VT50 Calibration - Page 5

Goeiedag Turboman, alles goed?

Actually, I am just going on my limited experience here. I also have a samsung 50a550, and I used to calibrate it to about 40 ftl, and it gave very nice "pop" on the image. That was with two point grayscale, a pretty good cms for primairies and secondaries, but no gamma. Now I have the vt50, with 10 point grayscale and gamma, and a good cms too.

However, the THX and all other presets only have two point crayscale and nothing else. The ISF presets are fully loaded. The THX brightroom preset gives 51ftl, but I cant raise the ISF preset higher then 23 ftl. So i get to choose between enough brightness (30 to 40) inTHX but only two point grayscale, or every control possible with only about 23 ftl. The pop on the ISF is amazing,as are the colors and dark scenes. But even with a completely darkened room with ambient lighting behind the tv, its just visibly too dim.

So my plan it to eventually get the radiance mini3d and fully calibrate the THX mode with it.

Just got past the 100-hour mark on my 65" VT50 and starting to play a little. THX Cinema looks great out of the box but skin tones seem a tiny bit off and I suspect a few other small improvements could be made. I am definitely interested in calibration for this panel but there don't seem to be any calibrators in my area (MD). I'd also like to learn how to do my own basic calibrations at some point but have no idea where to start (the consensus seems to be that ControlCal is good for software, not sure what hardware I need).

If anyone has recommendations for a calibrator or DIY tips to share, I am all ears.

I believe both Jeff Meier and Chad Billheimer tour there.. Check the List in my Signature below for their contact info.

There's a couple others but I would need to check with them first.

Contact Tom Huffman - he's there. http://www.displaycalibrationonline.com/index.asp

Tom no longer does field calibrations for a fee, that's why I don't include him anymore

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

EDIT: I decided to email Tom and ask, he will do field calibrations, it's just not his main business.. so Buzz is correct.. Tom covers it as local.


Edited by turbe - 11/26/12 at 12:23pm

Thanks for the replies, gents.

Hello,

In order to calibrate a plasma panel using the AVSHD DVD, which patterns would you recommend ?
APL ? Window ?

I'm using Chromapure and an i1 Display PRO.
Some say the meter should be placed in contact mode, or a bit away. My screen is a 42" inches. With APL or Window mode, the size of the area where we are supposed to place the meter is quite small. What would you recommend then ?

Thank you.

EDIT: I decided to email Tom and ask, he will do field calibrations, it's just not his main business.. so Buzz is correct.. Tom covers it as local.

Non contact. Keep the heat off the meter.

You are going to get different luminance results from one set of patterns to another. ABL assures it and there is nothing you can do. Read this thread for some interesting information.

Once you accept the fact that you will NEVER get gamma right, take solace in the fact that CIE x & y will be pretty good and the picture you look at will be very enjoyable.

Buzz

Have you noticed with the VT50 if there is a sweet spot with the contrast setting that minimizes ABL and gives better gamma readings?

Is heat on the display front really an issue with the VT50? I have a 55VT50E (European model) and when I touch the display surface after several hours looking TV it´s just a little bit warmer then the palm of my hand. Maybe 40 degree Celsius.

It's not the "heat" as in "wow this is HOT", it's the difference in heat. Maybe the screen is just 40 C, if the meter is at roomtemperature, say about 20C, the difference is 20 degrees C. Probably, the meters are designed to operate at roomtemperature, not tropical temperatures.

I'm in Chad's primary service area. He posted calibration reports (on HDJ) from another VT50 he did several months ago and the results were quite impressive. Appointment request has been placed.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

How do you get the 2pt GS. Is that in the TV or from a video processor?

When you go into the white balance menu, it starts off with RGB, Gain and Cutoff. That is the two point system.

Judging by the forums, it seems that most calibrators and DIYers are using a panel brightness of Medium for the VT50. In a completely darkened room with the 65-inch VT50, and using ISF Night or Custom, would using PB Low actually have any advantages over using PB Medium?

there is no problem using PB low as long are you are targeting <32fL and a reference environment.

On my Plasmas, I like about 30-32fL for my reference viewing.. however, some like it higher.. you will often see a 30-40fL recommendation..

