[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Mark Hodgkinson, 14th May 2012. In its class the Panasonic TX-P42GT50 provides a peerless combination of outstanding black levels, flexible options and downright excellent picture quality, in both two and three dimensions.
Read the full review...

[misar]

A rather trivial comment. I use the timer menu a lot on my older Panasonic to see what I have programmed for recording (you cannot do much while a recording is in progress). I find its location in the setup menu a bit inconvenient so for me the new arrangement would be a plus.

[evanfotis]

It was mentioned that

only accepts the full 4:4:4 chromatic resolution for video sources

Just to clarify, does this mean that when driven by a PC as a monitor for use with Photoshop for clients viewing critical imagery, it will not display full chroma 4:4:4?

[vism]

Has the increased brightness over the VT in pro mode come about because of a software update or has the GT always been that bright?

[NBrice]

Well I have this TV and I agree with everything in the review, except perhaps the input lag. It feels so much more responsive than my Samsung C750 (41ms) and also the 46" ES8000 I had, and yet it's allegedly slower according to this method. Perhaps it's down to the way plasma displays the images compared to LCD, but the GT50 feels extremely responsive to me and I normally have issues with displays with high lag.

Also, the 50hz issue is most apparent in docushows with lots of fast shaky camera pans, like Come Dine With Me. White walls especially, seem to be noisy on pans and break up in to slight colours. Whilst an annoyance, so is the vertical banding and dirty screen effect I got on these pans on the ES8000 I replaced. The GT50 really does offer a phenomenal class-leading picture, most of the time. In fact, you can pay over £2k for the top-end LG LED model this year, and you still won't get this quality or depth of picture.

Can't recommend this TV enough.

[Jon P]

now if only Panasonic could get rid of the flicker. It drives me nuts.

[vism]

Mark,

I think we have both been following the thread that Vierrafan started about the 50Hz bug but I really don't think the subfields are the cause.

You say that 50Hz has "less subfields". If true then 96Hz would have even less, making a p24 source even worse.

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by vism

Mark,

I think we have both been following the thread that Vierrafan started about the 50Hz bug but I really don't think the subfields are the cause.

You say that 50Hz has "less subfields". If true then 96Hz would have even less, making a p24 source even worse.

Hi

I would have thought there's less subfield processing available, certainly than @60Hz, as 50Hz is 'double scanned' to 100. Panasonic keep a lot of this sort of stuff shrouded in mystery but it seems logical to me that 60Hz is better catered for with 600Hz sub-field processing. It's a bit of speculation, but from the 60Hz video I've seen with the Panasonic's it's handled better

EDIT: Perhaps rather than saying 'less subfield processing available', less optimal...would be better?

[vism]

Yeah, but that's my point.

Because it's double scanned, you're splitting the subfields between 2 refresh cycles.
With p24, you're splitting between 4 refresh cycles so there are less per cycle.

I don't know how or what but I'm sure there's more going on

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by misar

A rather trivial comment. I use the timer menu a lot on my older Panasonic to see what I have programmed for recording (you cannot do much while a recording is in progress). I find its location in the setup menu a bit inconvenient so for me the new arrangement would be a plus.

Fair enough, just my opinion on that one, I'm a minimalist kind of guy

Originally Posted by evanfotis

It was mentioned that
Just to clarify, does this mean that when driven by a PC as a monitor for use with Photoshop for clients viewing critical imagery, it will not display full chroma 4:4:4?

Provided the video card can output a YCbCr signal, it should work.

Originally Posted by vism

Has the increased brightness over the VT in pro mode come about because of a software update or has the GT always been that bright?

Difficult to answer but I suspect it would have been like this anyhow.

Originally Posted by woodnotes

Well I have this TV and I agree with everything in the review, except perhaps the input lag. It feels so much more responsive than my Samsung C750 (41ms) and also the 46" ES8000 I had, and yet it's allegedly slower according to this method. Perhaps it's down to the way plasma displays the images compared to LCD, but the GT50 feels extremely responsive to me and I normally have issues with displays with high lag.

Also, the 50hz issue is most apparent in docushows with lots of fast shaky camera pans, like Come Dine With Me. White walls especially, seem to be noisy on pans and break up in to slight colours. Whilst an annoyance, so is the vertical banding and dirty screen effect I got on these pans on the ES8000 I replaced. The GT50 really does offer a phenomenal class-leading picture, most of the time. In fact, you can pay over £2k for the top-end LG LED model this year, and you still won't get this quality or depth of picture.

Can't recommend this TV enough.

Interesting, I found it actually fine for my needs but noticeably a bit more sluggish than my 2010 Panasonic here. I don't think it's a particularly high lag, just a bit more than expected. There's very little opportunity for the device to get it wrong, it's very simple really. Who cares if you're happy anyhow

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by vism

I don't know how or what but I'm sure there's more going on

Definitely agree there. Let's see if we can get Panasonic to shed a bit more light on it

[Tolq]

Originally Posted by vism

Has the increased brightness over the VT in pro mode come about because of a software update or has the GT always been that bright?

Could this be down to the different filters, I wonder?

