Manage updates with the Download AppPanasonic TC-P50GT30
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: TC-P50GT30
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Excellent all-around picture quality combined with improved features and styling should make the Panasonic TC-PGT30 TV a favorite among bigger-spending plasma seekers.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/25/2013 |
CNET editors' review
Panasonic TC-P50GT30 price range: $859.95
- Reviewed by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 04/18/2011
- Released on: 04/01/2011
The good: The Panasonic TC-PGT30 has excellent overall picture quality, with deep black levels, accurate color, and solid video processing. It can handle 1080p/24 sources and bright rooms well and exhibits the nearly perfect screen uniformity of plasma, as well as very good 3D picture quality. It includes a Wi-Fi dongle, its Internet suite is simple to use yet content-rich, and the styling is handsome with a 1.5-inch-deep panel.
The bad: Picture quality flaws include subtly fluctuating black and gray levels as well as inaccurate gamma that washes out shadows somewhat. The GT30 has fewer picture controls than the competition, doesn't include 3D glasses, and uses significantly more power than LCD TVs.
The bottom line: Excellent all-around picture quality combined with improved features and styling should make the Panasonic TC-PGT30 TV a favorite among bigger-spending plasma seekers.
User reviews
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Unbelievable Picture
by Hubbs12 on November 9, 2011
Pros: + Picture quality this TV puts out is crazy good. Colors are bright and vibrant
+ 3D performance is very good
+ Built-in sound is quite good
+ Design and build is solid
+ Menus are fairly straight-forward and easy to navigateCons: - There is no internet browser
Summary: The picture quality this TV puts out is crazy good. Colors are bright and vibrant without being over saturated and unrealistic. Blacks are inky black, and shadow detail is great ...
Summary: The picture quality this TV puts out is crazy good. Colors are bright and vibrant without being over saturated and unrealistic. Blacks are inky black, and shadow detail is great as well. One of the reasons I bought the GT30 over the ST30 is the THX mode which gives really good out of the box picture without any aftermarket calibration. If you're into tweaking the picture though, there are two professional picture modes that allow very in depth picture controls.
1080P Source Material with a high bitrate (such as blurays or Vudu HDX) look incredibly sharp and stunning, while not looking sharp to the point of unrealism as some LCD's look. 720P sources look very good as well if a bit softer. 480i/p sources look alright. I only spent a few minutes watching SD and the experience was unexpectedly unimpressive. Motion on the GT30 looks very smooth and realistic without displaying the terrible "soap opera effect" that 120/240Hz LCD's seem to suffer from.
I tried using the Viera Cast software that Panasonic builds into these Tv's and I found to be pretty laggy. It wasn't very responsive and I found the design to be a little on the ugly side. Vizio and Samsung have much more polished media platforms built into their Tvs. It's possible Panasonic will improve performance with firmware updates in the future. If I was planning on using Viera Cast I would mark my score down but I have a Media Center PC and PS3 that replace all the functionality Viera Cast offers.
3D performance is very good. So far I've watched Tron Legacy on 3D bluray and played some 3D PS3 games; the 3D picture is very immersive and THX color accuracy remains very good in 3D mode. I've had bad experiences with 3D crosstalk on a friend's Samsung C7000 LCD and it can get very annoying and distracting. Thankfully I haven't experienced any of that on the GT30 in a dark or light viewing environments.
I've heard some early reports of the GT30 exhibiting floating blacks when viewing material that changes from a darker to a lighter scene suddenly. I haven't experienced any of this. I watched Black Swan on bluray to test this and black levels remained dark and consistent throughout with no slight jumps in brightness.
I'm also very impressed with the design of the GT30. It's about as thin as my Motorola Droid and it looks stunning mounted on my wall. Panasonic has traditionally lagged behind the likes of Sony and Samsung when it comes to the design of their Tv's but they really stepped up their game with the GT30. Having a TV that looks almost as stunning when turned off as it does when turned on is an unexpected plus.
Overall the GT30 is an incredible TV that makes no compromises when it comes to picture quality. If you want to spend more money, the VT30 it will probably improve upon the GT30 in some way when it's released but I'm having a hard time coming up with things they could improve outside of their Viera Cast platform. (But If you will buy the TC-P50GT30 I suggest you have to check for best deal before you decide at: Cheap-hdtv-suggestion.blogspot.com/2011/11/tc-p50gt30.html )
Hope this help!6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great TV for Gaming
by Uronacid on May 19, 2011
Pros: blacks, color spectrum, a fair amount of options, internet connectivity, design, motion, input lag, well-built
Cons: would like a few more picture settings
Summary: This is the first plasma I've ever owned. I'm a pro gamer, and while this isn't my primary gaming monitor, I wanted a TV for my living ...
Summary: This is the first plasma I've ever owned. I'm a pro gamer, and while this isn't my primary gaming monitor, I wanted a TV for my living room that had a great picture and low input lag.
My old Samsung LCDs had a cheap plastic feel to them. When I lifted this TV out of the box, I felt confident in the build quality. It's a heavy, well-constructed TV. I was smiling before I'd even turned it on. I guess you could say, "I was counting my chickens before they'd hatched", however I felt as if I'd been cheated with previous television sets and now I finally had something of value.
I looked all over the internet for reviews on gaming televisions. Initially, I wanted the VT30 or Samsung 8000 series plasma do to their high recommendations as good gaming TVs, but after reviewing the technical specifications of the GT30 it looked as if it were the same TV without the beautiful bezel that the VT30 offered. The 800.00 price difference from the GT30 & VT30 really helped narrow my decision down to the GT30. Also, customer reviews said the Samsung 8000 series plasma TV seemed to suffer from minor image retention.
I'm extremely happy happy with this TV. After turning some of the post processing effects (like Motion Blur Reduction), input lag wasn't even noticeable. I was kicking butt in Halo: Reach. Something I just couldn't do with my old Samsung TV.
If you're a gamer and you want a big screen TV that will suite not only the needs of your family but your gaming desires, then this one's for you.
Updated on May 19, 20112 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Gamma is not as bad as reported
by Dave_OC on July 11, 2011
Pros: Very good picture, and measurements, when the correct test pattern source is used
Cons: As to be expected, does not put out as much light as LED backlight sets.
Summary: Cnet tests using windows patterns as source
"
We attempt to adjust all levels of gray, in 5 percent increments using window patterns
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This will give very bad results on this ...Summary: Cnet tests using windows patterns as source
See
"
We attempt to adjust all levels of gray, in 5 percent increments using window patterns
"
This will give very bad results on this set. Using APL windows will give much better results, meeting THX spec.
See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=20675013#post20675013
for a discussion by one of the authors of the AVSHD pattern disk.
Updated on Jul 11, 2011
http://www.highdefjunkies.com/showthread.php?9401-Official-Panasonic-GT30-Thread-Including-a-Review-and-Report&p=254208&viewfull=1#post254208
For a comparison of Gamms using APL Windows vs. Windows source patterns1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great 2D and 3D picture quality, Colors, Black level.
by SBrudzinsky on June 24, 2011
Pros: Great 2D and 3D picture quality. Wide range of colors. Great deep black level. Excellent motion response on both 2D and 3D content. Simple setup. Inexpensive. Slim design and modern look. Well-ergonomically designed remote control. User friendly menu GUI.
Cons: 3D Glasses and webcam for Skype not included and are expensive. Had to purchase them separately.
Summary: This TV is a very good performer. Has an excellent 2D and 3D picture quality and smooth natural motion response. Provides me and my family with pleasant viewing experience. I'...
Summary: This TV is a very good performer. Has an excellent 2D and 3D picture quality and smooth natural motion response. Provides me and my family with pleasant viewing experience. I'm happy with my purchase and would recommend to others! 5 stars.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent picture quality. Vibrant colors & deep black.
by Neuron0101011 on June 9, 2011
Pros: Excellent quality of HD picture (broadcast as well as BD video). Vibrant colors and well-balanced contrast level. Deep black. Well-handled motion control. Nice slim design. User-friendly menu and navigation. LAN/Wireless Internet and "Viera" applications.
Cons: No 3D glasses included. Shame on Panasonic. At least one pair of gasless can be given. "Standard" video setting very weak and its adjustment does not make much difference. I switched to THX mode and its settings make nice image quality enhancement.
Summary: Overall outstanding plasma HDTV for its price. I have TC-P50GT30 for about 3 weeks (~ 40 hours of usage) and so far have no issues to report. I do not see ...
Summary: Overall outstanding plasma HDTV for its price. I have TC-P50GT30 for about 3 weeks (~ 40 hours of usage) and so far have no issues to report. I do not see any "darkness/brightness" fluctuations as some other reviewers reported. I guess you guys should let your plasma to pass a break-in period.
For those experiencing darkness-to-brightness fluctuation while viewing content in "Custom" mode, I would recommend to set "Gamma adjustment" to 2.4 or 2.6 (depends on your eye preference) and set AGC level (you can find it in "Pro Settings") to "0" or "1". This will stop automatic increasing the brightness of the dark scenes that might causes or contribute to perception of "darkness/brightness" fluctuation. I personally using THX mode and it does very good job with the quality of picture handling. Black level and colors In THX mode always remain dark and consistent.
Updated on Jun 14, 20111 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Panasonic hits a Home Run with the 2011 Plasma line up.
by Audiophile_At_Birth on February 5, 2012
Pros: The GT-30 has great black levels, color and smooth motion at a great price. The set has abundant features and a sleek design that makes this a winner for those not willing to jump up to the flagship VT line but who want more than most from their TV.
Cons: Some quirky gamma shifts that cause the TV to rise out of black to soon. August and older builds suffer from fluctuations in brightness and floating blacks (can be fixed under warranty -- A board replacement). Netflix is an older version. Energy hog
Summary: An avid Home Theater enthusiast, I am constantly on the AVS and Blu-ray forum boards. I have a modest home theater set up that includes the GT-30 as my display, ...
Summary: An avid Home Theater enthusiast, I am constantly on the AVS and Blu-ray forum boards. I have a modest home theater set up that includes the GT-30 as my display, Onkyo pre/pro, Emotiva amps, Polk Audio and Elemental Designs subs (A7S-450, A2-300). I started getting into the hobby when I was high school back in 2005. I purchased my Sharp 37" 720p LCD for more than what I paid for the GT-30 (oh technology ;) back in early 2007. Flash forward to late 2011, it was time for an upgrade in my display to say the least.
I had an idea that I wanted a Panasonic plasma from the get go. However, I did my research on anything from side lit LED, to full array LED, to other plasma options to help me narrow down my selection. For the price I could get my GT-30 shipped to me new, I couldn't help but to continue to go back to it regardless of comparable or even better sets. Simply stated, for the price, nothing could touch this TV on performance, aesthetics, and features.
The TV is well constructed from my view point. It has a solid feel and the thing and has some definite weight to it. Once I got it positioned into my setup, I began hooking up the necessary cables I needed to use the TV. The TV is so thing that break out cables are required for all connections except for the HDMI cables. Even with my heavy duty monoprice HDMI cables, this was a tight squeeze.
The set matches my room aesthetics quite well and I actually don't mind the silver accents on the bezel. The bezel is slim and the overall dimensions rival that of some of the nicest LED TVs on the market today. It has a minimalist appearance and is very modern and well designed. When the lights go down, the design disappears and you're left with a floating image that looks terrific.
My initial impressions for the set uncalibrated were relatively good. Cable channels (HD&SD) came in clear and free of most macroblocking and distortion that was more noticeable on my old Sharp. Not to say that its perfect, but the on board processors do a more than adequate job for 'tuner' performance. Perfect for more than anybody.
