Panasonic VIERA TC-P42ST30 42-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Review
Panasonic VIERA TC-P42ST30 42-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Feature
- Full HD 3D
- Infinite Black 2 Panel
- VIERA Connect Wi-Fi Ready
- VIERA Image Viewer H.264 with 3D Playback
3D Technology Checklist
This product is 3D-related. To help you get a great 3D experience, use the checklist below to ensure you have everything you need. 3D viewing requires:
 | A Display First, you'll need a 3D-ready display--whether it's a 3D HDTV, 3D projector, or 3D computer monitor. These displays have more processing power than standard 2D models for displaying 3D images in rapid succession. |
 | A Source Your display may be ready for 3D playback, but you'll still need a device to read 3D content. This can be a cable box with a subscription to a 3D channel, a 3D Blu-ray Disc player, or a PlayStation 3 system. |
 | 3D Content 3D content--the actual entertainment, in other words--will be played back using the source mentioned above, whether it's a 3D broadcast from your cable provider, a 3D Blu-ray Disc, or a 3D video game. |
 | 3D Glasses For now, the vast majority of 3D HDTVs require glasses for 3D viewing. Many use powered "active shutter" glasses, others polarized "passive" glasses. You'll need one pair per viewer, and they'll have to be compatible with your display, whether they're the same brand, or a pair of "universal" glasses designed to work across brands. |
 | HDMI Cable To connect your source (such as a 3D Blu-ray Disc player) to your display, you'll need a high-speed HDMI cable. Cables with this designation feature bandwidth speeds up to 10.2 Gbps (gigabits per second), for carrying the 3D signal without any loss of quality. |
If you want to get more information about 3D, shop our 3D products, watch videos, or interact with other customers, we invite you to visit 3D 101, our customer center about everything 3D. | |
Internet-Ready Television
Internet-ready TVs use your broadband connection to deliver dynamic content, whether it's streaming video from Netflix, new music from Pandora, or a quick glance at today's weather forecast.
Although there is overlap, each manufacturer offers a unique bundle of free or paid services, including streaming video and music, social networking apps, online photo galleries, news and financial updates, weather info, sports scores, and a variety of other smartphone-like applications.
Manufacturers continue to add new content to their offerings, keeping customers current through firmware updates, and making a bit of research a prudent step in your buying decision.
Learn more about Internet TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at our Internet TV 101 customer center.
(March 2011)
Step into the 3D World. The VIERA ST30 Series Full HD 3D Plasmas create an all new viewing experience by putting you inside the action and creating a new world of TV viewing realism.
Infinite Black 2
In new VIERA models, contrast in brightly lit locations has been significantly improved. Enhancements to the panel and cells help reproduce images with smooth, natural gradation and deep, rich blacks even when viewed in bright surroundings. In movies, the true, deep blacks faithfully convey the intent of the filmmakers, adding power and realism to the viewing experience.
Full-time 1080 Moving Picture Resolution
VIERA plasma TVs have 1,080 lines of moving-picture resolution. Newly developed phosphors with minimal afterimages and a new motion compensating technology have made it possible to render faster-moving images with greater sharpness. This far surpasses the APDC moving-picture resolution measurement standard of 5 seconds by providing a moving-picture resolution of 1,080 lines at the 1.5-second level. And it shows the inherently clear motion of VIERA TVs in both 2D and 3D images.
3D 24p Cinema Smoother
VIERA incorporates technology that analyzes picture information in both the preceding and succeeding frames, and creates a precise supplementary frame between them. This suppresses the jerky effect seen in movies, so playback is smooth and natural-looking. The distinctive tonal qualities and atmosphere of the movie are preserved, and you enjoy extremely lifelike 3D images.
Frame Sequential Technology
Panasonic uses Full-HD Frame Sequential technology to create its 3D images. Images recorded in 1920 x 1080 pixels for both the right-eye and the left-eye alternately flash on the screen at the ultra-high rate of 120 frames per second. When you view the screen through active-shutter glasses that open and close each lens in sync with the alternating images, you see breathtaking FULL HD 3D pictures with stunning power and realism.
Brilliant Luminance and Superb Blacks
By combining the highly light-transmissive IPS Alpha Panel and high-brightness backlight, Panasonic have attained both high contrast and low power consumption. Also, by detecting the contrasting parts of the scene, the backlight is adjusted to maintain a brightness that is optimal for each area. Deep blacks are reproduced with no fading. The contrast between the brilliance of diamond-like stars and the deep black of the night sky produces a sharp, crisp image.600Hz Sub-field Drive
600Hz technology lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images. For even greater clarity with motion images, Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology. This technology converts the motion in each scene into dots. And each frame is practically displayed for a shorter length of time than in previous systems, to reduce aftereffects.
3D Image Viewer
It's easy to view 3D photos and movies you shot yourself on the big VIERA screen. After shooting with your 3D-compatible camera or camcorder, simply insert the SD card into the slot on a 3D-compatible VIERA TV. The viewing is incredible, with images so realistic it feels as though you're right back in the moment. You'll find that life's special moments are even more memorable when you preserve them in 3D.
VIERA Connect
The exciting world of IPTV, centering on TV, is about to begin for the enjoyment of the entire family. Now you can enjoy intuitive remote control while relaxing on the living room sofa, with a wide variety of content at your fingertips. In the near future, TV will also be able to link with a tablet device to achieve completely new forms of entertainment that you've never before experienced.
VIERA Link
VIERA Link interlinks the operation of a variety of AV devices, so you can operate them all using only the VIERA remote control. Setup is easy simply connect the compatible devices to each other via HDMI cables.
VIERA Remote
VIERA remote is a TV remote controller app for select Panasonic VIERA HDTVs that uses your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad (of iOS 4.2 or later) to control TV channel selection, input selection, and volume control. Included features are gesture control, a keyboard user Interface, and a power off button. Learn more about Panasonic’s VIERA remote app.
