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

Model: TH-50PZ700U

Environment Type: Brightly lit living room, windows to one side.

Sources: Panny S53K Upconverting DVD Player and Comcast 8300HD (Atlanta Scientific).

Calibration Method: Combination of Posts and Eyeballin' It

Picture Mode: Custom

Picture: +18

Brightness: +12

Color: +2

Tint: +1

Sharpness: +3

Color Temp: Warm

Color Mgmt: On

C.A.T.S.: Off

Zoom Adjust: Greyed Out

PC Adjust: Greyed Out

Video NR: Off

3D Y/C Filter: Off

Color Matrix: HD

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: Off

Black Level: Light

3:2 Pulldown: On

HD Size: Size 1

Model: TH-42PZ700U

Environment Type: It's January and it's been gloomy all month.Window to the right side.

Sources:Scientific Atlanta 4250 HDMI =Rogers HD. Panasonic DMP-BD30B-Ray

Calibration Method:I know what outside looks like,people,squirrels,autos,pianos,guitars,flutes,brass horns,trumpets,etc.

Picture Mode:Custom

Picture: +28

Brightness: +18

Color: -5,,edit..-4edit:now at-3

Tint: +3 edit:Tint-1

Sharpness: +2 sometimes -5 always different.

Color Temp:Normal

Color Management: Off mostly,when watching foodnetwork it's on.Now usually -on

C.A.T.S: OFF

Zoom Adjust: Greyed Out

PC Adjust: Greyed Out

Video NR: On

3D Y/C Filter: Greyed out

Color Matrix: Greyed Out

Block NR: On

Mosquito NR: On

Black Level: DARK!!

3:2 Pulldown: On

HD Size: 1. 95%


So far iv tried chrisO' settings and seems the whites are a little washed out but blacks and reds are pioneerish with a slight fog,disclamer-on my set.

but i could live with this setting after getting used to it..still lacks my blacks though.NEXT!..this is fun.

After watching the foodnetwork i changed back and the veggies and pots ,pans look "realistic" "live"with my settings.

Jan,25th.Changed my Tint..-1..for HD.SD cable.Now 6500k is the exact temperature

when checked with a Digital Hi end SLR.

Here are my original settings after the first 100 hours. They have since changed and I can update them this evening when I get a chance.


Custom:

Picture +14

Brightness +5

Color -3

Tint -1

Sharpness -10

Color Temp Normal

Color mgmt off


Standard:

Picture +19

Brightness +14

Color 0

Tint +3

Sharpness -21

Color Temp Cool

Color mgmt Off


Cinema

Picutre +16

Brightness +17

Color -1

Tint +2

Sharpness -20

Color Temp Normal

Color mgmt Off


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Current Settings based on watching:


Custom:

Picture: +15

Brightness: +6

Color: -3

Tint: -1

Sharpness: -14


Standard:

Picture: 16

Brightness: +8

Color: 0

Tint: +3

Sharpness -5


These are the 2 modes I watch most.

I'm ready to re-run DVE to see how my Ideal Lume Bias light might change things up a bit. I'll update with those when I get around to doing it.

Model: TH-58PZ700U

Environment Type: Brightly lit living room, large bank of windows to the right.

Sources: DirecTV HR20-700, PS3, Toshiba A35 and computer, all HDMI in to Sony 5300 ES, HDMI out to TV

Calibration Method: Mr. Bob (professional calibrationist) and THX Optimizer from SW: EPIII SD DVD

Picture Mode: Custom

Picture: +17

Brightness: +12

Color: +2

Tint: -4

Sharpness: 0

Color Temp: Normal

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

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: Off

Black Level: Light

3:2 Pulldown: Off

HD Size: Size 2


I must say, this thread is better than the other settings thread where no one posted any settings. I'd suggest that when we list our equipment we also list how they're connected.

Thanks Mav...Great Thread...it's reassuring that I'm not the only member of The Ultimate PZ700U Calibration Nation seeking The Settings Holy Grail...I am travelling out of town so I can't recall my exact latest and greatest settings but they are a combination of CNET's, chris0's and my eyeballs.


A few comments...


My TH-50PZ700U embarrasses most every other TV my eyes happen upon...we are all desiring absolute beauty to be astonishingly gorgeous...a tough task, no?


The pundits/pros recommend the Color Temp: Warm...my eyes and apparently 4 outta 5 of yours prefer the Color Temp: Normal...Warm seems to diminish (yellow out) white levels too much.


In the end, despite scientific reference points and ISF equipment, there seems to remain a distinct level of subjectivity to what are optimum picture settings.


Thanks for sharing your settings...the dialogue amongst this forum members is refreshingly open and forthright...so, HDTVmeeh, Black Level must be Light!!! ...honestly, I find that the Dark setting creates too much loss of detail and black crush.


I will post my settings upon my return home...but up until now, they are a moving target...reality is that this plasma HDTV is so impressive that the smallest setting change (as well as the source!) affects PQ.


