Panasonic announces world's first 3D plasmas

The Gadget Show  Tuesday 09 February 2010

Start saving for your 3D plasma now...

Since the demise of Pioneer’s stunning Kuro, Panasonic and its Viera brand have had the plasma telly high-ground pretty much to themselves.

And that ground has just become even higher with Panny’s announcement that its first two 3D plasma offerings are getting ready to roll off the production line.

The new VT2 range will come in two flavours initially – the 54in P54VT2 and the slightly smaller 50in P50VT2, and both combine the brave new world of 3D viewing pleasure with the more established plasma excellence Panasonic is known for.

By that we mean things like a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio for dark-as-night blacks, built-in floor-rumbling 2.1 sound and the usual abundance of ports and sockets. Impressively, you also get 120Hz processing for each eye for uncompromised 3D quality. And speaking of 3D, the active shutter glasses are inevitably part of the deal, though Panasonic has at least tried to spruce their appearance up a little.

As always, the Japanese market will be the first to see 3D plasma action, where the VT2 pairing will cost around £3,800 and £3,100 respectively when they go on sale on April 23. Expect to see them in Europe some time after mid-year.