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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Blacks & Whites
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03.Color Accuracy
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04.Motion
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05.3D
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06.Viewing Effects
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07.Calibration
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08.Connectivity
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09.Audio & Menus
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10.Multimedia & Internet
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11.Power Consumption
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12.Vs Sony KDL-55EX720
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13.Vs Samsung UN46C7100
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14.Vs Panasonic TC-P50VT20
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15.Conclusion
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16.Series Comparison
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17.Ratings & Specs
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18.Comments
Panasonic Viera TC-P50ST30
Previous: Page 14
Vs Panasonic TC-P50VT20Next: Page 16
Series ComparisonConclusion
The Panasonic Viera TC-P50ST30 ($1499 MSRP) has made some big improvements since last year's first-generation 3D TVs. While we're still not sold on the efficacy or enjoyability of home 3D, we're convinced (once again) that plasma TVs like this offer a far better experience with active shutter than any LCD television.
On the plus side, the price has come down considerably since last year. The new ST30 costs nearly a thousand dollars less than the similarly sized TC-P50VT20 when that premiered in March 2010. They also addressed the biggest problem with that TV, which was a dim screen that absolutely killed the contrast ratio when you wore the tinted 3D glasses. In 2D viewing, the contrast is outstanding, as is the viewing angle.
The Panasonic TC-P50ST30 is far from perfect, though. There were huge problems with motion artifacting. The TV also could not handle high contrast, high frequency patterns, which resulted in some crazy looking false coloration and flickering. Panasonic made a lot of noise about an improved Viera Cast for 2011, but the streaming content service is just barely keeping up with Sony and Samsung.
Overall, there's a lot to like about this TV, but you can find better, cheaper plasmas that skip the 3D altogether.
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Vs Panasonic TC-P50VT20 | Page 16 of 18 | Series Comparison |
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| Other Models in the PxxST30 Series | |||
| This is a review of the Panasonic TC-P50ST30. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page. | |||
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Panasonic TC-P42ST30 42 inches |
Panasonic TC-P46ST30 46 inches |
Panasonic TC-P50ST30 50 inches |
Panasonic TC-P55ST30 55 inches |
Shop for the Panasonic TC-P50ST30
Latest News
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11-May-2012
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26-Apr-2012
Panasonic's 2012 Smart TV Platform: Explained
Panasonic’s 2012 iteration of its “smart TV” platform, Viera Connect, tries some innovative cloud-based processing. But do you still want to use it when you look at the huge advances Samsung and LG have made? Read More...
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