However, this is not where this TV shines. The GT-30 excels in movie playback. My first one hundred or so hours were spent watching mostly full screen content or 1:85:1 movies that were expanded to full screen to help with 'break in' (I do not believe in the slide break in process but feel that it is highly recommended to view full screen content during the early hours of a new plasma). Having just received the Jurassic Park Trilogy on Blu-ray a few weeks earlier, I decided I would start here. I quickly calibrated the set off the Disney WOW Blu-ray to get me close in contrast and brightness (did it again after age in). Simply stated, there is a natural beauty to a plasma over LCD tech. The GT-30 does not come off over processed or 'digitized'. The TV handled both motion and 60hz 24p playback without noticeable artifacts or picture anomalies. It was terrific.
Colors appeared accurate, not over the top, not overly saturated. It had a very nice balance to it. It has a sharp definition without appearing overly edgy. It was evident that there was a green push in the set that would need some adjustment after break in. Black levels are astounding for the price that you can get this set at. Shadow detail does lack in the sense that gamma shift does bring shadow detail out of black rather quickly. This was noticeable to me but can be adjusted in the custom mode with an adjustment of the gamma to 2.4 which will bring it closer to 2.2 reference. On a similar note, my set did suffer from Fluctuating Brightness/Contrast issues that are noticeable almost instantly when the content switches from light to dark content. The issue was resolved with an A-Board replacement that was covered under Panasonic's warranty. It was a painless process, and only required a phone call to Panasonic. Since being replaced, the issue has been resolved. (Effects build dates from early 2011 to July/August 2011 when the change was implemented during production).
Gaming on the GT-30 is great. Again, quick motion and processing makes motion blur none existent, which you will find on LCD TVs. Call of Duty is a real treat now and I no longer experience eye fatigue from motion artifacts and issues that I used to my old set. It is safe to say that the motion on the GT-30 is great.
Overall, the GT-30 provides great features, internet apps, enough adjust-ability for the average Joe, and great natural picture that one can expect with Panasonic plasmas. It shines with Blu-ray content and gaming is astounding with the GT-30. I wouldn't have gone any other way and have thoroughly enjoyed my TV since day one. The only regret that I might have is that I didn't get a bigger screen! -
I love this tv! Best bang for the buck
by TylerPlasma on December 3, 2011
Pros: For the price this tv can't be beat. The picture quality is amazing. My friend (who happens to be a huge LED fan) came over to help me hang my new GT30 and was very impressed. He mentioned that it was as thin as an LED and looked better as well.
Cons: I wish it came with 3d glasses but in all reality it's nice that they forgo them for people who might not want them (which allows them to keep the price on the tv really low)
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Didn't quite live up to the hype
by paonlou on November 2, 2011
Pros: Nice styling, sturdy set, pretty good picture, blacks and more deep blacks,
price.Cons: Picture conformity a problem, funky skin tones, energy hog, TV get very hot.
Summary: Bought this unit about two weeks ago and have just returned it to Best Buy. It's a very good TV that didn't quite deliver the picture quality that ...
Summary: Bought this unit about two weeks ago and have just returned it to Best Buy. It's a very good TV that didn't quite deliver the picture quality that I had read about and expected. I calibrated the picture many times based on CNET's recommendation and other publications and just could not find a happy medium with picture conformity and quality. Yes, I am well versed on the LCD vs. Plasma picture debate and the supposedly more realistic and acurate colors of the Plasma's. It just didn't work for me and I found myself constantly adjusting the picture settings. Coupled with the long term reliability issues with Panasonic TV's lead to me to make a change to Sony's KDL 46 HX 729. A great TV that doesn't heat up like an oven as the Panny did. I'll wait a couple more years when the technology improves for Plasmas before giving them another shot.
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Great TV. Amazing picture and wide variety of settings
by nestorini on July 14, 2011
Pros: Great picture, great features. Amazing deal if bought within bundle. Deepest blacks I've seen.
Cons: Wish there were some more Internet apps. There is a minor glitch when switching between HD and standar via satellite TV. Updates have not fixed this.
Summary: Overall great TV. Amazing picture, specially from Blu-ray source and even the included Netflix app.
