Panasonic announced it will move its complete high brightness projection range to laser, with the discontinuation of the Panasonic PT-DZ21K projector series, enabling lower maintenance and greater reliability in the rental and staging market.
Set to be discontinued in spring, the Panasonic DZ21K introduced a new platform for 20,000 lumens and changed the projection world. Originally designed for the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in London, it changed the potential for the rental and staging events market. Being half the size and half the weight of other products in its class enabled giant projection mappings like the Bucharest 555 celebrations in 2014, which featured 104 units or the Guinness World Record of Projection Mapping which saw 142 units used at the Moscow Circle of Lights festival in 2015.
Continuing this innovation, Panasonic introduced its first laser platform in 2014, and launched its flagship laser projector, the Panasonic PT-RZ21K, at ISE in 2017, providing the same level of brightness of 20,000 lumens in the Panasonic DZ21K’s original compact housing.
Hermetically sealed laser modules meant the Panasonic RZ21K provided a non-interrupted projection for up to 20,000 hours. This provided greater reliability and colour uniformity for rental companies, that reduced the maintenance burden and the total cost of ownership.
A reference model for large venue and rental projectors ever since its introduction, the Panasonic RZ21K projectors were used to illuminate the Eiffel Tower in the Japonismes 2018 anniversary of 160 years of Franco-Japanese friendship. In addition, six Panasonic RZ21K’s were used in the performance of Guidizio Universale. Michelangelo and the secrets of the Sistine Chapel, transporting audiences into a 270° projection of the Sistine Chapel that displayed the artist’s famous works.
“The DZ21K changed the market for 20,000 lumens, but the rental, staging and events market has fully embraced laser projection,” said Hartmut Kulessa, European Marketing Manager at Panasonic. “The benefits in regards to the total reliability and lower maintenance of the laser platform are self-evident, so it’s time to draw the era to a close. With the laser technology, we will see the market further expanding with an increasing number of semi-permanent and permanent mappings that become commercially viable thanks to the improved operation of the laser projectors.”
The Panasonic PT-DZ21K projector will be discontinued in March 2019, with the Panasonic PT-RZ21K currently available for purchase.
