Panasonic VT50 Self Vs. Pro Calibration - Page 2

Originally Posted by Monitorman

The Use of an HDTV signal generator is the only way to test your system if you are running video through an AVR for example. A generator will tell you if your video signal is being adversely effected by the AVR. I find they often clip white, clip black, and sometimes destroy gamma and truncate resolution. In any event you should also put test patterns from a test Blu-ray disc up to see what the Blu-ray player is doing also. For example the latest Pioneer (I forget the model #) clips white and black at the factory settings.

With all due respect to SpectraCal I have not yet been able to get satisfactory results from any of the Auto Calibration features with either the VT30 Pannys or the JVC projectors. Even if they do make it work it is only Auto for grayscale. You will still have to adjust the CMS, gamma, and black and white levels manually.

Originally Posted by Monitorman

The Use of an HDTV signal generator is the only way to test your system if you are running video through an AVR for example. A generator will tell you if your video signal is being adversely effected by the AVR. I find they often clip white, clip black, and sometimes destroy gamma and truncate resolution. In any event you should also put test patterns from a test Blu-ray disc up to see what the Blu-ray player is doing also. For example the latest Pioneer (I forget the model #) clips white and black at the factory settings.

With all due respect to SpectraCal I have not yet been able to get satisfactory results from any of the Auto Calibration features with either the VT30 Pannys or the JVC projectors. Even if they do make it work it is only Auto for grayscale. You will still have to adjust the CMS, gamma, and black and white levels manually.

Originally Posted by derekjsmith

Heard back from Panasonic and it looks like one of the commands we are using has changed a bit with the latest firmware update, so we will need to update CalMAN. Chris G is testing the changes today.

Originally Posted by sillysally

Are the changes now included with calman 4.6.2?
If not where would I look ?

btw, big differences going from 3.7 to 4.6.2 using my I1pro.

ss

Originally Posted by sotti

I believe the latest update to 4.6.3 now has the correct commands for the latest firmware version of the VT50.

http://store.spectracal.com/calman-v4-release-notes

Originally Posted by sillysally

I started to do a ISF calibration on my 65VT50 last night, wasn't pleased with with what I was seeing so I blow out calman and DL the latest version.
Anyway ran a full ISF calibration, flat lined the grayscale, got primary's and secondary's under control along with 2.2 gamma, and of-course didn't touch green. Haven't viewed anything so I will see tonight how it all came out.


ss

Originally Posted by wmwilker

@Tempest
I'm not sure about CalMan and the ISF modes but you can get ControlCal for $50 and use it with CalMan to calibrate the ISF modes. PM Turbe if you're interested.

Originally Posted by sotti

CalMAN already gets into the ISF modes, no need for anything else.

Originally Posted by serpentara

Is there any reason to get the auto calibrate on Calman? Can it access menus that a normal user can't or can it get around the various settings issues that people have mentioned? If all it does is save me 30 min by adjusting the same values I already can with the remote and getting the same results, I am not sure its worth an extra $100

Originally Posted by serpentara

So the $435 diy package with the i1 display pro retail already includes autocalibrate? It will be able to get into the isf menus and i don't need the $100 license add on? If that is so, I will buy it next week for sure. (my vt50 arrives Friday)

Originally Posted by Tempest261


Any ideas?

Originally Posted by buzzard767

Get ControlCal.

Originally Posted by Tempest261

But I already paid for a Calman DIY license... is it impossible to get to the Panel Brightness ISF setting without ControlCal?

Originally Posted by RichB

How do I connect to a VT50 with Calman?

Is there a menu I need to adjust?

Thanks,

Rich

Originally Posted by sillysally

If you use a router, first get your VT50 IP address then all you would do is in the settings menu > display control > drop down list (display) select your TV > press connection method drop down list,select socket > you now will see a place to put the IP address in from your VT50, enter it > go back to your VT50 select custom mode, drop down to pro settings and then press the red button on the VT50 remote for about 4 seconds, then you will see on your screen saying Waiting > now press the connect tab in the display control menu, if things are working right you should now be connect to your VT50.
I am guessing you have the latest version of calman.

ss

Originally Posted by Tempest261

Can anyone tell me how to adjust the PANEL brightness (low-mid-high) in the ISF modes? When I'm in Calman (DIY), I can only seem to adjust the settings dictated in the flow (I'm using Standard_DDC), which doesn't seem to cover panel brightness (only regular, Black-Level brightness), and I can't access the settings on the TV when the VT50 is connected to Calman. When I disconnect, I can't get into the "Pro" menu for the ISF modes, which is where the Panel Brightness setting is.

Any ideas?

Originally Posted by alston80

It seems like the panel brightness low/mid/high is only available in the Panasonic consumer auto workflow. You have to pay for autocal to get it

Originally Posted by RichB

Thanks!
We got it to work.
I was only able to get 24 fl with ISF Day/Night at 100% contrast.
Is there something I am missing?

Thanks,

Rich

Originally Posted by Tempest261

Looking forward to hearing of your results with the VT50. I am an amateur DIY calibrator with a i1 Display Pro and Calman DIY who's done only a single TV (a Samsung UND8000) and while I got pretty good results with that TV (see my sig link), I'm intimidated by the VT50 due to its quirks and bugs. So far, between the VE shootout and these forums, I've identified the following quirks:

• CMS Controls are broken - WORKAROUND: they're relatively close as-is, and can be lowered with the generic "color" control.
  
• 10pt WB adjustment doesn't affect 1/2 points as it should - WORKAROUND: unknown??

Anyone know of any others?

Other than that, I have the following questions:

1. I'm wondering how I unlock the ISF modes with the Calman DIY software- do I need a special license for this?
   
2. Also, what about controlling the TV from Calman DIY? Do I need an additional license for this? I don't care about Auto-Cal... just thought it would be nice to drive the display's controls from the laptop. The Calman site is unclear (IMO) about what licenses you need for what.
   
3. I'm not doing break-in slides- since I have my own equipment I figured I'd calibrate up front, and re-calibrate in a couple months. Anything wrong with this?

Sorry, that's a lot of questions. Thanks in advance guys.

Originally Posted by Tempest261

• 10pt WB adjustment doesn't affect 1/2 points as it should - WORKAROUND: unknown??

Originally Posted by sillysally

Ya 24fl sounds about right for 100%.

I use about 83% contrast and around 50% brightness settings.
Its all in how you adjust your grayscale and set up your CMS colors.
One tip I can give you is stay away from using the green adjustments for grayscale. Adjusting green in your CMS settings is ok. but I would only make small adjustments with green in CMS.
Don't worry if you can't get 10% with RGB tracking right, just make sure you don't get any color other than dark gray (10-IRE) in the 10% gray window.

There is very little question in my mind and using Warm 2 setting for best results with your grayscale. I am also leaning towards 2.2 as my target Gamma, but 2.4 will work fine also, its just that I find (so far) 2.2 setting to be a little brighter picture than 2.4.

I also have Autocal and Controlcal, but I haven't used them as of yet, I first want to get a understanding of what I can do with Calman 4.2.3 and then move on.
I always used Controlcal with Calman 3.7, but Calman 4.2.3 is different so first things first.

ss