Official Panasonic GT30 Series Discussion Thread [No Price Talk] - Page 104

Just upgraded from a 50" 2010 G25 to a 65" GT30.

WHOA.

I'd been saving for a VT30 because I really wanted proper 24p, but when I read CNET's review that the GT handled 24p really well at 60Hz, and that CNET tested their VT in 60hz because of the contouring at 96Hz, I decided to go with the GT and use the extra hundreds to get a 3D Panasonic Home Theater in a Box and Squaretrade Warranties for both.

I could not be happier.

I LOVED the picture quality on my G25 (in amazing-out-of-the-box THX mode) after learning to live with the floating blacks and the 60Hz hitching (which was better than the 48Hz flickering).

But I am absolutely blown away by how superior the GT's processing is.

24p at 60Hz is outstanding, and light years more natural that it was on the G25. I seriously can't believe how much of a difference it is.

I probably even would have gone with an ST, but the G25 got me so used to THX mode that I went for the GT, which looks even better in THX than the G25 did. (Cinema also looks ridiculously good, but I like THX for that extra pop.)

I got an August build with a safe serial number, and I haven't seen a single floating black (which is something that never stopped driving me crazy with the G25, which has found a happy home with one of my co-workers who bought it for her newly finished basement).

I'm seriously blown away by this set. (And believe me, I'm annoyingly obsessive over every little detail to the point of mental illness.)

Couldn't be happier. Absolutely in love. Especially pleased with the infinitely superior processing of 24p at 60Hz over the G25. And the extra real estate is ruling my world. If you are waffling over going another size bigger, take the plunge if space and budget allow. I am so happy that I did.

Love. This. Set. And thanks as always to all of you for being so informative and for sharing your own experiences to help inexperienced people like me figure out the best bang for my buck. This forum is awesome.

I agree that the 24p is fine at 60. I am sending a 24p signal out of my 310 BD player to my 65GT30 and it looks great at 60. I also tried it at 48 on the tv and had terrible flicker. I am more than satisfied by this tv. If I had the extra funds, I probably would of got the VT30. The money I saved bought me other stuff though.

thanks for the advice. Yes, I'd rather have panny, but if there is a cheaper alternative that does the same thing, I am all for it. I will try these sony ones out, I will report back on here and let you guys know. If they are not good, then back to the store they go!

I've seen a lot of talk about people worried about image retention especially when gaming.

My 60" GT30 is about 2 months old, not sure how many hours I've logged on it. I noticed when running a green slide from Disney's WOW BluRay disc that it had a distinct burned image from playing Modern Warfare 3. I don't play a ton but I probably got into the game for a good week. Disney's WOW disc has a tool called a pixal orbiter on it, used to erase the effect of image retention. It flips each pixel 24 - 26 times a second constantly and they recommend to run it at least and hour and if that doesn't work overnight.

The image was pretty noticeable on the green slide and after running the pixel orbiter overnight the IR was almost completely gone. Hopefully the IR is more while the TV is newer but I've found it to be pretty effect to erase the effects of IR. Give it a try, also a good disc for calibration.

My new 55" GT30 was built in Dec. 2011 according to the tag on back. When I first hooked it up it prompted me for 2.2 firmware - which I did.

Should I still apply the 2.1 Luminance patch and then re-apply the 2.2 firmware - or do you think my set already has the 2.1 Luminance patch and I'm good to go?

Thanks.

I am looking to experiment and view some videos from the SD card input of my GT31 (Best Buy's version of the GT30 with the Avatar 3D and 2 pairs of glasses).

Can anyone point me to a website or recomend some video files that are high quality 1080P format that will play on the 55GT31? They do not have to be 3D but that would be cool to test and view. I am looking for that "wow" factor.

Of course, it would be a bonus of the videos were "showoff" quality for all my friends want to come over to see this new purchase and I do not have anything cued up to show.

Also, I am using the DLNA back to my Windows 7 PC. I can see most of the pictures and videos on the hard drive but not all. Any ideas?

Thanks!

You can download a whole lot of demo clips from here: http://www.demo-world.eu/trailers/hi...n-trailers.php

2.1 is only applied via SD card download and designed as a pro calibrator install from Panasonic, thus will not be included in routine firmware. If you want to apply it you have to manually download it from the website link:

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c.../down_pro.html

It isn't recommended if you are planning on using D-nice settings elsewhere posted. His settings are based on pre-2.1 and won't work post 2.1 application. 2.1 mainly improves gamma performance with mid panel brightness settings in Custom mode and at higher contrast settings in THX mode. It also seems to make flesh tones a little more natural in THX mode IMO.

It also isn't necessary to apply if you plan to have a pro calibration, but certainly won't hurt either. Edit: Just be sure to not
apply it after your calibration.