Note: If I were sensible, I would set it and forget it...my eyes would adjust and the stars would align...but I've never been known to be sensible...Carry On!

Model: TH-42PZ700U

Environment Type: Pitch black bedroom

Sources: PS3 (blue-ray movies), Xbox 360, Wii

Calibration Method: My own two eyes

Picture Mode: Custom

Picture: +25

Brightness: +4

Color: -4

Tint: +1

Sharpness: 0

Color Temp: Normal

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

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: Off

Black Level: Light

3:2 Pulldown: Off

HD Size: Size 2


I use many different settings. But these are the settings I use for Blue-Ray movies.

Nice idea to start this thread. Here are my latest settings.


50PZ700U used for Blu Ray, SD-DVD, and Cable network programming. Avia-I DVD. HDMI input for all sources (S3 Tivo) and Blu ray. Settings were made while Color Matrix was in HD mode.


I've learned Cinema has a different gamma on it that's different from Vivid or Standard (Standard=Custom). I find Cinema mode is really the best looking - it can look dim at first, but the images look much better for color/white/blacks, especially in a dimmer ambient light situation. I use it almost always now. I'll include recommendations for both types of lighting below.


-----------------------

Dark ambient lighting - subdued/interior lighting, around and after dusk with outside windows.

CINEMA mode - important to be in this mode for the higher gamma settings

Pic +30

Bright +26 to +18 (adjust to preference/lighting)

Color -2

Tint -2

Sharp -30 (does not matter anyway)

Warm

Blacks: Light

Matrix: HD for HD signal, SD for SD signal (changes automatically)

CATS off

Everything else off.


----------------------------

Use these below only if you have a large amount of daylight in the viewing room:


Strong ambient lighting (daytime with outside windows)

STANDARD (or CUSTOM) - important to be in these modes for lower gamma setting

Pic +20

Bright +18

Color -1

Tint -3

Sharp -30

Warm

Blacks: Light

Cats OFF. Can turn CATS ON to improve contrast, but remember to shut off or move to Cinema mode when the room is darker, or it makes the image really gloomy.

Everything else off



-Crackers

I like some settings for SD tv coming direct in from coax or S-video ...


Even with HDMI and via DVD, I find the brightness down at like -8 or so is much better. Kills the nice bright scene, but you can see that black is not black "clearly" by flipping the channel and seeing the black is a fuzzier blackish grey. Also, white text when flipping the channel is a muted white/off-white. Only way I can see the white as white and black as black is with brightness down.


Other settings are all turned off except I use "light" instead of "dark". Dark can be awesome, but it can also take away from the information in the scene (background information in darker scenes).


Color down like -12...way too much color on this set's 0 setting.


Normal or Cool depending.


Sharpness up or down doesn't do too much but does do a decent job on SD with sharpening the image some and also making it brighter...

It's hard to sift through the Owners thread to pull out the meaningful info specific to calibration - so let's try to capture them in a single thread. This thread is targeted to USER calibration, but experiences with ISF calibration that produced even better results via service menu adjustments would also add value here.


I'll share my calibration experience, with some questions for the forum. By discussing user adjustment controls in the context of standardized source material with recommended instructions for calibrating levels, we should be able to get good value out of comparing our experiences here.

Calibrating the TH58PZ700U - installed 12/31/08, calibrated 1/15/08

I used the Digital Video Essentials DVD and performed all of the recommended USER adjustments using the test material provided on the disc. I used the 4:3 aspect ratio of the display for all adjustments, but periodically compared to FULL aspect ratio as I went along to see the difference. My room was set to a very low ambient light level and I was performing the adjustments while seated approximately 10 feet from the display. My source player for the DVD is a PS3 40 GB model, very latest serial number. Hookup to the display is via a 12-ft HDMI cable.


TV menu options are configured as follows:

Display mode: Standard

Color Temp: Normal

Color Mgmt: Off

C.A.T.S. Off

Video NR Off

3D Y/C Filter Off

Block NR Off

Mosquito NR Off

Black Level Light

3:2 pulldown Off

HD size Size 2


PS3 menu video options are configured as follows:

HDMI output/1080p/16x9

Cinema conversion: Auto

DVD upscaler: Normal

RGB Full Range: Full

Super-white: On

Brightness and Picture Level

I adjusted the brightness and picture level first. I adjusted brightness level starting with the picture level set to +15. I raised the brightness until the darkest (below-black) pluge was clearly visible on the grayscale test pattern. Then I backed down the brightness until the black was only barely distinguishable from the background level of the picture. I then adjusted the picture level until the top white box of the test pattern was very bright, however without any indication of blooming, color shift or loss of edge definition. I rechecked brightness level as described, adjusting downward slightly to compensate for the changed value of picture level. I found that going back to FULL from 4:3 aspect ratio darkened the overall level very slightly, so I raised the brightness just one more notch, which was an acceptable compromise.


