Panasonic VT25 calibration

[Emery Wells]

Has anyone done any serious calibration testing with the Panasonic VT25 series? Im wondering how it performs color wise compared to the TH-42PF20U or TH-42PF11UK. We're interested in it's 3D capabilities of course but if you can't show a color accurate image it's worthless for us. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[Stacey Spears]

None of the displays you mention have proper gamma, or color primaries, assuming you are targeting 709 primaries. They can be corrected with a 3rd party box. You may also be able to correct them using Light Illusion and the plug-in for SCRATCH.

You should contact dave [at] avical [dot] com. He can better advice the pro's and con's of the various displays for a studio enviroment. He calibrates these displays on a daily basis. He is based in LA, but does make it out to the east coast.

 

[David Abrams]

Hi Emery,

As Stacey mentioned, we have a lot of experience with all types of display devices. The color space of the VT25 can be adjusted to measure more accurately than the other Panasonic models mentioned; however, the built in LUT is not perfect, and the CMS system is far from ideal.

We have been calibrating many of these monitors for facilities all over hollywood and while they can make for an acceptable client monitor, we do not recommend color grading on them as there are other issues such as floating black levels which affect gamma, ect.

All the best,

Dave

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

It takes some time and a lot of fine-tuning to dial it in, but the VT25 can be made to match REC-709 perfectly. I've been running one here since last May and it's a great monitor. Also,Panasonic will be replacing it with the updated model in a bout 2 months from now, just so you know.

The guys at Offhollywood can confirm the REC-709 success, they're running the VT25 as well.

I have to agree with David, the management system is far from ideal. The built in LUT and base settings are absolutely terrible. You will need a good colorimiter/probe that is up to the task of consistent readings on plasma screens and proper software tools.

All plasmas have floating black levels or blacks that change over time. You need to check the calibration on plasmas every few months. Some models are worse than others, the Panasonic consumer/prosumer models from 2008 and 2009 were dreadful in this regard as they set their voltage leveling to be way too aggressive. The VT25's have been rock-solid in this regard though, best I've ever seen from a plasma. In my last two calibration checks, nothing has changed. I gotta be getting close to 1000 hours on mine by now too.

I would choose the VT25 over the PF20 series any day. First of all they use the same panel system, but Panasonic has (once again) crippled the "pro" model. You get the "privilege" of being able to buy an HD-SDI interface card that costs as much as the display itself. The internal LUT control is the same as on the VT25, the CMS is better, but really just a nicer way to re-package what is on the VT25. HDMI finally supports 10bit and 12bit input (yay, for the first time on a Panny Pro panel we have >8bit HDMI!!!), but Panasonic couldn't just let us have the goods. If you want 24fps/23.98fps, you can't have it. Those rates are hobbled on the HDMI, forcing you to purchase the SDI interface. Actually, I have been told that they fixed this in one of the most recent firmware updates, but have not confirmed. So I shouldn't be too critical there. PF20 series does not support 3D or offer a means for displaying > 60fps.

Grading on the VT25 is acceptable for most web and broadcast delivery tasks, also for first-light checks, preliminary timings, FX work, etc... I would look to a more capable projector or other managed display system with a broader color space and more refined output for serious grading tasks, feature film work, etc.. The VT25 absolutely smokes the Panasonic Pro '12 series and prior.

We calibrated an HDM input for 3D work by shooting the Klein K-10 probe through the lens of the Panasonic shutter glasses.

 

[mikeburton]

We have a VT25 in our facility. Although it's not our primary grading monitor it is pretty darn close to our more expensive Cinetal. Oh, and Dave calibrated it.
What's up Dave! Gotta have you back out soon to the studio when your around the area.

 

[Ido Karilla]

Which probe are you using to measure your plasmas?

 

[Stacey Spears]

Dave uses a PR-655 from Photoresearch.

 

[Dave Blackham]

Has anyone done any serious calibration testing with the Panasonic VT25 series? Im wondering how it performs color wise compared to the TH-42PF20U or TH-42PF11UK. We're interested in it's 3D capabilities of course but if you can't show a color accurate image it's worthless for us. Any insight would be appreciated.

We have TH-42PF20U or TH-42PF11UK. and VT20 (which is the UK version of the VT25.) We use them with an BM HD link and they al line up well with an external LUT. Ours are roughly calibrated at present but Steve Shaw lined up the 42PF20U's which were very good for rec709 and awaiting for him to calibrate the others to match each other to exact rec709. the floating whites have been mentioned I think which is true for all plasmas. You will need a BM HD link or similar to get dual stream HD in to it anyway. Bear in mind that if the workstation is driven from a BM or AJA 3G card you are in the realms of beta or early drivers for the cards so check the format is supported you wish to display, it may be SbS for now.

Id get the new Pana glasses and a selection of sizes, they have an annoying habit of turning them selves off if left a while with no 3D IR sync. Bernard Mendiburu says he has some better glasses on the way. Keep any desktop displays out of eye line as your get flicker from them with the glasses on.

They do work well though.