How does 24p affect me? (a man trying to figure out if he needs the 800u)

[victimsofadown]

So... I just had an epiphany... I was looking at all this stuff for the last 3-4 months and have my whole plan figured out. That was to wait until the new 50" V-series comes out, and if they are awesome and reasonably priced get THAT. If they aren't awesome and/or reasonably priced then the 800U's will be cheaper and I'll either be able to get a 50" on the cheap or a 58" for about what I'd pay for a 50" right now.

But sitting here tonight I got to thinking... why the hell do I want an 800U so badly? I was looking at audio equipment when I realized "I'm not an audiophile... I don't need every bell and whistle, I need a mainstream player." Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm going overboard with my televisionness?

I went for the 800U initially for 2 reasons.

1) the 24P playback]
2) THX mode being nearly calibrated out of the box. (I don't know how to calibrate, and I know I couldn't get someone to calibrate it without my wife murdering me... if I was dead I couldn't enjoy my tv so...)

But I started to think about it today...

1) WHAT IS THIS? I mean... I know what it is, but I can't figure out if it's worth the money. I watch movies right now (and for the last 2 years) with a television that does the 3:2 pulldown thing, and I've never noticed a damned thing! Is this a big deal? Is it something I'm going to notice after I get the TV and then go "ooooooh, THAT is what it's supposed to be" ? Or is it going to be something my wife goes "...$500 extra...? Really?"

2) I started thinking that with some calibration tips on the interwebs I could probably get the TV relatively close to where it should be---but I don't know.

Please convince me one way or the other, and if it isn't worth my while to hold out for these admittedly freakin' awesome (but very possibly not necessary) peices of equipment what should I be looking at? the 80u? the 85u?

Thanks so much you guys!

[BrahmaBull]

I too have been questioning how important 24p is to me.

I am a little disappointed that the new G series is THX cert but doesn't properly do 24p. This new NeoPDP looks impressive. Better blacks, motion, processing and the happy buzz word "green".

After a month of seriously considering a new set and not wanting to pay the extra for 24p and viera cast, I was dead set on the 46" 85U.

Now I am waiting. Pricing on the new models look enticing and I am hoping for noticeable improvements in blacks, IR, etc.

I guess I am on your boat. Leaning towards a 2009 model, but if it makes sense, fall back to the 85u.

[mr.hidef]

THX mode being nearly calibrated out of the box.

This just means it's THX certified (stamp of approval). It is nowhere near calibrated out of the box.....unless Carrie at Panasonic (I known her for 2 years now) is full of crap for telling me that. Is it at 6500 Kelvin internally to begin proper calibration?

[victimsofadown]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

THX mode being nearly calibrated out of the box.

This just means it's THX certified (stamp of approval). It is nowhere near calibrated out of the box.....unless Carrie at Panasonic (I known her for 2 years now) is full of crap for telling me that. Is it at 6500 Kelvin internally to begin proper calibration?

I don't want to get too off topic, but I was under the impression from every thing I've read that using the THX mode is very very very near calibrated, and only slight changes from there are needed for calibration.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

THX mode being nearly calibrated out of the box.

This just means it's THX certified (stamp of approval). It is nowhere near calibrated out of the box.....unless Carrie at Panasonic (I known her for 2 years now) is full of crap for telling me that. Is it at 6500 Kelvin internally to begin proper calibration?

This is not true for the 800U for the THX setting. it is almost perfectly calibrated out of the box.. you can read about it online...

Also, the 24p on this set flickers quite noticably. if you are only buying it for the 24p, beware..

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

This is not true for the 800U for the THX setting. it is almost perfectly calibrated out of the box.. you can read about it online...

Also, the 24p on this set flickers quite noticably. if you are only buying it for the 24p, beware..

You'll have to take this up with Tom Huffman, an ISF calibrator over at AVS. He owns one and says it was off. I believe it had a bad red push.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

You'll have to take this up with Tom Huffman, an ISF calibrator over at AVS. He owns one and says it was off. I believe it had a bad red push.

Oh, its not perfect, but its really close...

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by victimsofadown

I watch movies right now (and for the last 2 years) with a television that does the 3:2 pulldown thing, and I've never noticed a damned thing! Is this a big deal?

Absolutely not. It is far less important than real contrast ratio and motion resolution. If you haven't noticed it, you're not likely to.

