics, just like computers. If you get 5 years out of a VP you have done well.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted November 09, 2008 05:07 AM
Thanks Guy's,
John, I am going to investigate in to getting a repair done, problem is though that the panny has an additional problem "blue tint" noticeable on B/W films. Also, more than likely will have to post off to someone, and it's getting it through the postal system intact, and not coming back needing a new lamp or worse still a cracked LED panel which happened before. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Paul, It does seem that for the money the Panasonic's are top of the LCD field, the reviews for the 3000 are great. I thought by now though that all LCDS would have cured the problem of screen door? This maybe a reason to take a chance on DLP, the rainbow effect in these has been considerably reduced on the newer machines. I know you have had a good experience with your 700, but i have considerable less hours on mine and it has not given me value for money what so ever. Yes it gave an outstanding picture when new, and still good up to last night apart from the blue tint spoiling B/W films, but i think once bitten...
Mark,
Thinking on the lines of cheap replacement while waiting for the 1080P's to come down in price, well the goods ones anyway. Kevin Clark's machine is interesting, around 400 with 10 year warranty on colour, would like to find a warranty of 3 years or more though.
I spent two hours trawling through the net looking at machines and what's on offer generally, and came across this (see link below) I am impressed, but need to check out further.
Jean, I'm the poor sod with the broken panny. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/05/14/BenQ-W5000-Full-HD-DLP-Projector/p1
Above is now out of the frame, it comes down to the zoom lens, as my throw is 13ft. Panasonic and Sanyo lens's fit the bill. I'm not sure about Sanyo as a viable unit due to poor black levels, and Paul's got me thing screen door problems. I may be forced to go Panasonic after all.
[ November 09, 2008, 09:18 AM: Message edited by: Christopher P Quinn ]
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Chris Quinn Rides again.
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted November 09, 2008 01:27 PM
Blimey, and i though it was the DVD guy's that were the aggressive ones. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Panny is like a nick name for them i suppose, Panasonic VP's are just called panny's.
Simon calm down, I'm not saying that it's good bad or ugly, just that it's broken and i like watching DVD's on the big screen. I also like reel film too.
Trouble is everything i need to know on film is here on the forum, you only need search and you will find what your looking for. So i hope by adding DVD info and talking about it, it may help someone in the future. It is a far more friendlier place that the AV forums, although i do also very occasionally post there too. Please don't get upset about DVD, it's not a hobby to me it's just like the telly another way to watch films.
I was just going to post this and ask you guy's what you think...
Dear Mr Quinn,
Thank you for your enquiry. A new power supply unit would cost
around £225 + vat to supply and fit but we would need to collect and assess
the unit to determine exactly what is needed - our costs for that are
£123.38 (incl. vat), payable in advance. We would then give you an accurate
quote for the repair work and you can decide whether or not to go ahead.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Regards
Alison
Thanks,
Chris.
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Chris Quinn Rides again.
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted November 10, 2008 05:51 AM
Christopher, one thing you might want to bear in mind with DLP is that the rainbow effect can vary from one machine to another.
I have been using DLP for 8 years now as I personally prefer the look to LCD but I CAN see the dreaded rainbow (I just like DLP in so many other resepects that I put up with it).
When I came to change my old DLP projector, I went to see demos of "Infocus" machines, which have a great reputation and are very solidly built. I was suprised to find that the rainbow effect was even more noticeable than on my older projector. I put it down to better contrast on the Infocus (as you tend to see the effect more with bright images on dark backgrounds, although it was a bit alarming and I didn't know if I could live with it).
After a bit of research I found that the Infocus uses what is refered to as a 4x speed colour wheel (this has nothing to do with how many colour SEGMENTS the wheel uses!)
I then discovered that some of the Optoma range (which are very similar spec. wise) use 5x and 6x colour wheels. I went to see the HD80 which uses a 6x colour wheel and to me, the rainbow was radically reduced. Same spec. as the Infocus, just the colour wheel spinning faster = less rainbow!
None of this is stated in the specifications for these machines and is very rarely mentioned in reviews. I found it out by trawling the internet and by going to see them in action.
Of course, if you don't see the dreaded rainbow effect then non of this matters!!! Most of my friends and family don't even know what I'm going on about!
But if you do, this can make all the difference.
...and lets not even get onto the subject of darkchip2 vs. darkchip3 DLP machines
Apparently there are plans for single chip DLP projectors which use 3 coloured LEDs as the light source, thus dispensing with the colour wheel and irradicating rainbow, but I think these are some way off being generally available.
I suppose if you have about £12,000 spare you could go for a 3 chip DLP which would solve all of this! We can dream can't we
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Christopher P Quinn
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 210
From: Bedfordshire
Registered: Sep 2008
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posted November 11, 2008 09:45 AM
I have been assured that the Epson TW680 has a good quality picture that will not show me chicken wire effect, i am possibly going to go with this model as trying to find a DLP with similar spec at the price is proving difficult. If anyone can direct me in the right direction £650 is the tops i want to spend. I think occasional flashes i could just live with rather than grid lines.
I have checked out the Panasonic AX200 on the AV forum owners thread along with the Epson. Although i still think Panasonic are a great machine, the reliability of these machines are still terrible. Checking out this thread has put me off ever getting one again, which is a shame, but customer support in the UK is terrible and although you get 2 years warranty, it is questionable if it covers colour degrading. Problems are listed as Dynamic Iris faults, green flashes and red and blue tinting, among others. I found a lot less problems on the Epson threads.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/dlp-lcd-d-ila-projectors/641518-panasonic-pt-ax200-owners-reviews-settings-screenshots-problems-etc-23.html
Alan, projection TV, I don't know much about, why do you think it better than your 42" plasma, apart from the size.
Chris.
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Chris Quinn Rides again.
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