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Panasonic PT-AT5000E review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £2700
inc VAT

A superb LCD projector that excels at 2D content and is also competent in 3D

Specifications

1,920×1,080 resolution, 2,000 ANSI lumens, 470x137x345mm, 8.7kg

http://www.projectorshop24.co.uk

Panasonic’s previous high-end home cinema projector, the PT-AE4000E, won an Ultimate award in our last projector group test, so we were eager to see how well the latest model would stack up against the competition, especially with the addition of 3D support.

Panasonic PT-AT5000E

Like every previous model in this range, the PT-AT5000E is something of a behemoth – it won’t fit on a standard bookshelf. Being black, this is a projector designed to be permanently installed in a dedicated cinema room; you won’t want it on your (most probably) white living room ceiling. However, the powered zoom and focus can be remotely adjusted, making the ceiling the best place for it. The manual joystick that controls lens shift is slightly more awkward – it’s surprisingly imprecise and tricky to align the projected image with any accuracy. The older twin-wheeled system worked better.

Panasonic PT-AT5000E

Around the back, there are plenty of video inputs, including three HDMI ports. VGA, composite, component and S-Video are also available for older devices, along with two screen triggers and a serial port. There are no audio inputs or outputs, and the PT-AE5000E doesn’t have an integrated speaker.

Panasonic PT-AT5000E

The compact remote control duplicates all the buttons on the side of the projector, as well as adding picture mode and adjustment options and a shortcut to the 3D settings menu. The entire keypad is backlit, so we had no problems using it in the dark.

Panasonic PT-AT5000E

We were expecting good things from the LCD projected image, and the PT-AT5000E didn’t disappoint. At the default settings, our test footage looked stunningly sharp and colours were vibrant without looking unnatural. There was no sign of any noise or pixellation, and fast-moving scenes were almost completely free of any visible blur or judder. Black levels were fantastic for an LCD projector, with our high contrast black and white scenes looking almost as good as on a decent HDTV.

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Details

Price £2,700
Details www.panasonic.co.uk
Rating *****

Specifications

Projector technology LCD
Lamp brightness 2,000 ANSI lumens
Lamp life 4,000
Lamp life in economy mode 5,000
Contrast ratio 300,000:1

Picture

Native resolution 1,920×1,080
Max compressed resolution 1,600×1,200
Aspect ratio 16:9
Other aspect ratios 16:10, 4:3, 5:4
Max diagonal at 7ft 60in
Throw ratio 1.18:1 to 2.36:1
Optical zoom 2.0x
Projection distance 2.3m to 9m
Mirror image yes
Invert image yes
Lens shift horizontal 26%
Lens shift vertical 100%
HD Ready yes
Special view modes Dynamic, Game, Cinema, D-Cinema

Inputs/Outputs

VGA input yes
DVI input No
Sound inputs none
Composite input yes
S-video input yes
HDMI input yes
PAL support yes
SECAM support yes
NTSC support yes
Audio output none
Video output none
Others inputs/outputs 2x extra HDMI inputs, RS232c, 2x 12v trigger

Other

Noise (in normal use) 22dB(A)
Size 470x137x345mm
Weight 8.7kg
Internal speakers none
Extras remote, cables (power,
Remote special features picture mode, lens adjustment, input select, light
Power consumption standby 1W
Power consumption on 226W

Lamp

Lamp cost (inc VAT) £324
Lamp supplier www.projectorlampsworld.co.uk
Lamp cost per hour of use £0.08
Lamp cost per hour of use (economy) £0.06

Buying Information

Price £2,700
Supplier http://www.projectorshop24.co.uk
Details www.panasonic.co.uk