Panasonic 2012 Plasmas - 3D Format Auto-Detection

[NightHawk]

I've noted with my 2012 Panasonic plasma (50ST50) that with various 3D titles in over/under format that my Time-Warner cable uses for their 3D titles (720p) and other sources, that a few times when the scene changes dramatically in the title that the plasma drops out of 3D mode.
This happens no matter what auto detect mode I select in the 3D settings (Off, Auto1, or Auto2) though Auto2 will correctly detect the over/under format correctly initially.
I've even tried manually selecting the over/under 3D format but it can still drop out of 3D mode a few times during a title like the plasma is still comparing the two halves of the picture even if the 3D setting auto detect is not set to Auto2.

This seems like the auto detection algorithm is a little off, maybe needs to be relaxed a bit since some scenes the two half images can be more varied in some transistion scenes?
Also it would be good if a manual 3D format is selected and Auto2 mode is not selected, that the plasma should stick in 3D mode with the selected input format and not drop out at any time, until manually switched back to 2D mode.

Is there a standard place to report such issues so Panasonic might put it on a list to be fixed in a future firmware update?

[avjunkie]

Yes please call
1-800-211-PANA (7262)

Or please contact via email. Here is the link
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...t/Contact-Us.2

While there is no guarantee anything can be done it's the best option to notify Panasonic. You'll get a help ticket number.

[NightHawk]

please contact via email. Here is the link
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...t/Contact-Us.2

While there is no guarantee anything can be done it's the best option to notify Panasonic. You'll get a help ticket number.

I tried that email contact page but the drop down list to select my Panasonic plasma TV model doesn't include the 2012 models apparently, they have the ST30s but not the ST50s?

[avjunkie]

Easier to call and speak to someone direct but the link may have been old. I was able to find it here. http://shop.panasonic.com/panasonic/support/contact-us?t=email

[archy]

Problem to me too.
Is the firmware update in the future may fix these?
If users report and complain enough, they may solve this problem.

[NightHawk]

Problem to me too.
Is the firmware update in the future may fix these?
If users report and complain enough, they may solve this problem.

Yes indeed more reports of this same 3D issue with over/under format might help get it worked on for a future firmware release.
At least if manual 3D mode was setup to never leave 3D mode if it was manually selected with a specific 3D format until manually switched to 2D mode, that would help.
Though relaxing the auto-detection image comparison method used to leave 3D mode would be great too.

This could be a very important issue with the upcoming Summer Olympics that I heard Panasonic is a partner with NBC for 3D broadcasts of some the events to be carried by many cable TV systems. My Time Warner cable system has used the over/under 3D HD format for their 3D on-demand titles and ESPN-3D, so they may use this same format for the 3D Olympics coverage too. It would be nice if we don't get dropout of 3D mode at times while viewing the 3D Olympics coverage on a Panasonic 3D TV.

Some articles about Panasonic partnering with NBC for 3D Summer Olympics 2012 coverage:
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...92012022440073
http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/panas...-nbc-olympics/

[tazz3]

i have a st30 and i was wacthing mountain men on the history channel the other night and auto detection came up and said this is in 3d also.
i need to buy 3d glasses

[SiGGy]

I hope they address it, I've opened a ticket with Panasonic who was suppose to call me back and hasn't. It's been over a week. I opened one for 3d and one for broken CMS. I was told 3 days for a follow up.

[NightHawk]

I hope they address it, I've opened a ticket with Panasonic who was suppose to call me back and hasn't. It's been over a week. I opened one for 3d and one for broken CMS. I was told 3 days for a follow up.

Thanks for reporting that.
I reported using the webpage contact form and got an email reply a few days later:
"Thank you for sharing your feedback with us here at Panasonic. We will send your recommendations to our research and development division to be considered in future product lines. It is very important to our company that we listen to our customers and provide the products and features that they desire. Thank you for your input and your time in letting us know of your concerns"

Unfortunately doesn't sound like a plan to fix it in the current models.
It will be very ironic if that issue causes 3D mode dropouts on Panasonic 3D Plasma TVs in the 3D cable TV summer olympics coverage, partnered by Panasonic coming up in a few weeks...