[ashcurrie]

Originally Posted by Dan_Mason

You refering to the function that remembers the 2:35.1 lens setting thingy? If so, can is that affected by how much it hangs down? haven't really researched that bit yet

For the lens function to work it seems to be a general rule of thumb that the centre of the lens must be at least in line with the top edge of the screen for it to work, however a few guys over on AVSForum have experimented with it and say that in certain circumstances the centre of the lens can be up to 7" above the screen depending on your throw distance and size of screen.

So obviously there are a few things to consider,

Do you want to take advantage of the lens function, what will you be mostly using the projector for? If its movies, then i highly reccommend a 2.35:1 screen, it is so much more immersive and you don't have any black bars top and bottom
Then to watch HDTV or 16:9 content you just re-zoom using the lens function, which is effortless!
Or do you watch more HDTV content, then stick with a 16:9 screen to take advantage of the height.

This choice also depends of the size of your screen wall, if its fairly small width wise then a 16:9 is the way to go, but if you have a decent width then you can have a 2.35:1 set-up while still getting a large 16:9 image!

Hope this is making sense.

Ideally when you get your projector play about with it in the room masking of a screen, this will then allow you to test the lens memory function and see if it works in your space. When testing you can position the projector at the bottom of the screen on a table as the lens shift is identical either way, just means you don't have to try and position you projector in mid air and moving it back and forward is alot easier to find the right position

I bought a 30cm etension tube to drop mine down enought from the ceiling, so that taking into account the ceiling mount, extension, projector mount and the half the depth of the projector the centre of the lens safely fell within the top of my screen

I really do reccommend the lens memory its awesome and when you show your mates for the first time Iron Man zooming from a 16:9 to a 2.35:1 screen in the dark it will put a smaile on your face big time, and its such a cheap alternative to the traditional anamorphic lens with practically the same results

What are your room dimensions? You got any other plans at the moment? How about the rest of your kit? Love to hear about it all
If you have any more questions fire a away!!

You're gonna love it

[DannyBoy73]

Cheers Ashcurrie

I've already got an electric screen, think its 10 inch (maybe 108?) and in 16:9 ratio. Also as it comes out the ceiling the white viewing area stops about 2 inches below the ceiling.... so the projector is is naturally a bit lower than the top of the screen.

But as I've got a 16:9 screen, does that mean I'll never use the lens memory function? I.e. never have it setup for a 2.35:1 mode?

However I guess I could install a 2.35:1 screen, but then I'd have black pillars when watching 16:9 right??

I use the projector alot for films, but also games too.

Cheers
Dan

[ashcurrie]

Originally Posted by Dan_Mason

Cheers Ashcurrie

I've already got an electric screen, think its 10 inch (maybe 108?) and in 16:9 ratio. Also as it comes out the ceiling the white viewing area stops about 2 inches below the ceiling.... so the projector is is naturally a bit lower than the top of the screen.

But as I've got a 16:9 screen, does that mean I'll never use the lens memory function? I.e. never have it setup for a 2.35:1 mode?

However I guess I could install a 2.35:1 screen, but then I'd have black pillars when watching 16:9 right??

I use the projector alot for films, but also games too.

Cheers
Dan

Yeah so if your gonna use a 16:9 screen then you won't need to use the lens memory. Is this setup in a living room then if the screen is electric? If so you would prob want the projector fairly flush to the ceiling, try and keep it from imposing on the room!

Here are a few options, but there are more out there!

Ceiling Mount To Fit Panasonic PT-AE1000/2000/3000 on eBay, also, Projectors, DVD Home Cinema, Consumer Electronics (end time 01-Feb-09 21:34:53 GMT)


Vogels EPC 6545 (Vogels EPC 6545)

Chief RPA-U (Chief RPAU)

The last one (chief), alot of guys in america on AVSForum would use it and it gets a really good reputation for being absolutely solid. I used a vogels mount which is decent!

If you did install a 2.35:1 screen yes you would get black bars on each side of the screen when watching 16:9 content however i do not find them as distracting as black bar top and bottom but its user preference

I have a 104" 2.35:1 DIY screen which was ridiculously cheap for what i have ended up with! So when I watch 16:9 content it gives me an image size of 84" which is think is pretty big for watching tv and playing COD But this set-up really does shine when watching movies!

