Panasonic's 2012 Viera Plasma HDTV line-up (CES 2012)

[Retroj23]

I finally broke down and ordered a 55ST50

I had a 2010 TC-P54S2 that drove me nuts with its floating blacks "feature". Panasonic almost lost my business with that BS but it looks like they fixed this flaw.
I have heard nothing but great things about the ST50 from not only David Katzmaier but from customers who also bought it. So hopefully I love it too. Can't wait to break it in and then calibrate it

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

Originally Posted by Falconer

What aspect ratio are you watching? I believe full-frame for 16:9 is 1.78:1, so if you're going any higher than that, 1.85:1, for example, you will see black bars at the top and bottom. Higher you go, bigger the bars.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that is my understanding. I would check on my new 55VT50, but it's still warming up to room temp from this morning's delivery.

I watched dumb and dumber and noticed no increase in size of the top and bottom space due to the blu rya being 1.85:1 aspect ration. On the box it said 16:9 , 1.85:1 widescreen. is there some overscan feature that is on since i dind't see the black bar on the top and bottom inscrease in size - it seemed to take up the screen like a 1.78:1 film would.

[dmaul1114]

The size difference between 1:78:1 and 1:85:1 is tiny so it's hard to see.

[Falconer]

I'll try out a 1.85:1 movie later tonight and see what it's like.

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

The size difference between 1:78:1 and 1:85:1 is tiny so it's hard to see.

i know its a difference, but it must indeed be incredibly small not being able to really notice it standing 5 inches away i got up real close just to make sure it wasn't leaving black bars

[Retroj23]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

I finally broke down and ordered a 55ST50

I had a 2010 TC-P54S2 that drove me nuts with its floating blacks "feature". Panasonic almost lost my business with that BS but it looks like they fixed this flaw.
I have heard nothing but great things about the ST50 from not only David Katzmaier but from customers who also bought it. So hopefully I love it too. Can't wait to break it in and then calibrate it

Update:

Well I walked into a BBY today and they had the 55VT50 for $1,599!! So I cancelled my order on the ST50 and went with the VT50 instead. For some reason they had to price match their own website but I just couldn't say no to that price.
So now I will be going from a bottom end Panny to a top of the line one.

Does any one here own a VT? I would love to hear from you guys

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

Update:

Well I walked into a BBY today and they had the 55VT50 for $1,599!! So I cancelled my order on the ST50 and went with the VT50 instead. For some reason they had to price match their own website but I just couldn't say no to that price.
So now I will be going from a bottom end Panny to a top of the line one.

Does any one here own a VT? I would love to hear from you guys

No, but I'm hoping within the next year I will. I'd really like to have this in my family room, but have some work to do before that can happen. If I'm lucky they'll have increased the size of the screen.

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

Update:

Well I walked into a BBY today and they had the 55VT50 for $1,599!! So I cancelled my order on the ST50 and went with the VT50 instead. For some reason they had to price match their own website but I just couldn't say no to that price.
So now I will be going from a bottom end Panny to a top of the line one.

Does any one here own a VT? I would love to hear from you guys

jesus christ, you thief! what a steal. the only difference from flat out stealing that tv is the cops aren't looking for you right now

[Falconer]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

Well I walked into a BBY today and they had the 55VT50 for $1,599!!

That's what I got this weekend. Saw Amazon had it for that price yesterday, so it's off to Best Buy to get $100 back.

My surround sound fund is already off to a good start!

The TV itself is a miracle. Makes everything else I've ever seen look pathetic by comparison. You will be very pleased.

[Retroj23]

Originally Posted by Falconer

That's what I got this weekend. Saw Amazon had it for that price yesterday, so it's off to Best Buy to get $100 back.

My surround sound fund is already off to a good start!

The TV itself is a miracle. Makes everything else I've ever seen look pathetic by comparison. You will be very pleased.

Lol!
Thanks man. I will try and get some pics posted after I install it. Not since I upgraded to blu ray have I been excited to watch my films again

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

I forget if i said in here: i got a call from best buy yesterday asking if i planned on coming down to pick up my tv. i said i already had, but apparently they had another 60gt50 waiting for me with my name on it. i wonder if they forgot to log it and i actually could have went down and had 2 gt50's for hte price of one?

[Retroj23]

Originally Posted by ImStylinOnYaBro

I forget if i said in here: i got a call from best buy yesterday asking if i planned on coming down to pick up my tv. i said i already had, but apparently they had another 60gt50 waiting for me with my name on it. i wonder if they forgot to log it and i actually could have went down and had 2 gt50's for hte price of one?

