At a press event in New York City this week, Panasonic has revealed prices and availability for their initial waves of 2012 Smart VIERA Plasma, LED and LCD HDTVs and editor Chris Boylan and I got to see a few of them in action. Panasonic models in the ST50, UT50, and XT50 Plasma series and the E50, ET5, E5 and X5 LED series will become available throughout the month of March. These LED launches represent two new screen sizes for the company: 47-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) this month and 55-inch class (54.6 inches measured diagonally) models coming in April/May. Panasonic has broadened its LED model lineup from seven models in 2011 to 17 in 2012, seven of which are 3D displays.
The first Smart VIERA Plasma series to hit the market feature numerous enhancements to Panasonic's plasma technology which results in even deeper black levels and better motion reproduction. Select 2012 models (the VT/GT/ST Series) employ the NeoPlasma Black 2500 suite of technologies: an improved panel for superior brightness, improved filtering for higher contrast, new pre-discharge control for deeper blacks, original drive technology for clear images, and 24,576 super-fine pitch for subtler gradation. Also be on the lookout for a 2M-pixel dimming driver, a new custom driver LSI and fast-switching phosphor panel on all of Panasonic's 1080p 3D models.
And while the high end ST50 and GT50 series TVs get the excellent Infinite Black Pro filter, which minimizes picture interference from ambient light, only the top of the line VT50 series get Panasonic's Infinite Black Ultra filter. This improves even more on ambient light rejection and reduces any light leakage from the panel itself. In a side by side comparison with last year's top of the line VT30 series TV in a darkened room, 2012's flagship VT50 was clearly superior both in depth of black level and in motion reproduction. We're looking forward to getting one of these in for a full review later this spring.
The more affordable, but still high performance ST50 Series is the first of Panasonic's Plasma HDTVs to ship. The TC-P50ST50 (49.9 inch screen, measured diagonally) and the TC-P55ST50, (55.1 inches measured diagonally) are now available, while the TC-P60ST50 (60.1 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P65ST50 (64.7 inches measured diagonally) will be available this month, and in April, respectively. The ST50 models are Full HD 3D and include the Infinite Black Pro Panel, VIERA Connect with a web browser and built-in Wi-Fi, 2500 Focused Field Drive, fast-switching phosphors, 2D-to-3D conversion, Social Networking TV which allows the user to watch television and use Twitter/Facebook at the same time, 3D Real Sound with eight-train speakers (eight big-sounding dome-type micro speakers inside), a new louver filter, Media Player, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, DLNA compliance, VIERA Link, three HDMI ports and two USB ports.
The TC-P42UT50 (41.9 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P50UT50 (49.9 inches measured diagonally) will be available later this month, while the TC-P55UT50 (55.1 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P60UT50 (60.1 inches measured diagonally) will be available in April and May, respectively. All offer Full HD 3D, Wi-Fi-ready VIERA Connect, 2500 FFD, fast-switching phosphors, 2D-to-3D conversion, Social Networking TV, Media Player, Bluetooth, DLNA, VIERA Link, two HDMI ports and two USB ports.
The entry level XT50 Series provides a 3D solution as well as the Online Movies feature, a service that expands select Panasonic IPTV functionality by adding five of the most popular movie sites including Netflix, Hulu Plus and VUDU. Available this month, the TC-P50XT50 (49.9 inches measured diagonally) brings 720p resolution and features 2D-to-3D conversion, a 600Hz subfield drive, Bluetooth, Media Player, DLNA, VIERA Link, two HDMI ports and two USB ports.
One major change to Panasonic's overall 3D TV strategy this year (in addition to the introduction of passive 3D on select entry-level LCD TVs), is the shift from Infrared 3D glasses to Bluetooth/RF. Using an RF (Radio Frequency) connection to sync the 3D glasses with the TV makes it less susceptible to interference, and also allows Panasonic to meet the universal standards for active 3D eyewear, recently developed as a partnership between Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Xpand and other 3D manufacturers. But the drawback to this approach is that the 2012 Panasonic TVs are not compatible with Panasonic's earlier 3D glasses from 2010 and 2011. Although Panasonic could have put an IR emitter on the 2012 TVs to make them backwards compatible, they chose not to do so (and YES, we tested this and confirmed it to be true). [editor's note: very frustrating to those of us who bought multiple pairs of Panasonic 3D glasses last year!].
Similarly, the 2012 3D glasses from Panasonic are not compatible with 2010 and 2011 model year Panasonic 3D TVs. This applies to any of Panasonic's 2012 model year active 3D TVs, both plasma and LED/LCD.
And speaking of LED TVs, Panasonic's 2012 Smart VIERA LED models incorporate IPS LED Panel technology, delivering a wide viewing angle with almost no picture degradation off-angle and offering up to 1,920 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes and reduced afterglow. The high-speed/high-transmittance panel materials contribute to the 178° color viewing angle, high contrast and fast response time, which in turn reduces artifacts and 3D crosstalk.
Panasonic's move to larger LED screen sizes--while maintaining a slim design--is evident in the E50 Series, featuring the IPS LED. Of the E50 LED TVs, the TC-L42E50 (42 inches measured diagonally) shipped in February, while the TC-L47E50 (47 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-L55E50 (54.6 inches measured diagonally) will be available this month, all with 360 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action, VIERA Connect, Social Networking TV, DLNA, a PC input, four HDMI ports and two USB ports.
Quite significantly, the ET5 Series marks Panasonic's foray into the realm of polarized (passive) 3D. The TC-L47ET5 (47 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-L55ET5 (54.6 inches measured diagonally) ship this month while the TC-L42ET5 (42 inches measured diagonally) ships in April. The ET5 models incorporate the IPS LED panel, 360 backlight scanning, VIERA Connect with built-in Wi-Fi and browser, 2D-to-3D conversion, Social Networking TV, Media Player, DLNA, four HDMI and two USB ports plus a PC input. Each of the ET5s comes with 4 pairs of polarized 3D glasses.
Available this month, the four LED HDTVs in the E5 Series include the IPS LED panel and feature Online Movies, DLNA, four HDMI ports, two USB ports and a PC input. The TC-L32E5 (31.5 inches measured diagonally), TC-L37E5 (36.5 inches measured diagonally), TC-L42E5 (42 inches measured diagonally) and TC-L47E5 (47 inches measured diagonally) are Wi-Fi-ready, requiring a wireless LAN adapter.
Also available this month is the TC-L32X5 (31.5 inches measured diagonally), with the IPS LED panel, three HDMI ports, one USB port, as well as an SD card slot, to side-load digital photos, music and video directly to the TV.
Panasonic's top-of-the-line VT50 and GT50 Plasma Series will be available later this month and in April. The high-end LED models will begin shipping this month, the TC-L55DT50 ships in April, and the TC-L55WT50 and the TC-L47WT50 will be available in May.
VIERA Plasma 2012 Models with Official Pricing:
VIERA LED/LCD 2012 Models with Official Pricing:
Where to Buy:
