Official Panasonic GT50 Series Thread

[RandyWalters]

GT50:

Progressive Full HD 3D™
NeoPlasma Panel
2,500 Focused Field Drive
Infinite Black Pro
24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation
1,080p Pure Direct
Pure Image Creation
Vivid Color Creation
Web Smoother
2D-3D Conversion
3D 24p Cinema Smoother
THX® 3D Certified Display
3D Real Sound with 8-Train Speakers
4 HDMI inputs
PC Input
Dual Core Processor




Features that the GT50 has that the ST50 does not have:

THX Picture Mode (with daytime and nighttime modes)
24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation
1,080p Pure Direct
Dual Core Processor
A 4th HDMI input
PC Input
Narrower bezel



Link to GT50 Quick Start Guide (dimensions and schematics all the way down at the bottom):
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPER.../TCP50GT50.PDF

Link to GT50 E-Help Operating Manual (presumably the one that's built into the TV):
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPER...-HELP_GT50.PDF




Initial MSRP:

TC-P50GT50 $1,799

TC-P55GT50 $2,099

TC-P60GT50 $2,599

TC-P65GT50 $3,299 (recently adjusted down from the original $3,499)




GT50 Dimensions without the stand: (The Stand adds 2 inches to the overall height)

50GT50 46.1" Wide x 27.7" High x 1.9" Deep

55GT50 50.6" Wide x 30.3" High x 1.9" Deep

60GT50 55.0" Wide x 32.7" High x 1.9" Deep

65GT50 59.0" Wide x 35.0" High x 1.9" Deep



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[speedking]

Thanks for starting the thread Randy

[Darc87]

Can anyone provide recommended revised video settings for THX and THX Bright?

Thanks.

[dansmail26]

Perhaps a calibrator can help out, does the extra 10,000 Equivalent Steps of Gradation this has over the ST line mean anything?

[SiGGy]

Perhaps a calibrator can help out, does the extra 10,000 Equivalent Steps of Gradation this has over the ST line mean anything?

A great question, no one has been able to answer this thus far by scientifically testing for it.

Really there should be a test pattern that one could display on two displays (one TV capable of 24k graduation the other 10k). The difference should be seen. But I haven't seen this done, or heard mention that anyone has seen an increase visually. There should be less dithering in low APL scenes if indeed the graduations are more than doubled as Panasonic claims.

Science aside, professional reviewers haven't felt there was a huge improvement in dithering or seen a difference that could be attributed to the 24k graduations. Yet. Perhaps someone will go testing for this at some point with the displays side by side. Or it will start to stand in normal material and someone will notice


If you ask me it's too early to call anything, as there aren't many reviews on the GT50 and none for the VT50. It takes time to get some of the differential comparisons done.

[avjunkie]

Great thread.
Btw don't forget gt always adds the pc input as well.

GT50:

Progressive Full HD 3D™
NeoPlasma Panel
2,500 Focused Field Drive
Infinite Black Pro
24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation
1,080p Pure Direct
Pure Image Creation
Vivid Color Creation
Web Smoother
2D-3D Conversion
3D 24p Cinema Smoother
THX® 3D Certified Display
3D Real Sound with 8-Train Speakers
4 HDMI inputs
Dual Core Processor




Features that the GT50 has that the ST50 does not have:

THX Picture Mode (with daytime and nighttime modes)
24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation
1,080p Pure Direct
Dual Core Processor
A 4th HDMI input
Narrower bezel



Link to GT50 Quick Start Guide (dimensions and schematics all the way down at the bottom):
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPER.../TCP50GT50.PDF

Link to GT50 E-Help Operating Manual (presumably the one that's built into the TV):
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPER...-HELP_GT50.PDF




MSRP:

TC-P50GT50 $1,799

TC-P55GT50 $2,099

TC-P60GT50 $2,599

TC-P65GT50 $3,299 (recently adjusted down from the original $3,499)




GT50 Dimensions without the stand: (The Stand adds 2 inches to the overall height)

50GT50 46.1" Wide x 27.7" High x 1.9" Deep

55GT50 50.6" Wide x 30.3" High x 1.9" Deep

60GT50 ??.?" Wide x ??.?" High x ??.? " Deep (The 60 incher's dimensions aren't released as of this writing)

65GT50 59.0" Wide x 35.0" High x 1.9" Deep



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[jamorr]

Perhaps a calibrator can help out, does the extra 10,000 Equivalent Steps of Gradation this has over the ST line mean anything?

