Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Anyone Bought a 3D Projector Yet

I just got an email from my sales rep at Projectorpeople.com saying that Panasonic is releasing the AE7000 2D/3D projector in September. He also mentioned a rumor of a 2D version. I’ll be waiting for reviews from the usual suspects before considering it, but in the meantime was wondering if anyone here has started using a 3D projector in their HT yet.

http://www.projectorreviews.com/blog/201...st-look-review/

I need a new projector for my new theater that I am working on right now, and I was really liking the AE4000, but was wondering when the new model was coming out.

IF the price was right, I'd look into 3D, but not as a requirement, just as a bonus since my family doesn't care too much about 3D. Of course, with the AE7000 coming in around $3000 (street), it will be too much dough for me to see the benefit over the AE4000 which can be had for around $2000...

I’m pretty much of the same mind. My limited experience with 3D in a local store was mixed. Monsters vs Aliens looked hyper exaggerated, the 2D to 3D up-conversion did nothing with the movie they had playing and worst was Avatar which had me ripping the glasses off my head in seconds due to disorientation and feeling like my head was going to explode. I attribute the latter to having different visual acuity in each eye do to an injury.

I am extremely happy with my AE4000, but I’m pushing it to the limit projecting from 20’ onto a 134” diagonal screen. So the much higher brightness and apparently better black levels would not suck. As I emailed back to the rep I’ll be waiting to see the reviews and comparisons before making any decisions.

Even in commercial theaters, 3D is just not drawing me in. Yes, Avatar was something to behold when it was the first one to really bring back the trend but but now I find it to be more of a distraction than a benefit. Until they cure the picture degradation, the motion blur it creates and start filming the entire movie in the same depth of 3D through the whole film (I find the mix of internal depth vs. the odd 'in your face' shot distracting,) I will not be investing in 3-D gear for my home.

And Yes, Get Off my Lawn!

+1. I've not been impressed with 3D efforts of late. Looks no better than my old ViewMaster reels. I'll stick to them for my 3D kicks.

A little off topic, but we want to get our youngest boy a Nintendo DS(XX) for his birthday, looking at the new 3DS if anyone has any input.

Actually not off topic since gaming is a major use of my system I am also interested. I actually have a feeling that if I do get into 3D it’s going to be for gaming and not movies since I agree with what Murph and the Doc said.

Also, 3D movies would require upgrading most of the rest of my equipment which I’m not sure I want to do at the 2 year mark. A significant increase in PQ might get me to upgrade not to mention if the bulb on the AE7000 really has a 4000 hour life, that alone could save me some money over the 2000 hour AE4000 on which I’m coming up on my second bulb replacement. So even if I bought a new 2D or 3D projector in a couple months I could deduct the $400 cost of a replacement bulb for my AE4000 from that.

3DS is kind of goofy. It is 3D, but it can cause some funky feeling in your eyes when you focus on game material for even a short period of time and then look away from the tiny screen. Your brain needs to adjust back and forth between real 3D and the simulated 3D of the system.

Still pretty neat, but that is my take.

- We do not own a 3DS, so others may have more long term impressions.

Nintendo 3DS isn't bad. It's not "revolutionary" other than it's the first to do 3D w/o glasses. From a "WOW!" factor, I'd give it a 4 out of 10. You do have the ability to scale up or down the 3D-ness of a game so that helps.

Some games are better than others, Steel Diver is pretty cool, but others are more gimicky. From what I understand, the newer releases are much better. I don't think there's much difference in price, so I guess there's no reason not to buy one.

One thing though, 3DS does not play the first generation games.

I have heard they will be offering a download/virtual space to play old games, but don't have all the details.