Official Panasonic GT50 Series Discussion Thread [No Street Price Talk] - Page 39

Can someone test for posterization using a 720p source (preferably PS3 games running at 720p) in both game and custom modes? The ST50 has pretty heavy posterization in 720p, whereas 1080p looks phenomenal. Considering so much of my usage will be in lower resolutions (720p and 768 via PC), would love to know if the GT50 has the same issues as the ST50 with regards to posterization.

I thought you wanted the look of THX bright room but with motion smoothing turned on in custom mode, apparently even if you use the same settings it will look different in each mode.


Can't wait to see your settings (masterkaj)

Dan, why don't you download the AVS HD 709 and try adjusting your settings to see if it will help. Someone on AVforums had the same problem with the UT30B and said that it fixed his posterization problem.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

Thanks! Will give it a shot. I work in broadcast TV and occasionally calibrate pro NTSC monitors and I've never seen any posterization this weird on a TV or monitor, professional or consumer...it's not typical posterization in which gradiants have harsh, rigid transitions but looks more like a painting or software smoother also used in some low res games.

It bothers me only because I know it's not correct, not because I think it looks slightly distasteful (there are many other issues that crop up with other sets that are far worse).

Will give this disc a shot...never used it. We'll see if it can fix anything. 1080p signals still look absolutely stunning, as well as 480p. It's just the 720p that is having some issues.

Has anyone seen problems with basketball and hockey flashes or whatever they are calling it as the ST50 has experienced? Thanks.

I haven't seen any issues watching basketball. Typically I'm using cinema mode. In fact the court looks fantastic.

Have not seen any flashes with either basketball or hockey and I've been watching a fair amount of the playoffs.

For those who have not seen flashes or brightness flucuations - what size GT50 are you using? I've read that there are some differences between sizes and picture quality (ie black levels) - not sure if the same applies to these other "issues"?
Thanks!

Mine is a 50". Almost always on THX cinema. I have close to 150 hrs in 10 days. Alot of slide time with normal viewing.

Hi,

Can someone suggest the best (and safest) way to clean a plasma screen?

Thanks,

rac83

Most people agree with distilled water and microfiber cloth.

my 60GT50 arrived from newegg this morning. It got here at 8:30 so I had just enough time to get it into the apartment and head to work. I'll be unboxing later tonight! So pretty much this whole work day is ruined as I'll not be able to focus one bit! Not to bad a turn around. Ordered on the 11th, delivered on the 6th, early morning.

Any last minute tips for how to treat this set from unboxing to first real use?

You've been running your TV for 15 hours a day? I would just recommend to take it slow during the break-in period so you don't run into issues. I don't think D-Nice has recommended that you need to run the slides consistently to fulfill the 200 hours.
Just in my own reading of this forum I have seen more people with issues with their Plasmas that are insanely running the slide prep, heavy gaming and the like. To each his own, it's your TV but I haven't done anything with my GT50 more than watch TV and movies and it runs beautifully with no IR and no funny lines or banding going down the screen..

I didn't! Probably a huge mistake in hindsight, but regardless, it wasn't white glove delivery so they only took it to the lobby of my building, and not into the apartment. The freight delivery driver (newegg use AIT) was long gone. I purchase on AMEX so if anything is damaged they will back me up to the nth degree.

It won't hurt the tv to just leave it on and do the slides for 100 or 200 hrs(his recommendation)

Oh, okay. I wasn't aware of that. I probably wouldn't think anything of it if I had met D-NICE somewhere away from these forums and he suggested to do just that. I get a paranoid after reading about people's issues on this forum. Things like people getting IR within a few days of owning their new ST50 and such. I just don't know what people are doing with their products when they buy them? They come here and say they've been very careful but I don't think that's the real truth and it scares people like me who bought their first HDTV recently and don't have much experience dealing with them.

Neweggs policy is to report any damage within 48 hours, after 48 and you are sol.

Thanks guys, that is a relief. Now to find a 65''er at the best price.

IR is going to happen throughout the life of the panel as I understand it, but it will probably be more pronounced and take longer to clear up when it's new.

Just curious, I ordered mine threw Newegg also, so Im hoping no issues especially since Amazon lowered its price to match Newegg today. Did ATI contact you to set up a delivery time? You said 6 days, was that from order to delivery or shipping to delivery? Did it get there on the anticipated delivery date? Sooner or later? Are you in NY and do you know where it shipped from? Sorry for so many questions, I was super patient with waiting on deciding what TV I wanted but now I can't wait lol.

Actually, I ran 24 hrs for 4 straight days. I'm doing this for only one reason. From the outset, I've noticed vertical banding with real world viewing ie soccer, golf, baseball. I'm wanting to break it in as much as I can to see if it changes. I've read elsewhere Panasonic recommends 500 hrs for things to settle in. Don't really want to do an exchange if things improve with more hours.

Also ordered to NY, Brooklyn specifically. Mine shipped from the west coast - looks like it originated at LAX. They called me yesterday afternoon and left a voicemail which I didn't pick up till about 7PM. Called them and reached a live person in dispatch and she arranged for the delivery this morning (about 12 hours ahead).

It definitely arrived ahead of schedule. First I thought it was coming on Friday the 18th. Then tracking info updated to reflect 5/21 delivery yesterday. But then I got the call and they said it was local, loaded, and ready to be delivered anyday M-F from 8AM-1PM.

I ordered at 11:30PM EST on May 10th and it was delivered at 8:00 this morning so first thing the morning after the full 3rd business day. Pretty quick I think. I got shipping confirmation on 5/11 about 12 hours after I ordered.

Sepen,

I have the 50" GT50 with almost 100 hrs of use, I use the THX cinema mode and I do notice the occassional flash while watching hockey. Does not bother me enough to be a deal breaker. For me the pros of this TV far out weigh any cons.

As suggested above, distilled water and lens grade micro fiber cloths that are never more than slightly damp. For dust you can also go over the screen very lightly with a clean dry microfiber cloth to remove any grit, then a second time with another clean cloth.

Lens grade microfiber cloths are available through Amazon.

If there is anyone in your household who might take Windex to your screen, do away with them.

I don't think D-Nice thinks it makes any difference whether you run the slides continuously or with rest periods. As long as the room isn't over heating the display will be happy either way. You would enjoy meeting D-Nice.

I don't have a Panasonic plasma, but I ran ours continuously for just over 500 hours viewing mostly safe, fixed image free, sources and the slides when we weren't watching. I used normal video settings during that time. The display never got any hotter than it normally does, and it's never had IR that I've noticed during normal use.

I don't think the 500 hours is magic. I did it so that, once we passed that threshold, I would be comfortable if someone wanted to watch SDTV with sidebars and a high contrast logo for a few hours. I didn't want to turn into an IR Nazi.

what mode should I have the panel in when running slides and doing my initial viewing?

Are you using the slides for safe images or are you using them to take the most advantage of D-Nice's settings? Actually I'm not sure that he's done settings for the GT50 displays.

If your reason is the former, then use which ever mode you like best. There is no best mode. I personally wouldn't use the "vivid" mode. I don't know what Panasonic calls it. I would use the one best suited for movies from shiny disks.