I'd really like to know the answer to this as well.

[slb]

Is the exposed glass on the ST/GT the actual PDP with a laminated AR filter, or is it another sheet of glass with the AR filter in front of the PDP?

[dansmail26]

What does the night time/day time mode do? Is it automatic, based on ambient light?

[rahzel]

One is brighter for a bright room, the other is dimmer for a dark room.
It's not automatic, they're presets/picture modes. The significance of the 'THX' is that it meets a certain standard set by THX and it's a fairly accurate picture mode out of the box, but not perfect by any means... a calibration will improve on them.

[jhck66]

I was wondering if the 50" GT50, like the 50' ST50, do not include any fans. I hope it is likewise. Can anyone confirm?

[David Mackenzie]

I'd really like to know the answer to this as well.

I've not had the chance to compare the two side by side. But it seems to be a quite subtle difference. In theory it should mean less contouring, smoother transitions from shade to shade.

[gadgtfreek]

http://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php...1335510465&rss

[joey1356]

Looks like Best Buy has the 50", 55" and 60" available on their website. Notes it will ship in 3-5 days.

[sheshechic]

Some people are saying that the Steps of Gradation exist only in Cinema; what is the truth about the 24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation?

[sheshechic]

I bought the 55" and it is truly amazing. It replaced a LG 52LD550 in our bright den with a set of 3 windows off to the left (blinds & curtains) and which faces a long kitchen where there is one window nearest the room and French doors at the far end, plus two doors which allow light in during the day, one to the hall and one to the dining room.

The THX bright room setting handles this room well, the only thing is that the screen is reflective but I don't believe that there's a plasma out there that is less reflective and this bright. When I went to BB to check out the ST50 it seemed that all the panels were equally reflective or more reflective.

The following is my post (on another site) of my first impressions:

We watched Contraband (blu-ray on Panasonic BDT310) tonight and I must admit that I was tripping. So many people wearing black and they were deep dark black. What blew me away was being able to see the corduroy detail withing that deep dark black. I kept thinking that the black was too much and crushing until I was struck by the detail, small details were there in clothes, in hair....

I just picked up a TIVO too since Charter boxes suck (I had to leave Directv ). I believe that TIVO is also making the signal better. My husband was watching Fringe and I became entranced. I love Fringe but this was an altogether different experience and I had to force myself to go back upstairs to finish my work.

The only thing that disappoints me (aside from the tilted angle of the set in the stand) is how reflective it is, even with THX Bright Room setting. Before the tv arrived we moved our G25 to the den and it wasn't this reflective. However, the image it produces is seducing me and I don't know if I could be satisfied with any other set out there right now. Dang, I wish my den were on a turntable.

[mnc]

Some people are saying that the Steps of Gradation exist only in Cinema; what is the truth about the 24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation?

I believe it applies to picture modes other than Vivid or Standard. Cinema, Custom, THX should all take advantage of the extra gradations.

[MDRiggs]

I believe it applies to picture modes other than Vivid or Standard. Cinema, Custom, THX should all take advantage of the extra gradations.

I believe you are correct. Also, my impression is that THX is a tweaked version of Cinema.

[David Mackenzie]

Some people are saying that the Steps of Gradation exist only in Cinema; what is the truth about the 24,576 Equivalent Steps of Gradation?

On the Euro models at least, it applies to the THX and Professional modes too.

[RichB]

On the Euro models at least, it applies to the THX and Professional modes too.

Is the gradiant improvement viewable in test patterns or normal viewing?

- Rich