BBY has a tendency to do weird stuff like that. I was at their checkout last month with two BD and the cashier scanned a $9 BD i had twice thinking she rang up both movies correctly, however the other BD I had was the Poltergeist digibook that was $14.99. I had to tell her three times she made a mistake before she finally rang me up correctly. It's better to be honest. Karmas a b***h sometimes.

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

BBY has a tendency to do weird stuff like that. I was at their checkout last month and the cashier scanned a $9 BD twice, however the other BD I had was the Poltergeist digibook that was on sale for $14.99. I had to tell her three times she made a mistake before she finally rang me up correctly. It's better to be honest. Karmas a b***h sometimes.

exactly, i wouldn't have felt right taking it. plus u take it and give it away or sell the spare..2 weeks later they are calling you "we accidentally gave u a second tv" LOL no comment on the simple-mindedness of bby employees sometimes

[dmaul1114]

Well I got my Panansonic TC-L55ET5 LED set today and sent the UT50 back--was a painless return process.


In short, I love the LED set. Yes, the blacks aren't as good and motion isn't handled as smoothly. But both are vastly better than on the Sony LCD RPTV I was upgrading from so I can't complain. Bright and colorful scenes I prefer on this new set. Being brighter such scenes really pop. Dark scenes were definitely better on the plasma--but are still very good on this LED set. And I watch more sports and play more games that I watch movies really, so that's a good trade off for me.

3D is one area I'm really impressed/surprised as being passive rather than active I expected it to not be as good as on the UT50. But it's actually better IMO. The 3D on the UT50 tended to have some blurring/double imaging on pop out type stuff--much clearer on this set. And I much prefer having passive glasses and not having to mess with batteries etc. Even better since 4 pairs were included with this tv, where as I had to shell out $38 for the Samsung 4100GBs for the UT50 (already returned them to Amazon).

Best of all, TV is completely silent. No buzz on white screens at all, where as my buzzing UT50 was driving me nuts. I love not having to worry at all about IR and being able to game as long as I want or leave the set on ESPN all day etc.

Only minor nit pick is the screen is still a tad reflective--though not nearly as bad as the UT50 that was near unwatchable with the blinds open during the day or more than one lamp at night.

So overall, I'm super happy. LED is just a better fit for my uses due to not having to worry about IR and no buzzing (which I'm very sensitive too apparently as I've returned two plasmas for buzzing).

[dobyblue]

I'm glad I've never heard any buzzing on my GT50 or any of my plasma panels. Never had any problems with IR either and all the games I play have HUD's like F1 games with speedometers, lap counters, etc. WipEoutHD.

I've never heard LCD technology being described as better for sports, as if anything sports is the one TV programming you'd watch with the fastest motion, especially racing events, hockey, etc.

[Falconer]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

Well I walked into a BBY today and they had the 55VT50 for $1,599!!

I tried to do a price adjustment and it turns out the 55VT50 is still $1,699.98 and not $1,599. Even Amazon jacked the price back up to $1,999, so either it was an error, or the shortest duration of an unadvertised sale I've ever seen.

[slick1ru2]

No GT50 buzzing either for me either. Its my first plasma. Other than the IR issues, really love the picture. If I didn't play video games, that wouldn't be an issue.

[Fabiosugitani]

Got a 60GT50 yesterday!
Upgrade from Sony 46V2500. Gotta try some movies now
I'm a SONY boy, but they didn't have any 60". 55" was kinda small, 65" was too expensive.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by Fabiosugitani

Got a 60GT50 yesterday!
Upgrade from Sony 46V2500. Gotta try some movies now

Just keep in mind the 200 hour break in guidelines. The GT50 thread on AVS has several great settings, both daylight and dark room. Enjoy!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

I've never heard LCD technology being described as better for sports, as if anything sports is the one TV programming you'd watch with the fastest motion, especially racing events, hockey, etc.

I don't really see/get bothered by motion blur. So that doesn't bother me.

A lot of sports are bright, and I didn't find the UT50 all that great for bright scenes. It was just a bit dim for my liking overall. The LED is a lot brighter so the grass or court/ice, uniform colors etc. "pop" a lot more on it than the plasma.

But it's all just personal preference on what looks best to each person of course. And I'm not at all a videophile concerned about getting close to reference etc. so what I think looks great is likely quiet different from the a/v enthusiast buying upper tier sets and getting professional calibrations etc.