I had an ax100 and took it back because i preferred the image on the z3 it was replacing. Some ppl like sharp images, some ppl like smooth images, and the smoothscreen tech goes someway to making lcd look like dlp whilst softening the image, but I didn't like it, feeling that it caused funny scaling artifacts even on static images (like on the graphics different dvd player's put out when there's no disc in/playing - I took issue with all 3 of the screensavers of different players i tried with it).
It is always very difficult to make assertions about a manufacturer's track record with quality control, but I genuinely think that Sanyos are sturdier machines based on my experience. The ae100's (5 panasonics ago) were hugely popular on these forums but ended up having loads of problems down the line. The trend has continued somewhat through the generations, but it has to be remembered that panasonics tend to sell better (especially earlier on, before the sanyo's start getting reduced). I've seen 2 ax100's and both had uniformity issues and pretty bad convergence. I've only ever seen my sanyo which was bought 2nd hand here with its quality approved by a moderator, so my "experience" with them is limited, and despite my good luck, I think that most units are flawed in some way. Its just that there is such a wide range of problems reported on the panasonic (ghosting, uniformity etc.) and my one seemed to have all of them. There are a lot of ppl who post in discussions on the ax100's flaws how theirs works fine, but panasonic always seems to win over new customers who are likely just too wowed by the big picture (as we all were) to notice the thin blue line at the edge (or whatever), and most veterans who get them seem to take issue with them pretty quickly.
The z5 may not be as bright but 5 years ago, it wasn't unheard of for ppl to say on these forums that "its plenty bright with 500 lumens, so you can use it with a fair amount of ambient light". Screens have gotten bigger since then, of course, so 500 lumens wouldn't get you as far anyways, but my point is that it's all relative and ppl will always say that the least bright of two competing models will require complete darkness, when in fact ambient light doesn't do either any favours, it just affects the brighter one less than the other. Whilst the projectorcentral comparison (which raves about both BTW) says the range of light outputs is what makes the ax100 so much more versatile, the accounts of problems which have set in 10s-100s of hours down the line (discolouration relating to low lamp mode i think), suggest that its precisely the indeterminance of its specifications that's making the panels go bad.
Besides, with the free lamp/camcorder/3 year warranty, the sanyo is once again the better deal.
