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1080p Projectors - Physical Tour4

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Art Feierman
  1. The 1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report - 2009
  2. 1080p Projector Categories by price
  3. Home Theater Projectors: Street price $3500-$10,000
  4. Picking the Winners - the best projectors in each price range
  5. $2100 and under 1080p Home Theater Projectors
  6. $2100 - $3500 1080p Home Theater Projectors
  7. $2100 - $3500 1080p Home Theater Projectors-2
  8. $3500 - $10,000 Home Theater Projectors
  9. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Special Features
  10. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Creative Frame Interpolation
  11. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Special Features3
  12. Guide to the 2009 1080p Projector Comparison Report
  13. Home Page of the 1080p Projector Comparison Report
  14. Defining Your Expectations Regarding Projectors and Your Final Theater Experience
  15. Understanding your room environment-2
  16. Photos Found In This Projector Report
  17. 1080p Projector Report - Best in Class Awards for 2009
  18. Best in Class, Runner-up Award: Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector
  19. Best in Class Special, Interest Award: InFocus X10
  20. Class: Medium Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $2100 - $3500
  21. Best in Class Award (tie): Panasonic PT-AE3000
  22. 1080p Home Theater Projector-Special Interest Awards
  23. Category: Higher End Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $3500 - $10,000
  24. Special Interest Award (tie): Planar PD8150
  25. Special Interest Award (tie): Planar PD8150-2
  26. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour
  27. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour2
  28. 1080p Projectors Lens Throw and Lens Shift
  29. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour3
  30. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour4
  31. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality
  32. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality2
  33. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality3
  34. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality4
  35. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality5
  36. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality6
  37. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality7
  38. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality8
  39. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality9
  40. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality10
  41. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality11
  42. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality12
  43. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality13
  44. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality14
  45. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality15
  46. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality16
  47. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality17
  48. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality18
  49. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance
  50. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance2
  51. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance3
  52. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance4
  53. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance5
  54. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance6
  55. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance7
  56. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance9
  57. 1080P Home Theater Projector Report - Calibration
  58. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700
  59. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 2
  60. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 3
  61. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 4
  62. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 5
  63. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 6
  64. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 7
  65. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100
  66. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 2
  67. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 3
  68. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 4
  69. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000
  70. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 2
  71. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 3
  72. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 4
  73. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000
  74. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 2
  75. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 3
  76. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 4
  77. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 5
  78. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20
  79. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 2
  80. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 3
  81. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 4
  82. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 5
  83. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10
  84. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 2
  85. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 3
  86. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 4
  87. Compare Projectors - - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 5
  88. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20
  89. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 2
  90. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 3
  91. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 4
  92. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 5
  93. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000
  94. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 2
  95. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 3
  96. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 4
  97. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700
  98. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 2
  99. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 3
  100. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 4
  101. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 5
  102. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 6
  103. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB
  104. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 2
  105. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 3
  106. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 4
  107. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 5
  108. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 6
  109. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 7
  110. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000
  111. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 2
  112. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 3
  113. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 4
  114. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 5
  115. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 6
  116. Home Theater Projectors - Warranty and Support - 2
  117. 1080P Home Theater Projector Comparison Report: Summary

Anamorphic Lens Support

Using an anamorphic lens lets you use a 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen, the same ratio as most movies (which we will refer to as Cinemascope movies) use. The combination of screen and lens means no letterboxing at the top and bottom when watching most movies.

By "anamorphic lens supprt" we mean that the projector has the built in (internal) stretch scaling to properly resize the image to work with an anamorphic lens. Any projector can work with an anamorphic lens, even without this, but it would require an outboard processor to handle the correct scaling. Consider those outboard processors to start at around $800, with products like the recently reviewed DVDO Edge.

All of the projectors in this report have internal support for an anamorphic lens, except the following:

Epson Home Cinema 6100*, Home Cinema 6500UB*, Sony VPL-HW10

Also of note, is that some projectors with recessed lenses do make it difficult to mount an anamorphic lens and sled in front of them. Still all of them do have a solution, at least from one manufacturer. The Sanyos and JVCs are examples of projectors, where your choices of anamorphic lens providers is at least a little limited.

* While these two Epson projectors do not have the internal support, the two almost identical Pro Cinema models (7100 and 7500UB) do. So if you want an Epson, and plan an anamorphic lens, and Cinemascope shaped screen, choose the Pro versions, they will save you money overall.

Emulating an Anamorphic Lens Setup

Panasonic is the only company to provide an anamorphic lens emulation solution. Simply stated, they allow you to change the zoom position (it is motorized) when working with a 2.35:1 screen. In the wider zoom position, a Cinemascope movie just fills the screen. When you need to watch 16:9 or 4:3, you zoom out, so that those sizes do not overshoot the top and bottom of the screen.

What makes it work, is that Panasonic lets you save the lens positions, so that it is easy to toggle back and forth - as easy as controlling a real anamorphic lens/sled.

