[Thelovecrumb]

I auditioned a GT50 today hoping it would outshine the VT30 - results to my mind where very close. Yes the GT50 had a brighter, punchy picture but it lacked the real depth and tones of the VT30 most notably on faces and darker scenes (dark knight). Also I found the GT50 to look slightly cheaper than the single sheet of glass finish on the VT30 which is aesthetically very pleasing.

I know the GT50 has the very cool connectivity to iPad / android coming shortly and saw a demo which was cool, but not sure this is reason enough as for me the main use of the screen will be SkyHD viewing and Bluray movies (little sport only F1).

Most viewing is done in evening in darker conditions, although wifey and kiddies will use during the day for Disney films etc.

The choice....

I can get a VT30 for £1149 (ex-disp) or GT50 for £1349 - Both with 5yr gntees and 2 pairs of glasses.

Would love to hear from owners of VT30/GT50 particularly if they have experience of both models or have had to make a similar decision?

Thanks Darren

[masteryobo21]

ill go for the gt50 due to 2500 field motion hz rate and better blacks, also its got the infinte black filter same as vt30, however gt50 rips apart the vt30

[masteryobo21]

i can easily buy the gt50 for £1250 from john lewis.

[Thelovecrumb]

I presume you can do this by price matching - where from?

[Insanity202]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

I auditioned a GT50 today hoping it would outshine the VT30 - results to my mind where very close. Yes the GT50 had a brighter, punchy picture but it lacked the real depth and tones of the VT30 most notably on faces and darker scenes (dark knight). Also I found the GT50 to look slightly cheaper than the single sheet of glass finish on the VT30 which is aesthetically very pleasing.

I know the GT50 has the very cool connectivity to iPad / android coming shortly and saw a demo which was cool, but not sure this is reason enough as for me the main use of the screen will be SkyHD viewing and Bluray movies (little sport only F1).

Most viewing is done in evening in darker conditions, although wifey and kiddies will use during the day for Disney films etc.

The choice....

I can get a VT30 for £1149 (ex-disp) or GT50 for £1349 - Both with 5yr gntees and 2 pairs of glasses.

Would love to hear from owners of VT30/GT50 particularly if they have experience of both models or have had to make a similar decision?

Thanks Darren

Hi Darren I was a owner of a VT30 and I shall be demoing a GT50 in the next couple of weeks if your in no rush.
Personally speaking on paper the GT50 performs better than the VT30 by the reviews out on the web so I would be going for the GT50.

[masteryobo21]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

I presume you can do this by price matching - where from?

i got 12% staff discount

[Insanity202]

Originally Posted by masteryobo21

i got 12% staff discount

Not really helpful to the OP if he doesnt work at JL.

[smpearce22]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

I auditioned a GT50 today hoping it would outshine the VT30 - results to my mind where very close. Yes the GT50 had a brighter, punchy picture but it lacked the real depth and tones of the VT30 most notably on faces and darker scenes (dark knight). Also I found the GT50 to look slightly cheaper than the single sheet of glass finish on the VT30 which is aesthetically very pleasing.

I know the GT50 has the very cool connectivity to iPad / android coming shortly and saw a demo which was cool, but not sure this is reason enough as for me the main use of the screen will be SkyHD viewing and Bluray movies (little sport only F1).

Most viewing is done in evening in darker conditions, although wifey and kiddies will use during the day for Disney films etc.

The choice....

I can get a VT30 for £1149 (ex-disp) or GT50 for £1349 - Both with 5yr gntees and 2 pairs of glasses.

Would love to hear from owners of VT30/GT50 particularly if they have experience of both models or have had to make a similar decision?

Thanks Darren

Hey bud.

I owned a VT30 from July last year until the beggining of this month.

I now own a GT50.

Although the GT50 is newer tech I was still worried that taking a step back in model may be a bad idea.

Bottom line, it wasnt.....it REALLY wasnt.

I enjoyed my VT30 a lot, but i love my GT50.

The GT50 is more refined picture wise, most noticably during motion.

Its brighter, more vivid, and has some really cool new features.

I wont go into all the Smart Viera stuff, its cool, but I didnt really use it then, and still dont now.

Its things like the THX bright room mode, 1080p Pure Direct, the new Motion Handling just make it a superior set.

Blacks are about the same, although once again perhaps a little better on the new GT.

The only things that I prefered with my VT was the one sheet of glass design, and the old remote, which looked and felt nice and premium.

The GT's remote isnt bad by any stretch but just feels a little more generic.

But ultimately the cosmetics are secondary to the picture quality and features, and in this instance the GT50 really does win out.

Its definitely worth the couple of hundred quid extra.

You wont be disapointed no matter what one you choose though, but when push comes to shove, bar some of the design and cosmetics the GT50 is the superior set.

[Thelovecrumb]

Thanks for this - really useful to get a real owners opinion. Much appreciated. Can I ask a quick question - what is the spacing gap (horizontal and vertical) of the holes at the back of the GT50 used for the wall mounting bracket?

Also just curious but why did you choose to change the vt30 so soon?

Thanks Darren

[saarnold]

Hi Darren,
similar to insanity202, i am waiting for the new panels ( should be 2weeks max ), but for the VT50, not the GT50 - i still have the 50VT30 and shall be keeping it in the spare room once the VT50 arrives. If you are in no hurry, by that time many will have the GT50 and some, like myself, will have just received the VT50 and i am sure that the comparison between the GT50/VT50/VT30 will be much more conclusive - i myself am looking forward to the differences.
At this point in time, having read the reviews and read members experiences having had the VT30 and now have the GT50 for whatever reason, it certainly looks like the GT50 is a step up from the VT30, but having a fault free VT30, i must say it is as good as the reviews and accolades it received last year ( i dont have ant BF or green blobs and very rarely notice 50hz ). With good quality BR movies it looks stunning - Avatar 2D/3D looks out of this world.
I think that i would be confused myself if i were in a position to buy a fault free VT30 for the price it is right now, or pay hundreds more for this years new models if the upgrade/differences were evolutionary rather than revolutionary - i think that revolutionary advances will/may happen 3 or 4 years from now when OLED become mainstream and price friendly - just my view

saarnold

[smpearce22]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

Thanks for this - really useful to get a real owners opinion. Much appreciated. Can I ask a quick question - what is the spacing gap (horizontal and vertical) of the holes at the back of the GT50 used for the wall mounting bracket?

Also just curious but why did you choose to change the vt30 so soon?

Thanks Darren

Ill try and measure the space between the horizontal holes for you later, unfortunatly i cant give you the vertical as mine is actually on the wall and i cant get to them :-(

There was no fundamental reason for selling my VT.

I Guess i was never 100 percent happy with the 2011 set. Primarily it was always a bit dim in daylight for my room, and I wasnt a fan of dynamic false contours that it was prone to in most modes except 60hz.

Then i toyed with the idea of upgrading to a 55inch, but once reviews and specs for the new GT came out, 1080 pure direct, brighter image etc I decided to be extravagant :-)

[Thelovecrumb]

Hi - Thanks for this. The horizontal is most important actually as my universal bracket has a number of adjustment holes on the vertical but the horizontal is a fixed width. Thanks

Interesting point on the daylight viewing - my lounge is large with the screen mounted on wall opposite a window with another large window to right. Therefore sounds like the brighter pictures of the GT50 would be better suited to the room environment.

[smpearce22]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

Hi - Thanks for this. The horizontal is most important actually as my universal bracket has a number of adjustment holes on the vertical but the horizontal is a fixed width. Thanks

Interesting point on the daylight viewing - my lounge is large with the screen mounted on wall opposite a window with another large window to right. Therefore sounds like the brighter pictures of the GT50 would be better suited to the room environment.

Hey Buddy, just to get back to you as I promised.

The distance between the horizontal wall mounting bolts is 400mm

Unfortunately I dont have any pics of my old VT30 under similar conditions, but here are a few pics of the lighting in my room, and how the GT50 holds up.

[Thelovecrumb]

Great - Thanks for taking the time to measure that for me - looks like my existing bracket fits so that's good news

The pictures look amazing - the detail in pic 3 is astounding. Looks fab.

I think its safe to say your VT30 has been forgotten already!!!!

Thanks for your help.

[smpearce22]

Originally Posted by Thelovecrumb

Great - Thanks for taking the time to measure that for me - looks like my existing bracket fits so that's good news

The pictures look amazing - the detail in pic 3 is astounding. Looks fab.

I think its safe to say your VT30 has been forgotten already!!!!

Thanks for your help.

No probs at all :-)

Yeah the VT served me well, but the new GT is a worthy replacement and then some.

Hope you enjoy yours when the time comes.

Take care matey, and if you need any help with anything else feel free to get in touch.

[Thelovecrumb]

Any other GT50/VT30 owners with a view on this? Need to make my decision by Wed!!! Thanks

[deon444]

get the gt50,its worth the little bit extra over the Vt30 imo

[Raidevita]

I was in a similar predicament, having a choice of the vt30, gt50 and gt30. I saw them all side by side and even though there wasn't a big difference between the three I still went for the gt50. It was brighter and the extra power and features sold it for me. I could have had a gt30 for £849 and a vt30 for £1049!
Got the gt50 for £1259 in the end. Get one mate. It's amazing!

[Thelovecrumb]

Originally Posted by Raidevita

I could have had a gt30 for £849 and a vt30 for £1049! Got the gt50 for £1259 in the end. Get one mate. It's amazing!

Thanks mate - Can I ask where you got the GT50 from in the end?

[Ninjafoot]

I also lusted after the vt30 myself for a long while but after reading the reviews and a few owners experiences on here with the gt50 it was a no brainer for me.

It is a stunning tv and i feel that i'm at a stage right now where i'm content with what i have, the picture is brilliant the styling is sleek and it's a pleasure to watch... go get one i say you won't be disapointed.

[rumblesushi]

If I was going to buy a Panasonic it would surely be a GT50 over a VT30, at seems like the 2012 models have some definite advantages and surely not quite as many problems as the 2011 lineup.

[kingkarl]

I wish my 65VT50 would hurry up , these reviews of the GT50 are making me froth at the mouth

[gowerboy]

Went through the pain of returning four VT30s for various faults, but mainly banding. Just took delivery of a GT50 and to my eyes picture quality is the same, but the one major difference is fan noise. I could always hear the whirring of the fans on the VT30s which was annoying and distracting, so zero fans on the GT50 is a massive plus. Regrettably the appearance of banding has not improved, still shows up when watching football.

[Gonky]

Gt50

[Neo_VR]

Having seen a GT50 and VT30 side by side, GT50 in every department apart from aesthetics.. even then its a close call.

[MahaRaja]

Originally Posted by smpearce22

Hey bud.

Its things like the THX bright room mode, 1080p Pure Direct, the new Motion Handling just make it a superior set.

'1080P Pure Direct' feature I understand from David when he revewed it, is mainly for computer use. So don't understand how it would benefit when watching TV or playing a BR disc, which I had thought would benefit from.

[Thelovecrumb]

All - Thanks for your feedback and comments.

I have ordered the GT50 together with a 3D BR player BDT310 (recommended over the newer BDT220 on picture/sound quality) and have the full 5yr Gntee and 2 prs of glasses. Purchased from my local SSAV store today. Cannot wait to collect.....

Out of interest, any ideas how much I should sell my old Fujitsu Plasmavision P42HHA30ES on ebay for?

Cheers Darren

[Thelovecrumb]

Ive owned my GT50 for 5 days now (having agonised over at VT30 at a stupidly low price). The more I watch the GT the more I just love it - put simply the picture quality is astonishing. The depth of field and clarity are amazing, so much so that when a friend came over at the weekend he thought that Avatar was in 3D but it was just the normal 2D version - I really cannot stress how good it looks. I run the set on the THX cinema and have had no issues with picture quality - although I did switch of the power saving modes. For me the only criticism would be the buzz when it displays a white picture - although usually drowned out by the surround sound. Would I recommend this set - hell yes!!!

Deal wise - my advice is go into a local store - I used SSAV and did a bit of old fashion negotiation - There are deals to be done. If you don't ask.......

[sailracer]

After 3 days of use, it started shutting itself down. Now it will rarely even turn on. I'm getting the 8-blink led error, indicating a card failure or something.

Service tech will be here in two days, but a very disappointing start. Worried that even if he replaces the card it may have lifespan issues...

frustrated!

[my-planet]

50" VT30 available now for 924 here: Panasonic TXP50VT30B FULL HD 3D Plasma TV (waiting for John Lewis pricematch).

Would love a GT50 but don't reckon extra £350 odd quid is worth it?