Thank you for the reply! Perhaps I'll first try D-Nice's settings and if happy just call it a day. If I don't like it I'll do 2.1 then give Dave-O's settings a whirl.

I'm just sort of leary about messing in the service menu - which would be why I thought 2.1 and Dave-O's settings might be the better route to go.

Quick question, during smooth motion setting what is exactly happening? Does it increase lag between audio and video?

So after much researching and thinking, I have decided to return my high end LED and go for Plasma. Just too much bleeding and picture flaws in the LED for the amount of money I paid so hopefully I will have better luck with Plasma.

My question on the GT30, which is my front runner, is whether or not users experience any of the "soap opera" effect that happens with LED (it was horrendous on my unit). Are their motion control settings on the GT30 to turn on/off?

I am dead set on getting this unit because I love the deep blacks and movie feel, I just don't want to have to deal with the "soap opera" effect again.

Hi, James,

I LOVE my GT30. The two best picture modes out of the box are THX and Cinema.

Cinema has an OPTION for "Motion Smoother" that can be set to OFF, WEAK, or STRONG.

THX doesn't even let you turn on the Motion Smoother at all.

So no, no soap opera effect unless you turn it on.

Out of the box, the THX mode is striking. Absolutely amazing. And its processing of a 24p signal at 60Hz is transparent to me; the motion is smooth and normal and natural and beautiful.

I think you'll be above and beyond satisfied with this set, and this is coming from someone who is picky and obsessive about these things to the point of mental illness. I absolutely love my GT30.

I turned on Motion Smoother in Cinema Mode just to see what it looked like, and it makes the motion so smooth that it seemed artificial to me. I leave mine in THX which doesn't even offer the option of Motion Smoother.

However, with Motion Smoother on, there is no noticeable lag (to me, at least) between audio and video.

Hey John, thanks for the quick response. I did have a few other small questions for you if you have the time (I will read through the thread thoroughly as well, just figured I'd ask for reassurance).

1. What is the 60hz in which you speak compared to 600hz which its labeled? Is the end result less so of a 120/240hz of an LED? I'm tech savvy, but I am fairly new to the latest TV's on the market.

2. How did you go about "breaking in" your unit? This TV will primarily be for Blu Rays and Video Games but I was told to hold off on either for the first 100 hours to prevent the black bars from the Blu Rays or vivid image from video games to burning in.

3. How is the unit with Sports? I only viewed this unit a handful of times at the local BestBuy and PC Richards, but it was never in a live sport game. I just want to make sure it isn't streaky or heavily lagged (1 thing I loved on the LED).

Thanks in advance and sorry for being redundant.

Happy to help! Though I'm not remotely an expert about these things, and this board is full of REAL experts. Anything I know I know from reading this forum.

1. Basically, don't worry about it. That's my best answer. 48Hz, 96Hz, 120Hz, etc., are all multiples of 24, and film is 24 frames per second, so these refresh rates preserve the natural cadence of 24p, whereas 60Hz applies a process called "pulldown," which normally produces a little bit of a hiccup in the image (most observable in slow pans), but CNET's review says the GT30 displays proper 24p cadence at 60Hz, and my picky eyes also find 60Hz on the GT to be absolutely transparent, so the moral of the story is, don't worry about it. You will LOVE motion on the GT.

2. Honestly, I didn't break mine in at all. I set it to THX mode and started enjoying it right out of the box, and the picture is beautiful, and I am so glad I took the plunge. Many here will say you need to break it in, but I just dove right in to enjoying it.

3. I never watch sports, so unfortunately I can't help you there, but I watch lots of action movies with fast action, and motion is awesome awesome awesome. No streaks or lags to be seen. (And again, I am super sensitive and picky.)

And let me reiterate, too, that I never really got past the processing quirks of my 2010 G25, even though I mostly learned to live with them.

With the GT30, there is absolutely NOTHING that I would change or want beyond what I've got. As I said before, I'm picky and obsessive to the point of pure lunacy, and there is nothing about this set that I would change.

I'm a recent owner of a 60gt30 so I'm not extremely knowledgeable, but I'll try to give you a little help from my observations thus far.
1. I don't know the tech details of it, but I think the 60hz has to do with 24p signals. Don't read that and think "60 hz, my led was 120 or 240...it's going to look terrible," it definitely does not. 24p 60 hz looks gorgeous on this display. I looked at the D8000 samsung as well but it had much more motion blur and break-up, I haven't seen one instance of it happening yet, and I have really been paying attention. Watched Star wars ep 3 blu (zoomed of course no true 2.40 yet) and I seriously stared at the lightsabers swinging around from 5 feet and saw none.

