Panasonic is now shipping their new, lower cost single chip DLP projector the PT-D3500U, and we are pleased to be able to review the product just as the first shipments are about to go out to dealers. A significantly less expensive projector than the D5500U, it offers 3500 lumens, a single lamp system, quick change bayonet lock interchangeable lenses, and a list price of $6999. (It's big brother lists for $12,000 without lens).
Physically much smaller than the large Panasonic PT-D5500U projector, this is still no micro-portable projector, but is easily moveable from room to room or to events. It's just not what you want to carry with you on an airplane on a regular basis. It weighs in at 17.4 pounds, and measures 13.1" (W) x 16.7" (D) x 6.6" (H).
Physical Tour of the Panasonic PT-D3500U DLP Projector
Starting at the front left is an infra-red sensor for the remote. The lens (or choice of lenses) mounts in the center - simplifying mounting placement calculations.
This Panasonic projector has motorized zoom, focus and vertical lens shift. That said, to the right of the lens (facing the projector) is a manual horizontal lens shift (a less frequently used feature), There are two screw thread adjustable feet on the front bottom, and they offer significant adjustment range.
The top of this Panasonic projector features the control panel, with widely spaced buttons. The button names are all readable on the image on the left, and most are quite obvious. Some comments on those that aren't necessarily that obvious.
Auto Setup, will simply look at the current source and adjust any settings needed to optimize the lock on the signal and the best image.
The RGB button toggles you through the RGB sources, while the Video button does the same for the multiple video sources.
Lens (bottom left) toggles you through three menu choices - power focus, power zoom and power vertical lens shift.
Lastly, the Shutter button is rather unique. Instead of the typical video (and possibly audio) blanking found on other projectors, which still allow light to hit the screen, the shutter on the Panasonic PT-D3500u, is a physical shutter, it closes down the lens, and no light will pass onto the screen. This is a plus, since normally a small amount of gray light still hits the screen with most projectors (a bigger problem with LCD projectors than DLP projectors), and this could be an issue for certain users (screening rooms come to mind, as well as any environment with multiple devices projecting on to the same screen.
An interesting feature of the Panasonic PT-D3500u projector is its top cover. As you can see from the first image, it is a white finish, actually an acryllic. You can have the Panasonic name removed from it, and have your company logo, etc. placed on there instead. In fact you can have a different color top piece, etc. Is your logo yellow and white, on a blue background - no problem. And that is very cool for boardrooms and training rooms, as well as public events.
The input panel is on the left side (looking from the back). It is immediately obvious that this Panasonic projector has plenty of inputs and capabilities.
There is standard jack for your network, a DVI-D for digital input (data or video), and an analog computer input (RGB2) which can also handle component video. An additional computer or component video source can be brought in from the 5 BNC jacks (RGB1). Like virtually all projectors it also offers composite video and S-video. Rounding out the jacks are a monitor out, and RS232c port and a hard wire remote control (for those mounting the projector in large rooms too far for the infra-red remote to reach).