Summary: Overall great TV. Amazing picture, specially from Blu-ray source and even the included Netflix app.
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Holy crap!
by marbs34 on June 1, 2011
Pros: This set is awesome, and I'm really glad I waited this last year to not buy last years model. It controls blu-ray movies on my ps3! really didn't expect it. You turn on the ps3 and it automatically switches inputs then using the panasonic remote you can
Cons: don't know yet.
Summary: ps3 remote built in! I just bought a Harmony remote, and wasn't even considering the ps3 adapter. Now I'm really glad I didn't get it.
Summary: ps3 remote built in! I just bought a Harmony remote, and wasn't even considering the ps3 adapter. Now I'm really glad I didn't get it.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: TC-P50GT30
- Description: Step into the 3D world. The VIERA GT30 series Full HD 3D Plasmas create another viewing experience by putting you inside the action and creating a new world of TV viewing realism.
General
- TV type Plasma
- Screen size 50 in
Features
- 3D Yes
- Connectivity Wi-Fi ready, adapter included
- Internet streaming services Skype,
FOX sports,
Amazon Video,
Picasa,
VIERA Connect,
Hulu Plus,
MLB.tv,
NHL,
YouTube,
Netflix,
eBay,
CinemaNow,
NBA,
Twitter,
Facebook - Skype details Web camera sold separately - Panasonic TY-CC10W
- TV features DLNA Certified,
Audio Return Channel (ARC),
THX certified - 3D glasses & accessories 3D glasses sold separately
Video
- Technology 3D
- Native resolution 1920 x 1080
- Resolution 1080p
- Refresh rate 600 Hz
- Motion Enhancement Technology 600Hz sub-field driving
- Aspect ratio 16:9
- 24p technology 3D 24p Cinema Smoother
- Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Widescreen Widescreen
- Widescreen modes Full,
Conventional 4:3,
Just,
Zoom - HDCP compatible Yes
- Supported DTV resolutions 1080/24p,
720p,
480p,
1080p,
1080i TV Tuner
- TV tuner presence Yes
- HDTV Tuner Yes
- Digital TV tuner ATSC,
QAM - Analog TV tuner NTSC
- TV tuner reception system NTSC
Audio
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt
- Analog video input signals NTSC
- Surround mode Yes
- Total output power 20 Watt
Connectivity
- HDMI ports qty 4
- PC interface VGA (HD-15)
- Input/Output connections 4 x HDMI input (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Rear,
3 x USB (4 pin USB Type A) - Rear,
1 x Network (RJ-45) - Rear - Video interface HDMI,
Component,
Composite Convenience
- Closed captioning Yes
- Menu language French,
English,
Spanish
Remote Control
- Type Standard remote control
- Second remote control type None
Built-in components
- Component type None
Stands & Mounts
- Stand included Included
- Stand design Tabletop
- Stand features Swivel
- Flat panel mount interface Yes
Power
- Power device Power supply - Internal
- Power device nominal voltage AC 120 V
Dimensions & Weight
- Dimensions (WxDxH) 46.5 in x 13.2 in x 29.7 in - With stand
- Weight 65 lbs
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Width 53.1 in
- Depth 10 in
- Height 32.9 in
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 116.52 Watt
- CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 246.28 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.12 Watt
- CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 54.08 US Dollars
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 3.6
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2012) 3.6
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma,
50 in,
3D Compatible,
1080p,
600 Hz,
Skype,
FOX sports,
Amazon Video,
Picasa,
VIERA Connect,
Hulu Plus,
MLB.tv,
NHL,
YouTube,
Netflix,
eBay,
CinemaNow,
NBA,
Twitter,
Facebook -
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma,
55 in,
3D Compatible,
1080p,
600 Hz,
Smart TV,
Viera Connect Internet suite -
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma,
65 in,
3D Compatible,
1080p,
600 Hz,
Smart TV,
Viera Connect Internet suite
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Panasonic products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Panasonic
- Address:
One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 - Phone: 800/662-3537
