2011 Panasonic TV line-up - UK details

[Anonymous]

I recently watched an interview with a guy from Panasonic and he said that they had improved the 50hz issue by introducing an adjustable control on IFC on 2011 models. On 2010 models and earlier IFC was either on or off but with 2011 models there is further refinement - probably a min, medium and max setting. Also all 2011 full HD models have the "faster phospher" technology. We'll have to see whether this does actually resolve the issue. Personally I'm not a fan of any sort of intelligent frame creation technology but we'll have to see how the new models handle it.

 

[Anonymous]

FZ:
I recently watched an interview with a guy from Panasonic and he said that they had improved the 50hz issue by introducing an adjustable control on IFC on 2011 models. On 2010 models and earlier IFC was either on or off but with 2011 models there is further refinement - probably a min, medium and max setting. Also all 2011 full HD models have the "faster phospher" technology. We'll have to see whether this does actually resolve the issue. Personally I'm not a fan of any sort of intelligent frame creation technology but we'll have to see how the new models handle it.

I watched that video too, the guy didnt exaclty fill me with confidence the 50hz problem had been sorted.. time will tell

 

[micks_address]

i watched the video as well! yes the guy was either being very cagey.. or a bit nervous.. he wasnt gushing with confidence either way about the VT30s... a few questions for the Whathifi team - if Panasonics solution to the 50hz problem is to introduce a 'min' setting for IFC.. and this might make sense as apparently with IFC on 50hz is automatically converted to 60hz.. could this sort of feature be added to the VT20's via a firmware update?

also i noticed that the VT30's feature an auto calibration feature that is tied into calman software - sounds great.. all you need is a laptop with calman software and the probe.. pop it over the tv.. and connect the laptop to the tv via ethernet and they basically have an auto calibration option.. which gives you pefect calibration with the click of a button.. the bad news? seems like they wont be offering this to the general public.. you have to be a ISF certified dealer.. thats kinda annoying as i wouldnt mind paying a couple of hundred quid to buy the software and hardware.. and be able to use over and over again.. but it looks like they want to keep the business locked into ISF dealers.. so in essence you now pay 300 or so quid.. for someone to come out - set up their laptop - and click a button?

Cheers,

mick

mrb1972:FZ:

I recently watched an interview with a guy from Panasonic and he said that they had improved the 50hz issue by introducing an adjustable control on IFC on 2011 models. On 2010 models and earlier IFC was either on or off but with 2011 models there is further refinement - probably a min, medium and max setting. Also all 2011 full HD models have the "faster phospher" technology. We'll have to see whether this does actually resolve the issue. Personally I'm not a fan of any sort of intelligent frame creation technology but we'll have to see how the new models handle it.

I watched that video too, the guy didnt exaclty fill me with confidence the 50hz problem had been sorted.. time will tell

 

[Anonymous]

Is the write up from the Panasonic factory visit in an upcoming issue?

EDIT: oops, just seen the seperate thread!

 

[strapped for cash]

i watched the video as well! yes the guy was either being very cagey.. or a bit nervous.. he wasnt gushing with confidence either way about the VT30s... a few questions for the Whathifi team - if Panasonics solution to the 50hz problem is to introduce a 'min' setting for IFC.. and this might make sense as apparently with IFC on 50hz is automatically converted to 60hz.. could this sort of feature be added to the VT20's via a firmware update?

also i noticed that the VT30's feature an auto calibration feature that is tied into calman software - sounds great.. all you need is a laptop with calman software and the probe.. pop it over the tv.. and connect the laptop to the tv via ethernet and they basically have an auto calibration option.. which gives you pefect calibration with the click of a button.. the bad news? seems like they wont be offering this to the general public.. you have to be a ISF certified dealer.. thats kinda annoying as i wouldnt mind paying a couple of hundred quid to buy the software and hardware.. and be able to use over and over again.. but it looks like they want to keep the business locked into ISF dealers.. so in essence you now pay 300 or so quid.. for someone to come out - set up their laptop - and click a button?

Cheers,

mick

mrb1972:FZ:

I recently watched an interview with a guy from Panasonic and he said that they had improved the 50hz issue by introducing an adjustable control on IFC on 2011 models. On 2010 models and earlier IFC was either on or off but with 2011 models there is further refinement - probably a min, medium and max setting. Also all 2011 full HD models have the "faster phospher" technology. We'll have to see whether this does actually resolve the issue. Personally I'm not a fan of any sort of intelligent frame creation technology but we'll have to see how the new models handle it.

I watched that video too, the guy didnt exaclty fill me with confidence the 50hz problem had been sorted.. time will tell

And yet Panasonic's 2009 plasmas handle 50Hz content very well. Surely if Panasonic have managed this in the past, they can resolve the problem now, or perhaps that would make too much sense?

 

[Alec]

One of the BDPs has ultra fast playback. But I'd like playback to take as long as it takes. Unless I'm watching Inception.

 

[Anonymous]

Do they have anything that compares to the G20's 20ms input lag gaming abilities? Fast responsive gaming with ultra low input lag is important with gamings rapid growth in the entertainment industry.

 

[stickboy85]

Just finished getting off the phone with my local electronics store (EDC in Crayford) and they informed me that the GT30's have arrived in stock today. I'm more interested in the VT30 series myself but I still might take a look!

 

[micks_address]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to put a question about the 2010 panasonics and the 50hz motion issues they have... back earlier in the year when whathifi met with panasonic they said the issues couldnt be fixed with a software update - that it would require a hardware change - but from other sources its been confirmed that on the Japanese plant visit - when a visitor asked for a demo of a 2011 vt30 versus a vt20 - the issue was still present on the vt30 and Panasonic had completely missunderstood the issue. Now question is - if they now understand the issue - is there any chance that the VT20 range of tvs could be fixed by a software update?

Thanks,
Mick

 

[Anonymous]

i find it very hard to believe that panasonic misunderstood anything, call me cynical but if the 50hz issue is still going to be present in the 2011 sets then imo it's because it would cost them too much to rectify it.

 

[Andrew Everard]

but from other sources its been confirmed that on the Japanese plant visit - when a visitor asked for a demo of a 2011 vt30 versus a vt20 - the issue was still present on the vt30 and Panasonic had completely missunderstood the issue.

...Whereas the rest of us present at that demo couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

 

[micks_address]

Hi Andrew,

Are you saying you havent noticed the perceived 50hz motion issues on the 2010 sets or that the VT30 just didnt have the problem?

Thanks,
Michael

but from other sources its been confirmed that on the Japanese plant visit - when a visitor asked for a demo of a 2011 vt30 versus a vt20 - the issue was still present on the vt30 and Panasonic had completely missunderstood the issue.

...Whereas the rest of us present at that demo couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Neither.

I saw what was being discussed on both sets when it was pointed out to me, after a bit of 'You see?' 'Erm, no...'.

But shared with others there the view that the effect present was a) not a problem over which anyone would lose any sleep, and b) probably caused by other factors, such as the operation and movement of the camera being used to record the event, a view later confirmed in conversations I've had with videographers here in the company.

 

[micks_address]

Thanks Andrew - I had wondered if it was something to do with the panning of cameras etc as thats the only time I've seen it.. it can be quite distracting though and i havent noticed it with blu-rays at 24 or 60 hz..

Cheers, mick

 

[Andrew Everard]

Could be to do with the difference between a progressive scan signal from BD and the interlaced broadcast one?

 

[micks_address]

I have no idea but apparently it wasn't visible on the 2009 sets

 

[strapped for cash]

As someone who owns 2009 and 2010 model Panasonic plasmas, I think many of the complaints voiced can be attributed to the lack of 100Hz scanning on the G and V20.

I really don't see any major problem with motion while watching HD channels on the V20 (though the double scanning of the G10 probably gives it the edge, just).

I even managed to defeat most of the buzz by engaging the power save option in the V20's system menu. This doesn't affect the picture adversely, and seems to minimise the incidence of floating blacks.

