- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Panasonic VIERA ST30
- 42" 1080p Plasma
- 3D 60 Hz
- Internet enabled
#3 in Panasonic TVs
Released January, 2011
Rated 60% by by Golf.MessiahIt's a great TV if you don't use Netflix or if you use a Blu-Ray player or some other device to stream Netflix to the TV.
Conclusion Check out the Panasonic VIERA ST30
First reviewed December, 2011
Features Key features of the Panasonic VIERA ST30
42”
Plasma
Rated 100% by by C.-Moses--CJMLB (Jun, 2011)Netflix streams nicely and the picture is good for their HD content and subpar for non-HD.
size
42"
70"
60"
VIERA ST30 by D.-Howard (Dec, 2011)The picture on this new set is much better, possibly because of the larger screen size.
VIERA ST30 by QuickDraw (Jul, 2011)The picture on this TV is very hard to beat and cost less than any LED flat screen of the same size, even the off brands.
thickness
Performance Real world tests of Panasonic VIERA ST30
power consumption
VIERA ST30 by c|net (May, 2011)We did not test the power consumption of this size in the Panasonic TC-PST30 series, but we did test the 50-inch model.
VIERA ST30 by R.-L.-Johnson (Jun, 2011)To be fair, the major disadvantages of plasmas have been power consumption and brightness, and are largely overcome in the current crop of Panasonic plasmas.
black levels
VIERA ST30 by LCDTVBuyingGuideDark shadow detail is superb, and black levels look saturated though not the best we've seen.
VIERA ST30 by Nicholas-Righton (Mar, 2012)Don't get me wrong the S30 looks great but in my opinion the ST30 displays better black levels and improved depth of picture.
contrast ratio
VIERA ST30 by BleumonkI chose this because it had a better black level and higher contrast ratio, albiet not very bright.
VIERA ST30 by Jonathan-Steinmann (Apr, 2011)The screen has a relatively good anti-reflective screen, making it better in natural light settings than most of the high end LEDs that have all moved to reflective screens to increase contrast ratios.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, YouTube -
Picasa -
Napster, Pandora -
Facebook, Twitter -
AVCHD, MPEG2 -
MP3 -
JPEG -
2:2 Pulldown @ 48Hz -
video chat with friends from the comfort of your living room -
supports professional calibration to achieve the most accurate color reproduction -
VIERA Link -
0.1519/0.06 -
enjoy realistic 3D videos at home -
access streaming content over the Internet -
easier to share and enjoy your digital photos, music and video -
built-in, Unknown -
2 -
1 -
1080i content is smoothly rendered at the TV's native resolution -
1,200 lines -
1
cons
-
2.35 -
TY-EW3D2SU, 161 dollars -
42" -
295 Watts -
only proprietary remote controls can control the TV -
0.6309/0.33 -
60 Hz -
0 -
None
Reviews Word on the street
 |   
|
|---|---|
 | Rated by 418 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by Johnny-Wall (Aug, 2011) Rated 100% by by CTgreen (May, 2012) Rated 80% by by Shawn-A.-Wolfe--Shawn-W (Jun, 2011) |
Panel
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Skipper (Dec, 2011)I wish they had bundled 3D glasses with this offer but its a good value nonetheless.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by K.-Poole--kylefpooleI originally had the Samsung PN43D450, and was quite pleased - beautiful contrast and saturation, great sound, great viewing angles, great price.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by DP (Jan, 2012)I also got a panasonic Blu-Ray 3D player (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G8HXXO/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details review coming up shortly) and 3D glasses (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X49TAG/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details review coming up shortly) and everything works as expected.
Picture quality
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by David-A.-Hobt--DAHobt (Feb, 2012)The picture is bright and clear, motion smooth, and the image crisp.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by MSgtGrifIt now has a terrific picture with great color, overall detail, and dark detail.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Little-Archie (Sep, 2011)It's still in the "break in" period and the picture is fanstastic - crisp, good and seemingly accurate color.
3d
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Justin-Hall--HereorThere (Mar, 2012)The picture is excellent and the 3d works very well, though I'm not a huge 3d fan.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Travlin-Man (Dec, 2011)Very good crisp picture, I'm yet to use 3d feature, still in the market for a blue ray 3d dvd.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Headbolt (Dec, 2011)I have not bought glasses to view 3D but being this is my first TV purchase in 20 years, I decided to overbuy as far as technology, postponing the significant glasses purchase for when I need an additional viewing thrill.
Content
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by UofAZCats (Oct, 2011)The TV is used heavily for watching sports and playing PS3 (COD), as well as regular TV programs and some movies, both streamed and Blu-ray.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by Strummer (Apr, 2011)Regular HDTV cable is great; bluray DVDs are absolutely fantastic.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by RIP-Felix--When-nothing-is-left-in-your-bag-of-trix.-Silly-rabbit (Mar, 2012)Unlike television where you are lead to what the cameraman focuses on while everything else goes out of focus, video games make it so you can focus on anything in the environment [I was about to say screen but it's more like a window] you want to with ajdustable depth perception.
Video
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by R.-Johnson--Billionaire (Nov, 2011)These videos blow away any 2D videos I've seen about marine life.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 80% by by Gary-Odom (Jan, 2012)The HD quality is quite good, other than the idiocy of the MPEG algorithms that compress video, particularly patches of similar.
Panasonic VIERA ST30 42" | Rated 100% by by FilmFoodie (May, 2011)I'm so glad Panasonic still offers a great 46in 1080p plasma.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Sony BRAVIA XBR HX929 Series Brightest screen Sony BRAVIA XBR HX929 Series vs Panasonic VIERA ST30 |
 | 2 | Panasonic Viera ST50 Rated the best by consumers Viera ST50 vs VIERA ST30 |
 | 3 | Panasonic VIERA UT50 Darkest blacks UT50 42" vs ST30 42" |
 | 4 | Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE640U Biggest screen Sharp AQUOS LC-70LE640U vs Panasonic VIERA ST30 |
 | 5 | Sony HX850 Thinnest Sony HX850 vs Panasonic VIERA ST30 |
 | 6 | Panasonic Viera GT50 Most USB ports Viera GT50 vs VIERA ST30 |
 | 7 | Panasonic VIERA U50 4-way tie: High native resolution U50 50" vs ST30 42" |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Editions Editions of the Panasonic VIERA ST30
| Price | Edition | Power consumption | Size | Black level | Manufacturer code | Compare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | 447 Watts | 60" | 0.0094 cd/sq. m. | TC-P60ST30 | | ||||
 | | 427 Watts | 65" | 0.0094 cd/sq. m. | TC-P65ST30 | | ||||
 | | 397 Watts | 55" | 0.0094 cd/sq. m. | TC-P55ST30 | | ||||
 | | 341 Watts | 50" | 0.02 cd/sq. m. | TC-P50ST30 | | ||||
 | | 301 Watts | 46" | 0.0094 cd/sq. m. | TC-P46ST30 | | ||||
 | | 295 Watts | 42" | 0.0094 cd/sq. m. | TC-P42ST30 | | ||||