My resulting values are:

Picture +22

Brightness +24

Color and Tint Level

I adjusted the color level first, using the blue filter provided with the DVD. I followed the instructions of the DVD to adjust the colors of the color bar pattern until they looked uniformly blue to me. I then performed the tint adjustment, using all three of the color filters. I followed the instructions of the DVD, and rechecked the color setting to make sure it still looked accurate. I found that this adjustment was one place where I need to make a slight compromise, it did not seem possible to have all color filters achieve uniform color level at the same time, though they were very close.


I settled on the following values:

Color -2

Tint +3

Sharpness Level

* see question 1) below

Summary

Overall, the results to my eyes using the calibration process are significantly improved over the eyeball values I set when the TV was first installed. I found myself raising the overall brightness level slightly, which pulled out some of the crushed blacks, and the changes to the color and tint settings improved skin tone and made the color more uniform overall. Grass is a rich natural green and the sky test material on the DVE DVD is very realistic - blue but not too blue for blue sky, and a very natural bright gray for the overcast or washed out sky images. I was nervous about raising the brightness levels so high, but will just have to be careful to make sure I avoid burn-in images when using the display. Shadows now retain detail and there is a very naturally realistic contrast between super bright and very dark picture content.

My questions

1) Is it my imagination, or does the Sharpness control make absolutely no difference on this DVD using an HDMI hookup? The DVD seems to imply that it shouldn't, but I'm just curious if this is really so?

2) Though the completed calibration results in staggering picture quality with no artifacts or anomalies using the reference video material at the end of the DVD, I did notice a slight ghosting of text and images on the static screens during the DVD's instructions. Anybody else notice this? Is this normal?

Great input...are we certain that Custom Mode and Standard Mode are identical in calibration settings and their effects?


Last night, I tried all of the above settings while viewing assorted HD TV content on my TH-50PZ700U.


Amongst them all, thus far, I prefer chrisO's Custom Setting and Crackers Cinema Setting (must be @ night in dark enviroment) but w/ Pic @ +27, Br @ +18. However, in my particular viewing enviroment, CNET's settings seems closest to offering the best "happy medium" for various content.


CNET's Settings [ w/ my slight tweaks in ( ) ]

-- Picture menu

Normal: No

Picture mode: Custom ( Standard Mode - w/ chrisO's in Custom for comparison's sake) - thus my question above?

Picture: +22 (I may prefer +24)

Brightness: +9

Color: -2

Tint: 0

Sharpness: -30 (although, I prefer Sharpness @ +7 for TV)

Color temp.: Warm (I am starting to "see the light" re. why Warm vs. Normal)

Color mgmt.: Off

C.A.T.S.: Off

Zoom adjust: (grayed out)

PC adjust: (grayed out)


-- Other adjust menu

Video NR: Off

3D Y/C filter: Off (grayed out)

Color matrix: HD (grayed out)

Block NR: Off (grayed out)

Mosquito NR: Off

3:2 pull-down: Off (grayed out)

HD size: Size 2


Have you all tried the CNET recommended settings? Do you think that CNET determined these settings by professional calibration or eyeballing?


Thanks for your insights and dialogue re. Calibration.

Model: TH-42PZ700U

Environment Type: West-facing living room with diffused light in the morning and early afternoon, brightly lit for a while in the later afternoon, and at night i watch it in the dark.


Sources: SD and HD content on TWC cable with an SA8300HD and a Tivo Series 3 via a 2x2 Gefen HDMI splitter/switcher. Both DVRs are set to output everything at 1080i (gives the most detailed and crispest picture).


Calibration Method: My eyes and fingers


Pic Mode: Custom

Picture: +28

Bright: +20

Color: -6

Tint: +4

Sharp: -6


Color Temp: Normal

Color Mgmt: Off

C.A.T.S.: Off


Video NR: Off

Color Matrix: (locked in HD)

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: On

Black Level: Dark

3:2 Pulldown: Off

HD Size: 2


My blacks are not crushed with these settings - i can see pinstripes and buttons etc on people's black suits and excellent detail in dark or black hair.

Model: TH-58PZ700U

Environment Type: Light controlled HT room (Dim while calibrating).

Sources: Oppo 970HD DVD Player (480i via HDMI) and Bell ExpressVu 9200 HD-PVR (1080i via HDMI).

Calibration Method: DVE, eyes, Anthem AVM50 pre/pro color charts.


I'm not quite sure what the difference is between each of the picture mode settings other than providing you with four settings if you prefer setting it up differently for different sources or program types such as sports, but here are two of mine: (I primarily watch the Standard settings most)


Picture Mode: Standard

Picture: +24

Brightness: +9

Color: +3

Tint: -9

Sharpness: +2 although I'm not sure this one matters

Color Temp: Normal

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

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: Off

Black Level: Light

3:2 Pulldown: Off

HD Size: Size 2


Picture Mode: Cinema

Picture: +18

Brightness: +12

Color: +2

Tint: -4

Sharpness: +2 although I'm not sure this one matters

Color Temp: Normal

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

Block NR: Off

Mosquito NR: Off

Black Level: Light

3:2 Pulldown: Off

HD Size: Size 2