Panasonic Vierra ST50 - Thoughts ?

[sony17]

Hey guys ,

I am really looking into buy this TV:
http://m.bestbuy.ca/defaultpage.aspx?lang=en#/catalog/ProductTabContent.aspx?sku=10198954&tab=Tab_FeatureSpecs&lang=en-CA

I was wondering if anyone that owns the TV could comment on how good the set was for gaming?

I play a ton of FPS games, so minimal lag time would be ideal.

This TV is really hot right now since Panasonic has been doing an amazing job so far in 2012, I saw it in some best buy's ( I know all their settings and everything are horrible there and what not.... I work for microsoft so i definitely know ) but in terms of picture quality this seemed to beat anything else I seen for this price point

Does anyone knows of any comparable LED models with great PQ and minimal lag time for that price ?

[charger99]

Hey guys ,

I am really looking into buy this TV:
http://m.bestbuy.ca/defaultpage.aspx?lang=en#/catalog/ProductTabContent.aspx?sku=10198954&tab=Tab_FeatureSpecs&lang=en-CA

I was wondering if anyone that owns the TV could comment on how good the set was for gaming?

I play a ton of FPS games, so minimal lag time would be ideal.

This TV is really hot right now since Panasonic has been doing an amazing job so far in 2012, I saw it in some best buy's ( I know all their settings and everything are horrible there and what not.... I work for microsoft so i definitely know ) but in terms of picture quality this seemed to beat anything else I seen for this price point

Does anyone knows of any comparable LED models with great PQ and minimal lag time for that price ?


I own a panasonic vierra 3 years old now (not the one above but a bit older model). I swear, it still kicks a$$ with other tvs on the market. People love the pic, colors, clarity and the black is black (not grey). Seriously, you can't go wrong with this tv.

[mbg]

I have an ST30 from a year or two ago and don't regret it. It's a very natural-looking picture (once calibrated properly) and wouldn't want any kind of LCD as a substitute.

[craftsman]

According to various review sites, one of the BEST, if not the best for your money, TVs out there for plasmas.

[XtremeModder]

I have an ST30 from a year or two ago and don't regret it. It's a very natural-looking picture (once calibrated properly) and wouldn't want any kind of LCD as a substitute.

I have the vt20. Once again, awesome tv especially after calibration

[lonelydriver]

I'm looking at this too. Anyone own this and have it in a really bright room? My condo faces west so the evening sun really lights up the room and I'm concerned it'll was it out.

[peterg2]

I'm looking at this too. Anyone own this and have it in a really bright room? My condo faces west so the evening sun really lights up the room and I'm concerned it'll was it out.

Here is a review of the ST50 and it does address bright lighting (on the second page). However, the way you describe the evening sun (and assuming you have no light control during this period), it may or may not work for you satisfactorily.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p55st50/4505-6482_7-35118300.html

Another alternative is the Samsung E6500 Plasma which is reviewed here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-pn60e6500/4505-6482_7-35159642.html

I quote from the second page:

" If you had a toss-up between the two plasma TVs and daytime usage in a very bright room was one of the main considerations, this difference would tip us in favor of the Samsung."

That being said, both of these sets have possible issues. Without going into detail in this, one can look at www.avsforum.com, http://www.avforums.com/forums/tvs/ (a UK site but a lot of Panasonic ST50/GT/VT users.

One issue that may affect you, depending on your viewing habits, is image retention. This seems to vary from set to set but it definitely appears that the ST50 is more prone to it than the Samsung, both from a CNET article and also in a review of the E6500 in the UK at http://forums.hdtvtest.co.uk/. On the other hand, some Samsung owners have encountered louder than normal buzzing (all plasmas buzz but the Samsungs seem to have a bigger problem with this).

Both sets, however, are deemed the best values in terms of performance and pricing available.

[sony17]

Thanks guys , your input helps so much. Image retention is not too big of an issue since it is not permanent. The guy at best buy said their PSP covers it and that's something I plan on getting anyways.

