Panasonic's 2011 TV line-up - with prices
The 2011 Panasonic VIERA line-up has been unveiled. You can expect new VT30, GT30, ST30 , G30 and S30 models. Most come with improved Infinite Black 2 panels and 3D. In this article we give you the full 2011 VIERA EU line-up overview. See prices (updated, cheaper) for each model, too, or use the overview tables at the bottom.
The many user questions have been answered at the bottom of the article (updated).
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Please note that these are the European Panasonic models. The US model overview can be found here. Most features and model names are identical on the US and EU models in 2011. The prices are suggested retail prices in Euro.Panasonic’s 2011 VIERA line-up
In 2011 Panasonic introduced new designs. The bezel is now slimmer and black and the TVs are slimmer. The flaghip model VT30 will also feature a new one-sheet-of-glass design.
Panasonic says that they in 2011 will focus on the three areas; picture quality, Smart Viera and design.
Panasonic 2011 VIERA line-up
Panasonic promises improvements to picture quality and 3D picture quality as well. Two new panels have been developed called Infinite Black 2 and Infinite Black 2 Pro. Some of the improvements include deeper blacks levels, reduced 3D crosstalk on the 3D models and higher light output that requires lower energy consumption. Panasonic also says that all Full HD plasma TVs in 2011 will use the new faster phosphor introduced on the VT20/VT25 in 2010. THX is also found on most models. To learn more about the new panels see this article.
Panasonic 2011 VIERA line-up
3D continues to be a key focus point for Panasonic and with the new lighter 3D glasses the experience is better, Panasonic promises. Panasonic has made several improvements to 3D, including a 3D picture circuit that aims to improve 3D depth and lower 3D crosstalk. Panasonic also says that the increased light output helps to create immersive 3D pictures.
Panasonic 2011 VIERA line-up
Panasonic has introduced a new internet system called Viera Connect. With this new internet platform Panasonic will offer video-on-demand, YouTube access, mini-games and localized content for most countries. The games will be delivered as cloud services with Panasonic’s partner Gameloft. New ”Apps” can be downloaded as both free and paid services.
The Smart Viera universe will also provide acces to social media services such as Facebook. Panasonic also mentions a Ustream service that lets users put their content on the internet and then stream it to their Panasonic TVs with Viera Connect.
Other features include built-in Wi-Fi in the high-end models and DLNA in most models.The EU models will have additional multimedia functionality such as USB HDD recording.Overview of Panasonic 2011 VIERA line-up
Below you’ll find the different Panasonic 2011 plasma ranges. The X30 range is entry level model and as you scroll down you will find the more expensive ones. New features and technologies on the more expensive sets have been written in bold words.C3 range
 |
| Model | Prices |
| P42C3 (42”) | EU pricing |
| P50C3 (50”) | EU pricing |
Available: 2011
S30 range
 | Picture Quality Networking Sound Eco |
| Model | Prices |
| P42S30 (42”) | US pricing - EU pricing |
Available: March-April 2011
G30 range (only EU)
  | Picture Quality Networking Sound Eco |
| Model | Prices |
| P42G30 (42”) | EU pricing |
| P46G30 (46”) | |
| P50G30 (50”) | EU pricing |
Available: March-April 2011
ST30 range
 | Picture Quality Networking Sound Eco |
| Model | Prices |
| P42ST30 (42”) | US pricing - EU pricing |
| P46ST30 (46”) | US pricing - EU pricing |
| P50ST30 (50”) | US pricing |
Available: April 2011
GT30 range
  | Picture Quality Networking Sound Eco |
| Model | Prices |
| P42GT30 (42”) | EU pricing |
| P46GT30 (46”) | EU pricing |
| P50GT30 (50”) | US pricing - EU pricing |
| P55GT30 (55”) | US pricing |
Available: April 2011
VT30 range
  | Picture Quality Networking Sound Eco |
| Model | Prices |
| P42VT30 (42”) | EU pricing |
| P50VT30 (50”) | EU pricing |
| P55VT30 (55”) | US pricing - EU pricing |
| P65VT30 (65”) | US pricing |
Overview and prices
Below you can see an overview chart with features on the 2011 Panasonic TVs: 
Click to enlarge
Below you see prices (in Euro, converted from Nordic) and sizes:
Panasonic has also unveiled new LCD-TVs and LCD-TVs with LED. These will be featured in a future article.
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Questions
Below you find answers to most of the user questions. Some questions were not possible to answer at this point and some will require testing. We plan on having reviews of the new Panasonic TVs online very soon.Do the VT30 still have the"floating blacks" like the VT20 have?
-how is the input lag from VT30 compared to VT20? (which was in 2D 46ms, untypical high for Panasonic)
-could they eliminate the 50hz bug?
-could they reduce the false contouring?
-what kind of 3D Glasses are bundled with the TV's? /sonofs
Panasonic has no answer regarding floating blacks.