[ashcurrie]

Kelvin whats the next step in the masterplan? You maybe gonna try the Tiffen CC30M magenta?

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by ashcurrie

Kelvin whats the next step in the masterplan? You maybe gonna try the Tiffen CC30M magenta?

I don't think I'll bother...it looks like our friends were talking it up before taking any proper measurements as it was all 'by eye' before the final result was admited. As my particular AE3000 has the blue and green pretty close in Dynamic mode, with red a long way down, the CC30M wouldn't be any better than the 81C I tried already. I think I'll just stick to my calibrated Cinema 1 mode without any filters....having two filters in front of the PJ seems to be effecting ANSI contrast, which defeats the point somewhat. It would help it the AE3000 had a manual iris (in addition to the dynamic one) like the JVC HD350/750 then I could use it to adjust the brightness precisely without adding an ND2 filter.

I'm concentrating instead on improving and extending my screen 'tent'. Some tests tonight using a spare length of velvet shows that the black cloth I use now can be improved upon and makes a big difference to how much the tent gets lit up by bright scenes (and therefore how much gets reflected back). This will give much more improvement to the PQ than trying different filters I think.

[DannyBoy73]

Thanks Ashcurrie

Does anyone know the layout of the mount screw holes on the AE3000? Trying to work out if my old mount can be modified to work with the panny.

Could do with knowing the distant between the holes too?

Cheers

[Speedoguy]

Anyone looking for a good price for this, see at shop@panasonic Exeter, currently going for £1799.

PTAE3000*Full*High*Definition*Projector Shop@Panasonic (Exeter) Ltd

[Bert Coules]

Can anyone tell me if the image zoom&shift memory feature is much affected by the projector's horizontal positioning? I know that it can't be placed either above or below the screen area for the feature to work properly, but is a degree of sideways off-centredness possible?

Many thanks.

Bert

[DannyBoy73]

Originally Posted by Speedoguy

Anyone looking for a good price for this, see at shop@panasonic Exeter, currently going for £1799.

PTAE3000*Full*High*Definition*Projector Shop@Panasonic (Exeter) Ltd

Blimey thats a good deal!

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by Bert Coules

Can anyone tell me if the image zoom&shift memory feature is much affected by the projector's horizontal positioning? I know that it can't be placed either above or below the screen area for the feature to work properly, but is a degree of sideways off-centredness possible?

Many thanks.

Bert

You can place the PJ off centre and align it using the manual lens shift to get the 2.35:1 to line up with the screen edges. Then there is a horizontal adjustment in the lens memory setup menu that allows movement left and right (but in doing so it does actually seem to crop the picture) for the 16:9 setting. Otherwise you may find that when zooming the image shifts to one side, making the 16:9 side bars un equal (if that bothers you, then masking would hide this issue anyway).

[ashcurrie]

Originally Posted by Speedoguy

Anyone looking for a good price for this, see at shop@panasonic Exeter, currently going for £1799.

PTAE3000*Full*High*Definition*Projector Shop@Panasonic (Exeter) Ltd

Thats a freakin awesome price buy buy buy

[markswift2003]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

I don't think I'll bother...it looks like our friends were talking it up before taking any proper measurements as it was all 'by eye' before the final result was admited. As my particular AE3000 has the blue and green pretty close in Dynamic mode, with red a long way down, the CC30M wouldn't be any better than the 81C I tried already. I think I'll just stick to my calibrated Cinema 1 mode without any filters....having two filters in front of the PJ seems to be effecting ANSI contrast, which defeats the point somewhat. It would help it the AE3000 had a manual iris (in addition to the dynamic one) like the JVC HD350/750 then I could use it to adjust the brightness precisely without adding an ND2 filter.

I'm concentrating instead on improving and extending my screen 'tent'. Some tests tonight using a spare length of velvet shows that the black cloth I use now can be improved upon and makes a big difference to how much the tent gets lit up by bright scenes (and therefore how much gets reflected back). This will give much more improvement to the PQ than trying different filters I think.

Kelvin,

I'm with you on that one - I've messed with filters, both colour and Nuetral Density over the years and have always ended up without them and gone back to basics.

My screen is a Constant Image Width multi-aspect job and although the horizontal mask screen is black, it's not as black as say, black velvet. So I recently got hold of some "Goo Flok" - basically sticky backed felt - it's the stuff Screen Goo sell for masking - and put a 10" strip on the mask screen so now where the mask meets the screen, it's BLACK!