I think I'm gonna go ahead and purchase the ST50, from what literally EVERYONE says it is the best TV for that price.

As for gaming, I just played modern warfare 3 on this insignia that my condo has, and literally went ape **** !
I'm talking 35+ rounds everytime. I had a Sony EX500 and definitely felt the difference. Not sure the actual measurements of the input lag but this insignia felt like it had abosolutely zero (which I know it probably isn't ). So I'm just gonna get a nice big computer monitor or something very similar to this insignia to run call of duty and play the rest of my games and blu-rays on the ST50

[cloakster]

I purchased the ST50 in May right when it came out, its an amazing TV for the price. Everything about it is perfect imo. Well, except for the media streaming, but I got a WDTV live for that anyways.

I'd suggest doing D-Nice's panel prep and use his settings for it. Its pretty much a free way to do a calibration for it: http://www.highdefjunkies.com/showthread.php?t=12986#.UB3ak6OXPzg

[craftsman]

You might want to hold off getting it until after the Olympics....

I get the feeling that Panasonic and the big box stores had an agreement to lock up stock for them for the normally high volume of sales prior and during major sporting events. Why do I think so? Well, I ordered one from a small local TV store that I've always purchased my TVs from (my family has dealt with them since the 70's!) and they couldn't get delivery until after the Olympics. Then I noticed that Memory Express finally started to carry the new line of Panasonic TV this week (months after they have been available at all of the big box stores). I also noticed that they have the cheapest prices around for many of the models that they carry...

Coincidence? Maybe.

But having worked in electronics retail for over 12 years (most of them in management) in my previous life, I can easily see something like this happening.

[peterg2]

Thanks guys , your input helps so much. Image retention is not too big of an issue since it is not permanent. The guy at best buy said their PSP covers it and that's something I plan on getting anyways.

I think I'm gonna go ahead and purchase the ST50, from what literally EVERYONE says it is the best TV for that price.

As for gaming, I just played modern warfare 3 on this insignia that my condo has, and literally went ape **** !
I'm talking 35+ rounds everytime. I had a Sony EX500 and definitely felt the difference. Not sure the actual measurements of the input lag but this insignia felt like it had abosolutely zero (which I know it probably isn't ). So I'm just gonna get a nice big computer monitor or something very similar to this insignia to run call of duty and play the rest of my games and blu-rays on the ST50

If you do not think that image retention or possible burn-in will be an issue for you, that is perfectly reasonable on your part and I understand that. However, as regards Best Buy in Canada's PSP offering coverage for this, be it burn-in or image retention that is not the case and this clearly was a salesman doing all he can to try and clinch a sale. The only coverage I have ever heard of in North America which covers burn-in or image retention (short-term image retention is to be expected but when it comes to mid-long term image retention) is Best Buy's Black Tie coverage which is not available in Canada. Here are the terms in Canada:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/help/best-buy-performance-service-plan-terms-and-conditions/hc8150.aspx

[Txiasaeia]

Well, I ordered one from a small local TV store that I've always purchased my TVs from (my family has dealt with them since the 70's!) and they couldn't get delivery until after the Olympics. Then I noticed that Memory Express finally started to carry the new line of Panasonic TV this week (months after they have been available at all of the big box stores). I also noticed that they have the cheapest prices around for many of the models that they carry...

Coincidence? Maybe.

But having worked in electronics retail for over 12 years (most of them in management) in my previous life, I can easily see something like this happening.

Interesting. Sears didn't have the model of TV that I wanted online, and they only had one that I could find in a different city about an hour away. Then again, if the price drops after the olympics, there's always 15/30 day price protection, right?

