Will Panasonic's plasma 3D really be any good?

[rded]

I just got back from MHT and got 1st hand experience on the Panny 50" 3D TV with matching 3-D BDP and 3-D glasses. It made a believer out of me. The technology IS VIABLE. The 3-D images on the grand canyon rapids demo was dead on and the water effects and splashes were eerie-realistic.

The Astro Boy demo was just crystal clear and vibrant! Despite fast moving action and multiple camera pans, I did not detect any choppy frame rates and jittery movements.

The 3-D glasses were light weight, ergonomic and comfortable The Downside is that it uses a battery(I forgot what size/model it was) vs the Samsung glasses that are re-chargeable via mini usb.

Now the good news regarding the New Panny BDP: It has dual 1.4 HDMI outs This allows practically everybody(at this point) to not have to upgrade their receivers to HDMI 1.4 compatible ones thereby running one hdmi out to receiver strictly for audio and the other hdmi cable to the TV.

The Price? $2500 for the 50 Inch 3-D TV and $400 for the BDP. I forgot to inquire on the price of the glasses.

Verdict: If you have to have it NOW! IMHO the technology is worth it but you will not be able to get your hands on 3-D bluray movies 'till April. I was told that there are 50 bluray titles in the pipeline- which is a pretty decent number. Unfortunately, consumers may have to double dip on titles they already have just to get the new 3-D experience

My advice: wait until December/Christmas season. The Manufactures and studios will most likely package up 3-D TV/BDP and movie combos. If they are shoving this technlogy down our throats the better make the pot sweeter and add incentives

[that1guystudios]

Originally Posted by rded

I just got back from MHT and got 1st hand experience on the Panny 50" 3D TV with matching 3-D BDP and 3-D glasses. It made a believer out of me. The technology IS VIABLE. The 3-D images on the grand canyon rapids demo was dead on and the water effects and splashes were eerie-realistic.

The Astro Boy demo was just crystal clear and vibrant! Despite fast moving action and multiple camera pans, I did not detect any choppy frame rates and jittery movements.

The 3-D glasses were light weight, ergonomic and comfortable The Downside is that it uses a battery(I forgot what size/model it was) vs the Samsung glasses that are re-chargeable via mini usb.

Now the good news regarding the New Panny BDP: It has dual 1.4 HDMI outs This allows practically everybody(at this point) to not have to upgrade their receivers to HDMI 1.4 compatible ones thereby running one hdmi out to receiver strictly for audio and the other hdmi cable to the TV.

The Price? $2500 for the 50 Inch 3-D TV and $400 for the BDP. I forgot to inquire on the price of the glasses.

Verdict: If you have to have it NOW! IMHO the technology is worth it but you will not be able to get your hands on 3-D bluray movies 'till April. I was told that there are 50 bluray titles in the pipeline- which is a pretty decent number. Unfortunately, consumers may have to double dip on titles they already have just to get the new 3-D experience

My advice: wait until December/Christmas season. The Manufactures and studios will most likely package up 3-D TV/BDP and movie combos. If they are shoving this technlogy down our throats the better make the pot sweeter and add incentives

I work for Magnolia/Best Buy. The Glasses are included with the Panasonic, each additional pair is $150. The Samsung does not come with a pair. Samsung sells two pairs of glasses, one with a recharchable internal battery for $200, one with replacable batteries like tha Panasonic for $149.99. They also have a kit that comes with 2 pairs of the cheaper glasses and Monsters Vs Aliens on Blu-ray for $350. This is packaged in a bundle they have this week for about $3700.

The Panasonic is clearly the way to go if you care about 3D. The Samsung isn't even capable of displaying 3D in HD...it uses line-doubling to give you an effective 540p resolution. It's awful in my opinion...and personally gave me a headache. The Panasonic...crystal clear, and in my opinion better than the movie theater experiences I've had.

[Grif32]

Originally Posted by that1guypictures

I work for Magnolia/Best Buy. The Glasses are included with the Panasonic, each additional pair is $150. The Samsung does not come with a pair. Samsung sells two pairs of glasses, one with a recharchable internal battery for $200, one with replacable batteries like tha Panasonic for $149.99. They also have a kit that comes with 2 pairs of the cheaper glasses and Monsters Vs Aliens on Blu-ray for $350. This is packaged in a bundle they have this week for about $3700.

The Panasonic is clearly the way to go if you care about 3D. The Samsung isn't even capable of displaying 3D in HD...it uses line-doubling to give you an effective 540p resolution. It's awful in my opinion...and personally gave me a headache. The Panasonic...crystal clear, and in my opinion better than the movie theater experiences I've had.

How is the Kit $350? The cheaper glasses are $150 a pair so that's $300. Are they saying the movie is $50?? This will fail if 3D movies are that much.

I agree I went yesterday to BB and the Samsung 3D sucked. The worst part was the movie kept freezing up and the audio would drop out.

They didn't have the Panny setup yet.

So far I have seen the Sony one at the sony style store and the flicker from their glasses really sucked and Samsung was just horrible.

Hopefully Panny pulls it off.

[Spanbauer]

Originally Posted by Grif32

So far I have seen the Sony one at the sony style store and the flicker from their glasses really sucked and Samsung was just horrible.