Actually PB low raises black levels on the VT50. The VT30 wasn't like that. I did a lot of 30s in low for night mode and started doing the 50s that way until I realized it compromised blacks. You don't want to use PB low on the VT50.

does elevate it some so probably best to just use medium, I have seen reports of low being used though..

D-Nice brought up an interesting point to me about the VT50 comparison at CES with the ZT60, both in Cinema (where on the VT50 it's pb low).. may be one thing for the visual difference in MLL.. food for thought

Chad and turbe thanks a ton for the responses. I also have another issue that maybe you could help me understand better. I asked this in the VT50 owner's thread but didn't see a response to it. Fortgive me if the answer if blatantly obvious on this one, but it seems like no one ever mentions this issue.

When watching DVDs - not Blu-Rays - on the VT50, should the player output 480p or 1080p? I believe there are 2 color matrices (one for SD input signals, one for HD input signals) on these displays, and I think you only get the option of selecting one or the other when you input a 480i/p signal. Since DVDs are standard definition and follow a different color specification than BDs, doesn't that mean that a DVD outputted at 1080p or 720p would be displayed incorrectly, color-wise?

And if that is the case, how would one go about calibrating for SD signals such as DVDs? Simply output 480p/480i to the display, select the SD color matrix, and adjust any pertinent user menu color settings accordingly? Or would calibrating for SD signals require going into the service menu? I still have quite a few dvds that haven't been released yet on BD (mainly tv shows) so I would like them to look as accurate as possible once I start adjusting my settings.

Hi Wouter73:

I've just calibrated an 65VT50 and I'm at the same point as you were, according your posts. My model is an European model, and it seems its bright is capped in ISF mode. I only get 24,4 ftL in white 100 IRE. THX Cinema Mode is brighter and seems to give more pop than ISF full calibrated, even greyscale of THX cinema is not perfect.

Also, there is no PB nor color temperature option.


Have you find any workaround?

Another question: do the two ISF (preffesional) modes have the same settings and you calibrate each of them towards day and night, or one of them is specially for day and the other for night viewing?
Edited by alamagar - 1/13/13 at 11:55am

Hi,

The first workaround I had was do a two point greyscale in the service menu. But that means no gamma or color adjustment. And though I did do it myself, I would strongly advise against messing with the service menu. If something goes wrong your tv could die. If you do want to go into the service menu, write down or photograph every setting before you change it.

My final workaround has been to buy a lumagen mini 3d, I use it to calibrate thx mode with it, advanced autocalibration greyscale and 125 point color.

My opinion: calibrate the professional modes and accept the low lightoutput. Watch blurays in a dimmed room and use thx for daytime viewing. Even with the low light output the prof. setting looks better once calibrated then the thx with the 2 pt service menu greyscale.

Wouter 73,

Another approach to service menu adjustments is to video tape them. Then there is no question of what happened when and if you missed taking a snapshot of a particular menu and it's before/after settings.

Thanks Wouter73.
I have another questions:

1. If I do a two point greyscale in the service menu, the settings changed affect THX Cinema only or ALL modes? Because if it affects all modes it will affect ISF Calibrated mode.
2. After doing two point and ten point greyscale in ISF mode, My gamma was a bit higher in lower IRE and try to reduce it via the 10 point gamma settings, but it seems doesn't change the gamma curve for any color. Do you know if there is any problem with gamma settings.
3. Luminance: It seems individual luminance for R, G, B, is not working in advanced menu. I've read it before and checked it for myself. Is this problem solved by Panasonic at this moment? My luminance for R, G, B was too low.

First, see if your tv needs an update. The controls you describe all work for me.
Two point greyscale in the sevice menu affects all presets, including the pro. Make sure you are VERY carefull what buttons you press in the service menu . And set, in the sevice menu, color temp to warn end preset to either normal or cinema.

As a Silver Premier at Best Buy I am entitled to free calibration.

Please comment.

If you get the free Best Buy calibration is there a way to get back to the default settings if you don't like it?

If you write them down before the calibration yes ofcourse.

i just bought a vt50 55 us, not european in, i have little knowledge about calibration. The presets are decent, thx bright cinema is a bit too dim and the picture doesnt pop. I love how vivid mode makes the picture pop but it seems to dark. Does it matter if i let my tv age for 150 hrs before calibrating. Are there any calibration done profesionally anyone can share please. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Edited by aguy1222 - 3/18/13 at 12:24am