And that makes a massive difference to contrast ratio - so I think you're dead right - your screen tent and a well calibrated cinema1 mode (or colour1) and you've cracked it!

Love HCFR btw

Mark

[DannyBoy73]

So what is all this "masking" on screens I hear about?

Is it literally sticking black bits of felt on parts of the screen where no image is projected due to the ratio? Therefore covering up the white/grey parts of the screen that aren't in use?

Cheers

[DannyBoy73]

Just had the call from the Panasonic shop, my AE3000 has arrived

Think I might be leaving work bit early too...

[Bert Coules]

Originally Posted by DannyBoy73

Is it literally sticking black bits of felt on parts of the screen where no image is projected due to the ratio? Therefore covering up the white/grey parts of the screen that aren't in use?

Yes, that's exactly it (though other materials can also be used). A hard-edged black border can enhance the image by a good deal, as others have said.

Sophisticated screens are available (or can be made) with what's called variable masking, which can move, or be moved, to accommodate images with different aspect ratios. Sit in your viewing chair, press a button and watch your screen expand from 4:3 to 2.35:1 - luxury...

Bert

[DannyBoy73]

Oh cool. So is the advantage having a black border at top and bottom, or is the advantage just not having white there??

I'm thinking could you just mask the top bit of a 16:9 screen and project the image onto the bottom 2/3's of the screen? I.e. just mask the top

cheers

[Bert Coules]

For the best results you really should have black borders on all four sides, but having said that, for ages I used a temporary screen which just had one border - at the bottom - and it was still better than having none at all.

Bert

[markswift2003]

Originally Posted by DannyBoy73

So what is all this "masking" on screens I hear about?

Is it literally sticking black bits of felt on parts of the screen where no image is projected due to the ratio? Therefore covering up the white/grey parts of the screen that aren't in use?

Cheers

The screen I use has two rollers, one holding the white screen with a black border down the 2 edges and a black bottom bar and the other one in front which has a back screen with black bottom bar which drops in front of the white screen to mask it.

If you select 16:9, the white screen drops a certain distance and the black one drops in front at the top to frame the white screen at 16:9. If you then select 2.35:1, the white screen moves up relative to it's 16:9 position and the black one moves down, so framing the white screen to 2.35:1.

I have set 4 ratios set, 16:9, 1.85:1, 2.11:1 and 2.35:1 which covers all aspect ratios i've come across (2.11:1 is particularly useful for the Discovery Channel!)

Mark

[markswift2003]

Originally Posted by DannyBoy73

Oh cool. So is the advantage having a black border at top and bottom, or is the advantage just not having white there??

I'm thinking could you just mask the top bit of a 16:9 screen and project the image onto the bottom 2/3's of the screen? I.e. just mask the top

cheers

It's definately an advantage to mask top and bottom - it makes a massive difference to your perceived contrast ratio.

And if the black isn't "black" enough, you still get the perception of the "gray bars" on darker images, hence my use of Goo Flok to get no reflection at all of these gray bars, whether it's a dark image or not - It really does make the overall experience that much more vivid, and for want of a better adjective, contrasty!

Mark

[markswift2003]

To give an idea, here's a couple of pics, one at 2.35 and one at 16:9

Mark

ps - these pics are pre-flokking, so to speak...but you'll notice a piece of mdf about 8" high and the width of the screen, covered in black velvet behind and under the screen in the 2.35 pic fixed to the wall to soak up the gray bars in that format. Doesn't harm acoustics as well.

[DannyBoy73]

Awesome Mark, cheers for that, the pics defo made it easy to understand

Give us a go on your drums

[markswift2003]

There's also a Fender Strat in there, and i'm the only person I know who can make his kids cry (and I mean properly cry!) by playing guitar.....

[KelvinS1965]

Another Strat fan...however mine's in bits awaiting a respray hence the Les Paul in 'My Setup Thread'. I fancy some of those electronic drums too, not quite so annoying to neighbours and family as a real kit. I haven't made my kids cry, though some of my eldest's friends laughed at me when they saw me playing it.....