We will have to examine these aspects in our tests.
Same glasses that were introduced at IFA 2010 in Berlin (those bundled with GT20/GT25).
Early 2010 Panasonic was planning on releasing LED local dimming LCD-TV:s. Some webshops in Denmark and UK even listed models (eg. TX-L42W20E or B) as forthcoming in around september. Then came 3D-hype. At IFA marketing manager Markus Wagenseil said there' s no market for direct LED. Is this still the case? /Vesa
Due to the market situation Panasonic don't see any big potential for LED local dimming TVs.
Will they release the VT30 in Europe as a 46 and 42 inch Version? /Trigger
42 and 50 inches. No 46.
- Will Panasonic equip the tv's with 2 tv tuners, so with a PVR functionality we could watch something and record something else?
- Will the LED LCD also come available in 42" or maybe even bigger? (46")?
The current only listst till 37" and with a 46" one I would be very convinced.
- Did Panasonic improve the 50 hz issues? /Martin
No to 2 tuners in 2011.
42-inch LED LCD, yes. See the tables above. No to 46-inch as of now.
Panasonic has no comment regarding the 50 Hz question.
How does S30 models compare to S20 ones?
And Prices? /Abbas
S30 has a newer panel with quicker phosphors - we will get back to that in reviews.
Could you check the image noise level and gradation smoothness(VT30). Use your own test patterns, if it's possible. Is Panasonic going to release luxury models like ZT30 or VX300 this year? /manlyman
Gradiation looked good on VT30 but it's hard to say from the very beautiful shots that are shown on the TVs. We heard some very light buzzing but it was really crowded at the Convention so it's hard to say.
No plans for new Z or VX at the moment, no.
Please make photos of the new design and if the bezel is glossy and reflects alot or not /m
See photos in the article with more pictures.
What about the Pioneer Kuro patents in the 2011 Viera line? /Francesco
Panasonic has no official statement regarding the Pioneer Kuro patents but says that they are certainly benefitting from the engineer that have been hired.
Would be very intrerested in the Viera tablet and its retro-compatibility with 2010 panels. /Emiliano
At the moment it's only a prototype. No plans for release.
1) Are 2011 plasma models"optimized" for 50Hz input ?
2) Will there be non-3D model in 2011 range /glypto
Panasonic has no comment regarding 50 Hz.
Yes to non-3D. All the models without"T" in the model name.
Will there be any models featuring Pioneer's CEL (Crystal Emissive Layer) technology this year? /Henri Ruutinen
Panasonic has no official statement regarding the Pioneer Kuro patents but says that they are certainly benefitting from the engineer that have been hired.
1) What are the true, measured Contrast & Black Levels of the VT30 Series?
2) What improvements have been made to improve Standard Definition viewing?
3) Will any sets offer both Freesat-HD AND Freeview-HD?
4) Will they match or exceed Pioneer G9 Kuro Performance?
5) Confirm they have the Pioneer Kuro Patents & how much Kuro Tech has been employed in the 2011 sets if any?
6) If they say, they have not integrated any Kuo Tech, ask why not as it is well known they have the patents
7) Ask, why they still cannot produce a Plasma that offers equal or better performance than the older Pioneer G9 Kuro despite a 2-3 year time advantage?
8) Ask if their Rendered 2D to 3D Conversion process is based on A) Object Based Depth Processing, B) & Based Per Individual Pixel & C) Based on Real Time & D), Are they using the JVC 2D to 3D Conversion Process under license as has been reported in some sources?
9) Why their sets still are lacking in visual aesthetics compared to other brands. /Baz!
1) Pansonic only provides the spec numbers as of now but FlatpanelsHD will examine the VT30 as soon as possible
2) Unknown
3) Yes, at least in some countries.
4) Requires testing
5+6) See previous answers
7) No answer to that question :)
8) We didn't get an answer to this one, sorry.
9) Panasonic has worked a lot on design this year but they say their primary focus is picture quality and that will continue.
Rising blacks/Floating blacks have you got rid of them in this years models can you confirm that you got rid of the REAL-BLACK drive and when are you's going to use Pioneer's technology like C.L.E.A.R - KURO/C.L.E.A.R-ECC? /DV
Panasonic has no comment regarding these subjects.
Problems in 2010 plasma series:
.- Floating blacks
.- Buzzing especially in bright images
.- Retentions and burn-in
.- 50 Hz issues
.- as time passes by, Pana increases automatically brightness, turning black into gray.
Have they got rid of them in 2011? /hermann
They say performance has been improved but we will have to examine that in our tests.
A more open way to record dvb broadcasts:
Now you have to format a 160GB or bigger disk in a Panasonic propiertary format. You can't use that disk in any other device but your TV. /hermann
There are no plans to change that system. It's the same for all manufaturers and is a matter of licenses.
