[The News Bot]

Reviewed by David Mackenzie
The Greyscale performance is wonderful, and the THX mode's colour reproduction is fantastic – leagues ahead of the usual “pumped up” look.
Read the full review...

[Halo_master]

Great review!
How about posting some pictures of the panel itself?
Want to know what it looks like in real life.

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by Halo_master

Great review!
How about posting some pictures of the panel itself?
Want to know what it looks like in real life.

I will ask David if he can do that.

[encaser]

Informative, enjoyable and timely review.

From an end user (none-to-be calibrated) point, would it be worth investing in an Euro model if, say, their goal was to get the (much prized) best possible black level AND shadow detail? In the review, David notes that PWM interference could be seen when trying to increase detail at video levels 17 and 18 with the basic brightness user control alone. Would the Gamma option that's present on the Euro sets help out here and also posssibly help prevent or better the 'washed out' look outside of the THX setting? Of course there's also the question of whether the Gamma option is available in THX mode on the Euro sets? Some sets with a THX mode have some user control options greyed out.

The UK set sounds like a frustrating nightmare for ISF calibrators.

[johanchrister]

Hi,

is it realy wort going from modell G10 (G15)
to the V10,
or can one calibrat g10/g15 upp to V10 picture quality ?

Thanks
(bad spelling)

very intrested in modell G10-G15-V10 but wont pay for V10
if i dont get any realy wort better hardwear better picture

[David Mackenzie]

The V10 is definitely worth the price increase, thanks to the THX mode.
It's not possible to bring the G10 (and I assume, the G15) to the same level of quality because of Panasonic's usual problem - lack of control. Most notably, it also has the less striking image thanks to lack of Gamma control (at least in some modes), and there is no Colour Management System or THX mode, so colours are less realistic and accurate.

[stevenlatham01]

Thanks for the review, do you know when this will be on sale yet?

In the Key Features you say 30,000:1 Contrast. Is that correct? I thought this one was 40,000:1

[David Mackenzie]

Really, I thought it was "infinite" contrast! The figures manufacturers quote are best ignored, to be honest. Whatever the actual figure is (it's very difficult to actually measure), the contrast performance is phenominal.

[Graham27]

Thanks a lot for the review, very much appreciated. It's great to be able to read such a comprehensive write-up somewhere trustworthy, and for free too!

Just a quick question though, if I may? Are there any issues with image retention with these screens? This will be a replacement for a faulty SXRD RP, which I game on for several hours a day, and I think I'd keel over at the mere thought of screen burn if I saw any retention.

Thanks again!

[David Mackenzie]

After I've had high-contrast test patterns up, you can see some temporary retention against a full-black screen when all of the room lights are out, and when it's night. It clears up very quickly, though.

[Dalsor]

How noticeable is the color discrepancies in THX mode to the naked eye in movies?
I have until about feb-march '10 before I plan to upgrade my tv, I was originally hoping to get an older model kuro at the time, but it seems there's a good chance I won't find any in stores around here, and the best next thing is this set from all I can gather. I thought this set might at last be an equal to the kuros, and having a 42inch from this series makes it more affordable as well.

[David Mackenzie]

How noticeable is the color discrepancies in THX mode to the naked eye in movies?

Barely noticeable at all. The THX mode looks excellent.

[Dalsor]

Well that's good to hear, shame it can't hit reference levels though.
I wonder is it possible to put one of the lastest pioneer kuros (the 5090 or the krp500) through the same tests the latest reviews went through? that way we can see the comprehensive test results difference between the models in a 1:1 fashion

[mwomwell]

Why doesn't anybody give Panasonic a roasting about not treating UK customers the same as European buyers wrt ability to calibrate their TV sets - what are Panasonic playing at ?

[NW3]

Very interesting. I'd be interested to know how you think the V10 compares to the best that Pioneer still has to offer ?

[David Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by mwomwell

Why doesn't anybody give Panasonic a roasting about not treating UK customers the same as European buyers wrt ability to calibrate their TV sets - what are Panasonic playing at ?

I certainly did, and other people should make their feelings heard. I can't for the life of me understand why the controls aren't there.

[w1z]

I have a 7th generation pioneer 42" and it's time for an upgrade. I am seriously thinking about this baby but I read somewhere that the UK version does not have the THX mode. Please tell me it ain't so, as that would be a true deal breaker for me.

