So I've been calibrating a G10 the past couple days, and I've noticed something odd about the SM. When you go into the DRV/CUT sub menu to make adjustments, it seems to alters video levels somehow. Best way to see this is the pull up a grayscale step pattern (0-255 IRE, 8 point steps) then cycle into the sub menu (I've been using Custom Warm, this may make a difference). You can clearly see it shifting levels pretty dramatically. I first noticed this because WHILE in the SM, my scale looks really uniform, but once I save out, I get a lot of color shifts in the near whites. It's like outside of the SM, the TV has some sort of Dynamic Contrast processing going on or something. It still tracks accurately in 10% steps (and it is saving my settings), but it just doesn't look right (especially in the near whites). Anyone know what's going on here? I am cycling to Custom IN the SM, and I am in Custom outside it, but the ramps look completely different.

If you have the Blu-ray-version of DVE (DVE HD Basics) try displaying the 1080p luma plate test pattern. At least on the EU-variant of the G10 (and V10 actually) you will see a lot of dynamic behaviour in this test pattern: strange zig-zag patterns will appear and the general light output from the display will vary a lot over (short) time.

The correct behaviour vill be constant light output and ideally only 3 to 5 stable concentric circle patterns (large one in the middle, one medium size in each side and maybe something between theese).

Maybe this is the source of what you see?

If you have the Blu-ray-version of DVE (DVE HD Basics) try displaying the 1080p luma plate test pattern. At least on the EU-variant of the G10 (and V10 actually) you will see a lot of dynamic behaviour in this test pattern: strange zig-zag patterns will appear and the general light output from the display will vary a lot over (short) time.

The correct behaviour vill be constant light output and ideally only 3 to 5 stable concentric circle patterns (large one in the middle, one medium size in each side and maybe something between theese).

Maybe this is the source of what you see?

Thanks for the reply, but I don't, I'm using AVS-709 on a PS3. Sounds like you may be talking about the "pumping" effect these TV's do for a second or 2 when you switch to a demanding and elaborate patterns. I've noticed that, but that's not what I'm referring to here. Whatever the SM is doing, I'm unable to replicate it in normal modes. I've tried altering the contrast/brightness dramatically, every combination of the RGB, Super White, and Black Level settings--nothing really comes close to what the SM is doing. For instance: outside the SM on the 0-255 step pattern, 8 and 16 are almost crushed together and the high end of the range is color shifting. In the WB-ADJ sub menu of the SM, 8 and 16 are easily distinguishable and the high end of the range is very neutral and uniform looking. No idea what it's doing, but it looks a lot like Dynamic Contrast processing to me.

Every panasonic display I've ever calibrated would change slightly when the servce menu was up (some of them even with the OSD).

Verfy your calibration with the menu inactive.

I agree that Panasonic displays don't provide the same readings inside the SM as they do outside the SM. You really do need to change the settings while in the SM, then exit to make your readings. Because of that, I prefer to measure the whole grayscale and work out in my head how much to adjust the cuts/drives next time I open the service menu. If you just measure 20 and 80 or 30 and 80 while bouncing back and forth, you'll just find yourself making more adjustments anyway, so may as well be looking at the whole grayscale each time you exit the SM. This behaviour makes it especially annoying that you have to getup and use the Vol- button on the TV to enter service mode.

I tend to work out an x/y offset and work with that. It's usually so small that it's academic to deltaE somewhat anyway.