Projector Focus Issue

Amishplumber

Active Member
Hello internet,

I just purchased a used Panasonic DW6300 projector on Ebay. It came with the stock lens (DLE-170) and mostly works great, but has a focus issue. It won't focus sharp at the wide end of the zoom range. Anyone on here have experience doing projector repairs? Any ideas? Lens is clean. Lens carriage assembly has a little bit of slop, but definitely not any more than any other projector I've setup before. If I cup my hands over the lens like a donut, then the image gets sharper....

Definitely not above opening it up and poking around, but I'm not sure what to look for. I imagine if there was some sort of alignment issue in the lens train, my issue would be much greater than just this and I wouldn't be getting a sharp image ever, but maybe not?

Thanks in advance.
 

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Hello internet,

I just purchased a used Panasonic DW6300 projector on Ebay. It came with the stock lens (DLE-170) and mostly works great, but has a focus issue. It won't focus sharp at the wide end of the zoom range. Anyone on here have experience doing projector repairs? Any ideas? Lens is clean. Lens carriage assembly has a little bit of slop, but definitely not any more than any other projector I've setup before. If I cup my hands over the lens like a donut, then the image gets sharper....

Definitely not above opening it up and poking around, but I'm not sure what to look for. I imagine if there was some sort of alignment issue in the lens train, my issue would be much greater than just this and I wouldn't be getting a sharp image ever, but maybe not?

Thanks in advance.
Calling @MNicolai and / or @ruinexplorer

Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 
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Depending on how sloppy the focus is, it might just be the nature of the lens. Zooms are really handy to adjust image size, but they generally pay a price optically at the ends of the zoom range, giving a softer focus. If you are satisfied that you're getting a good focus in the middle of the focal range, then the lens is probably giving you what it's capable of giving you.
 
Depending on how sloppy the focus is, it might just be the nature of the lens. Zooms are really handy to adjust image size, but they generally pay a price optically at the ends of the zoom range, giving a softer focus. If you are satisfied that you're getting a good focus in the middle of the focal range, then the lens is probably giving you what it's capable of giving you.

Hhhmm. I know thats true in general, but I don't think its whats happening here. Its not just "a little soft"; its totally blurry. Can't read any of the settings menus over half the zoom range....
 
Ah. Didn't notice the pictures before. Yea--that's bad. I would imagine you're right in that there's something funky in the mechanics of the zoom itself if it's good at one focal length and janky at another in the zoom range. I would rent the same lens if it's show critical and send yours to a Panasonic repair shop to bring it back up to factory spec.
 
My guess is it got dropped. The "image gate" (as we said back in the silver-on-acetate days) is not where it needs to relative to the lens mount. I suggest opening it up an taking a little look-see.
 
Hello internet,

I just purchased a used Panasonic DW6300 projector on Ebay. It came with the stock lens (DLE-170) and mostly works great, but has a focus issue. It won't focus sharp at the wide end of the zoom range. Anyone on here have experience doing projector repairs? Any ideas? Lens is clean. Lens carriage assembly has a little bit of slop, but definitely not any more than any other projector I've setup before. If I cup my hands over the lens like a donut, then the image gets sharper....

Definitely not above opening it up and poking around, but I'm not sure what to look for. I imagine if there was some sort of alignment issue in the lens train, my issue would be much greater than just this and I wouldn't be getting a sharp image ever, but maybe not?

Thanks in advance.
I agree with other posters that it's likely a mechanical fault.

However I'd encourage you to check to make sure you are with in the range of focus distance that the lens supports. Most projector lenses I've seen don't focus to infinity. On the other hand if it will focus on your wall at the narrrow end but not the wide end of the zoom range that's another indication that a mechanical fault is likely.

Philip
 
Alright. Progress! The lens is fine. The problem is the lens mount is just slightly out of square. I can manually hold the lens in there (square with the case and the rest of the optical train) and everything looks great. Sounds like it was dropped sometime, or maybe just someone yanked a lens out too roughly. Anyone got any secret links to Panasonic service manuals, or any tips on how to readjust this? Thanks for all the advice so far!
 

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