Also any chance of posting some pictures

Excellent review

[David Mackenzie]

If you read the review, you'll see that the UK version does have the THX mode.

Will try to get some pictures.

[CobraX]

Hi guys

I'm from Belgium and still figuring out if I'm gonna get a 50" G10 or a 50" V10. Both are the E version (G10E & V10E). And I'm planning on getting it ISF calibrated after the break-in hours (200) have passed. Do you guys think the G10 can reach the same level of image quality as the V10 (both ISF calibrated)? If so then I basically will let the decision depend on the 24p Smooth Film function.

[mwomwell]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

I certainly did, and other people should make their feelings heard. I can't for the life of me understand why the controls aren't there.

Did you get any response?

[David Mackenzie]

Nope

Hi guys

I'm from Belgium and still figuring out if I'm gonna get a 50" G10 or a 50" V10. Both are the E version (G10E & V10E). And I'm planning on getting it ISF calibrated after the break-in hours (200) have passed. Do you guys think the G10 can reach the same level of image quality as the V10 (both ISF calibrated)? If so then I basically will let the decision depend on the 24p Smooth Film function.

Difficult question to answer. I think that the V10 will always have the edge because of its colour accuracy. But since the version you have access to has a Gamma adjustment, it may be possible to close the performance gap over the two with this.

[anpe008]

Originally Posted by CobraX

Hi guys

I'm from Belgium and still figuring out if I'm gonna get a 50" G10 or a 50" V10. Both are the E version (G10E & V10E). And I'm planning on getting it ISF calibrated after the break-in hours (200) have passed. Do you guys think the G10 can reach the same level of image quality as the V10 (both ISF calibrated)? If so then I basically will let the decision depend on the 24p Smooth Film function.

After the review, I have the same question. G10E + calibration or V10E + THX? I think this question can be answered in a review, made in the continental Europe between the 2 "E" model. So we have to wait and ask this on that forum.

After searching and reading many many forums and reviews, maybe I have found the best option that satisfy all my need...

"P50V10(E) or P50G10(E) version, that the question!"

[David Mackenzie]

Yeah, it's difficult to say since we don't have the G10E or V10E versions, but remember that none of the versions has a 3D Colour Management system. So I think it's quite likely that the THX mode will still be the best-performing.

[mwomwell]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

I certainly did, and other people should make their feelings heard. I can't for the life of me understand why the controls aren't there.

Just sent them an email complaining - bet I either don't get a response or it will be rubbish saying that it's THX certified and therefore it must be good - hu!!. Pitty Pioneer have dropped out of the TV market.

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by mwomwell

Just sent them an email complaining - bet I either don't get a response or it will be rubbish saying that it's THX certified and therefore it must be good - hu!!. Pitty Pioneer have dropped out of the TV market.

Guys, I am in contact with Panasonic, I hope to get some kind of reply soon.

[chaosrealm]

i was gonna get the 42G10 but after reading this review i am gonna swallow the extra £££ and get the 42V10

Thanks for a great review

[w1z]

David,

My Pioneer PDP427XD is getting on a bit now and I
want a 50" TV, before a make a decision I need to ask 2 question. In your honest opinion...

1, Picture quality wise is the V10 worth the upgrade
from my My Pioneer PDP427XD?

2, Does the V10 have better SD quality than the
PDP427XD

Cheers

[Badger0-0]

Excellent review David, as I knew it would be

Question;
The THX setting seems to pretty much hit the spot, even though it's not perfect and I have to ask how much extra you reckon you could get out of the set, even if you had full control of the 3D colour management?

What I'm getting at is, do you think this THX stuff is going to be a problem for the ISF calibrators, in that the difference achieved by calibration seems to be pretty minimal?

I very much appreciate you have two hats on, but I'm interested in what you think on this

[invisiblekid]

Great review David and I am looking to upgrade so this was really useful and actually thinking of moving from the world of LCD.

Now this throws up a small problem. The Panny is around £1600 but you can get a Kuro 5090 now for £2K. So is the Kuro worth a few extra hours work? But how long will you be able to pick one up? If they are gone by the time I will have the funds ( around 3 months ) I will be gutted if the desision is made for me by no Kuro. Or will there be sets around for a while yet?

[roy123]

Sory 4 the blonde moment seem to get a lot of them when askin Qs on here!

for the extra £££'s is it worth getting the V10 or G15 over the G10 model in the 42'' size?