After going back to my G10 for a couple of days, I did an about turn and decided to keep the V20 (I'm embarrassed to admit this, given my comments on another, very long thread).

 

[Anonymous]

As someone who owns 2009 and 2010 model Panasonic plasmas, I think many of the complaints voiced can be attributed to the lack of 100Hz scanning on the G and V20.

I really don't see any major problem with motion while watching HD channels on the V20 (though the double scanning of the G10 probably gives it the edge, just).

I even managed to defeat most of the buzz by engaging the power save option in the V20's system menu. This doesn't affect the picture adversely, and seems to minimise the incidence of floating blacks.

After going back to my G10 for a couple of days, I did an about turn and decided to keep the V20 (I'm embarrassed to admit this, given my comments on another, very long thread).

hi strapped, i may be wrong but i thought that the IFC that's present on the 09 and 2010 sets is 100hz scanning? although it's much better on the 09 sets.

 

[strapped for cash]

I thought IFC was a sub field drive, marketed (misleadingly) as 600Hz scanning.

The G10 scans at 100Hz by default (i.e. before you engage IFC), if I remember rightly.

I could be wrong, of course. I'm donating the G10 to my brother, so when I get the box down from the attic I'll check the manual.

I wouldn't argue that IFC is far more effective on the 2009 models. It's a complete waste of time on the V20.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought IFC was a sub field drive, marketed (misleadingly) as 600Hz scanning.

The G10 scans at 100Hz by default (i.e. before you engage IFC), if I remember rightly.

I could be wrong, of course. I'm donating the G10 to my brother, so when I get the box down from the attic I'll check the manual.

I wouldn't argue that IFC is far more effective on the 2009 models. It's a complete waste of time on the V20.

no i think all plasmas scan at 50 hz (50 frames persecond) by default. IFC doubles that, hence 100 hz double scanning, the 600 hz thing is just marketing blurb.

 

[micks_address]

Hi strapped thanks for the tip re power save. I had mine set to off... trailing with on now cheers mick

As someone who owns 2009 and 2010 model Panasonic plasmas, I think many of the complaints voiced can be attributed to the lack of 100Hz scanning on the G and V20.

I really don't see any major problem with motion while watching HD channels on the V20 (though the double scanning of the G10 probably gives it the edge, just).

I even managed to defeat most of the buzz by engaging the power save option in the V20's system menu. This doesn't affect the picture adversely, and seems to minimise the incidence of floating blacks.

After going back to my G10 for a couple of days, I did an about turn and decided to keep the V20 (I'm embarrassed to admit this, given my comments on another, very long thread).

 

[strapped for cash]

Hi strapped thanks for the tip re power save. I had mine set to off... trailing with on now cheers mick

No problem. I'm intrigued to hear how you get on. Is power save merely a placebo for my niggles with the television?

I decided to keep the V20 because no affordable upcoming TV matched the V20 in key areas. Having read the first online review of the GT30, blacks were not as deep as the V20, so presumably the same would hold true for the G30. There were no floating blacks on the GT30 test model, however (or so the reviewer observed).

That said, the G30 doesn't have a Freesat tuner, which I need. I'd have spent another £400 to buy a G30 and Freesat PVR, so eventually I saw sense and decided the V20 was a very good deal at the price I paid.

 

[micks_address]

Just watching how to train your dragon and blacks floating all over the place... power save on or off makes no difference to floating blacks. Pity. I'll be auditioning a 42vt30 as soon as my retailer has them in stock and if floating blacks are fixed ill try and change. Cheers mick

 

[strapped for cash]

Ah well, worth a try.

Presumably you're watching the film in 3D? Not that that should make any difference. I wonder if floating balcks are accentuated when watching 3D content, as ramped up contrast levels try to compensate for the dimming effect of the glasses?

 

[micks_address]

No only have the 2d version

Ah well, worth a try.

Presumably you're watching the film in 3D? Not that that should make any difference. I wonder if floating balcks are accentuated when watching 3D content, as ramped up contrast levels try to compensate for the dimming effect of the glasses?