Hopefully Panny pulls it off.

The Samsung plasmas should be good, too. It's the LCDs that stink.

[BD3Dfan]

I went to a Panasonic Full HD 3D demo (They were using Xpand glasses, not their own brand) and I have to say, Panasonic 3D is great. I haven't seen a Sony 3D demo and I'm not sure I want to see a Samsung 3D demo, since it's not even Full HD 3D.

[Beta Man]

Some people just prefer the 'type' of image created by an LCD

I prefer Plasmas, but I also wish a large (but not heavy or 'deep' ) and affordable 1080p CRT was available..... I love the PQ from CRTs.

Originally Posted by BD3Dfan

since it's not even Full HD 3D.

They've sucked you into the marketing.....


And I've seen the Demos...... I can't believe people are excited for 3D PQ was terrible in my opinion.

[jibucha]

Hello

I have seen many 3D Demonstrations throughout the years now, and Panasonic is easily the best to date.

Whatever anyone might prefer is another matter entirely, but seeing Avatar last fall and earlier this year, provides the best that 3D has to offer.

Thank You

[mpstjohn]

Originally Posted by BD3Dfan

I went to a Panasonic Full HD 3D demo (They were using Xpand glasses, not their own brand) and I have to say, Panasonic 3D is great. I haven't seen a Sony 3D demo and I'm not sure I want to see a Samsung 3D demo, since it's not even Full HD 3D.

Completely agree. Last night I saw they had set up the Panasonic 3D television at my local Best Buy. I was very underwhelmed by the Samsung model earlier but tried to remain optimistic.

The Panasonic 3D demo was screening some underwater footage and this is by far the most impressive footage I've seen, like some of the best Real D footage (none of that post-conversion crap either).

As soon as they release a movie actually worth owning in this format I'm skipping the Samsung and getting the Panasonic model.

[spinstersxrd]

I also agree, I went last week to Best Buy Magnolia Theater section sat on the couch and watched the 3D 50" Panny Plasma WOW, no Ghosting no crosstalk razor sharp image in full HD 1080p, colors were vibrant and depth of 3D field was amazing. I saw the Sammy at Fry electronics I though it was pretty good but after seeing the Panny damn that is kicked up a notch. I am still on the fence with Sony because when I saw it, I think I was watching a special demo TV and not the actual retail one because it was not hooked up to a 3d Bluray player like the Panny and Sammy where. So I will wait for the retail version to come out and see what they have to offer.

[ascendedcobra]

Originally Posted by that1guypictures

I work for Magnolia/Best Buy. The Glasses are included with the Panasonic, each additional pair is $150. The Samsung does not come with a pair. Samsung sells two pairs of glasses, one with a recharchable internal battery for $200, one with replacable batteries like tha Panasonic for $149.99. They also have a kit that comes with 2 pairs of the cheaper glasses and Monsters Vs Aliens on Blu-ray for $350. This is packaged in a bundle they have this week for about $3700.

The Panasonic is clearly the way to go if you care about 3D. The Samsung isn't even capable of displaying 3D in HD...it uses line-doubling to give you an effective 540p resolution. It's awful in my opinion...and personally gave me a headache. The Panasonic...crystal clear, and in my opinion better than the movie theater experiences I've had.

I thought out the door its like $3200 for the 55" the bluray playe 2 pair of glasses and the movie. Thats not a bad price. The image is better than 540p it looks like full 1080p. I own the blu of monsters vs aliens and this new 3D version looks just as good as my full 1080p version. Thats what matters.

[kobe84114]

Excuse my "noobness" but why do I hear so many people around the forum saying that they are going to wait for the 2011 panasonics? I ask because I am in the market for a new TV but do no HAVE to have one right away.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by kobe84114

Excuse my "noobness" but why do I hear so many people around the forum saying that they are going to wait for the 2011 panasonics? I ask because I am in the market for a new TV but do no HAVE to have one right away.

It is because Panasonic acquired the patents of Pioneer's Kuro technology and also hired on a large portion of their key plasma engineers. A small portion of the technology has found its way into the 2010 models, but the full extent of this acquisition will not be seen until the 2011 models.

In addition the 2011 model according to D-Nice, travelling ISF-calibration technician who also has some good contacts inside Panasonic, will beat the Kuro's in black levels...not match, beat.

That sums up why some people who don't absolutely need a TV right now are happy to wait for next year's Viera sets.

[kobe84114]

Thanks a lot. Now I have to decide between picking up and LED this year, or waiting until next year to get a Panny....Decisions...Decisions...

[domper9]

I have a question. These 3D TV's, both Samsung and Panasonic I think, provide a "2D->3D" upscale feature. The idea being that by observing movement and focus in the image, a third dimension can be extrapolated from a 2D source.
Now, I don't expect this to work very well, but just out of curiosity, which machine in the chain will be responsible for the syncing with the glasses? I was under the impression that with 3D Blu-Ray movies, the 3D player is. So do I need to play a 2D movie in a 3D player in order to get the conversion? Since the tv seems to be doing the conversion, that doesn't make much sense. Or does the tv send it's own sync-signal? Also, does this mean it will work for any source, also movies on USB harddisks?