Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 4 Posted on July 22, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Panasonic PT-AE8000U Home Theater Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AE8000U Projector Highlights - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Overview2. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features - PT-AE8000 Lens Memory and Lens Features - PT-AE8000 Projector: 3D - PT-AE8000 Projector 3D Glasses and Control - PT-AE8000 Gaming Abilities - PT-AE8000 Creative Frame Interpolation3. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features 2 - PT-AE8000 Waveform Generator and Side By Side - PT-AE8000 Dynamic Iris - Viera-Link4. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features 3 - PT-AE8000 2D to 3D Conversion - PT-AE8000 Lamp Life - Other Dynamic Controls5. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Physical Tour - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Appearance - PT-AE8000 Control Panel - PT-AE8000 Projector - Input/Output6. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - PT-AE8000 Menus - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Remote Control - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Lens Throw - PT-AE8000 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Flesh Tones8. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Image Quality - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: PT-AE8000 Projector - Bottom Line9. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality10. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports, including 3D - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Brightness - Post Calibration: Best Mode = REC 709 - Post Calibration: Brightest Mode = Dynamic12. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 2 - 3D Brightness of the Panasonic PT-AE8000 - PT-AE8000 Eco-Mode vs. Full Power - PT-AE8000, Post Calibration, Best Mode (REC 709)13. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 3 - Comparing Picture Modes of the PT-AE8000: - Panasonic PT-AE8000 3D Brightness - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Bottom Line Brightness:14. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 4 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Sharpness - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise15. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Color Temperature - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Basic Settings16. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - PT-AE8000 Greyscale Calibration REC 709 Mode - PT-AE8000 RGB Settings17. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - CMS Adjustment Basics - Calibration Charts (Before and After)18. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Projector Screens - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Screen Recommendations - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Projector Screen - Cave / Home Theater - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Projector Screen - Family Room19. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. HD830020. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors 2 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. Sharp XV-Z3000021. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 5010 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE800022. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Warranty23. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - The Bottom Line24. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the PT-AE8000 projector25. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Pros and Cons - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Pros - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Cons26. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Full Specifications Panasonic PT-AE8000 SharpnessPanasonic has been using its SmoothScreen technology for years to make the pixel structure invisible unless you are a foot or two from the screen. That does give you a little less jaggedness to some images that can be takens as a touch of softness, but this projector performs very well, sharpness wise. The demo unit has typical pixel misconvergence, yet the Panasonic menus, with their smaller, fine, type look crisp. Panasonic PT-AE8000 SharpnessPanasonic PT-AE8000Sharp XV-Z30000Runco LS-5Sony VPL-HW50ESOptoma HD8300JVC DLA-RS45PreviousNext Light LeakageExcellent, no significant light leaking through the lens, and the vents are about as dark as you will find. Not a complaint here. All home theater projectors should be this clean. Image NoiseWe’re still trying to sort out what’s acceptable, and good and great (lack of) image noise for 3D projectors, but when it comes to 2D, the PT-AE8000 performs more than well enough. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen anything but very good to great image processing on over $2000 projectors. That’s not to say we don’t see issues with dynamic features like CFI, but for normal viewing of 24fps movies, and the usual HDTV and TV content, motion artifacts are minimal. Speaking of CFI, Panasonic’s Mode 1 is one of the smoothest I’ve seen. That’s traditional, they were about the first to add the feature a few years back, and even back then, it was the best at the time. What I’m saying is you still get a touch of that “live digital video” look on movies, but it’s slight. I could live with it on for movies if others asked. I used Modes 1 and 2 for sports. I don’t notice much difference, so play with it, if you like CFI for different things, go with it. If not, don’t worry, this Panny has plenty of other neat features. Audible NoiseAs they say in Brooklyn, “Forgetaboutit!” This Panasonic is one of the quietest home theater projectors yet. I think I’ve seen a Mitsubishi or two perhaps slightly quieter, but this projector is quieter at full power, than many are in their lower power Eco-modes. The older PT-AE8000 was about equally quiet. It doesn’t seem louder, despite a brighter lamp than last year’s projector, which would make one think more fan noise. I believe even the most noise adverse enthusiasts will find nothing to complain about, and will, in fact, praise its quietness. Tastefully done! 1. Panasonic PT-AE8000U Home Theater Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AE8000U Projector Highlights - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Overview2. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features - PT-AE8000 Lens Memory and Lens Features - PT-AE8000 Projector: 3D - PT-AE8000 Projector 3D Glasses and Control - PT-AE8000 Gaming Abilities - PT-AE8000 Creative Frame Interpolation3. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features 2 - PT-AE8000 Waveform Generator and Side By Side - PT-AE8000 Dynamic Iris - Viera-Link4. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Special Features 3 - PT-AE8000 2D to 3D Conversion - PT-AE8000 Lamp Life - Other Dynamic Controls5. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Physical Tour - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Appearance - PT-AE8000 Control Panel - PT-AE8000 Projector - Input/Output6. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - PT-AE8000 Menus - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Remote Control - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Lens Throw - PT-AE8000 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Flesh Tones8. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - Image Quality - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Performance - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: PT-AE8000 Projector - Bottom Line9. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality10. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports, including 3D - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Brightness - Post Calibration: Best Mode = REC 709 - Post Calibration: Brightest Mode = Dynamic12. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 2 - 3D Brightness of the Panasonic PT-AE8000 - PT-AE8000 Eco-Mode vs. Full Power - PT-AE8000, Post Calibration, Best Mode (REC 709)13. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 3 - Comparing Picture Modes of the PT-AE8000: - Panasonic PT-AE8000 3D Brightness - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Bottom Line Brightness:14. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 4 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Sharpness - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise15. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Color Temperature - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Basic Settings16. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - PT-AE8000 Greyscale Calibration REC 709 Mode - PT-AE8000 RGB Settings17. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - CMS Adjustment Basics - Calibration Charts (Before and After)18. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Projector Screens - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Screen Recommendations - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Projector Screen - Cave / Home Theater - Panasonic PT-AE8000 - Projector Screen - Family Room19. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. HD830020. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors 2 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. Sharp XV-Z3000021. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Competitors 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 5010 - Panasonic PT-AE4000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE800022. Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Warranty23. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector - The Bottom Line24. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the PT-AE8000 projector25. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Review Summary 3 - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Pros and Cons - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Pros - Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector: Cons26. Panasonic PT-AE8000 – Full Specifications Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector – Performance 3 Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector Calibration and Settings