Panny PZ700U/750U Calibration Settings & Black Level Poll (Light or Dark?) - Page 6

my calibrator did it in Custom. He said the Cinema setting had a gamma level that was too low for daytime watching and he also that too many details were lost with the video processing of the cinema setting.

After he left, I calibrated the cinema setting (leaving the color exactly like he did in custom) and I too felt that it was too dark and muted.

However, prior to my calibration I felt that Cinema was an excellent preset to start calbrating from.

I thought it was about 750U and 700U calibration....
and I'm realizing there's a difference in regards to the other element of this thread and that is Light vs Dark.
If I'm wrong correct me but the 700U doesn't have the 'Pro Settings' feature in the menu. The 750U has a 'panel brightness', three way setting that I have on 'bright'. If that feature isn't available on the 700U then I can see why Black Level=Dark would be 'to dark'. I think you have to be careful using settings from one model to a similar one.

I have been using almost the Cnet settings. I have my picture/brightness at 24/11, which is +2/+2 to Cnet. Check it out in Custom. It looks great esp. HD channels.

PS. I do not have my plasma prof. calibrated yet.

According to the Owner's Guide, Panel Brightness set to "bright" mimics "VIVID" picture mode which many would agree is best for sports and gaming.

Would any one be willing to share their ISF callibrated service menu settings for the 700u?

Great thread...subscribed.

Is the menu for the 58" 700U the same as the 50" 700U? Because on CNET it tells me to set the "HD Size" to "Size 2" under the Other Adjust Menu, but on my TV it is on Size 1 and it is grayed out so I cannot change it.

EDIT

For some reason now I can change it to Size 2. However, when I do so, there is this white line of image distortion at the top of the screen. When I change it back to Size 1, it goes away. Is there something wrong with my TV or is it my cable provider or something else?

Oh ok, thanks for your help.

Funny thing after reading through this thread and trying a lot of the settings mentioned on my 58pz700u the original settings that the MFG had them on when first delivered gave me the best picture (?)

Im thinking I might just have gotting used to seeing the picture this way and when I adjust the setting it doesnt look right (maybe not as bright) and I contribute this to be not good as a picture.

I have used Mav's settings on my 58pz700u mentioned earlier in this thread and will try that for a while to see if I can adjust. Only thing im not sure about once adjusted is the warm vs. standard temperature. I do agree it makes the skin tones look more normal, but once again im used to that "bright" picture as it seems to tone down the picture even more.

That overly bright, vivid picture is why so many of us did not choose to buy LCD sets. I chose my plasma especially because of the ability to get a more natural looking picture.

Tim

Was wonderig if the new Bluray version of DVE Basics is what I should get
http://www.videoessentials.com/DVE_HDBasics.php

Its not the same as the DVE disc right or is it?
This is the one they have on HDDVE format but I want the Bluray format of this one:
http://www.videoessentials.com/DVE_HD.php

I want the one that does both audio and video
the new BR "HDTV Basics" version looks more like a beginners version of DVE instead
of the full blown DVE

I have a Pani DMPBD30 BluRay player and PS3 as my source and have the TH50PZ700U plasma so I want to be sure to get the best version of DVE on Bluray

If the HD Basics version is NOT the same should I wait till they come out with the full blown DVE on BR?
Anyone know if this is or isnt in the plans?

Thanks

On my recommendation, a good friend got the 50PZ700U about two weeks ago...he loves the TV...his wife wasn't sold...she thought the colors were very unrealistic (green and red way too overstated)..she aked me to come by today to check it out...immediately I noticed that they still had it set to the original default settings...Vivid et al...I switched to CNET's Custom Settings...she couldn't believe the difference...the skin tones were natural...the colors beautifully realistic...she is jazzed on plasma now!

If the goal is to see things as they naturally appear in real life, the 700U does not disappoint...if you wanna glow, that's achievable too!

Model: TH-58PZ700U
Environment Type: Moderate Light - living room .
Sources: Scientific Atlanda SA8300DVR (via HDMI) and Sony DVD (non-Blu-ray, via Componant Cables).
Calibration Method: eye
Picture Mode: Cinema
Picture: +24
Brightness: +12
Color: -5
Tint: -3
Sharpness: +5
Color Temp: Standard
Color Mgmt: Off
C.A.T.S.: Off
Zoom Adjust: Greyed Out
PC Adjust: Greyed Out
Video NR: Off
3D Y/C Filter: Off
Color Matrix: HD (SD for non-HD)
Block NR: Off
Mosquito NR: Off
Black Level: Light
3:2 Pulldown: Off
HD Size: Size 2

Took awhile for me to find a setting that I wouldn't mess around with dependant on source, and this does it for me.

Pretty natural looking skin-tones. More than -6 on color, and they are oversaturated and begin to bleed, with sunburn looking faces.

