oh yeah i was reading about this and its a lot worse than the ST Model in terms of reflection so the extra money is worth it in my view and the reviews of the ST i,ve read the coating works wonders
Panasonic 42'' ST50 - Good choice ?
- Thread starter Snow-Munki
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oh yeah i was reading about this and its a lot worse than the ST Model in terms of reflection so the extra money is worth it in my view and the reviews of the ST i,ve read the coating works wonders
If I see a 42st50 for under £450 come xmas time I'm getting one deffo!
I'm pretty confident it'll happen too.
Soldato
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Yeah i think so, find it with 5yr warranty and it will be even better.
yeah i,m in a dilema at the moment my uncle has asked me if i want to buy his brand new SonyKDL40HX723 LED T.V for £515.00 with 3D glasses but i was due to buy the Panasonic TX-P42ST50 Plasma T.V which is a lot more money ,its got my head spinning abit as to what i should do ? still love the Plasma picture for its natural look and great blacks ,so think the extra money is worth it in the long run ,would hate to buy the Sony and find out its not what i want
MUCH (in regards to reflection, glare and washed out blacks in daylight)
It has no filter to block overhead light at all.
This was one of the TV's that was brought when i had a home demo. I think TBH it was only brought along to make me spend more on higher value models as it's so stark compared to the other Panasonic plasmas of 2012.
You wouldn't want a UT50 if you intend to use your TV in the daytime. Even in a darkened room I found the black levels poor compared to the ST/GT/VT. I didn't spend much time looking at this model and moved on quite quickly.
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thanks for the info and this is what i have read too its a waste of time not to mention money to buy a UT50 T.V as it hasn,t got the coating on the screen , worth the extra money getting the ST50 in anyones views
well from the reviews and what i,ve seen of it the picture is one of the best T.V,s i,ve ever seen ! my friend has the ST50 42 " and i,m going to say that it was as good or better than what you get in the cinerma in terms of picture quality
he played me a Blu Ray of Alien and i was blown away with the picture ! its one of those things you have to watch it yourself to believe how good it is ,i honestly would say it is the best T.V picture i,ve ever witnessed The really impressive thing about the ST is that with proper calibration it can indeed reproduce cinema quality. A reference picture is attainable. You also get a real sense of depth to the 2D picture. Both the 2D and 3D out of the box performance was still impressive to me. I used a copy of Disney's WOW calibration disc for basic and a quick set-up whilst I waited for my friend to fit me in for a proper calibration. For anybody that can't afford or get somebody to do a proper calibration I highly recommend the Disney disc. It's quick and easy and improves the picture substantially enough to be worth the time (1hr) effort and minimal cost. (it's probably worth buying just for the pixel flipper it comes with tbh)
It's because of the PQ when calibrated I decided to get the ST over paying more for the GT or VT. It really wasn't worth the extra and i also wasn't keen on the darker picture the GT and VT seemed to give off and was blamed on the thicker light filter on those panels. Being a Panasonic plasma as the panel ages the black levels should do nothing but improve either as all their previous models have. Like a good wine improving with age
This is also backed up by a few comments made here by people with older Panasonic models getting a great picture it seems.
The ST is not perfect however. Much has been made of the vertical banding on the 2012 models and yes it is an issue worth mentioning. It's an inherent flaw in the 2012 panels. Every TV being a bit different it seems as to how much it's exhibited.
I can only talk for my own TV. I have not had to return mine. That's not to say i have no banding, I do. I have 1 band that is about 1 inch wide near the left side. Some people have a lot more bands on their ST50's and return them for a replacement. So you might need to replace before you get a good one.
There is no panic though as the vertical band I refer to is very, very hard to see and i only ever see it if I look for it on a grey screen. The only time iv'e seen it in real world use is once when I was watching football and I had forgot to switch my pre configured settings over to my Sport setting.
I can try to take a photo of this on my TV if it bothers anybody considering buying one and needs to see but to me this is a non issue and I think is even lesser of an issue on the smaller 42" but something I should mention and will add this in no way should put you off considering this TV as the pros way outweigh the one con in my case.
A reference PQ (or as damn as close to) at the ST's price is quite something and not to be ignored.
I know of 2 well respected TV reviewers who went out and bought themselves ST50s after reviewing them. That alone should give you some idea how good they must be.
