3D Panasonic plasma made me a believer.

[Poultrygeist]

When looking for a new HDTV I wrote off 3D as just another hyped fad. The reasons I purchased the Panny 55ST30 were based on it's great picture, great reviews and the fact that it offered more features at a lower price. I seriously doubted I'd even use the 3D option except for the times the grand kids came over. But how wrong I was!

The Panny came with the "Avatar" 3D plus two sets of glasses. I bought an economy priced 3D player just so I could at least check out the 3D and I'm so glad I did. Watching Avatar on 3D was like an out of body experience for me.

If you haven't seen a 3D Panasonic outside of a lousy big box store demo you are in for a serious treat. And now that Directv has several free 3D stations that deliver a stunning picture I am seriously hooked.

[Woochifer]

Great to hear that you're enjoying the TV and the 3D function. Seems that Avatar is a reference standard for image and sound quality no matter what format it's on.

As with HD, it seems that most store demos do a poor job at conveying what the 3D format is truly capable of. When I was shopping for a HDTV, I had to adjust most of the TVs just so I could actually look at a somewhat comparable picture when trying to decide between different sets. Fortunately, I've calibrated all my TVs for more than 10 years, so I know what the reference spec is supposed to look like. But, a lot of consumers don't have that reference available to make the adjustments, so they're left with the defaults.

The manufacturers are partly at fault for purposely overbrightening and sharpening the default picture settings in order to stand out in a brightly lit showroom. But, the stores also share the blame by placing the TVs in a less-than-ideal setting (i.e., warehouse with flood lighting), and feeding them poor quality demo loops rather than actual program feeds directly from a source.

With 3D, I run into the exact same issues, with TV not properly setup, and very often I notice that the shutter glasses are not charged. With this kind of indifferent attention to detail, it's easy for a 3D demo to go awry, if the consumer does not know what good 3D is supposed to look like.

[Poultrygeist]

James Cameron, writer and director, even lists his custom settings to view 3D Avatar on the Panasonic plasma website.

[Woochifer]

James Cameron, writer and director, even lists his custom settings to view 3D Avatar on the Panasonic plasma website.

No surprise there, considering his fanatical attention to detail during the post production for Avatar, with separate color profiles used during the mastering process for multiple 3D processes, theater configurations, and output formats.

[pixelthis]

AH YES, an entire generation of crossed eyes and migrane
sufferers.
3D is great in IMAX, the new TRANSFORMERS movie is a
must see, not only a great thrill ride, but a great story as well.
NOT SHAKESPEARE, maybe ripped him off a bit(who doesn't?)
but very enjoyable.
AND HOME 3D is still a bad call, IMHO. Just wondering,
since plasma is so dark anyway, with the loss from 3d how on earth do you see anything?

[Woochifer]

AH YES, an entire generation of crossed eyes and migrane
sufferers.

Sounds like your state of mind when you keep reposting your usual uninformed nonsense about 3D and plasma TVs, among other topics.

3D is great in IMAX, the new TRANSFORMERS movie is a
must see, not only a great thrill ride, but a great story as well.
NOT SHAKESPEARE, maybe ripped him off a bit(who doesn't?)
but very enjoyable.
AND HOME 3D is still a bad call, IMHO.

So, if 3D at your local IMAX Lite theater is "great" how is home 3D a "bad call"? Given that Poultrygeist actually owns a 3D TV and provided first hand impressions using credible calibration settings, I'll take his word over your contradictory rants anyday.

Just wondering,
since plasma is so dark anyway, with the loss from 3d how on earth do you see anything?

The world is not so dark when you try opening your eyes for a change.

[pixelthis]

Sounds like your state of mind when you keep reposting your usual uninformed nonsense about 3D and plasma TVs, among other topics.

So, if 3D at your local IMAX Lite theater is "great" how is home 3D a "bad call"? Given that Poultrygeist actually owns a 3D TV and provided first hand impressions using credible calibration settings, I'll take his word over your contradictory rants anyday.

ONE IS TWO TO THREE HOURS, one is an entire evening

The world is not so dark when you try opening your eyes for a change.

FUNNEE. Really, when I WATCHED THOR it was very dark,
which made TRANSFORMERS A PLEASANT SURPRIZE,
very bright.
ONE THING about the "new" 3D(basically computer enhanced
polarized system) its quality is very inconsistent. But fine for
a 3D monitor rollout!!
Talk about not ready for prime time!

[Poultrygeist]

Within three years I would expect every large screen HDTV to offer the 3D feature.

I'm already viewing several 3D stations on Directv and looking forward to football on ESPN3D this fall.

[Poultrygeist]

Worf,

I take it you have limited vision in at least one eye. With only one good eye we see in 2D and depth perception becomes so impaired it may be considered a vocational disability for many jobs.

If a person is 20/20 in their best eye and the other is only correctable to 20/200 it still represents a 25% loss of vision based upon disability standards. Legal blindness is considered 20/200 in both eyes after best correction and automatically qualifies one for Social Security Disability benefits. Total blindness is very rare as most people considered as "blind" have some vision.

[Johnny B. Galt]

Poultrygeist- How do you like the physical appearance of the ST? I've read reviews of it being "chunky" and the shiny bezel being distracting. Do you even notice? That's about the only thing holding me back right now. Since I'm getting a new set I almost think it should look sleek... I know, a minor and petty thing when the picture is what really matters...

[Woochifer]

Poultrygeist- How do you like the physical appearance of the ST? I've read reviews of it being "chunky" and the shiny bezel being distracting. Do you even notice? That's about the only thing holding me back right now. Since I'm getting a new set I almost think it should look sleek... I know, a minor and petty thing when the picture is what really matters...

You could also try looking up Costco's offerings. I know that in prior years (including my model), the TVs that Panasonic sold through Costco were renumbered and fitted with matte bezels. My TV is the exact same Panasonic model that was sold at other retailers, except that it added a PC input and replaced the shiny bezel.

[Poultrygeist]

The bezel on the ST is a handsome piano gloss black which isn't a problem for me. Rather than clunky I'd say it looks substantial. I like the large bezel as I like my pictures in frames. Don't think I could get use to those frameless models.

There were some screen reflections from the adjoining room windows but two $7 room darkening curtains from Walmart fixed that.

This 55 inch fits perfectly on the really nice stand I bought from Sams Club for $199. This stand beats anything I saw at Best Buy and hhgregg.

I couldn't be happier with this purchase..

[pixelthis]

The bezel on the ST is a handsome piano gloss black which isn't a problem for me. Rather than clunky I'd say it looks substantial. I like the large bezel as I like my pictures in frames. Don't think I could get use to those frameless models.

There were some screen reflections from the adjoining room windows but two $7 room darkening curtains from Walmart fixed that.

This 55 inch fits perfectly on the really nice stand I bought from Sams Club for $199. This stand beats anything I saw at Best Buy and hhgregg.

I couldn't be happier with this purchase..

IT HAS to be "substantial" to hide the much more bulky glass envelope that is a plasma screen.