Got one sweet deal from JB HI-FI last Thursday; a 55" Plasma 3D TV with a 3D bluray. You can redeem the docket to Samsung and they send you an extra 22" TV (LED this time) + 4x Extra 3D glasses and 4x3D bluray titles. The whole deal is $1.7k and will go until end of November. The TV is absolutely gorgeous.
The 3D, which I was somehow skeptical about is actually too good to be true. And because it's a plasma screen the refresh rate allows you to get fullres side by side for each eye which is 1920px wide. In contrast an LCD or LED will only deliver much lower resolution propably down to PAL standard which 700px wide or so for each eye. Ironicaly 3D LCD/LED TV screens within the same size range are priced at $6k+.
Having said that plasma technology requires more care and attention. You need to break in the screen as to avoid permanent burnout. I have another older LG plasma screen I bought back in 2003 and it's still working fine. Just need to be aware of it, that's all. Don't run anything in box modes or games with static overlay for the first 100 hours of use, then you're good to go. 3D will actually blur the picture so that will help not burn the screen as there is nothing sharp on screen. The polarised glasses do the work. They are very light and use one CR2025 lithium cell. They are wireless with a sensor on the frame between the eyes. Comfortable too. Nothing like the cardboard boxes 'a la Dame Edna' they give you in IMAX theatres.
Now this TV has a lot of other features which I'm still to explore. USB connectivity, wireless (WAP2), Internet TV as a result, the list goes on.
Also a very neat feature which will convert 2D->3D tv for normal broadcast and all other 2D DVDs you may have. I don't know how it does it but the picture still looks s||thot. Not true 3D as a purist would say but I can't tell much difference TBH. It looks real good.
Then you have a bunch of other 3D types as well, interlaced, side by side horizontal, vertical, etc... No flickering at all. You have to bring the cell setting to the minimum though as the light is boosted right up when you switch to 3D mode to compensate for the potential loss of illumination. Actually the 3D mode made the screen far too bright for me so I got the cell setting righ down but I guess it's just personal preference. Keep the cell to the maximum default at 20 and the screen will get very very hot to the point you won't keep your hand on the front glass when running in 3D mode. Set it to 5 and everything will run cool for hours. I reckon a few screens out there already will burn left on default settings out of the box
Will have to try to display side by side 3D astropics when I get the network setup.
All in one, I didn't expect much given the price difference with LCD/LED but very pleasantly surprised. The image is really really nice. We're talking about Real3D quality like at the movies.
I have another SONY Bravia which is 1920px LCD and sharp as but the new Samsung is definitely on par with it as a Plasma even in 3D mode so pretty cool.