I watched The outlaw Josey Wales last night on BR. I sat open jawed the whole movie I think. That is one stunning BR disc guys. 1976? It looked like it was made yesterday!
I have 2 issues with my ST...
1: It has rendered my DVD collection useless as anything other than 1080p on this TV is a crime.
2: I wish I had got the 55" now.
It's because of the PQ when calibrated I decided to get the ST over paying more for the GT or VT. It really wasn't worth the extra and i also wasn't keen on the darker picture the GT and VT seemed to give off and was blamed on the thicker light filter on those panels. Being a Panasonic plasma as the panel ages the black levels should do nothing but improve either as all their previous models have. Like a good wine improving with age
This is also backed up by a few comments made here by people with older Panasonic models getting a great picture it seems.
The ST is not perfect however. Much has been made of the vertical banding on the 2012 models and yes it is an issue worth mentioning. It's an inherent flaw in the 2012 panels. Every TV being a bit different it seems as to how much it's exhibited.
I can only talk for my own TV. I have not had to return mine. That's not to say i have no banding, I do. I have 1 band that is about 1 inch wide near the left side. Some people have a lot more bands on their ST50's and return them for a replacement. So you might need to replace before you get a good one.
There is no panic though as the vertical band I refer to is very, very hard to see and i only ever see it if I look for it on a grey screen. The only time iv'e seen it in real world use is once when I was watching football and I had forgot to switch my pre configured settings over to my Sport setting.
I can try to take a photo of this on my TV if it bothers anybody considering buying one and needs to see but to me this is a non issue and I think is even lesser of an issue on the smaller 42" but something I should mention and will add this in no way should put you off considering this TV as the pros way outweigh the one con in my case.
A reference PQ (or as damn as close to) at the ST's price is quite something and not to be ignored.
I know of 2 well respected TV reviewers who went out and bought themselves ST50s after reviewing them. That alone should give you some idea how good they must be.
I watched The outlaw Josey Wales last night on BR. I sat open jawed the whole movie I think. That is one stunning BR disc guys. 1976? It looked like it was made yesterday!
I have 2 issues with my ST...
1: It has rendered my DVD collection useless as anything other than 1080p on this TV is a crime.
2: I wish I had got the 55" now.
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wow ! great review and info thanksThe really impressive thing about the ST is that with proper calibration it can indeed reproduce cinema quality. A reference picture is attainable. You also get a real sense of depth to the 2D picture. Both the 2D and 3D out of the box performance was still impressive to me. I used a copy of Disney's WOW calibration disc for basic and a quick set-up whilst I waited for my friend to fit me in for a proper calibration. For anybody that can't afford or get somebody to do a proper calibration I highly recommend the Disney disc. It's quick and easy and improves the picture substantially enough to be worth the time (1hr) effort and minimal cost. (it's probably worth buying just for the pixel flipper it comes with tbh)
It's because of the PQ when calibrated I decided to get the ST over paying more for the GT or VT. It really wasn't worth the extra and i also wasn't keen on the darker picture the GT and VT seemed to give off and was blamed on the thicker light filter on those panels. Being a Panasonic plasma as the panel ages the black levels should do nothing but improve either as all their previous models have. Like a good wine improving with age
This is also backed up by a few comments made here by people with older Panasonic models getting a great picture it seems.
The ST is not perfect however. Much has been made of the vertical banding on the 2012 models and yes it is an issue worth mentioning. It's an inherent flaw in the 2012 panels. Every TV being a bit different it seems as to how much it's exhibited.
I can only talk for my own TV. I have not had to return mine. That's not to say i have no banding, I do. I have 1 band that is about 1 inch wide near the left side. Some people have a lot more bands on their ST50's and return them for a replacement. So you might need to replace before you get a good one.
There is no panic though as the vertical band I refer to is very, very hard to see and i only ever see it if I look for it on a grey screen. The only time iv'e seen it in real world use is once when I was watching football and I had forgot to switch my pre configured settings over to my Sport setting.
I can try to take a photo of this on my TV if it bothers anybody considering buying one and needs to see but to me this is a non issue and I think is even lesser of an issue on the smaller 42" but something I should mention and will add this in no way should put you off considering this TV as the pros way outweigh the one con in my case.
A reference PQ (or as damn as close to) at the ST's price is quite something and not to be ignored.
I know of 2 well respected TV reviewers who went out and bought themselves ST50s after reviewing them. That alone should give you some idea how good they must be.
I watched The outlaw Josey Wales last night on BR. I sat open jawed the whole movie I think. That is one stunning BR disc guys. 1976? It looked like it was made yesterday!
I have 2 issues with my ST...
1: It has rendered my DVD collection useless as anything other than 1080p on this TV is a crime.
2: I wish I had got the 55" now.
so where do you get the disney disc from ?It is using this years G15 panels but doesn't come with any filter whatsoever - so it looks like a mirror.
This years panels have massive problems as well with vertical bands being rather common on the right hand side of the screen throughout the full Panasonic 1080p range ... I had to return my ST50 because of the problem.
I bought it from Amazon I think. You have to get it imported from the USA as there isnt a european release of it (or wasn't when I bought it) but it's a region free disc so isn't a problem and mine was delivered within 10 days.
Edit:
Yeah it was from amazon. link HERE
Edit:
Yeah it was from amazon. link HERE
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It is using this years G15 panels but doesn't come with any filter whatsoever - so it looks like a mirror.
This years panels have massive problems as well with vertical bands being rather common on the right hand side of the screen throughout the full Panasonic 1080p range ... I had to return my ST50 because of the problem.
Sorry to hear rikky. It is a bit of a panel lottery. I got lucky. Did the one bad panel put you off enough to get a refund or did you get a replacement?
It is a hassle having to get a replacement and it certainly helps depending on where you buy from. Richer Sounds (for example) might be a little cheaper than John Lewis say but John Lewis will pick up and replace where as RS you will have to transport yourself. Worth considering.
Mine wasn't bad enough to warrant me seeking a replacement and the chances are any replacement I would have got would have been worse.
Although to say this years models have "massive problems" is a bit sensationalist. If there were any real serious issues or "massive problems" the product would have been recalled by now and it hasn't been and it won't be. Most people who buy this TV are happy with it. As is always the case people use the internet to complain. So all those that got a bad one complain whilst the silent majority are happy and enjoying their new TVs. Are there a lot of complaints? Yes. Why? Because they [Panasonic] have sold so many of these things
It's worth remembering that ALL modern TV's have some kind of drawback to them. The ST50 is no exception but if you get a good one then you will be happy. (I know somebody that had several replaced before he got one he was happy with)
Because of the chances of needing to replace or seek a refund it is most definitely worth considering who and where you are buying from.
These are not high-end plasmas but they do have a high-end picture so something has to give. We are talking about budget plasmas here after all and is something easily forgotten.
At least it isn't an issue that develops over time. It's something that is or isn't there from the start so you can make your own minds up right off the bat.
If you do buy from someone like Richer Sounds you do have the benefit that you can actually view the actual TV you intend to buy there. If anybody is doing this I recommend doing the following...
Ask to see your TV working. Once the salesman has your TV up and running ask him to navigate to the "software update" screen for you to view. (in network settings) This brings up a solid grey screen. This screen is the shade of grey that shows off those nasty vertical bands the worst (best?) If it looks good there you are onto a winner. On the other hand if there is any banding it will be all there for you to see instantly and you can ask for another.
As long as you buy wisely you should be in no way out of pocket should you get a TV you are not happy with so it's not like it's a risk.
and as always... view before you buy.
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I picked up a GT50 a few weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with the picture.
My only regret is wasting time searching for the best interactive software interface (VIERA LINK, SMART TV, etc). VIERA's native codecs for playing local media via USB aren't compatible with much. The iPhone remote app still doesn't have a functional keyboard, but would be perfect otherwise, it's honestly a fantastic remote control app just no keybaord. This unfortunately renders the browser and youtube useless but you can spend lots of fun time using the remote control numbers as a text input like a phone.
The DLNA is very poor compared to what I expected (it's a DLNA issue, not Panasonic). The images were incredibly blocky so I purchased a brand new wireless router in hope of getting better quality DLNA streaming, taking my wireless speed from 50 Mbps to 300 mbps and making full advantage of QoS... no difference.
In the end I simply wired three cables (HDMI, CAT 6 and USB) from my rig to the TV and it's working just how I want it. After testing the DLNA via a CAT 6 cable it looked great, but can't play all my media because of DLNA codec incompatibilities *sigh*. Real shame the software is so awful.
