3D Vision Blog

Panasonic’s 3D-capable Plasma HDTVs are still considered among the best for stereoscopic 3D use and each year the company is improving and adding new features in their new lineup and now it is time for the 2012 lineup. There is of course a new top model – the VT50 Series, that will offer all the top features and it will be only available in 55-inch and 65-inch configuration, but also four more new 3D-capable series – GT50, ST50, UT50 and XT50 as well as just one non 3D-capable series – the U50. The focus of the new 2012 lineup is of course the Smart functionality that should make the TV set way more functional and go beyond just a TV, but the 3D capabilities and image quality are also among the key points and the new and improved Plasma panels should bring better quality in stereoscopic 3D mode as well.

The 2012 models employ NeoPlasma Black 2500 provide a crisp image even when the content shows very fast motion. The 2012 panel further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast in brighter environments. In addition, a new panel structure and pre-discharge control technology contribute to an increased native contrast level. Additionally, all the 3D models include DLNA connections for easy link-up to other DLNA equipped products. Improved power efficiency has been addressed with, among other technology advances, new and improved phosphor mixtures and more efficient electronics.

The six VIERA Plasma series, VT50, GT50, ST50, UT50, XT50 and U50 (the only 2D one), feature self illuminating panels with ultimate black levels, NeoPlasma technologies (VT/GT/ST) providing a black filter with a higher efficiency panel that generates the best balance of black and white under brighter environments. The new Louver filter and new high performance panel result in improved external light shading, improved clarity and improved light transmittance. The 2012 models employ the NeoPlasma Black 2500 (VT/GT/ST/UT), a 6,220,800 pixel cells FULL local dimming, 24,576 steps of gradation technology (VT/GT) (previously only available in professional monitors), a new custom driver LSI and a fast switching phosphor panel on all of Panasonic’s 1080p 3D models. Panasonic also continues its relationship with THX with six Full HD 3D Plasma HDTVs, certified in both 2D and 3D mode by the prestigious company founded by George Lucas. THX certification indicates to the consumer that the picture quality has been certified to meet the stringent standards of Hollywood’s top film makers.

All in all what you should expect from the new 2012 lineup of 3D-capable Plasma HDTVs from Panasonic is better image quality – brighter picture, higher contrast, richer colors, better external light blocking and faster response. And when all this is applied in stereoscopic 3D mode you should get even nicer looking and realistic image with less crosstalk. The built-in media player should also be further improved to support more formats. What is not mentioned however is if the new 2012 lineup of 3D-capable Plasma HDTVs from Panasonic will use higher bandwidth-capable HDMI 1.4 chips, so that you could be able to run them in 1080p 30Hz 3D mode or even 1080p 60Hz 3D mode as this is something that will immediately make them way more attractive for stereo 3D gamers and not only for 3D movie lovers. Hopefully we’ll get more details about the extra questions that arise as soon as the first reviews of the new 2012 product line start to appear online.

- For more information about the new top model Panasonic Smart VIERA VT50 3D HDTV…

Panasonic used this year’s IFA trade show to announce and show an interesting prototype of a device they are working on, a twin-lens compact 3D digital camera that will go under the company’s LUMIX product line. The Panasonic Lumix 3D camera may as well turn out to be the closest competitor to Fujifilm’s 3D digital cameras that are already available for quite a while now, but we are probably going to have to wait at least a few months before the Lumix 3D camera hits the market. Still it is good news for everyone that is interested in a compact 3D-capable digital camera, as having more devices on the market with different features is a good thing, right? And although Panasonic is still not releasing a lot of details about the capabilities of the device, they let out a few pieces of information. One very important thing however was left out – the interaxial distance between the to lenses of the camera, but judging from the photos of the device it seems to be something in between 3 and 4 centimeters (1.2 – 1.6 inches). So the distance will for sure be shorter than what we already have on the Fuji 3D camera, meaning more flexibility for closer 3D photos and videos and more flatness when you want to capture more distant objects.

According to Panasonic their compact 3D camera will be capable of taking 3D still photos (most likely in MPO format) and 3D HD video (recorded in Side by Side AVCHD format). It is using 4x zoom lenses with folding optics and optical stabilization for achieving better results when shooting both still photos and video. There is no information available yet about the display of the camera, but it will most likely be an autostereoscopic 3D solution as this makes the most sense. And of course the camera will feature HDMI 1.4 support for connecting and playing the 3D content to a large screen 3D-capable HDTV. If you are visiting the IFA trade show you may go and also visit the Panasonic booth at Messe Berlin, Hall 5.2 where the new 3D digital camera prototype should be on display (until September 7th). And if you do so you and find some other interesting details about the Lumix 3D camera, then feel free to share them in the comments below…

Last year, when the first HDMI 1.4-capable 3D HDTVs from Panasonic started appearing on the market, the Japanese company did not have the best active shutter glasses available, but they are constantly improving on that. The second generation of active shutter glasses brought some of the needed improvements and now we are about to see the third generation of Panasonic active shutter glasses for their 3D HDTVs, namely the TY-EW3D3 series, expected to be available this September. The new glasses should be available in three sizes (small, medium and large) with a different product name for each, respectively TY-EW3D3SW, TY-EW3D3MW and TY-EW3D3LW (S, M and L). The small and medium models have a weight of just 26 grams and the medium will be one gram more at 27 grams, so you can expect these do be very lightweight. The glasses come with a built-in rechargeable battery that should provide you with up to 25 hours of continuous use with a full charge that is taking approximately 30 minutes, and there is a quick charge functionality built-in that can be quite handy. With just a two minute quick charge you can get up to 3 hours of use, so you can easily watch a whole movie in 3D even if you forgot to charge your glasses and they got discharged.

But the most interesting new feature built into the new TY-EW3D3 shutter glasses from Panasonic is the 2D mode that allows you to switch the glasses into a special mode showing you the 2D version of a 3D movie being played on the 3D HDTV. This is done by activating both shutters of the glasses to show you only the frame intended for the left eye, so that you see only the left eye image in both your eyes and the result is that you get to watch the movie in 2D. I’ve already demonstrated how this is possible with a pair of Nvidia 3D Vision shutter glasses a while ago and that it actually works quite well, but then again this solution also opens other possibilities like screen sharing in 2D mode for example.

The new active shutter glasses should also offer a 10% better improvement in terms of image brightness, meaning that the lenses of the glasses will block less light as compared to the previous models. It is interesting to note that the new Panasonic active shutter glasses are the first using the new M-3DI standard announced by the company not too long ago, so in theory they may be able to work with other non-Panasonic 3D hardware if any other company produces compatible devices with this new standard.