http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/ Engadget Comments for Panasonic Viera G2 HDTVs boast 5,000,000:1 native contrast ratio, coming soon http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 4:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
"200:1 contrast ratio" better be an error, otherwise that's a gargantuan leap backwards.]]>Jan 18th 2010 4:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
@Gad Get You're right, the S2 panels will have 2M:1. I've updated the post and 86'd the machine responsible for the failed translation.]]>Jan 18th 2010 4:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
LOL! Now it says "200,000,000:1"]]>Jan 18th 2010 4:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/OK, you fixed it.

You're welcome. ;)]]>Jan 18th 2010 4:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 4:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 4:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 4:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Ditto. I know lots of people love their LCD TVs, but I still prefer plasma for the inky blacks and more "movie-like" image.]]>Jan 18th 2010 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
meh]]>Jan 18th 2010 4:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
The V-series Panasoinc Plasmas will be 3D capable, and were said by many to be the best 3D set shown at CES '10.

CNET also awarded the Panasonic V25 their best in show award.]]>Jan 18th 2010 7:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 8:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 7:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
How about the blunder of the non-adjustable overscan on some Panasonic plasmas?]]>Jan 18th 2010 5:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/I'm totally unaware of such an issue. I have a Panny plasma myself - no overscan whatsoever (even checked with a calibration DVD).

Are you really going to hold a one-time occurrence against a company that produces completely competent (if not great) plasma TVs?]]>Jan 18th 2010 6:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-864095.html

"Overscan is not adjustable in the PX60 or PX50 service menu, i wonder if it's adjustable in the new models?"

Anyway, the answer is yes, I will hold it against them. There shouldn't be any overscan to begin with in digital modes, and now we're stuck with it. It completely blows for people trying to use these TVs with computers.]]>Jan 18th 2010 6:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
I'm running a V10 50 inch in conjunction with a Windows 7 MC PC (9600gt Nvidia Gfx via HDMI through Denon AVR-2808 to TV) and don't have any overscan problems. For once, you can simply adjust the HDTV desktop size in the nvidia driver settings, which will work just fine. But that was unnecessary for my setup, the image had the right size from the beginning.

Also, do you really want to say, that the black reproduction on a plasma panel is bad? I think you should look up some basics on the technology. Black is black because the pixel doesn't emit light in a plasma panel when turned off, while the background lighting with LCD is on all the time (and the new LED backlit ones have far less local dimmable LEDs in a given area that there are pixels in the same space). Maybe you should see a calibrated panel in a dark room with a bluray of "Sunshine" to fully understand the capabilities of plasma :)]]>Jan 18th 2010 7:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
"Also, do you really want to say, that the black reproduction on a plasma panel is bad?"

I didn't say that. I said anything darker than a midtone sucks. Plain black isn't a problem for plasmas, so I wouldn't even factor that in. But gradients and shadows are a big problem. They wind up looking like a newspaper halftone, a dithered one-bit image. Take a look at any dim contour on a plasma screen.]]>Jan 18th 2010 7:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
Sorry your mac can't do what a PC can.

As far as black crush goes, PVA panels (which most modern LCDs use) have it much, much worse than plasmas. These new Panasonics are going to have KURO level blacks, which no one has even come close to yet.]]>Jan 18th 2010 7:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
And it's not the platform; it's the video-card driver. That function would still need to be implemented under Windows as well, and not only in one Nvidia driver.

The Kuros were indeed better in dark gradients, so we'll see about these new panels.]]>Jan 18th 2010 8:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
No a PC is a PC and a Mac is a Mac. By your logic, all of the Apple commercials would be including themselves when they trash the PC side. Just realize that PC means Non-Mac.]]>Jan 18th 2010 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
Just a quick comment about video driver overscan compensation: when you do that you're throwing away pixels. It's better to have 1:1 pixel mapping in the set. No panel should be shipped without this. ]]>Jan 18th 2010 9:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
And the problem with NOT having overscan is that many TV programs and movies don't use the full frame, and you end up with thin black bars along the edges. That is true not only for standard def, but also for some high def programs. By having about 2% overscan, you never see those bars, and for the programs that actually use the entire 1920x1200, you are not losing any valuable information at the edges. Where the overscan becomes a problem is when you try to use the screen as a computer monitor. In that case, it should be possible to adjust the desktop space to only use the viewable area of the screen. This is built into the Windows drivers for both Nvidia and ATI/AMD. It is also possible to correct in Linux for both brands, although the procedure it not as simple. I don't know if this is possible or not on a Mac. My Panny plasma has overscan and no way to override it in the monitor. I have been able to correct it for both Windows and Linux with both AMD and Nvidia cards.]]>Jan 18th 2010 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
On another note...

I believe at some point AVS Forums and other sites should go back and erase garbage that has been remedied or never was an issue at all. I'm so tired of still hearing that Plasmas need to be recharged, only last 5 years, or can't be put in a bright room. All of the new LCD/LED LCDs have super glare panels far worse than any plasma.
I was at CES and overheard someone telling a friend he had 2 plasmas that bit the dust. I asked him who the manufacturers were...he replied Maxent and Vizio. I then replied saving a buck really didn't work did it...you can't go around bashing a technology where you made a poor purchase decisions...TWICE.]]>Jan 18th 2010 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
Wrong, genius. "PC" stands for PERSONAL COMPUTER. You can't even argue that there's a hardware-platform difference anymore, since the Intel switchover. And on top of that, Macs run Windows, making your failure to distinguish OSs from hardware platforms even more complete.]]>Jan 18th 2010 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
So you throw away $1000+ TVs every four years? And are against warning other consumers about design blunders that might be repeated? And like to deride those who DO take the time to point them out?

YOU'RE WELCOME, you miserable ingrate.]]>Jan 18th 2010 6:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
So, who can measure 200,000:1 On/Off native contrast ratio? Ante up, folks, because we'll need you to prove Panasonic wrong. Of course, if Panasonic has found a way to eliminate the precharge condition on plasma cells then reality might be within reach as long as one's viewing environment doesn't restrict one's plasma to 1/1000 that CR.

Maybe they should market this as the Jesus Plasma, or the plasma that Jesus would buy. :)]]>Jan 18th 2010 8:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 9:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
I was there, I'm pretty sure I saw the same demo you are talking about (when I was there, they had fireworks showing on both sets). I agree, you could definitely see a difference between the '09 and '10 model side by side...enough to make me regret my '09 Panny Plasma? Nope. But glad to see they keep improving them.]]>Jan 18th 2010 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 5:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 18th 2010 8:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
U.S. prices should be lower than $2100 though. My guess is around $1400 msrp and maybe $1200/1300 almost from the start (42" model)]]>Jan 19th 2010 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 19th 2010 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/Jan 19th 2010 11:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
But as a long-time anti-plasma guy, I have to take my hat off to Panasonic's V-series plasmas. Seeing one in action made me research the field yet again, and I concluded that *good* plasmas are at a low risk of burn-in, and they produce the best image available today in mass-production, large, attainable displays. (Sorry OLED)

After 3 months of owning a Panasonic TCP65V10, I can't find it lacking in any way, including contrast ratio and color gradation across the gamut, even in dark and mid-tones. FYI, I use the THX setting, and my entire system supports Deep Color.

Nicely done, Panasonic. And it looks like you're getting even better.]]>Jan 19th 2010 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
I have a Sammy LN52A750 and I dig it, still, a lot. I wanted to grab a B750 for the minor improvements across the board and darker blacks but they never got past the A750 in size I believe. So anyhow I have been hovering around the idea of grabbing a 2010 Panny instead but burn-in fears are hard to block out.

I wish I had experience with a V10 Panny to feel confident in it not happening. I just don't know. 3K-4K isn't chump change to play around with TV gambling.]]>Jan 19th 2010 7:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
]]>Jan 19th 2010 9:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/panasonic-viera-g2-hdtvs-boast-5-000-000-1-native-contrast-ratio/
Temporary image retention, which can be seen for a very short time (like 30 seconds), happens when some phosphor is exposed to bright material for a long time (e.g., a 2-hour documentary about the arctic in 4:3, then switching to a 16:9 program). Again, my research says that a *good* plasma, such as Panasonics, don't show permanent burn-in.

No plasma manufacturer recognizes burn-in as a "defect", so it's not under warranty. That said, it appears that good plasmas, specifically Panasonic's are resistant to this, and will not show burn-in under "normal" use for several years.

I'm hoping that my TCP65V10 serves me well for at least 5 years, and hopefully longer.]]>Jan 19th 2010 9:14PM