Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour Posted on July 27, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Panasonic PT-AR100U Home Theater Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Highlights - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Overview2. Panasonic PT-AR100U Special Features - PT-AR100U Projector - Typical Street Price, MSRP, and Value - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Game Mode and Gaming - PT-AR100U Dynamic Iris - PT-AR100U Projector 3D - Rather, The Lack of 3D3. Panasonic PT-AR100U Special Features 2 - PT-AR100U Frame Interpolation - FI - not CFI - Viera-Link - PT-AR100U Lamp Life - PT-AR100U Gaming Abilities4. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - Appearance - PT-AR100U Control Panel - PT-AR100U Projector - Input/Output5. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour 2 - PT-AR100U Menus - Panasonic PT-AR100U Remote Control - Panasonic PT-AR100U Lens Throw - PT-AR100U Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen6. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AR100U Out of the Box Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - Flesh Tones7. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Image Quality 2 - PT-AR100U Projector Black Level Peformance - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: PT-AR100U Projector - Bottom Line8. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality9. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality 2 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports, including 3D - General HDTV images10. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality 3 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance - Panasonic PT-AR100U Brightness - Post Calibration: Best Mode = REC 709 - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode):12. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 2 - PT-AR100U Eco-Mode vs. Full Power - Panasonic PT-AR100U Pre-Calibration Color temp, REC 709 Mode: - PT-AR100U, Post Calibration, Best Mode (REC 709)13. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 3 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Detail Clarity Control14. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 4 - Panasonic PT-AR100U: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise15. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AR100U Color Temperature - Panasonic PT-AR100U Basic Settings - Panasonic PT-AR100U Post Calibration Grayscale - PT-AR100U Greyscale Calibration - PT-AR100U RGB Settings16. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Projector Screens - Panasonic PT-AR100U - projector screen - cave / home theater - Panasonic PT-AR100U - projector screen - family room17. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Competitors - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Mitsubishi HC4000 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. HD33 Projector - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Acer H9500BD18. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Competitors 2 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Epson Home Cinema 3010 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Epson Home Cinema 8350 - The Panny Compared to the Optoma HD20, Vivitek H1080D, and BenQ W120019. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Warranty20. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - The Bottom Line21. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the PT-AR100U projector - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Pros - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Cons22. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Full Specifications The Panasonic PT-AR100U projector, is in a larger box than its predecessors from the PT-AX series. The PT-AR100U starts with the larger case of the PT-AE7000, but is finished in off-white, not the black of the higher end Panasonic projector. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - AppearanceThe PT-AR100U projector is pretty clean looking – off-white, rectangular, but with slightly sloping sides. It won’t offend, it won’t end up in a museum either. The front of projector has the large 2:1 zoom mounted off center to the right (if facing the projector). To its left are the IR sensor for the remote control, and a large exhaust vent. The hot air blows out toward the front and right hand front at an angle. If you are using table top, you won’t want to be sitting two feet forward, and one to the right, it could get a bit toasty. The control panel is a small affair located on the side by the front, as seen here. The top of the projector removes, when it’s time to replace the lens, so that there’s no need to have to unmount a ceiling mounted PT-AR100U, when it comes time to put in a new lamp. (Home theater projectors mount upside-down, when ceiling mounted.) There’s a large intake vent behind the control panel. All the inputs and connectors are found on the back panel. Down below, you’ll find two screw thread adjustable front feet, and a single fixed rear foot, for a stable 3 point stance. PT-AR100U Control PanelThe Panasonic PT-AR100U control panel is on the side closest to the lens, and right behind the front of the projector. The buttons are reasonably spaced and have a good feel. While overall similar to the control panel on the Epson 3010, I prefer the feel of this Panasonic projector. At the top left of the panel is the power switch (once for on, twice for off), and to its right, is the Input Select button which brings up your input choices. The navigation controls are right below, the four arrows in a round formation with the Enter button in the center. Slightly below to the outsides are the Menu and Return button (called back or escape on some other projectors). PT-AR100U Projector - Input/OutputThe PT-AR100U projector has the usual selection of inputs and other connectors. In this case, it starts off on the left, with a pair of HDMI inputs. Just to the right, are the traditional analog computer input (HD15 connector), and a serial port. Three color coded RCA jacks for component video input is further to the right. Next comes the lower performance inputs – composite video and s-video. Finally, on the right, are a pair of 12 volt triggers, for those with need. The power receptacle, hard power switch, and kensington lock are below. Click Image to Enlarge 1. Panasonic PT-AR100U Home Theater Projector Review - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Highlights - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Overview2. Panasonic PT-AR100U Special Features - PT-AR100U Projector - Typical Street Price, MSRP, and Value - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Game Mode and Gaming - PT-AR100U Dynamic Iris - PT-AR100U Projector 3D - Rather, The Lack of 3D3. Panasonic PT-AR100U Special Features 2 - PT-AR100U Frame Interpolation - FI - not CFI - Viera-Link - PT-AR100U Lamp Life - PT-AR100U Gaming Abilities4. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - Appearance - PT-AR100U Control Panel - PT-AR100U Projector - Input/Output5. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour 2 - PT-AR100U Menus - Panasonic PT-AR100U Remote Control - Panasonic PT-AR100U Lens Throw - PT-AR100U Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen6. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Image Quality - Panasonic PT-AR100U Out of the Box Picture Quality - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - Flesh Tones7. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Image Quality 2 - PT-AR100U Projector Black Level Peformance - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: PT-AR100U Projector - Bottom Line8. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality9. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality 2 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports, including 3D - General HDTV images10. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Overall Color & Picture Quality 3 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content11. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance - Panasonic PT-AR100U Brightness - Post Calibration: Best Mode = REC 709 - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode):12. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 2 - PT-AR100U Eco-Mode vs. Full Power - Panasonic PT-AR100U Pre-Calibration Color temp, REC 709 Mode: - PT-AR100U, Post Calibration, Best Mode (REC 709)13. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 3 - Panasonic PT-AR100U Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Detail Clarity Control14. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Performance 4 - Panasonic PT-AR100U: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise15. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector Calibration and Settings - Panasonic PT-AR100U Color Temperature - Panasonic PT-AR100U Basic Settings - Panasonic PT-AR100U Post Calibration Grayscale - PT-AR100U Greyscale Calibration - PT-AR100U RGB Settings16. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Projector Screens - Panasonic PT-AR100U - projector screen - cave / home theater - Panasonic PT-AR100U - projector screen - family room17. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Competitors - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Mitsubishi HC4000 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. HD33 Projector - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Acer H9500BD18. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Competitors 2 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Epson Home Cinema 3010 - Panasonic PT-AR100U vs. Epson Home Cinema 8350 - The Panny Compared to the Optoma HD20, Vivitek H1080D, and BenQ W120019. Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Warranty20. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Review Summary - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector - The Bottom Line21. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Review Summary 2 - The Very Bottom Line on the PT-AR100U projector - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Pros - Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector: Cons22. Panasonic PT-AR100U – Full Specifications Panasonic PT-AR100U Special Features 2 Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector – Physical Tour 2