[Hammie]

24p is not a necessity. It is a nicety. Also, some people have noticed a flicker when in 24p mode. Personally, I have not.

THX mode is nice, but again not perfect. If you look on the AVS 800u thread. It has been proven that it , too, need calibrated to get it spot on.

Being THX certified means that it meets the minimum requirements under that specification. It still needs tweaked to make it "perfect." Besides, you may be quite happy with it out of the box and not want/need any changes.

Additionally, there are a number of threads on the Internet with various "calibration" settings that you can plug in and tweak to your liking no matter what TV you buy.

Whether you buy an 85u, 800u or a new 2009 model, a Panasonic plasma is a pretty good TV none the less.

Like dobyblue says, look at the REAL contrast and not dynamic contrast and make a decision based on that. The 800u does look better than an 85u. Will the new 2009 models look beter or the same is yet to know since no one has seen them yet.

[msnoopy22]

I went to Best Buy today. I've decided on the KURO 5020.. What is this 24p?? Do I need it? Is it on the KURO 5020??

[krazeyeyez]

i would say use the forum search and truly GOOD LUCK friend, get out now before words like interpolation, pull down, 24, 30, 60p and whole lotta other stuff starts flying around in here.

[graf1k]

Yes, the Kuro does 72Hz which a multiple of 24Hz/p.

As for the what 24p does, all the info you could need is here.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by msnoopy22

I went to Best Buy today. I've decided on the KURO 5020.. What is this 24p?? Do I need it? Is it on the KURO 5020??

Buy that TV & buy that TV quick!!! Its a badass set if you like top notch PQ??? Don't pay any more than $2,000-$2,100 for it from them. Costco has it for $2,000 but there not an authorized dealer (don't say anything about that ay Best Buy) so you don't get the 1 year manufacture warranty! Go to Costco online & print the pg out with the 5020 for $2,000 & take it to Best Buy & have them price match. I had the GM of Best Buy hand sign mine. So there was NO need to call & check & all that crap. Good luck.

[Plasmachick]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Buy that TV & buy that TV quick!!! Its a badass set if you like top notch PQ??? Don't pay any more than $2,000-$2,100 for it from them. Costco has it for $2,000 but there not an authorized dealer (don't say anything about that ay Best Buy) so you don't get the 1 year manufacture warranty! Go to Costco online & print the pg out with the 5020 for $2,000 & take it to Best Buy & have them price match. I had the GM of Best Buy hand sign mine. So there was NO need to call & check & all that crap. Good luck.

Was in BB today. They have them for 2299 now.

On another note they had the 6020 by itself playing MLB on the PS3. That tv looked awesome as heck.

[DrinkMore]

I have the 800u 50" and turned on the 24p. Some scenes you can't notice is, some scenes you can. The best way I can describe it is if you have ever seen a movie,show with someone wearing a striped shirt - stripes that are really thin and a lot of them. Mainly black/white alternating. That kind of patter causes a "flicker" that is similar to the 24p flicker I notice.

The image feels more "real" with it on, but it gives me a headache. I guess if I turn it on and leave it on I would get used to it and never notice it again. Other than that, there is not much difference between on and off.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

I have the 800u 50" and turned on the 24p. Some scenes you can't notice is, some scenes you can. The best way I can describe it is if you have ever seen a movie,show with someone wearing a striped shirt - stripes that are really thin and a lot of them. Mainly black/white alternating. That kind of patter causes a "flicker" that is similar to the 24p flicker I notice.

That's pretty much the way I've tried to describe it to people too, but because a few reviewers with their noses up to the screen reading measurements describe it as "unwatchable" some people just don't get it.

I watched TDK in IMAX in January when it returned for two weeks - in the underground room with all the overhead lighting is a perfect example of what filmic flicker is, very much noticeable. It looks identical on the 800U with 24p on and I would wager an entire year's salary that if the same reviewers watched that scene in IMAX and came right out and watched it on an 800U they'd better understand what Panasonic were going after with the filmic mode.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Plasmachick

Was in BB today. They have them for 2299 now.

On another note they had the 6020 by itself playing MLB on the PS3. That tv looked awesome as heck.

Yeah they have it for $2,300 .....but that's not what your gunna pay if you go by what I'm saying.