My last post may have inferred my Samsung is not working but the projector is working, thank god!
I know you are a big fan of the Panasonic entry level products and for good reason. They are designed for the first time front projection do-it-yourself consumer and are very adaptable to many applications and do not require an accurate installation. While they will create images that will satisfy such consumers those images do not meet imaging science without turning off all the supposedly cool dynamic features like dynamic iris. While the response greatly improves you are left with other problems that cannot be overcome with the biggest one being poor dynamic range due to limitations in black level.
While I was impressed with the PTAE700U on the surface it was not working for me long term due to that. My eyes know better and it simply could not deliver and nor will the new 900 version.
I was considering buying an older DLP used until I saw this deal on the Samsung that I could not refuse. While there were some problems that Socal needs to address, at $1200 less I remain satisfied even if I would have had to wait weeks on the repair.
So far every thing I throw at it is a revelation in what I have been missing. Seems like every subtle nuance of imaging is provided from luminance to color that I simply have not seen with any other display I have worked with. Not only does it do black it does color free black creating subtle variations in that area I simply have not seen but knew was there and to think the black is going to get even blacker once I hit about 200 hours. Then there is the constant 3D look...
The perfect 1.78 to 2.35 zoom with the precision worm gear lens shift has been awesomely convenient with my constant height 2.35 screen. Set the focus and simply move the zoom from one end to the other, tweak lens shift.
At 3.5 screen heights it looks like a CRT!
The main reason you have not heard any buzz is the budget videophile version just started shipping but the buzz is developing over at AVS forum as I understand and it is developing within the ISF community as well. Bottom line, nearly everyone agrees this is the current videophile bargain of the decade if video standards are your passion regardless of the 720P limitation.
As a Projector Central fan bear in mind they are into sales, not imaging science. They will NOT provide a negative review of a product they intend to sell so any negative finding will be spun out to favor the price versus performance factor. With that in mind I think the performance nuances are self evident in their review of the Samsung and to their credit they do give a beginning and final conclusion that is a clear statement of performance. That said I do not necessarily agree with all of their comments and hopefully will have the time to provide a review of the PTAE700U and the SP-H710AE.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/samsung_sph710.htm
And all that said this projector may not be for you! To get peak performance will require accurate ceiling mount, the right screen and room with a proper viewing distance of 3 screen heights or greater; consultation with an ISF imaging professional would be of great benefit. Not everybody wants to do that, hence the fine do-it-yourself entry level products from Panasonic.