Back on topic: I never used to worry about the side bars when watching 16:9, but my new screen shows them up much more, I suppose because they are more effected by room reflections than the old Greywolf. I think I'm going to have to make up some 6mm MDF panels with velvet stappled to them, these would hang from some kind of (TBA ) hooks attached to the rebuilt screen pelmet. Just because I have a 2.35:1 screen doesn't mean I never watch 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 films.

I've just ordered a couple of the cheaper samples of black velvet from the 'improving contrast ratio' thread, so I may buy some of the 'best quality' for the side masks and the cheaper version for my revised screen 'tent'. I just can't get over how much this white screen has diminished my contrast and image depth. I'm even getting a solid wood door for the lounge to replace a glass panelled one (not that there is much light coming from it, but it all helps improve the viewing experience)....still cheaper than buying a JVC HD750 though.

[DannyBoy73]

Help

Just got home with new AE3000 and looking at the mount points....

There seems to be 5 randomly placed holes, 3 silver and 2 gold colour....

Do people's mounts use all 5 holes? or only the silver ones maybe??

If I mod'ed my old mount to use just 3 of the holes would that be enough?

Cheers

[KelvinS1965]

The guy that bought (and then sold again ) my old AE2000 put it on a mount when I delivered it and he used three screws, though I can't remember the colour of the threads. Once the 'pole' was locked onto the mount it seemed very sturdy, so I'm sure that three holes is fine.

[Bert Coules]

Originally Posted by markswift2003

To give an idea, here's a couple of pics, one at 2.35 and one at 16:9

The helicopters are a nice stylistic touch. What do you use to control your two blinds?

Bert

[markswift2003]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

Another Strat fan...however mine's in bits awaiting a respray hence the Les Paul in 'My Setup Thread'. I fancy some of those electronic drums too, not quite so annoying to neighbours and family as a real kit. I haven't made my kids cry, though some of my eldest's friends laughed at me when they saw me playing it.....

Back on topic: I never used to worry about the side bars when watching 16:9, but my new screen shows them up much more, I suppose because they are more effected by room reflections than the old Greywolf. I think I'm going to have to make up some 6mm MDF panels with velvet stappled to them, these would hang from some kind of (TBA ) hooks attached to the rebuilt screen pelmet. Just because I have a 2.35:1 screen doesn't mean I never watch 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 films.

I've just ordered a couple of the cheaper samples of black velvet from the 'improving contrast ratio' thread, so I may buy some of the 'best quality' for the side masks and the cheaper version for my revised screen 'tent'. I just can't get over how much this white screen has diminished my contrast and image depth. I'm even getting a solid wood door for the lounge to replace a glass panelled one (not that there is much light coming from it, but it all helps improve the viewing experience)....still cheaper than buying a JVC HD750 though.

My wife bought me the drums for xmas year before last - she thought I could use them with headphones... Bless!! She realised her error when I hooked them up to a Marshall Combo

Inspired by your screen tent, I'm going to paint the back wall and the first 3 feet (ish) of the side walls a much darker colour - it'd be nice to do in flat black paint then feather the sides into the existing wall colour, which also needs darkening, but I'm not sure if I could pull that off!

It's amazing how perceived contrast is affected by your peripheral vision, particularly on the dark scenes.

[markswift2003]

Originally Posted by Bert Coules

The helicopters are a nice stylistic touch. What do you use to control your two blinds?

Bert

The helis are there because the wife won't let me keep them anywhere else!

The blinds are in 3 banks - 2 on the bay in the pics and 1 on the window behind the screen - they're standard 24v electric blinds all wired back to a home built relay box controlled from a self programmed Crestron system - it's all a bit James Bond when I hit the watch movie button, but never fails to raise a smile

[Bert Coules]

Originally Posted by markswift2003

...it's all a bit James Bond when I hit the watch movie button, but never fails to raise a smile

It sounds great. Thanks.

Bert

[DannyBoy73]

Got the beast installed last night and I've got to say, wow!!! what an awesome bit of kit... very happy with it indeed. and so glad I didn't go for the Sony at twice the size!!

Unfortunately my HDMI cable won't quite reach at the mo, so need ot sort that out this weekend... But still had 1080p from PS3 as it was streaming, so watched some of WALL-E and also The Rock

Going to spend some proper time with it tonight playing it all the settings Got the DVE HD Basic on Blu-ray too.

Would defo recommend to anyone