Panasonic TH-42PZ850AZ picture calibration

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3buoys

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#41765 22-Sep-2009 21:57

Calibration of picture settings is something I know little about and thought very little of until buying the PZ850 at Xmas 2008. Since that time I've learnt a little on the subject and made my own attempt using DVE HD Basic calibration blu ray disc. Without employing an ISF professional, the setting below are what I arrive at using the calibration disc.

Viewing Mode: Cinema
Contrast: 44
Brightness: 45
Colour: 72
Sharpness: 0
Tint: x1 notch to the right on centre
Colour Balance: Normal (although I've read the Warm setting is suppose to be closest to D6500 - true?)
Colour Mgmt: Off
Digital Cinema Colour: Off

Set Up - change a couple of default setting here as below

Intelligent Frame Creation: Off
Overscan: Off to get 1:1 mapping i.e. 1080p resolution, as default of on doesn't display at 1080p

In other topics I've seen replies to posts from other owners of the same Panny model as mine. I'm wondering what settings others are using and how they arrived at those settings?

Also I'd appreciate any advice of how to calibrate the picture for other sources such as FreeviewHD or SkyHDi etc - I'm thinking different sources would influence the setting???

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#258379 25-Sep-2009 16:20

Yep, warm mode is the closer to D65 spec setting, however sometimes out of the box the standard looks better to your eye. This is because they need a little tweaking to get the colour balance right for the warm mode. Warm mode also has better gamma tracking, well more suitable to night time viewing.
Again this is compromised a little in default raw state.

The HDMI digital inputs are linked to the freeview tuner so you can transfer the HDMI settings across.
Can't do that with the component, Svideo, compositie inputs.
Each input has a separate memory.

Other ppls settings wont work on your display or the reverse., some may be close, 1 click or so either way but there is to many varibles in the display itself and viewing environment to transfer those to someone elses unit and be correct.
The only sure thing you get is a different look when using someone elses settings, this is not the idea.

The idea is to match the broadcast standards and then the viewing environment no more no less.

You have made the right first step by using the DVE disk to set your basics. Although contrast I would level at defaults on any modern Plasma or LCD without measurement tools.

regards

Me:"I'm not a robot!"

ET: "Maybe; you have some freewill, but you chose your path by arrangement"

Me "That sounds like a program with no freewill?"

ET: "We will catch up when you end this cycle"

Me: "Sounds like a 'KPI'!"

ET: "Did you read the terms and conditions?"

Me: .....

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3buoys

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#258427 25-Sep-2009 19:55

Hi,

Great to get the advice of a professional. Really appreciate the Freeview info. For contrast I recently read it should be set so that it produces a neutral looking grey at an 80% level - sound valid? Having learnt that Plasma's don't bloom like a CRT, I'm finding it pretty tricky to know where the setting should be.

By the way I first read about MasterPiece a while ago when I followed a link through http://www.plasmatelevisions.org/article/plasma-television-tips/how-to-calibrate-your-plasma-tv.html

Interested to read about how your hobby interest lead to an ISF qualification. Are you finding a growing demand for your skills in the local market, as people trade in their CRTs in favour of plasma, lcd and projection? Hope so - great to know we have you in the Chch area.

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#258484 26-Sep-2009 08:48

Hi, contrast is difficult to set by eye full stop. Note my sig image, the grey stripe is one shade. The effect is contrast adaption and the result is that adjusting something to look right at 80% could just lead you up the garden path.
Also note, we not only contrast adapt we chromatically adapt. Meaning the colour in the grey is effected by what you looking at in comparison. Yes there is colour in grey, grey in video is made from perceptually even RGB levels.

Still a niche market thing,NZ being small population and all.
If you are in ChCh area my fees are not effected by travel adjustments and very reasonble.
Outside Canterbury travel can add up and I try to combine ppl to lower the costs for you.
I would be happy to dial in your panel, you might be surprised how good the pz850 comes up.

If you are interested email at masterpiece(at)inspire.net.nz

Me:"I'm not a robot!"

ET: "Maybe; you have some freewill, but you chose your path by arrangement"

Me "That sounds like a program with no freewill?"

ET: "We will catch up when you end this cycle"

Me: "Sounds like a 'KPI'!"

ET: "Did you read the terms and conditions?"

Me: .....