What can we expect from 2013 Panasonic Plasmas? - Page 12

Only 3 companies remain to keep Plasma float, and one is nearing its exit phase. I don't see this rosy future, but I certainly hope Panasonic can hold out past 2013.

Any idea if a larger screen size will be available? I'm wanting to pull the trigger on a 65VT50, but if a 70"+ model is coming I won't. I guess I'll have to wait until the 7th.

I'm thinking a 70 is coming considering it was pretty much supposed to come out last year to the point where they even had a sku for it. The second they make a 70VTxx is when I get rid of my 65VT30.

I get the feeling there won't be anything larger than a 65" this year. This was hinted at by the insider over at HDJ, when comparing what Sharp and Mitsubishi have experienced in larger screen sizes. Those units haven't moved much at all.

Plasma and led market are two separate monsters but we'll see.

I definitely want to be wrong about this

Appears that the S60 leaked momentarily. Forgive me if this was a repost:

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/panasonic-2013-plasma-tv-201212272494.htm

I am not sure either way. The fact they are doing something for video noise reduction (different than before) makes me think at least the VT60 at minimum will get something larger than 65" as well as what was hinted by someone else in the know, but the comment about Sharp and Mits make me really wonder.

It was posted yesterday in this thread. AVJ had it taken down from their website - it was a slip up.

Plasma Fade??

Since I notice many on this post already have a Panasonic Plasma, I though I would ask.

How is the fade on your TV??

I was chatting with someone who just bought and LED and the reason not Plasma was the fade.

Would appreciate your thoughts on your existing plasmas.

Exactly what do you mean by "fade"?

If you're talking about it losing brightness, Panasonic rates their panels for 100,000 hours till half-brightness occurs. That's about 30 years of watching TV 8 hours per day, every day so it's not something anyone should really be concerned about.

How about that LED fade?

I never hear of plasmas getting dim over time. So are you talking about ABL? (automatic brightness limiter) When these plasmas have the contrast turned up high the screen can dim and look gray when there's a lot of white on the screen.
In the home with an average room brightness and the contrast not so high you never have a problem with how bright these get. The ABL reacts less at a lower setting.

On another note, I have to wonder if the 2013's are going to be brighter or more energy saving at the same brightness with this new phosphor...thing.

"so Here is your gift.. seeing that Lg had some guts. some time ago i mentioned that i cant wait to see how the forums react to the new line..and so much focus on vt. well vt is still a love of mine.its always been the go too sku for many. but who says its the flagship product this year? certainly not your humble AVjunkie. i think we are due for a new era of flagship..hope you all get your Zzzzz in tonight we have a heck of a Ces to come. よいお年を！"

A new "z" line intriguing

Hmm, a chance of a Z/ZT and maybe some 4k sprinkled on top. Hasn't been denied that I know of. They did have a Z line in Japan for 2012.

AVJ was pretty adamant that there would be no 4k panny plasma this year.

He was adamant about no 4K VT60, but said nothing of a 4K PDP beyond that.

Okay must have misread it, guess hope is still alive and well then, carry on

How many pixels are necessary at 5+feet viewing distance? And there won't be any 4k native content, right?

Well, that ultimately depends on what screen size you are talking about....

per this article http://gizmodo.com/5926295/your-tv-is-a-retina-display

Existing 40 inch 1920x1080 HDTV is a "Retina Display" when viewed from 5.2 feet or more
Existing 50 inch 1920x1080 HDTV is a "Retina Display" when viewed from 6.5 feet or more
Existing 60 inch 1920x1080 HDTV is a "Retina Display" when viewed from 7.8 feet or more



So.... if you want a large, say 65-75 inch display, and sit 8 feet away, you'd notice the difference, and if you just want a large 60 inch screen and sit 6 feet away you'd notice the difference.

Well I own a kuro 50 inch 2008 model and i have a vt 50 65 inch and the picture quality on the vt is really close and sometimes I think its better as far as the richness of the color so if your waiting dont buy it now you could die next year go big now.

^^^^

Is that an 8g or a 9g Kuro?

