Official Panasonic VT50 owners thread - Page 56

Originally Posted by esquire415

Would you be selling your Kuro if you decide to upgrade in size? I missed out on the last batch of KRP-500m, Beach Camera went out of stock the day I was going to pull the trigger (before that I missed out on the 5020, 6th Ave sold the last two they had the same day I was going to buy it)! It's been 3 years and the Kuro is still the best in PQ, maybe matched by the VT50 now. I ended up with a Panny G10 and to this day I still regret not pulling the trigger sooner for the Kuro.

Anyway, from your monicker, I see that you're a Sony fanboy. I love Sony but ever since they quit the plasma business, I thought they've lost their leading edge reputation (they have gradually lost market share and is currently doing a makeover) . Unfortunately, Sony did not participate in the recent HDTV shootout because their flagship HX950/953 is not coming out until August. I wanted to see how it fares against the Sharp Elite, Runco and VT50. I'm still not a fan of LCD but the monolithic design of the new Sony HX850 with the one sheet of gorilla glass is stunning. It's like a black glass slab on your wall. It's minimalistic elegance at its best. They also used metal strip surrounding the edge but it's only 1mm and it's a brushed stainless steel that will not create reflections and hotspots and is not visible when viewing in front. Sony is indeed a step ahead in terms of design aesthetics and functionality.

I was at Magnolia yesterday and got a chance to see all the latest and greatest 2012 TVs from the major TV manufacturers. Finally saw the VT50 in person. Panasonic has improved their design. It looks expensive this time but I was very disappointed with the silver trim around the bezel. I thought it's going to be brushed metal but it's shiny reflective CHROME! And it's thick like a half inch! Why Panasonic?! Why? As I looked around the display room, only the VT50 had several hotspots reflecting from the showroom lights, it was very distracting and I wonder how this would affect viewing in a bright room especially when you get the morning or afternoon sun (like mine) or just for casual viewing when you have some lights on in the evening. The hotspots were annoying and would deter from the pleasure of watching an incredible picture.

Now if we have the design aesthetics of Sony merged with Panasonic's picture quality then we'll have the Kuro....i mean...a perfect TV. But then I guess I will have to make a compromise. Either buy a different plasma brand, go LCD, or spray paint the chrome edge of the VT50 flat black (Plasti-dip)

Originally Posted by frogboy51

I had a local carpenter, build me a solid oak/black finished TV stand. I simply gave him my plans/measurements and 2 days later, the stand was sitting in my room.

Originally Posted by CaTaSTrOphiK

+1 I can't believe we are still even talking about this when I think design wise the vt50 is one of if not the most striking tv out there.

Originally Posted by CaTaSTrOphiK

Yes of course this is true. But what other contenders are there the unchanged Samsungs the lovely LEDs with all chrome frames and chrome bases I guess we always have to find something to nitpick.

Originally Posted by rogo


But anyway... I'm still getting a VT it seems. Even though I don't find it attractive.

Originally Posted by hfc23

Well I'm from Australia and am jealous as hell you guys have your hands on the 65 vt50 I can't flamin wait! But one question why do the previous 65vt30's weigh near on 20 kilos more than the equivalent vt50?i know the bezel is a little bigger but not 20kg's worth.

Originally Posted by rogo

I'd note that Samsung, for example, improved the stand on the ES series immeasurably from last year. Sadly they still have the hotspotting edge -- which Panasonic has duplicated this year. It's a shame no one ripped off the Sony HX design more perfectly.

But anyway... I'm still getting a VT it seems. Even though I don't find it attractive.

Originally Posted by imws

That's a good observation, I haven't read a bad post yet. What about the brightness in 3D is it okay, noticeably dimmer or just as bright as 2D?

Originally Posted by imws

Cool thanks for posting your observations about THX-3D mode, will the set automatically kick into the THX-3D mode if you last used it with 3D?

Originally Posted by CatBrat

I have the Puss In Boots 3-D movie also. I notice some ghosting with white objects a lot in that movie. Is there some setting that would correct this? Or, is it something in the source material, or is the TV causing it?

I discovered that if the movie comes with it's own cardboard glasses, the 3-D is a different technology than the modern 3-D movies. I have 3 of these: Coraline, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Polar Express. So, keep in mind, if the movie comes with it's own glasses, don't buy it.

Use THX 3-D mode with the glasses to get the brightness back.

Also, for a calibration, it would seem reasonable to get all 3 THX modes calibrated. THX Daytime, THX nighttime, THX 3-D, and not to bother with custom mode. Correct me if I'm wrong. (Retaining close to original brightness of the 3 modes so that they don't all become the same.)

Originally Posted by jbug

Make sure you have 48hz selected and not 60hz. That can be found in one of the 3D sub menus of the picture mode you have chosen.

Originally Posted by mark_b

So can someone who has spent a fair amount of time with both the VT30 and the VT50 tell me how much better the VT50 is?

Also, is the 3d better, worse, or the same as the VT30?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by CatBrat

It looks like it's on page 51 in the manual and is called "Advanced picture, 24p Direct in". Only 2 settings 60hz or 48hz. I haven't changed it, so don't know which one is the default. Will look at it when I get home.

Originally Posted by caiazpa

I ordered my 65VT50 on Sunday from Cleveland Plasma. I'm trying and failing to contain my excitement and manage my patience.

Chris emailed tracking this morning, so the TV is on its way to me. Est. delivery date is next Tuesday but I'm told there is a chance it will make it this week! I sure hope so.

Moving up from a 50" Sony SXRD from 2006 - I think its going to be a huge improvement...

Originally Posted by CaTaSTrOphiK

What are you watching on now rogo? I meant the plasmas design was unchanged not the led I worded that weirdly. Yea the sony's are the nicest.. But I have very little light and have yet to be bothered by the chrome on the vt.

Originally Posted by Tempest261

To all who dismiss Rogo on his concerns... please stop. One concern to one person is going to be completely ignored by another.

I had the UNxxD8000 series, and like the ES8000 series I have to say that the hotspotting edge on that television was a big deal. My girlfriend, most of all, hated it. During the day, it was like there was a glowing frame around the television.

That said, the VT50 does not have the same type of hotspotting edge that those Samsung LCDs do. The Sasmungs have a more rounded edge that faces forwards. The VT50, by contrast, is flattened and angled up and away from the TV, and is also more of a "satin" in texture. This of course does not make hotspotting impossible, but it does drastically reduce the possibility. In our viewing environment, we have one entire wall of windows, and with them all open we don't get significant hotspotting on the edge. We DO however get a significant amount of screen glare, but that's plasma (and modern LCD) for you.

All in all, I think you'll be happy with the edge once you get the TV set up in your home. It really does look nice when it's off, and I don't ever notice it when it's on.