[jrees]

If you do not think that image retention or possible burn-in will be an issue for you, that is perfectly reasonable on your part and I understand that. However, as regards Best Buy in Canada's PSP offering coverage for this, be it burn-in or image retention that is not the case and this clearly was a salesman doing all he can to try and clinch a sale. The only coverage I have ever heard of in North America which covers burn-in or image retention (short-term image retention is to be expected but when it comes to mid-long term image retention) is Best Buy's Black Tie coverage which is not available in Canada. Here are the terms in Canada:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/help/best-buy-performance-service-plan-terms-and-conditions/hc8150.aspx

Yeah, be sure to get that burn-in protection in writing, and signed by a manager or something. It wouldn't be the first time they lied about what they covered, and it certainly won't be the last.

[sony17]

Having previously worked at both a best buy and future shop, I can say that a lot of the times the sales people will jut say that it is covered and hopefully the customer will not experience the issue. Therefore it definitely sounds like a good plan to get it in writing and signed by the sales manager. I doubt my own stores will try that though but it's better safe than sorry.

Cool thing is , I pretty much know how to get free warranty or pretty close to it from them. future shop is more prone to lower prices than best buy.

I'm thinking their PSP is roughly 250 for 3 years... So I plan on getting them to drop the price of the tv by 200. Just have to find the right person. Or maybe even get one of my buddies who still work there to do a staff discount. Which is cost plus 5 percent :)

[cloakster]

I work at BB and the staff price for it was $1148.13 pre-tax. Though, that was back in May so it may have dropped slightly since then. Since the markup is a little over $200 so if you push hard enough I could imagine them dropping the TV by $150-200.

[mbg]

Thanks guys , your input helps so much. Image retention is not too big of an issue since it is not permanent. The guy at best buy said their PSP covers it and that's something I plan on getting anyways.

They have built-in protections against that kind of thing, and have for awhile, anyway. They're probably not perfect, but unless you leave the thing on some 24-hour news channel 24 hours a day, I can't imagine you'll have many problems.

They definitely do have image retention -- if you turn them off in a dark room, you'll see the last thing that was on the screen still there for a few minutes -- but that's a whole different thing that burn-in.

As someone above suggested, do the D-Nice calibration and follow it exactly... and do most of it on a weekend so your electricity bill doesn't suffer too much :) It's a good idea to get familiar with the procedure ahead of time because ideally you'd do it as soon as the TV comes out of the box.

[mr_yellow]

Hi Guys,

I recently bought the 65inch ST50 just 2 weeks ago... i got a pretty decent deal from a contact at a random home theatre store. It was the last one my sales guy will get until september. He says panasonic can't make them fast enough and they're backordered (at least the 65" model) until september.

I have mine on the main floor family room with windows that face NORTH. Glare is surprisingly kept to a minimum but I definitely recommend you keep the TV at or below eye level. I can see my ceiling lights ONLY if I tilt my head down so that the angle allows so. light bouncing off myself or my tan couch or things like white mouldings is filtered well. Keep in mind north facing windows are not as bright as other directions.

I used d-nice's slides for the burn-in period and used his calibration settings and things look very good. actually it looks amazing... But for the lazy, cinema mode is actually very close to d-nice's calibrated settings.

downsides is that I get a fairly loud buzzing sound on moderately bright scenes. I'm getting the panasonic techs to look into that. Lag is suppose to be the lowest on plasmas. but i don't game so i can't say for sure.

3D is... 3D. I bought the glasses and regret it. 3D is stupid IMO. though it works fine on the ST50. it works with ripped SBS media you download from your favorite sites. =) CGI 3D is significantly sharper than 'real' 3D. motion smoothing helps a tonne too.

Another downside is the vieralink features. It's cool at first but it's slow as balls. I use a HTPC running PLEX so I never have to touch that vieralink crap. DLNA also doesn't work with a lot of my downloaded media because it doesn't support the audio streams.

Bonus things: download the viera remote iOS app and you can get a touchpad/keyboard support for using the built in browser and apps (even games) as well as the rest of the menu system (you gotta plug the TV to your home network though). The 3D glasses are expensive and talk via BT with the ST50 but they work on other older sets from other manufacturers that talk via IR. The on screen menu is surprisingly fast and responsive.

All in all, I love the TV except for the buzzing....