The Panasonic TX-P42VT30B is an excellent Plasma HDTV for both 2D and 3D content. For most users, it doesn’t offer too much over the GT30, which certainly appears to hold the “sweet spot” position in terms of price-to-performance ratio in the 2011 Panasonic Plasma lineup. Panasonic’s decision to include the “Infinite Black Pro” label (which seems to be a promise of a high-contrast Plasma panel combined with a light-rejecting screen coating) on ALL of its 3D plasmas this year definitely levels the playing field. This means that the VT30’s claims to fame are limited to the fact that it ships with two pairs of 3D glasses, has a slightly deeper black level, includes an SD Card TV recording mode, and last but not least, features the advanced calibration controls. As video enthusiasts, we’re very happy about the latter option, but to actually make use of these features requires more expenditure. Also, at the time of writing, we don’t know of any calibrators or dealers calibrating the 3D mode of HDTVs, although hopefully this will change over the coming months – because the results are absolutely worth the effort. (We’re aware of the fact that Joe Kane Productions is working on a 3D version of Digital Video Essentials, which will hopefully give 3D calibration a much needed kick-start).
It wouldn’t be a review of Panasonic’s top-end Plasma television if we didn’t mention the other “P”: Pioneer. Panasonic plasmas have never had the same precise attention to detail that the departed manufacturer provided, but they come very close in a number of areas, and are considerably less expensive. That’s not to say that Pioneer aren’t missed – not by a long shot – but once again, we feel Panasonic plasma TVs offer excellent value for money for the majority of users. Still, we’re a little disappointed to see that the same brightness shifting issues that we spotted on the G30 and GT30 series are present to some degree on the VT30. It’s more difficult to take a “forest for the trees” approach on the company’s flagship range, although we feel the issues are minor.
It’s not cheap, and doesn’t offer the same level of value for money as the GT30 series, but the TX-P42VT30B excels in most areas. Its black level is one of the deepest we’ve measured from a Panasonic Plasma (or any Plasma, for that matter), its Greyscale, Gamma and Colour accuracy are measurably near-flawless (although small shifts are noticeable in practice), and its 3D pictures are nearly crosstalk-free. There’s also no serious input lag, meaning that gaming on the TX-P42VT30 is an incredibly fun experience. If you’re an enthusiast user who won’t be put off by the slight brightness shifting we noticed with dark films, and feel that the level of control the VT30 affords over the image is worth the extra money, then we certainly advise that you check the TX-P42VT30B out. Quirks included, it’s still one of the top performers, and we imagine it will be for some time to come.
