Panasonic VIERA G1 LCD HDTV Review

August 3, 2009

Panasonic’s VIERA G1 LCD series models include the 1080p, 37 inch TC-L37G1 and the 720p, 32 inch TC-L32G1. The G1 models are the top specification models of Panasonic’s 2009 HDTV range. The most desirable feature for HDTV shoppers is most likely 120Hz Motion Picture Pro3 technology which interpolates extra frames between existing ones (see image below) providing smoother onscreen motion for fast moving video such as typical to sports and action movies.

Panasonic VIERA G1 LCD HDTV

A second Panasonic technology implemented with the G1 LCD HDTV to improve fast motion video picture quality is Panasonic’s Motion Focus Technology. This technology detects areas with motion and activates backlight blinking for only those areas greatly enhancing resolution and hence the sharpness of the image.

Contrast ratio is one of the primary factors supporting picture quality and the G1 has a reasonably high dynamic contrast ratio of up to 20,000:1. It’s a figure which is notably higher than earlier model LCD HDTVs but, it’s not market leading when compared to LED backlit LCD HDTVs.

The Panasonic G1 models have a 8ms response time which is a little behind the current market leading 4ms. If you intend to use the HDTV for gaming, it’s worth noting that there is a game mode to improve responsiveness for when using gaming consoles. However, make sure you match the output resolution of your gaming console with the native resolution of the HDTV as this is the primary requirement for reducing any video lag when gaming.

With the proliferation of digital camera and portable AV devices Panasonic have made a smart move in including an SD card slot. It makes it simple to view images and playback video and audio on a much larger display. Video images are handled by the included VIERA Image Viewer which included 3 types of background music and 4 display effects for making image slideshows more interesting.

Connectivity options include 3 HDMI inputs. For simpler control of AV devices connected by HDMI with one remote, Panasonic have provided VIERA Link which is an implementation of the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) standard. There is a PC input for setting up the G1 models as large screen monitors.