I've seen both the GT50 and VT50 in the flesh now, and I like both of them - although I can't really justify spending 4-500 quid more on the VT, especially not when some retailers are throwing in free 3D glasses with the GT50 as well.

[vism]

Ah, now you see why they're phasing out the GT.

[vism]

Originally Posted by Mark Hodgkinson

Definitely agree there. Let's see if we can get Panasonic to shed a bit more light on it

Deffo, perhaps you guys could ask a Panasonic tech guy to fill us in with an article.

[Tolq]

Originally Posted by vism

Ah, now you see why they're phasing out the GT.

Indeed - might have to get one sooner rather than later. Seeing the new sets has given me the itch as well

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by Turrican4D

The german G15 sets have a bug-> http://www.hifi-forum.de/index.php?a...9&thread=11389

In short, all german GT50 and VT50 (STW50 probably too) double the MLL in all modes, that contain the additional grayshades!

Torchmode aside, the only modes with the deep blacklevel are the two THX-modes!

Answered in VT50 thread with:

Steve has his 55VT50 review out soon and will give some more numbers on it but the GT50 I just reviewed measured at 0.01 cd/m2 in Pro and THX, with a K-10...

[deblee]

Great review again
I will mention again about Normal mode, it defaults to CATS on so will be dull the majority of time (except when the sun is shining)
Would be interested to know what energy comsumption this mode uses when CATS is not used?
Incidentally CATS works very well in a sun drenched room but the gamma is skewed

[jlmcr87]

Mark I have the GT50 and I´ve noticed black levels are less black in cinema and professional modes than in normal mode, why? also i have noticed a red grainy tint (with a black screen) unless you put brightness to -1 in normal mode. Can you check this? Thanks

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by jlmcr87

Mark I have the GT50 and I´ve noticed black levels are less black in cinema and professional modes than in normal mode, why? also i have noticed a red grainy tint (with a black screen) unless you put brightness to -1 in normal mode. Can you check this? Thanks

All modes I really looked at (THX/Pro/Cinema) in the sample had identical black levels. Does Normal crush a bit of low detail or do you mean a blank screen is darker in Normal?

The grain is PWM noise, getting Brightness set to a certain level gets rid of it. As you have found.

[jlmcr87]

I mean black levels in general are better in normal mode.
A completely black screen or the black bars of a film are blacker in normal mode. In cinema, thx or professional with a completely dark room I apreciate the blacks more greysh.
My model is GT50Y

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by jlmcr87

I mean black levels in general are better in normal mode.
A completely black screen or the black bars of a film are blacker in normal mode. In cinema, thx or professional with a completely dark room I apreciate the blacks more greysh.
My model is GT50Y

There's been a bug reported with the European sets where it's exactly as you describe. Sorry, the UK versions we've tested haven't shown it, I think the best bet is to report it to your local Panasonic customer services.

[HMHB]

Thanks for yet another great review Mark

Have Panasonic made any improvements since I got my plasma a few years ago for watching standard definition material? I imagine that nobody bothers about it any more though

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Thanks for yet another great review Mark

Have Panasonic made any improvements since I got my plasma a few years ago for watching standard definition material? I imagine that nobody bothers about it any more though

Hi John

Yes, SD scaling is much improved over the G10 but bitrates get ever lower so it's a bit like manufacturers are chasing their tails. Don't expect them to make Forest look good on BBC late of a Saturday evening though!

[HMHB]

Originally Posted by Mark Hodgkinson

Hi John

Yes, SD scaling is much improved over the G10 but bitrates get ever lower so it's a bit like manufacturers are chasing their tails. Don't expect them to make Forest look good on BBC late of a Saturday evening though!

Cheers Mark. I don't watch the footie on Saturday night if we lose, so I've not watched it much over the last year

[catw4x]

Hi mark. I have just got a vt50 50inch and its a bit too big for our setup. Am thinking of exchanging for 42 gt50. I also find the vt50 picture for normal tv watching to be way too dull. A white screen is not full bright white but more a dull greenish tint. Is gt50 brightness a noticeable jump up? When I say brightness I mean light output. I have a 5 year old Samsung plasma and the white is perfect on that.
Thanks

[Turrican4D]

Too big???

There is no "too big" when it comes to high definition!

[HMHB]

Originally Posted by Turrican4D

Too big???

There is no "too big" when it comes to high definition!

There is if you have to sit too close and are watching a lot of SD material - which the majority of people still have to suffer in this country

[holden1]

Can anyone help me estimate the cost of power consumption for the TX-P42GT50B please?

On Panasonic's tech spec it says:

===

On mode Average Power Consumption: 137 W
Annual Energy Consumption: 200 kWh
Standby and off-mode power consumption: 0.30W/ 0.25W

===

what would this (200kWh/yr) approximate cost to run for a year?
My provider is E-On

I'm looking at buying one from John Lewis (if they ever get any stock)

[holden1]

in answer to my own question, with E-On I am paying:
First 900kWh each year: 22.98p each
Next kWh 12.5p each

so assuming I was already into the cheaper band for the year (12.5p), this would work out at £25/yr (have I got that right?)

[HMHB]

How much a telly costs to run a year largely depends on how many hours a day you watch it for!