Panasonic to take on LG with passive 3D TV
iPad-like LCD tech in play too
Panasonic is to launch a passive 3D TV in a bid to compete with LG's punter pulling models.
The Viera ET 5 eschews the full HD 3D that active 3D tech makes possible in order to use the same kind of cheap, polarised specs that you use to watch 3D movies at the cinema.
The downside: lower, 720p resolution 3D content. The upshot: lots of folk can watch at once because the specs are cheap.
So far, the only big-name backer of passive 3D has been LG, and anecdotal evidence suggests that giving away eight-odd pairs of specs - the ET 5 will come with four pairs - has won the brand buyers.
Purist may prefer the higher visual quality of active 3D, but we suspect many folk are happy with a 'have to look closely to tell' reduction in picture perfection if more people can watch at once.
Indeed, Panasonic executives said the company is pitching the ET5 as an "entry level 3D TV" for "casual 3D users".
Is there any other kind, we wonder?
The ET 5 range comprises 32, 37, 42, 47 and 55in models, all with IPS LCD panels - made by Panasonic itself - for a 178° viewing angle, low power consumption and a faster response time than older, more common LCD tech.
Panasonic has yet to announce pricing. There are more details on the company's 2012 TV line-up on its website. ®
COMMENTS
But is there a downside?
>> The downside: lower, 720p resolution 3D content. The upshot: …''
PC World had this to say about passive 3D last September:
"Our own subjective comparisons echo DisplayMate's results. We tested several sets in our Active 3D vs. Passive 3D feature, and while you can certainly see the passive TVs' interlaced look staring at the screen without glasses, all the passive 3D TVs we've tested in-house (the LG 47LW5600, Vizio XVT650SV, and LG 47LW6500) produced a 3D image that looked every bit as detailed as their active-shutter counterparts."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/239599/do_passive_3d_tvs_trade_quality_for_comfort.html
http://www.displaymate.com/3D_TV_ShootOut_1.htm
Re: Passive wins
no offence - but if you cant see the differences in 1080p and 720p then you either need glasses or have never used a decent screen. i find the difference staggering.
At this rate I can't see (ahem) active getting the upper hand over passive. Cheaper, less complex and less side-effects are always going to win out.
However the real killer 'app'/elephant is content. As several commentards have said over the years; dross in 3D is still dross.
Re: Re: Passive wins
Then you've never done the comparison for 3D content.
You can buy clip-on passive glasses for a few quid on e-bay - probably worth it if you wear glasses and expect to use these TVs.
