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Panasonic tours the United States to promote the ultimate 3D HDTV home viewing experience

Annie Chu's photo
NY DVD Examiner

For anyone who had the chance to stop by the 2010 Panasonic Touch the Future Tour while it was in New York City from March 15-17, it was truly an eye-opening experience. The big hit was Panasonic's 3D viewing experience. At the tour, Panasonic showcased the its VIERA® 50" TC-PVT25 model 3D plasma HDTV, 3D Blu-ray player and 3D eyewear. A small mini-theater experience was setup in the back and anyone could stop by to view the demo disc 3D content that highlighted the amazing technology.

I had the opportunity to stop by on the second day, March 16 around noon and it was not packed at all. A knowledgeable crew of Panasonic gurus were on hand to answer any questions. People had a chance to try on the 3D eyewear and view 3D content under fluorescent lighting and theater-like lighting.

Upon entering the mini-theater area, I was offered a pair of 3D glasses. If you wear prescription glasses, you can easily slip the 3D glasses over them without worrying about obstruction. Initially, I had some trouble with the 3D glasses as they did not fit me well. The 3D glasses' temples were too loose for me and I had a hard time keeping them from falling off. I had to hold the 3D glasses while viewing the 3D content. I was informed later when I brought the issue up that there is an adjustable strap that can be worn to keep the glasses from falling off and make it more comfortable for the wearer. Also, there will be more 3D eyewear varieties to choose from in the future. Unlike the 3D anaglyphic glasses or the flimsy 3D plastic glasses offered at the movie theater, these glasses are much more sophisticated and sturdier. They are active shutter glasses and the lenses open and close very quickly to provide you content alternating left and right eye to create the 3D effect. When you view through the 3D glasses in fluorescent bright lighting you can see the shutters flickering very quickly. The hinges are well made and do not break easily, however still advisable not to put extra unnecessary pressure. Definitely these glasses you do not want to drop on the floor or step on. I would highly advise a warranty plan that includes accidental damage since they do retail for $149.95 each.


Panasonic 3D exclusive active shutter eyewear.
Photo Credit: Annie Chu

A demo disc was playing and some of the content included a preview of Astro Boy in 3D, Grand Canyon Adventures clip, visual art book and nature clips. Astro Boy in 3D was amazing with crisp detail and vibrant colors. It offered good depth perception and even Astro Boy flying out of the screen on his rocket boots. The picture quality was BETTER than the quality in the movie theater. I must admit that I had been disappointed when I watched Astro Boy at the movie theater. The colors at the movie theater were washed out and offered slight improvement from the TV series' colors. Astro Boy 3D is definitely a must buy for any fan.

Grand Canyon Adventures brought you to the middle of the canyon without leaving your home. It was as visually amazing as if you were standing physically there in the middle of the canyon. Splashing water that hit the 3D HDTV screen made you skip a heartbeat as it seemed like someone had just tossed a bucket of water on the screen! All you needed for a 4D experience was someone to spritz you with water! In one clip, you witness a person bungee diving off a cliff and watching it gave you an adrenaline rush. All in all, the Panasonic 3D viewing experience was like packing your house with a smaller-scaled IMAX 3D film theater. This 3D technology leaves anaglyphic red/blue or magenta/green glasses in the dust.

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One issue I did notice that has been present previously with anaglyphic 3D and 3D movie theaters is the color is slightly dulled in 3D compared to 2D. This was a prevalent issue in Coraline where the beautiful vibrant colors were lost in the 3D version versus the 2D version of the film. With the Panasonic 3D HDTV, it is not as severe, but a blue sky in one of the nature clips did seem more overcast. Strong vibrant colors (i.e. pink, lime green, orange, red, turquoise) display better than subtle colors. The gray tint from 3D glasses' lenses is the culprit here, just as when you drive and wear sunglasses to offset the intensity of sunlight. One of the Panasonic gurus suggested calibration and brightening the image may reduce this issue. Again, I must emphasize that here in this case it is only a microshade darker compared to much harsher color loss in previous anaglyphic 3D content. The color loss is comparable to what you may experience in a 3D IMAX theater.


Panasonic chose plasma over LCD for its 3D HDTV to provide
better support of high speed alternating frames producing 3D
content through 3D active shutter eyewear.
Photo Credit: Annie Chu

Afterwards, I spoke with Christopher De Maria, the Public Relations group manager, to find out more information. The Panasonic VIERA® 3D HDTV is a future-proof investment. It offers a superior next generation 2D HDTV with far superior color and crisp clear picture quality. Deep rich black color did not have artifact issues. Content can be viewed at any angle without visual degradation. The Panasonic VIERA® 3D HDTV comes with one pair of 3D eyewear. The 3D viewing experience package includes the 3D Blu-ray player as well. At this time, it comes with a 3D demo disc that will allow you to test and make sure the 3D content displays properly. Later on, Panasonic has plans to package it with a 3D movie, similar to the Samsung 3D package including Monsters vs Aliens 3D. When you purchase the 3D HDTV or the package, you automatically receive Panasonic's Viera Concierge warranty service. This means, you can call Panasonic technical support if you experience any problems or need help with any questions. If the issue is not solvable via phone or online support team, Panasonic will send a technician to your home to assist you. If the problem is not resolvable during the technician's visit and must be taken back to the factory, Panasonic will offer you a temporary television so you will not experience any interruptions. (The temporary replacement may or may not be a 3D HDTV, depending on what is available.) Even when the television is out of warranty, Panasonic will try to help you with your problem and give you a quote on the cost to fix it. A good discount would be offered if you choose to upgrade and purchase a new television instead of repairing the older model. Mr. De Maria hinted that when the larger Panasonic VIERA® models (54", 58" and 65") are released later this year, expect reasonable prices that an average consumer will be wiling to pay. Considering you can get a VIZIO 74" 3D HDTV with wireless HDMI for under $4000, it will be interesting to see what Panasonic's prices will be.

The 2010 Panasonic Touch the Future Tour is on tour until April 17th, so stop by at one of the tour locations near you.

You can also check out both the Panasonic and Samsung 3D home theaters at Best Buy Union Square in New York City or any other Best Buy Magnolia Home Theater store location.

Go to Part 2: Panasonic teams up with DIRECTV & NVIDIA to provide consumers the best 3D home entertainment system

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Slideshow: 2010 Panasonic Touch the Future Tour (New York City)

5 photos
Overlaying frames produce 3D content when viewed through 3D active shutter glasses.

Slideshow: 2010 Panasonic Touch the Future Tour (New York City)

, NY DVD Examiner

Annie Chu is President of the renowned media specialty site, SteelBookHunterz.com, the first dedicated to SteelBook™ collectors worldwide. She is a frequent contributor to numerous Blu-ray and DVD-related sites. An avid collector, her personal collection contains well more than 1,000 Blu-ray,...

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