It's not a perfect solution, but it's free, and that compares well to the typical $4000+ for a lens/sled combination from a major manufacturer. The limits - the reasons it isn't quite as good, are two fold. First, when filling the screen with Cinemascope content, the letterboxes are still there, but they exist above the top of your screen and below the bottom. If your walls are light colored, you will still see them, but if your walls are dark (or you have dark draping around the screen), the letterboxes will be invisible.

The second downside relates to brightness. Panasonic's emulation still produces those letterboxes, so you are only using about 80% of the pixels for the movie image. With a real setup, you use 100%. Thus, you get about a 25% brighter image with a real lens/sled combo.

Lastly, The Panasonic has a 2:1 zoom lens ratio - that's about as good as it gets. However to support the two lens positions, you give up about half of your placement flexibility, reducing the working range. You won't be able to place the projector as far back. As a result, in many rooms you will no longer be able to shelf mount.

By the way, any projector with at least a 1.5:1 zoom lens can do the same thing, but since projectors are typically mounted where its inconvenient to reach them, it's not practical for projectors without motorized zoom and focus. (Who wants to climb a ladder every time you want to switch from a movie to HDTV or back?) If the projector has enough range, and motorized zoom and focus, such as the Sanyo PLV-Z700 and PLV-Z3000, the JVC RS10 and RS20 to name a few, you can do the same thing as the Panasonic does. The difference is you will be using your remote to make the zoom changes, and it will take a minute to get the size just right, and possibly refocus. By comparison, the Panasonic does it at the touch of a button, setting the zoom and refocusing. Nice touch!

  1. The 1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report - 2009
  2. 1080p Projector Categories by price
  3. Home Theater Projectors: Street price $3500-$10,000
  4. Picking the Winners - the best projectors in each price range
  5. $2100 and under 1080p Home Theater Projectors
  6. $2100 - $3500 1080p Home Theater Projectors
  7. $2100 - $3500 1080p Home Theater Projectors-2
  8. $3500 - $10,000 Home Theater Projectors
  9. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Special Features
  10. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Creative Frame Interpolation
  11. The 1080p Home Theater Projector -Special Features3
  12. Guide to the 2009 1080p Projector Comparison Report
  13. Home Page of the 1080p Projector Comparison Report
  14. Defining Your Expectations Regarding Projectors and Your Final Theater Experience
  15. Understanding your room environment-2
  16. Photos Found In This Projector Report
  17. 1080p Projector Report - Best in Class Awards for 2009
  18. Best in Class, Runner-up Award: Sanyo PLV-Z700 Projector
  19. Best in Class Special, Interest Award: InFocus X10
  20. Class: Medium Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $2100 - $3500
  21. Best in Class Award (tie): Panasonic PT-AE3000
  22. 1080p Home Theater Projector-Special Interest Awards
  23. Category: Higher End Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $3500 - $10,000
  24. Special Interest Award (tie): Planar PD8150
  25. Special Interest Award (tie): Planar PD8150-2
  26. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour
  27. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour2
  28. 1080p Projectors Lens Throw and Lens Shift
  29. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour3
  30. 1080p Projectors - Physical Tour4
  31. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality
  32. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality2
  33. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality3
  34. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality4
  35. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality5
  36. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality6
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  40. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality10
  41. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality11
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  44. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality14
  45. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality15
  46. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality16
  47. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality17
  48. 1080p Comparison Report - Image Quality18
  49. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance
  50. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance2
  51. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance3
  52. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance4
  53. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance5
  54. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance6
  55. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance7
  56. 1080p Projector Comparison Report - Performance9
  57. 1080P Home Theater Projector Report - Calibration
  58. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700
  59. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 2
  60. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 3
  61. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 4
  62. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 5
  63. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 6
  64. Compare Projectors - Epson 6100 vs PLV-Z700 - 7
  65. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100
  66. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 2
  67. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 3
  68. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. 6100 - 4
  69. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000
  70. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 2
  71. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 3
  72. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. PT-AE3000 - 4
  73. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000
  74. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 2
  75. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 3
  76. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 4
  77. Compare Projectors - PT-AE3000 vs. PLV-Z3000 - 5
  78. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20
  79. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 2
  80. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 3
  81. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 4
  82. Compare Projectors - JVC DLA-RS10 vs. RS20 - 5
  83. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10
  84. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 2
  85. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 3
  86. Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 4
  87. Compare Projectors - - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 - 5
  88. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20
  89. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 2
  90. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 3
  91. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 4
  92. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs. JVC RS20 - 5
  93. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000
  94. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 2
  95. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 3
  96. Compare Projectors - VPL-HW10 vs PT-AE3000 - 4
  97. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700
  98. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 2
  99. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 3
  100. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 4
  101. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 5
  102. Compare Projectors - HC5500 vs. PLV-Z700 - 6
  103. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB
  104. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 2
  105. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 3
  106. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 4
  107. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 5
  108. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 6
  109. Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 7
  110. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000
  111. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 2
  112. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 3
  113. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 4
  114. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 5
  115. Compare Projectors - Epson 6500UB vs PLV-Z3000 - 6
  116. Home Theater Projectors - Warranty and Support - 2
  117. 1080P Home Theater Projector Comparison Report: Summary

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