2. Sifting through everything I've read here (pages on pages) on break-in seems to say if you are going to have it calibrated do it for sure (with slides possibly), if it makes you feel better do it, but many others never did and don't have problems. The 2 reasons people do it is to age phospors evenly for calibrating or help prevent ir because the phosphors age quicker in the first 100-200 hours of use. I'm personally not getting it calibrated, but I have thus far only watched full screen blus (well I did watch one half of a football game around 50 hrs in but I made sure nothing stayed static on the screen for longer than 3 or so min. I plan on following this practice for about 100-150 hrs.

3. The football game picture-wise looked awesome no jidder or blur at all. I do have contrast way down for break-in though so I know color and brightness will look much better once I adjust everything.

I do have a question if anyone can help. I have seen many people talking about having a hard time getting extra 3d glasses, are they coming out with a new model soon or should I buy some while I can? (my local BB and HHGregg have them in stock.)

Thank you John and Batou! This helps a lot. I am excited to pull the trigger on this unit. I never thought I'd ever want Plasma, but after seeing all the flaws in the LED, especially the ultra-bright, washed out colors, I am looking forward to more of the "movie feel" I was hoping to get in a new TV.

I don't think I will be getting mine calibrated, but I will definitely make sure I am careful the first month or so when I have it to keep static images from staying on too long.

i need to add some for calibration. it means nothing to your eyes. calibration just means the panel meets a published specification. some specs are tougher than others for a panel to meet, etc. however, calibration means nothing when it comes down to what you like to see. so just adjust the settings the way you like them.

I think the GT series went somewhat under the radar this year. Seems everyone was either buying the VT or going with the ST as "equivalent" to the GT. I think personally the GT in THX mode may be the best kept secret around. At least one calibrator (ChadB) preferred the GT out of the box in THX mode to the VT.

That is an interesting comment. I am through the first 10 pages or so on this thread so far when early reports were that the THX mode wasn't up to standard. However, that was about 9 months ago and I am unsure if/when new firmware was available.

Does the THX gamma problem still exist on this set?

No--it never was. It was more of a technical
problem in how it was measured. Even OOB
THX has very accurate gamma.

Basically, as I understand it, the problem is fatigue
in the panel that occurs if you leave a static window pattern
displayed while you measure it. Since this never really happens
during normal viewing it's not a true reflection
of how the panel performs anyway. The solution
is to measure at intervals and "wipe" the display
with a moving bar between measurements.

See ChadB's 60gt30 review in the Reviews by Top
Industry Leaders section of the "other forum".
Start reading at post 37. The entire thread is
certainly worth a look. I'd link it here but it's
not allowed.

Awesome, that is good to know. I really want to pull the trigger and you guys are helping ease my mind. Taking one last look this weekend at the TV live and probably ordering next week if all goes well.

Thanks for the help. Looking forward to awesome Blu Ray picture.

I've seen mention of "Dave-O's" settings on here. Can anyone link me to where I would find those?

I picked up a pair of the SainSonic and have been pleasantly surprised. I so far have not had any ghosting issues. The optional nose bridges also makes it easier to fit most faces.

If I like the vivid setting the best for most viewing even vs dnice except for movies what other costum settings would I like to try?
Love my panny but if I like the vivid, does that mean that I might like led instead ??

Okay, keep in mind that my shoddy cell phone camera and its cheap flash are NOT doing the picture any favors, but ...

http://www.johnbierly.com/wp-content...-47-14_671.jpg

I love those primary colors.

In person, the black bars are as black as the bezel and the colors look so much more natural, but there sits my beloved new GT30.

I thought I would like LED, but honestly, I think it sucks. I have a high end model from Sony I just sent back and it has so many bleeding issues that it wasn't even worth it to keep replacing until I lucked out with a good unit. LED is brighter, that's about it. I personally toned the brightness down a ton because I like the look of Plasma better (I wish I would have known that before), and the cinema feel is what I am going for.

If you are going to get an LED, don't bother with the top of the line units. They cost a ton and won't offer you anything different. Until they perfect the LED, potentially with OLED in the next few years, I'll never but one as my primary TV. I have a 27" LED in the bedroom that is fine, but never again for a large unit.

Yea, that's basically why I am watching a GT30!
I do love my tv! I just think sometimes I want to turn up the brightness, I think I'm just still getting used to it.

The type of show, movie or game and the actual network channel's I think are all different.
Then on top of that it depends on the time of day due to the amount of light.
Then...!
It depends on which lights I have on inside.

It's so personal and so tunable it could just drive someone nuts!!
But like I said, I love that Damn tv!

I bought the Sony 98079s from BB last week and I am very impressed with them! Panasonic can keep their overpriced glasses!