Comments on: Epson 6500UB, 6100, TW5000, PLV-Z3000 de-focusing

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:36:58 +0000

Hi Guys,

My 2c on this topic..

I’ve got the Aus equivalent of the Home Cinema 6100 (TW3000). It’s hit 200Hrs now and still has the defocusing issues.

If I leave it for about 1HR to warm up before using it, the picture will come into focus. If I focus it without the warmup, it will slowly ocme *out* of focus within 1HR or so.

It’s a querk that I’m not happy to live with. After taking the warranty claim angle, EPSON have agreed to replace the unit with a new one. The old unit will be sent back to EPSON to have this modification applied (apparently the first one in Australia to receive it).

I don’t have much faith in the new unit not exhibiting this issue, but it’s good to hear that EPSON AU have finally admitted there is a modification available to at least help it.

I think it’s pretty poor that this flaw exists- who wants to be waiting 1HR for the projector to warm up and focus each night? Talk about wasting the globe..

My old projector was a Sanyo PLV-Z2… never had this issue!

By: Tom Collins

Tom Collins — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:20:24 +0000

Art,
I bought the 6100. The defocusing on mine is still an issue after 200 hours. Also as it stands in high lamp mode and where the projector is mounted it is already a little loud. I hope whatever fix they come up with it doesn’t increase the noise levels. Something as simple as a projector going out of focus after a 1/2 hour should have been caught before any production units went out the door.(tried the high altitude mode for increased air flow but at that point the noise is unaccepatble)

By: Dennis

Dennis — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:54:08 +0000

Art,

I just received an email from Evan at Projector Central concerning the fix for the defocusing issue:

I have been in contact with Evan at Projector Central concerning the defousing issue. Here is the most recent conversation via email:

Hi Evan,

I just read your article after you spoke with Epson on the cause and fix for
the defocusing issue. Did they address what us current owners of the
projector should do? Will they replace our units with the new modified ones?
I haven’t called them yet on my defocusing issue. Should I wait until mid
Feb when they have the modified units?

Evan replies:

Hi Dennis,

They said they would fix or replace units that were having a problem, but
evidently not all users are having a problem. So there is no blanket policy
that I am aware of–rather it will be handled on a case by case basis. But
they say they are committed to making sure all customers are happy, whatever
it takes. I’d suggest you wait until we test the newly revised units. I am
not sure that the revision they have come up with will entirely solve the
problem, but it might for all I know. And it appears that the 6100/7100 use
a different set of LCD panels than those in the 6500/7500. That may have an
influence on the course of action based on model type.

Evan

By: Dennis

Dennis — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:52:07 +0000

Art, looks like Evan at the other site just got an answer from Epson. It is definitely a heat issue with the defocus. Epson stated that all new units going forward will have a modification to the rear exhaust vent to allow more air movement in the unit- thus lowering heat within it. Have you personally confirmed this with Epson? I would hope Epson will replace current owners with a newer modified 6500. My unit defocuses slightly but it is noticable especially when viewing text.

By: Matthieu

Matthieu — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:20:03 +0000

Hello, it seems like LCD projectors behave like the old Slide-projectors afterall.
I’m an 3D photographer and I’m use to project 3D slides.
When the slides are not between glass they expand because of the heat and get a curve(plopping), so you have to focus twice or you wait till the slides warm up and they get in the place where the focus is.
I can imagine that LCD panels get a bit larger too by warming up and when they have no way to go they will bending also.
It’s just a thought, I’m not an expert.
Also my English is not that great, so I’m not sure I used the right words.

***************************************
Greetings Matthieu,

Ahh, good old slides – I used to sell digital film recorders for making presentation slides. I also used to present with them quite a lot. I even remember covers for the carousel trays, so they would warm up faster, would heat up the whole tray in 2-3 minutes.

But, to your point: Well, not really! I can’t see it being the LCD panels. It looks to be more tied to the design of the light path, in conjunction with heating issues, rather than the panels. For example, the Panasonic PT-AE3000 shows virtually no defocusing, and it’s LCD as well. The Sanyo Z3000, Panasonic, and the 6500UB have the same panels. Also we are seeing variations from one Epson projector to another. Neither of my Epson’s have a real problem (6100 and 6500UB). Even the 6100 which is a bit worse than the the 6500UB here, I don’t consider to be a problem. Check out any projector’s focus, from center to the corners. If you are sharp in the center, you are going to have some softness in the corners. (That’s why you should set the focus at it’s sharpest, about 1/3 out from the center.) The difference between them is most often more than the defocusing I’m seeing on any of these projectors.

Most likely the issue is heavily tied to heat, in some designs. It could be the back of the lens, but I doubt that as most of these projectors have glass lenses. -art

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Wow, Evan on the other site said noticeable difference after 30 min, wow time to adjust the review. First bad convergence, now lousy focus rings, way to go Epson!

By: Edwin Jaehn

Edwin Jaehn — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:20:36 +0000

Art,
I left my 6100 untouched Wednesday night after turning it off, turned it on today (Thursday) and observed the focus. Fuzzy at first, but after about a half hour the focus was good enough that I did not fiddle with it for the rest of the evening. I have about 70 hours on it now. It would be nice if it would focus quicker, but I am satisfied. Maybe we can put this issue to bed and you can finish the review on the 6100 (screen recommendations). I am probably going to enlarge my (painted on the wall) screen, and need to decide on light, medium, or dark gray. This is all a lot of fun– certainly more entertaining than having a typical flat-screen TV. Keep up the good work.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:37:12 +0000

Hi Art,
Thanks for the great site and all the information. So…..have you found your replacement for your JVC in the RS 10 or RS 20??
**************
Hi Neil,
Pretty much! I’m pricing now. Will let everyone know, when it happens! -art

By: Dave G.

Dave G. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:51:04 +0000

Art,

Every projector I’ve owned (X1, 4805, HD1000) changed focus as they warmed up. IMO, I really don’t think this is anything new at all.

No, I’ve seen it before as well. Evan’s images that I saw showed an extreme amount, however. My 6500UB does very little, the 6100 does more, and might be an issue for some. I’m “cooking” the 6100 now, my first shots were at less than 40 hours. I’m going to run it continuously for at least 3 days, and then see if the amount of defocus has decreased, or if Epson needs a better hunch.

I’m also working with the Panasonic, right now. Just fired it up, focused and took the first image. I’ll compare somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour. -art

By: Edwin Jaehn

Edwin Jaehn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:46:19 +0000

Art,
I usually fooled around with the focus several times a night with my old projector (Infocus 4805), so the fact that I am doing the same thing with my new 6100 did not surprise me. I am willing to live with this “problem”.
Just a thought– do all three projectors (so far) have lens shift? The lens position on the 6100 is really sloppy– if I am not careful when focusing, the lens moves out of position, sometimes dropping several inches. This whole area of the projector seems kind of precariously designed.

**************
Thanks for the feedback on the focusing.
I’ve eliminated lens shift as a cause. Yes, the Epson mechanism is not stiff, so, it’s easy to focus the lens and move the lens shift (it definitely tends to drop). Keep life simple. Focus first, then set lens shift. I realize you are checking out the focus issue now, but once “life returns to normal” it really is set and forget. -art