Panasonic PT-AX200U home theater
projector: Sharpness
Last year, Panasonic introduced their Smooth Screen technology. Without getting into the
technical aspects, the end result is that the pixel structure of the LCD panels, normally
definitely more visible than that of DLP projectors, tends to cause some "screendoor effect" for
those sitting on the close side of normal to their screens. You can almost always see the pixel
structure on titling, credits, and signage, as well as large bright stationary areas, like cloulds.
With the PT-AX200U, pixels are noticeably far less visible than even DLP projectors. In solving
this one problem, however, there is a price, and that is a slight softness to the PT-AX200U's
image. How soft is it?
Not bad at all, in fact, comparable to many of the DLP projectors out there. By comparison,
other LCD projectors seem sharper, but many of us acknowledge that that perceived
sharpness, isn't revealing more detail, but is an impression associated with the pixel structure
being slightly visible or just below visibility with other LCD projectors.
Let's see what I'm talking about. Three very close-up crops of this DTS disk start screen. The
one of the left, is the Panasonic, the middle is the Mitsubishi HC1500 (DLP), and the right, the
BenQ W500 (LCD).
Our next image is from Aeon Flux, Blu-Ray. Please note the sharpness in her eyes, and in the
strands of her hair:
Our last sharpness image is a close-up of this computer monitor from Space Cowboys on Blu-
ray. You can click for larger images to compare the readability,
Click on the left thumbnail for a large, cropped version of the original frame on the PT-
AX200U, and the middle for the BenQ W500 projector. On the right, is a 1080p projector, the
Mitsubishi HC6000 (LCD):
