Help!!! AE2000 Optimum mounting position??

[womble9]

I finally decided to upgrade my aging (yet trusty!) Optoma H56a and went out and grabbed a spangley new Panasonic PT AE2000 the other week. I'm planning to ceiling mount it in the next few days (I've bought a mount) but I'm a tad confused as to what's the best distance to mount it away from the screen so as to get the best out of it.

The confusion comes from me reading (maybe that should be mis reading!!) that the nearer the screen the better the brightness (I can understand that) so I concluded that I should mount it as close as possible to the screen whilst using the 2x zoom to obtain the pic size required but by the same token in the very same article (Projector Centrals review here: http://www.projectorcentral.com/pana..._projector.htm) they also say to use the projector with its lens set at it's widest angle (shortest throw) but does that not surely mean having it further away from the screen thus loosing brightness

Could some one please enlighten me as to what may be the best thing for me to do as I'd like to just be able to put it up there watch the blooming thing without constantly wondering if I've got it in it's optimum position .

[sdb123]

There are two rules of thumb as I understand it....the closer the lens to the screen, the brighter the image and the further away from the screen increases the contrast. I'd try and mount the pj so that as little zoom as possible is used.

[jacko5]

Originally Posted by womble9

I finally decided to upgrade my aging (yet trusty!) Optoma H56a and went out and grabbed a spangley new Panasonic PT AE2000 the other week. I'm planning to ceiling mount it in the next few days (I've bought a mount) but I'm a tad confused as to what's the best distance to mount it away from the screen so as to get the best out of it.

The confusion comes from me reading (maybe that should be mis reading!!) that the nearer the screen the better the brightness (I can understand that) so I concluded that I should mount it as close as possible to the screen whilst using the 2x zoom to obtain the pic size required but by the same token in the very same article (Projector Centrals review here: http://www.projectorcentral.com/pana..._projector.htm) they also say to use the projector with its lens set at it's widest angle (shortest throw) but does that not surely mean having it further away from the screen thus loosing brightness

Could some one please enlighten me as to what may be the best thing for me to do as I'd like to just be able to put it up there watch the blooming thing without constantly wondering if I've got it in it's optimum position .

American AV enthusiasts tend to use larger screens than us Brits, so they are usually striving for maximum lumens, which is obtained at the shortest throw. The most contrast is obtained at the longest throw. The usual recommendation is to set it up somewhere near the mid throw, but quite honestly I don't think it is that critical on most PJs. So hang it where it is most convenient for you and don't worry about it.

[True-Blue]

The panny is reasonably bright, even in ECO mode, so I doubt you'll have a problem tbh.

[womble9]

Thanks for the advice so far guys . Are there any things that are best avoided if possible though, such as using the zoom and why?. I'm not by any means questioning what anyone says I'd just like to understand it all a little better!!

[frozenblaze]

Im about to mount mine too so advice would be great.
I assume using the least amount of zoom would mean you would need to place it fairly far back. Is "0" zoom when you shrink image to its smallest size and move projector further back to increase image size?

[jacko5]

Originally Posted by frozenblaze

Im about to mount mine too so advice would be great.
I assume using the least amount of zoom would mean you would need to place it fairly far back. Is "0" zoom when you shrink image to its smallest size and move projector further back to increase image size?

A projector like the AE 2000 has been designed to give the maximum placement flexibility and they would not provide an adjustment facility which would seriously detract from its performance. Having said that,however, it is good practice to avoid extremes of lens shift, if possible, and also avoid using maximum zoom, if possible, because under these conditions you are more likely to introduce lens chromatic aberration. Most of us are at or near maximum zoom, however, because of the constraints of our room sizes. I know I am.

[crimsoneagle]

Im almost at max zoom... 0 again because of our small room sizes in general in the UK.....
But I have a new mounting problem my Aussiemorphic lense has arrived and after heated debate with the missus have decided to ceiling mount the PJ and the Lense it is HUGE!!!
pic attached.
The best way I can think of doing this is to mount the two together on a large piece of MDF then mount the MDF on the ceiling im thinling of getting this basic mount from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-LCD-...QQcmdZViewItem to secure the PJ to.
Any ideas anyone for securing the PJ & lense to the ceiling and/or how do I find wher the beams run in the ceiling without puntching hols in it??
Any ideas would be great guys...

BTW the LENSE LOOKS AMAZING!!!
even the missus commented
"that looks much better"
and trust me the woman is hard to please
Thanks all again

[womble9]

Originally Posted by frozenblaze

Is "0" zoom when you shrink image to its smallest size and move projector further back to increase image size?

That's certainly how I understand it to be which is what confuses me a little as I've also read that you should ideally have the PJ as close to the screen as you can for optimum brightness. I guess it's a trade off between the two but surely one has to be better avoided than the other doesn't it???

[womble9]

Originally Posted by womble9

That's certainly how I understand it to be which is what confuses me a little as I've also read that you should ideally have the PJ as close to the screen as you can for optimum brightness. I guess it's a trade off between the two but surely one has to be better avoided than the other doesn't it???

Anyone ??

[sdb123]

As already mentioned, this pj is more than bright enough, especially for us UK users with 'normal' sized rooms.

[JagoPlasma]

i wouldnt worry too much about it mate.

aslong as your not using max or min zoom then you will be ok.

set your pj up on a table and move the zoom to mid way. then move the table back and forth till you get an image size and quality you like. you can also adjust the zoom to help compensate but try to stick away from the max and min.

max zoom will give you a big picture but lower light, and min zoom will give you more light(maybe too much) but small picture

same with moving the pj back and forth, the closer you get the brighter and smaller the farther you get the dimmer and bigger. all the zoom does is correct for if you have to have the pj too close or too far away.

if you want to get really technical then look at the throw chart for the pj, set your pj in the middle of the max and min distance and then the zoom in the middle. that is the quality of image you should be aiming for from the pj

[womble9]

Originally Posted by JagoPlasma

i wouldnt worry too much about it mate.

aslong as your not using max or min zoom then you will be ok.

set your pj up on a table and move the zoom to mid way. then move the table back and forth till you get an image size and quality you like. you can also adjust the zoom to help compensate but try to stick away from the max and min.

max zoom will give you a big picture but lower light, and min zoom will give you more light(maybe too much) but small picture

same with moving the pj back and forth, the closer you get the brighter and smaller the farther you get the dimmer and bigger. all the zoom does is correct for if you have to have the pj too close or too far away.

if you want to get really technical then look at the throw chart for the pj, set your pj in the middle of the max and min distance and then the zoom in the middle. that is the quality of image you should be aiming for from the pj

Thanks for the detailed answer mate, that sounds like a pretty good way to do it .