Please take a look at the 2011 models with them turned off and let us know if they are the same green display that we saw on last year's models. Hopefully the screens will look black when turned off this year. /North
All TVs were on so unfortunately we had no chance to examine this.
1.When will we see Direct LED panasonic TV?
2.Are those new C and X series made with 1.st generation of neopdp? I assume that because of 600 Hz.
3. When will Panasonic implement something from Pioneer Fuga technology?
4. Is IFC improved? What are improvement on picture processing in general? /sasa
1. Panasonic says that they are constantly reviewing the market.
2. Yes and no. The panel is new but incorporates some of the NeoPDP principles.
3. No comments regarding this.
4. The picture processing has been improved, especially for 3D. Panasonic didn't get into detail however but further information will be proved later.
*Prices (Nordic)
*Sizes in Europe (Nordic,swe,den,nor,fin) /johan
See tables above.
DVB-T2 ?? /Tonka
Yes, in the more expensive models.
Could you ask whether the TVs will have dual tuners and the ability to record one program while watching another one?
What about CI+ version 1.3? /Badii
No to two tuners.
I have questions about DLNA:
VT20 supports only mpeg2 (TS and PS) and JPG. Will VT30 support additional codecs through DLNA like: MPEG4, VC-1, AC3, MP3, WMA?
And additional containers like MP4?
What about subtitles support in DLNA?
Will VT30 support playback of additional formats from connected USB mass storage device?
I'm interested in these containers: MKV, MP4, AVI, 3GPP, ASF, FLV, m2ts
I'm interested in these video codecs: MPEG4 part 2, MPEG 4 part 10 (AVC), VC-1
I'm interested in these audio codecs: MP3, OGG, AC3, DTS, AAC. /pokazene_maslo
A full codec and format list will be provided soon. We will update you with more information soon.
Please ask about the input lag of the new models. Being a gamer, the high input lag of the VT series was the reason I didn't get one of those last year. /Robert
We have to test that. Panasonic says it depends on the activated circuits in the TV.
Will we see in Europe a 37" plasma like previous 37x20?
When do you show disponibility and prices of various models? /wonko
No, only 42-inches and up.
Will the 2011 models be able to record analog sources eg: analog TV broadcasts or analog inputs via SCART /Helmut
No.
Would like to know if they've solved the 50hz problem from last year. /keyser
See previous answers.
Please ask of they could reduce the horizontal line bleed (banding) compared to the VT20. /xxx1
We will examine this in the reviews
1) Which model is the most suitable for gamers?
2) How much of the Pioneer Kuro technology made into this years models?
3) What is Panasonic's plan regarding OLED technology? /Alexander
1) All Full HD models this year will feature the extra fast phosphor. We have to wait to see about input lag measurements.
2) Panasonic has no comment about Pioneer Kuro technology.
3) Nothing official at this time.
Will the V-series (all the features of the flagships VT series, minus 3D) be continued in 2011, and if so, in which screen sizes? /Ronald
No, only the VT series will continue.
How much of an improvement in 3D will there be with the 2011 models compared to the 2010 models, slight difference or very noticable improvment ?
Release dates for the 65" sizes in the USA ? /Davyo
Panasonic says that they have made a number of changes to the 3D picture quality. It certainly looked good but we will have to wait and see.
The 65-inch model will be released around May.
Will the new plasmas be able to play mkv videos (as with I believe some Sony models) from Usb sticks/Hdds? /Anthony
The full codec/format list will be updated here soon.
Can the new TV's play mkv files with subtitles and DTS? /L Prata
See previous answer.
Can you ask if there will be an even more improved intelligent frame creation on the vt30 and gt30 models. /markiedee
We didn't get an answer to this question, sorry.
1) What about programmed rising blacks on 2011 panels?
2) What about false contouring?
3) What about image retention?
4) Will VT30s apply 50hz improvements from professional VX line?
5) Will offer 58" VT30s?
For the rest of people asking questions: Panasonic didn't and won't use Pioneer technology 'cos it'll change it's panel design entirely. And the 50hz bug was partially improved on 2011s VX professional (very expensive) line but not fully eliminated. So, no hopes for VT30 on any of these, ok? /Hernan
1) No comment from Panasonic
2) We will have to check in the reviews.
3) Panasonic says that a new phosphor will reduce image retention but we will have to check later.
4) Unclear at the moment.
5) No 58-inch VT30, no.
They saiy that DT30 LCD have a deep black. How deep is it and how it's achieved? /Željko Kerum
Deep Black is a Edge LED panel with limited local dimming. FlatpanelsHD has to measure that but you have to remember that it's a IPS panel and therefore not the deepest blacks available on the market unless systems such as full local dimming are enabled.
What will be the best LED HDTV model without 3D/Internet to play videogames? In 32 inches. /maxmal23
Hard to say. We will know when we have some more experience with the new models.