Here is the direct link to buy the glasses:
http://costore.com/thx/productenlarg...=87&pid=930793

I found these at www.tweaktv.com
User Menu Settings
Picture Modes
Picture Mode : Standard
Color Temperature : Warm
Aspect Ratio : Full
Picture Settings
Picture (Contrast) : 15
Brightness : +3
Color : 0
Tint : -2
Sharpness : 0
Other Adjustments
Black Level : Light
2:3 Pull Down : On
Color Management : Off
It is for the 58 inch , but they have the 50 and the 42 as well.
http://www.tweaktv.com/component/opt...1&model_id=104

Actually, the TH-50PZ700U seem to be identical when I entered it into TweakTV...

User Menu Settings
Picture Modes
Picture Mode : Standard
Color Temperature : Warm
Aspect Ratio : Full
Picture Settings
Picture (Contrast) : 15
Brightness : +3
Color : 0
Tint : -2
Sharpness : 0
Other Adjustments
Black Level : Light
2:3 Pull Down : On
Color Management : Off

Good Find!...I'm very happy with the CNET settings for Custom and Cinema...I'll throw these into the Standard Settings and have a look tonight.

Thanks.

TweakTV's calibration settings are okay but I still prefer CNET's...90% of my viewing is CNET's Custom 700U settings (the other being CNET's Cinema)...excellent PQ amongst broad content...sports, movies, nature...Custom is on the bright side but my eyes like the plasma "pop"...probably why I use the exact CNET settings with the exception of Sharpness @ 0 versus their -30.

Just wondering how many of you who did your own calibration using the discs also have your TV hooked up to a AC power line conditioner?
If so did you notice any improvements (brighter pix) on the Panasonic plasma?

I just received my Belkin FP60
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPa...duct_Id=178925
but still have to hook all my equipment up but was wondering if maybe some of the folks who have not so stellar pix can benefit by using one of these relatively ($100-250 items) to get better results esp if their house has "dirty" power

(Dont go by the MSRP price shown on the site above)
Its less than 1/2 that price online

Great thread guys, I picked up my 42PZ700U yesterday.

Have their been any settings that have been regarded as the "gold standard" or as a solid baseline for us to begin our individual tailoring to? I recall reading in some of the Samsung DLP threads that an ISF calibrator posted settings that owners could use to have as a baseline and was wondering if their was anything of that nature with the Panny 700U series.

Looking forward to trying some of these settings once I finish about a 70-100 hour break in period... 20+ hours in so far! Its really hard not to just jump in and start playing with the settings and watching Planet Earth...

Well, if you are actually reading the thread, you should notice that a lot of us really like the "CNET settings", which are both posted and linked to in this thread. I have been very happy since I started using them.

Tim

A good read for all of us here trying to dial in your plasmas

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...chmentid=45623

Does anyone know whether the TH-42PZ700U provides detail color temperature adjustments for the RGB bias and gain? That is, can their presets be further adjusted? I do not see these in the user manual e.g. at the user level but need to know if they are at least available via the service menu.

Similarly, does the service menu offer individual color adjustments for the primary and secondary colors. I believe this is often refered to as CMS (Color Management System) and is similar to what the Pioneer Elite and NEC offer (but in these casees in their user level menus).

I am considering picking up one of the TH-42PZ700U from COSTCO but would like to know that I have this level of control over the picture if needed. I would not want to get it home and find I couldn't for example get the skin tones or grass for golf etc right. I would also like to know if there is any adjustment of gamma. Perhaps an ISF type can weigh in here.

Thanks and cheers,

Gary

itigap: I don't have the 700, but I'm also considering one because of Costco (also in the DC area, coincidentally - they seem to be going fast here), and I think I can answer your questions.

Yes, in the service menu. Standard warnings apply; I don't know how hard it is to brick a Panny in the SM, but it's probably possible.


No. Outside of the user menu Color and Tint, there are no CMS controls available. The set is known to have oversaturated greens too, so if you're a stickler for color accuracy you might be unhappy about that.

No gamma adjustment on the set either AFAIK, user or service level.

Compared to some sets (specifically the competing LCD TVs), the Pannasonics lack many adjustments. OTOH, its picture still gets rated well consistently.

Hello guys,

I am a newbie here and just got TH-42PZ700U (my first HDTV). Most people have mentioned they started playing with setting after 150 hours. Could someone explain why one needs to wait for that period before trying different settings?

You don't need to wait, but after the first 100 or so hours, the set's phosphors will settle in, and as a result the brightness, blacks and colors will change, and you'll wind up adjusting them again.

Not that adjusting the set in the User Menu is a difficult thing for you to do, but if you were considering professional calibration, you would definitely want to wait though because you wouldn't want to pay twice for it.

Is the amount/incidence of image retention also reduced after the break-in period is over?