Other than the $7999 Elite, the Panasonic VT series is very very close to the black levels of the 2009 Pioneer Elite. I still have a 2006 Elite as well as a new VT-50, and the picture quality is very close. Pioneer did sell some of their Kuro techno knowledge to Panasonic, but the Elite is still the best. But all in all the Panny VT gives a very good picture. Most people will not pay for even blacker levels. The Elite produced with aid from Pioneer and made by Sharp has a black level of 9.39 and the VT50 is 9.19. But the VT50 color accuracy is much stronger. Of all the brands, it still is the best picture, period. Until OLED is mass produced and made affordable, this is still the best available. LCD tv's with LED lighting are just too bright for many, even when toned down. They still cannot match the black level of the premium Plasma's available today from either Panasonic or Samsung.

I have a Pro-111fd (50") 9th generation Elite. The 65VT50 I bought is very, very close in black levels and imo surpasses the 9g in color accuracy. That said; the Kuro does something to a picture that just takes it to another level. I don't know what that is but there's a 3d type quality and clarity to my Kuro that is transcendant. However, I think that the VT50 may be a more remarkable engineering feat given the form factor, no lead or mercury used in panel, apps, 3d, etc. I'm not sure plasma will ever reach Kuro levels given that Pioneer didn't have to deal with this and other mandates -

"Starting in 13 months, new TV sets will have to meet energy-efficiency standards that slash the amount of electricity they consume. The regulations also will lower owners' monthly electric bills.

The first-in-the-nation criteria, approved unanimously Wednesday by the five-member California Energy Commission, is aimed at cutting the amount of electricity used by new high-definition TVs of up to 58 inches by a third starting Jan. 1, 2011. More stringent rules that take effect Jan. 1, 2013, would create a cumulative 50% power savings."

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/19/business/fi-big-screen-tvs19

I'm guessing a THX Certified LED display will be in the mix from Panasonic this year.

Monday afternoon is when the news drops, right? Hoping you experts out there will post and opine on what Panny has planned for 2013. Obviously, an extension to 70" would be a big deal for many on here. Also, Kuro black levels would be HUGE. Honestly, if they offer a 60" class VT60 which has clearly better PQ, then I'll be very, very tempted to trade up on my 55" VT50. Will the panels be priced better than ever? Thinner, lighter, etc???

70in Panny would make me extremely interested in it. If they add in kuro black levels then its a no brainer. 65" just doesn't make me jump from my 60" 151fd. My wife would be as happy as me because she would move from her 6070 to my Kuro. My son would be happy too he would get the 6070 moving from a 42inch panny. Snowball effect of happiness.

75" would be even better. But , I'm being reasonable.

http://www.panasonic.com/promos/ces/2013/?cm_mmc=PNA-Web-_-Alias-_-Panasonic-_-CES2013-Microsite-Alias-10003-12212012

Re: KURO black levels, this article says the Pioneer sold its patents to Panasonic, but don't use the patents, which give the KURO black level.

What am I missing? Why would they buy it, and not use it?

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/22/3024108/status-symbols-pioneer-kuro

"In 2009 Pioneer sold off its TV business and patents to Panasonic, who has carried the plasma baton, but has yet to match the Kuro's black levels."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20034816-1.html

"The short story is that Pioneer's Kuro plasmas achieved their still-unsurpassed black-level performance with the help of two technologies: "MgO crystals on top of or embedded into the phosphor layer" and "spatial discharge to initialize the panel (also to produce low light emission in first subfield)," according to xrox's summary. Neither of these technologies has been implemented in 2010 plasmas, including those of Panasonic."

Basically, Pioneer's Kuro technology is not compatible with Panasonic's technology or panel manufacturing methods, nor would it have been compatible with ever-increasing government energy usage limits. In addition to buying Pioneer's Kuro tech, Panasonic also hired scores of Pioneer's engineers and has learned from the tech and even adapted some of the Kuro secret sauce into their displays.

The CNet article came out even before Panasonic's 2011 models were released and as expected their black levels did not match Kuro levels, but the 2012 VT50 pretty much met the 9G Kuro's black levels. Many people also think the VT50's colors are more accurate as well, and the VT50 is brighter as well. The ST50/GT50 aren't far behind it. But having spent a lot of time with friends' 5020 and 6020 9G Kuros, my GT50 looks very similar but the Kuros have a certain magical depth that the Panasonics can't seem to attain.

Exactly right Randy. As the owner of 2 Kuros in a row, I think the Panny is a great achievement. The Kuro would bake us in the summer. It runs hot.