Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Performance Posted on October 1, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Overview - DLA-PT-AE4000 Projector Highlights - DLA-PT-AE4000 Projector - Special Features - Color Management System (CMS) - Dynamic Features: Sharpening, CFI - CFI - Creative Frame Interpolation - PT-AE4000 Split Screen and Waveform Monitor2. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector – Warranty3. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Physical Tour - Appearance - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Control Panel - Input/Output - PT-AE4000 Menus - PT-AE4000 Remote Control - Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - Image Quality - PT-AE4000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones - PT-AE4000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AE4000U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports5. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Performance - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Brightness - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - Uncalibrated6. Sharpness - Panasonic PT-AE4000: Bottom Line Sharpness7. Light Leakage - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Image Noise - PT-AE4000 Audible Noise8. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Color Temperature - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration):9. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Basic Settings - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Post Calibration Grayscale - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)10. Panasonic PT-AE4000 RGB Settings - Calibration settings for Memory 111. General Screen Recommendations: 16:9 Diagonal - Cinemascope Projector Screens12. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Competitors - PT-AE4000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Mitsubishi HC6800 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. BenQ W600013. Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. BenQ W6000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Planar PD815014. PT-AE4000 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP8602 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE3000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. JVC DLA-RS25, DLA-RS15 older models - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Sony VPL-HW1515. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - The Bottom Line16. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Specifications Panasonic PT-AE4000 BrightnessNo surprises here. The new PT-AE4000 projector is very similar to last year’s RS20 in terms of brightness. In this case, the Panasonic PT-AE4000 – and, therefore also the JVC HD950 – measured just a little less bright than the older model, in some modes, and a little brighter in others. (Bolded modes are the ones we worked with. Ultimately a calibrated THX mode was saved in User 1, and a calibrated “Brightest” mode was saved in User 2. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - UncalibratedLumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): Cinema 1= 411 @ 7180 Cinema 2= 457 @ 7751 Cinema 3= 457 @ 8945 Normal= 789 @ 9520 Dynamic= 1071 @ 9093, 1159 with Contrast set to 8 Color 1= 430 @ 6660 Color 2= 440 @ 6357 Best Mode: After doing our calibration of “best mode” for which Mike chose to use Color 1 (which as a color gamut very close to the REC 709 standard for HDTV), The Panasonic PT-AE4000 measured 430 lumens. Brightest Mode: As usual Mike attempted a “quick-cal” of the brightest mode, which in this case is Dynamic. In doing so, we don’t attempt excellent color, but to take the usually, somewhat inaccurate brightest mode, and make it more watchable. Doing so dropped Dynamic mode’s brightness to 930 lumens, while noticeably improving color. Note please that buy raising the contrast setting to +8 from the default 0, you will get about an extra 60+ lumens. You will end up with some crushed near whites, but it will help when fighting ambient light. The Effect of zoom lens positioning on brightness: Our standard measurements reported are done with the zoom at its mid-point. Here are relative numbers from the Cinema 1 mode, for different lens positioning From a percentage standpoint, the differences will be the same for any mode, as you change the lens angle: Zoom out: 1235 (closest to the screen – wide) Mid-zoom: 1071 (mid-point on the zoom) Zoom in: 711 (furthest from the screen – tele) Thus, at the maximum zoom distance, the lumens are 34% lower. At the closest distance (wide angle), they are 15% greater, than with the projector lens at the the mid-point of its zoom range. (The same ratios should apply to any preset mode). The full range from wide angle to telephoto is a drop of 42.5%. The Effect of Low lamp (eco) mode on brightness: Low lamp power (“Normal” lamp mode), for Cinema 1: 271 lumens High lamp power (“High” lamp mode) for Cinema 1: 411 lumens That works out to a drop of 34% of brightness when running the lamp in Low lamp mode. That same percentage difference should be unchanged, regardless of preset mode. To you give an idea of how placement and lamp settings can drastically affect your room, consider these two extremes: Using the uncalibrated Color 1 mode numbers, let’s say you mount at the closest distance (ceiling mount, or placing on a tabe), and have the lamp on full power. That would have the PT-AE4000 produce a maximum of “best mode” lumens of 495 lumens. By comparison, if you shelf mount in the rear of your room, with the lens at full telphoto, and lamp power set to eco-mode. That yields an undazzling 182 total lumens. Considering all that together, between placement and lamp settings the projector goes from 496 to 182 – a drop of 63%. Another way of looking at it would be longest throw (tele) combined with full lamp power = 283 lumens , vs. shortest throw in low (eco) mode: 326 lumens. When you consider all of this you realize that in many/most room setups, ceiling mounting (closer to the screen) will give you a significant increase in lumens compared to the typical rear shelf mount which usually has you near the telephoto range of the zoom lens on all of these typical LCD projectors, most of which offer 2:1 zoom lens range. 1. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Overview - DLA-PT-AE4000 Projector Highlights - DLA-PT-AE4000 Projector - Special Features - Color Management System (CMS) - Dynamic Features: Sharpening, CFI - CFI - Creative Frame Interpolation - PT-AE4000 Split Screen and Waveform Monitor2. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector – Warranty3. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Physical Tour - Appearance - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Control Panel - Input/Output - PT-AE4000 Menus - PT-AE4000 Remote Control - Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - Image Quality - PT-AE4000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones - PT-AE4000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AE4000U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports5. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Performance - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Brightness - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - Uncalibrated6. Sharpness - Panasonic PT-AE4000: Bottom Line Sharpness7. Light Leakage - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Image Noise - PT-AE4000 Audible Noise8. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Color Temperature - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration):9. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Basic Settings - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Post Calibration Grayscale - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)10. Panasonic PT-AE4000 RGB Settings - Calibration settings for Memory 111. General Screen Recommendations: 16:9 Diagonal - Cinemascope Projector Screens12. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Competitors - PT-AE4000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Mitsubishi HC6800 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. BenQ W600013. Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. BenQ W6000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Planar PD815014. PT-AE4000 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP8602 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE3000 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. JVC DLA-RS25, DLA-RS15 older models - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Sony VPL-HW1515. Panasonic PT-AE4000 – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector - The Bottom Line16. Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Specifications Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector – Image Quality Sharpness