Dunnersfella: I'd agree that the ST is acres ahead of the S60, but the OP was looking for non-3D, non-smart etc... and that's my pick in the current range of 2013 plasma TV's that fits the bill.
The 42" LED's are another option of course, I'd put the 6620 from LG next to the ET60 from Panasonic and make your decision based on the picture...
Well, as it turned out, you really know your TVs :) I went and bought one last Sunday at Harvey Norman's 3 day sale.
Before I get to that, I'd like to share some major points of my research, which may be useful to others, as this is the valuable information TV manufacturers hide, and retailers know nothing about.
You can also follow my train of thought as I was finding things out, in an email to my friend I'll paste bellow:
"I'm 100% positive now I'll be getting plasma and this model in particular, which is funny enough cheaper than those high spec LCDs: http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/panasonic-50-full-hd-smart-plasma-tv.html
1. http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/the-best-t-vs-for-gaming.452826627/
First I ran into this topic, which is mostly shooting in the dark and personal preferences, but I finally made a distinction between refresh
rate and input lag. Basically, with 600hz refresh rate it's an overkill, since games only ever have 100hz tops.
2. http://lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv/120hz-240hz-60hz.html
Then I stumbled upon this incredible site, explaining LCD refresh rate, and how most manufactures fake it, cause picture quality to fail in other aspects. It also teaches the difference between Motion lag, which ails all LCDs, and Input lag. It also explains Plasma 600hz sub field drive. Dumbfound useful.
3. http://paytherant.tumblr.com/post/20057368974/panasonic-2012-plasma-2500hz-ffd-explanation-attempt
A short intermission, explaining the difference between 600hz sub field drive and 2500hz focused field drive. It's only tie to me buying a TV is it offers extra insight into 600hz Panasonic technology.
4. http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/input-lag
At this stage, knowing that Plasma has godlike superiority in picture quality, colours and refresh rate, I was desperate to research Input lag. While these guys didn't list my model in particular, I've learned a lot about Input lag, how to measure it, and most importantly, the difference of measuring it. Model closest resembling mine, the TX-P50S20B, measured 16ms by photo camera. I'll copy paste key parts, which will translate directly into buying TV descision:
- When reading a published input lag figure, find out if it’s taken using the traditional stopwatch cloning/ high-speed camera method or with the newer Leo Bodnar lag tester device.
- Because the latter generally returns a higher number than the former, comparison between different displays is most meaningful when the same method is used. The camera method would appear to take into account the difference caused by a plasma’s subfield driving method in a way which the Leo
Bodnar lag tester does not.
- For the photo method, an input lag between 16ms and 33ms is good; ≤ 16ms is excellent.A Leo Bodnar-derived figure between 25ms and 40ms is good; ≤ 25ms is excellent.
5. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57587317-221/game-mode-on-cnet-tests-tvs-for-input-lag/
Finally, I found the Input lag for my TV model P50S60, measuring 34.1 ms on Leo Bodnar. Later, bellow the grades, they explain words the testing process, if you're lazy to read it all, here are some key quotes:
"He ranked the other three as worse, and definitely preferred gaming on either the S60 or the Sony. ""So if you're an avid twitch gamer... the S60 would be an excellent alternative."
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSF9972uVTI
Cheery on top of this most delicious cake, a gamer showing and testifying the response time and how it behaves when gaming."
So armed with extensive research, I went to Harvey Norman and spent some 2 hours staring at TVs. Please keep in mind, following impressions took place in a crowded, heavily rigged retail store, with stupid amount of lighting and brightness, with Avatar playing continuously.
I've compared Sharp Quatro, Samsung 6400 and Panasonic ET 40/42" LED LCDs for a long time, measuring picture sharpness, contrast, colour depth, but also motion lag, artifacts and refresh rate.
Funny, Sharp was least to my liking, being able to notice with naked eye how it's blinking repeatedly was a big turn down.
Samsung was incredibly sharp (lol pun), but colours are washed out and characters looked hand drawn and coloured.
Surprising to me, Panasonic ET presented most quality picture by far in ever possible aspect. I was truly blown away. But the sale price of 1400+ was above me.
I had a look at Panasonic E 42", and I would still choose it over Samsung or Sharp, seeing as it's price was 1k, over Samsungs 1200+ and Sharps 1400.
Main thing about these new Panasonic LCDs is the motion flow is almost like Plasma, but it doesn't sacrifice colour or sharpness.
However, the Panasonic plasma S60 50" was on some insane special for $996, and having already done a full research, the decision came naturally.
There was this overly zealous salesman, who was lingering like STD, even though I asked to be left alone, trying to sell me the ST60, which was right next to S60. His main selling point was that ST had the motion flow processor, anti reflective coating and darker black. Which, granted, was very poignant, with the coastguard reflectors shining directly down on the TV screens. I tried explaining I'm also looking for a TV with least Input lag for gaming, which spurred the expert in him to yell at me lag comes from the internet, not TV. At this stage I had to borderline rudeness and demand to be left alone.
Long story short, I spent the last 30 min being torn between Panasonic E 42" LCD and Plasma 50" S60, both for 1k dollars. But, ultimately, I fell back to my research and decided to ignore stupid amount of brightness in the room, which didn't do any favors to S60.
I've had time to unbox it only last night, had a game of Dota 2 and watched Django blueray in the evening, fantastic first impression. More to come later.
P.S.
Play Witcher 1 first, it's a fantastic game!
Trusted