I was hoping the dual core processor would be such a good feature because my father in-law's Samsung SMART TV interface is sooooo sloooowww. Nope.
TV software has a very long way to go before it even comes close to replacing a direct PC connection. Just make sure you shop for the picture quality and not the interactive media applications.
My only regret is wasting time searching for the best interactive software interface (VIERA LINK, SMART TV, etc). VIERA's native codecs for playing local media via USB aren't compatible with much. The iPhone remote app still doesn't have a functional keyboard, but would be perfect otherwise, it's honestly a fantastic remote control app just no keybaord. This unfortunately renders the browser and youtube useless but you can spend lots of fun time using the remote control numbers as a text input like a phone.
The DLNA is very poor compared to what I expected (it's a DLNA issue, not Panasonic). The images were incredibly blocky so I purchased a brand new wireless router in hope of getting better quality DLNA streaming, taking my wireless speed from 50 Mbps to 300 mbps and making full advantage of QoS... no difference.
In the end I simply wired three cables (HDMI, CAT 6 and USB) from my rig to the TV and it's working just how I want it. After testing the DLNA via a CAT 6 cable it looked great, but can't play all my media because of DLNA codec incompatibilities *sigh*. Real shame the software is so awful.
I was hoping the dual core processor would be such a good feature because my father in-law's Samsung SMART TV interface is sooooo sloooowww. Nope.
TV software has a very long way to go before it even comes close to replacing a direct PC connection. Just make sure you shop for the picture quality and not the interactive media applications.
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DLNA is fine with this TV if you can wire your connection as you have found trentlad. Wireless DLNA is rubbish especially with todays high bitrates needed for HD. As for your codec incompatibility issues trentlad try Mezzmo It's what i use and has specific support for the 2012 (and older) Panasonic range and transcodes very well and i'm yet to find a file it won't play fine on my ST50. Nice UI also.
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Sorry to hear rikky. It is a bit of a panel lottery. I got lucky. Did the one bad panel put you off enough to get a refund or did you get a replacement?
It is a hassle having to get a replacement and it certainly helps depending on where you buy from. Richer Sounds (for example) might be a little cheaper than John Lewis say but John Lewis will pick up and replace where as RS you will have to transport yourself. Worth considering.
Mine wasn't bad enough to warrant me seeking a replacement and the chances are any replacement I would have got would have been worse.
Although to say this years models have "massive problems" is a bit sensationalist. If there were any real serious issues or "massive problems" the product would have been recalled by now and it hasn't been and it won't be. Most people who buy this TV are happy with it. As is always the case people use the internet to complain. So all those that got a bad one complain whilst the silent majority are happy and enjoying their new TVs. Are there a lot of complaints? Yes. Why? Because they [Panasonic] have sold so many of these things
It's worth remembering that ALL modern TV's have some kind of drawback to them. The ST50 is no exception but if you get a good one then you will be happy. (I know somebody that had several replaced before he got one he was happy with)
Because of the chances of needing to replace or seek a refund it is most definitely worth considering who and where you are buying from.
These are not high-end plasmas but they do have a high-end picture so something has to give. We are talking about budget plasmas here after all and is something easily forgotten.
At least it isn't an issue that develops over time. It's something that is or isn't there from the start so you can make your own minds up right off the bat.
If you do buy from someone like Richer Sounds you do have the benefit that you can actually view the actual TV you intend to buy there. If anybody is doing this I recommend doing the following...
Ask to see your TV working. Once the salesman has your TV up and running ask him to navigate to the "software update" screen for you to view. (in network settings) This brings up a solid grey screen. This screen is the shade of grey that shows off those nasty vertical bands the worst (best?) If it looks good there you are onto a winner. On the other hand if there is any banding it will be all there for you to see instantly and you can ask for another.
As long as you buy wisely you should be in no way out of pocket should you get a TV you are not happy with so it's not like it's a risk.
and as always... view before you buy.
Is this banding issue just on the ST VT & GT models of T.V or is it a Plasma issue ?
It is reported only on the 2012 Panasonic range, although I would say that every TV has some inherrent issue or another.....
My Panasonic ST50 has no banding, and I'm sure most do not, and even those that do it is extremely difficult to see and generally doesn't affect viewing. The trouble with the Internet is that every bad experience is reported so it often makes the seem far more prevalent than it really is.