2011 Panasonic Plasma [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 44

Interesting. There was also a post by someone at HDJ who was reading the panasonic japanese presentation on the new cell technology and he hinted that the new plasma panel tech for 2011 appears to be more radically different than last year's tech.

I'm not sure why, if this is true and the new cell technology is a big step up (whether or not black levels are remarkably better) Panasonic has not made a bigger deal out of it.

Maybe they were trying to avoid a wave of returns from post Christmas sales? Maybe the tech is not such a big step up?

All I know is I have a VT30 65" on pre-order with Robert from VE and he is having his first shipment sent out in late April!

That's a funny comment, considering that many reviewers actually said that the VT25 was very close to the Kuro in overall performance after they actually tested the units.

Maybe Phil can beat an answer out of Panasonic if they have fixed the rising and floating black level problems. If the black rise is moderate I can live with it since I don't watch in a pitch black room. Black level float though will result in a cancel of my pre-order.

See what answers these people get from Panasonic. They asked for people to post questions to be asked of Panasonic in London tomorrow, and will post the replies they receive. If you look at the comments section, you will see that people have requested that they ask if the floating blacks problem has been eliminated, so we shall see if they get straight answers or not.

http://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php...&id=1297412524

According to the EU Panasonic site, the VT, G(T) and S(T) series all have 14G panels, not 13G as previously reported.

Specs
VT: Specifications / Dimensions | VT series -Plasma TV | PRODUCT | 2011 EU | VIERA | Plasma&LCD TV | Panasonic Global
GT: Specifications / Dimensions | GT series -Plasma TV | PRODUCT | 2011 EU | VIERA | Plasma&LCD TV | Panasonic Global
ST: Specifications / Dimensions | ST series -Plasma TV | PRODUCT | 2011 EU | VIERA | Plasma&LCD TV | Panasonic Global

The 2011 models appear to be considerably thinner too, almost half the thickness. The 50" VT20 was 9cm think, the VT30 is 5cm.

G30 for europe!
Wooooh!

How much info from the specs are going to be applicable internationally? I know stuff like 24fps playback is different but are the size/panel generations going to be the same for the US?

I would be extremely surprised if there is a different panel being used for europe than for NA.

14G is extremely interesting, I wonder if it means that top CEL is in fact in these new panels.

The 55" ST Product Page is up on Panasonic.com US site now. No pricing on it though. Specs are all there though.

I'm guessing it has to at least be something similar to that for it to be classified as 14g. Really looking forward to reviews of these panels.

I'm not sure why anyone would think that the 2011 PDP modules would be classified as 13G. 13G = 2010 models.... like the VT25.

Thanks for this post. Also, this is the first time I'm seeing THX 3D confirmed by Panasonic. This is getting interesting...I thought I couldn't get more excited about my 65VT30 preorder but this link has me excited. I'm wondering if the US sets will also come with TWO pairs of 3D glasses...

Also interesting that europe is getting 42" versions of the vt30!

You've been emailed

I will be going thru emails tonight and tomorrow. The past few weeks have been very busy.

Yeah and a 46 gt30!

Reading the Panasonic site, the 600Hz Sub-field Drive with Intelligent Frame Creation Pro technology is for smooth motion but in Cinema mode only. Since i have an Elite Pro110 i use Pure Mode for everything, the Movie Mode is too subdued. If Cinema on the Panasonic is similiar to the Elite Movie Mode it seems to me this 600Hz feature is useless for live sports.

Interesting, Europe gets both a 42" and 50" variation of the VT30 but their GT30 stops at 50". Is the demand for sets larger than 50" smaller in the EU?

The reduced thickness of the panel is very welcome news though.

The original source has disappeared, but this started the rumours.

I know my pre-order of the 55VT30 comes with one pair of glasses, I would hope with the reported/leaked price tag of the 65VT30 that it would come with two pairs of glasses.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the 65VT30 only comes with one pair, Panasonic would likely improve their profit margins by only offering one pair.

I think you haven't been in too many european or asian homes if you have to ask that question.

The average european family lives in a flat or apartment that is about 700 to 900 square feet. It is even smaller in Asia.

Not much room to put a 65" TV if your family room measures 10' by 10'.

Here are more pics from the London Event. Looks like there is a new remote control, for Panny.

http://translate.google.com/translat...plates/?a=4783

Kind of a lousy thing to do isn't it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by greenland
If you look up how Phil Hinton was reacting to the 2010 Panasonic Plasmas, when he first saw them at CES, he was raving about them also, and actually saying that he was really looking at "A Kuro up there" with the Panasonic logo on it. He tends to jump to unfounded conclusions, at first glance.

Hi greenland,

I met Phil Hinton a few times & can vouch for his integrity - he only reports on what he finds & tells it as it is. He has clearly stated subsequently that the production models of the unit they tested did not match the demonstration unit he saw at the event. It may very well have been that Panasonic were showing a prototype version at CES which was then watered down for production in order to keep costs down rather than Phil jumping the gun so to speak.

Bazzy!

Since I never said one word about his integrity, I do not see any reason for you to feel that you must defend it. In fact you just confirmed my exact point, that Phil engaged in premature gushing, just by looking at a panel on display at CES. He was the one who kept trying to get the Panny rep to admit that it was really a Kuro display they were looking at. He said to the Panny rep: "That's A Kuro we are looking at, isn't it". The Panny rep. played coy, and would not say, one way or the other, because of course he did not want to kill the impression that was being conveyed, that it probably was. Good publicity , even if it is not factual, is something a rep. never wishes to dampen.

I hope Phil learned from that experience, and cools his jets this year, until he has put an actual unit through it's paces.

Have to say, that gt30 does look very good with that metal finish on the sides. If they fix 48hz flicker it's a very attractive set! Thanks Rick1000 for the link!

Wow. Never thought I'd say this, but Panasonic has designed better looking TV's than Samsung. They look really, really nice. Even the bargain bin models look kind of decent.

And the filters on the ST and GT seem to preserve their contrast quite well. Seems like a nice improvement over last year's G20/25 filter.

Look at that 65VT30, gimme gimme!

Randy is right: the date for the very first North American batch of VT30s just got posted at HDJ. They will ship to an unnamed retailer on April 25th. That is the earliest confirmed date I've seen anywhere.

-Noob

I guess it depends from your perspective....

If you were a consumer who dropped a boat load of cash for Panny's flagship 3D set and only received on pair of glasses, then yeah....it's a lousy thing.

If you are Panasonic or one of their shareholders, including only one pair of glasses per set may wind up helping margins and hence improve the bottom line. From a business perspective, it's all about enhancing the bottom line. Panasonic will rationale such a move by saying if a consumer can afford the chunk of change necessary to purchase this set, then it's highly likely they will be able to afford buying a second pair of glasses.

Please understand I am not commenting on your ability to afford this set or a second pair of glasses, I was just offering my take on the business rationale Panny could potentially employ if they elected to only include one pair of glasses.

Yes it does.