**Introduction to 3D TVs**

At Consumer Reports, we have had the opportunity to test a wide range of 3D TVs from various manufacturers, including LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony. Our tests included a variety of 3D video content, such as Blu-ray movies, broadcast sporting events, and footage shot using a new consumer 3D camcorder. By putting these sets through their paces, we aim to provide our readers with a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each model.

**Loss of Brightness in 3D TVs**

One common issue that all our test TVs experienced was a loss of brightness when watching 3D content. This is because 3D glasses are designed to block out one eye, which can make the image appear less bright than it would without them. Our tests showed that this effect is not uniform across all sets, with some experiencing more significant losses in brightness than others. We found that the tint on 3D glasses also affects the brightness of each set, making every TV a little less bright.

**Ghosting: A Disturbing Side Effect**

Another issue we encountered was ghosting, which occurs when you see a double image even when wearing 3D glasses. This can be particularly distracting and can make it difficult to fully immerse yourself in the viewing experience. In our tests, we noticed that this effect was more pronounced on certain sets, with some models exhibiting ghosting across a wide range of content. To address this issue, our engineers developed their own 3D test patterns, including one featuring objects with different shades against varying backgrounds.

**Evaluating Ghosting using the Box Test Pattern**

One of the challenges in testing 3D TVs is the lack of standardized 3D test patterns. To overcome this limitation, we created our own pattern to assess how well each set performs with 3D content. The pattern features a wide variety of objects that only exist on the right side image when wearing 3D glasses. By switching the set to 3D viewing and checking for ghosted images, we can evaluate the degree of ghosting in each model. In one example, we observed that some sets showed ghostly images through both eyes, while others performed much better.

**The Impact of Head Tilt on Ghosting**

One surprising finding from our tests was that even slight head tilts could exacerbate the issue of ghosting. When viewers tilted their heads even a little, the ghost image became much more pronounced, making it difficult to fully enjoy the viewing experience. This highlights the importance of considering factors beyond just 3D capability when purchasing a new TV.

**Plasma vs. LCD 3D TVs**

Our tests also revealed that plasma 3D TVs generally performed better than LCD models in terms of ghosting. While LCD TVs were brighter overall, they struggled with ghosting across a wide range of content. On the other hand, plasma 3D TVs offered significantly less ghosting, making them a more appealing option for those seeking an immersive viewing experience.

**Conclusion: Consideration Beyond 3D**

As we concluded our tests, it became clear that 3D is just one feature to consider when buying a new TV. To get the most value and ensure a great viewing experience, it's essential to weigh factors such as brightness, color accuracy, and overall picture quality against the cost of 3D capabilities.

**Ratings: Check Our Expert Evaluations**

At Consumer Reports, we provide comprehensive ratings for each of our test TVs based on their performance across various aspects. By checking our ratings, you can make informed decisions about which models best suit your needs and budget. Remember, a great viewing experience is just one click away – visit our website to explore our latest 3D TV tests today!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhere at Consumer Reports we have 3D TVs from all the manufacturers who have sets on the market LG Panasonic Samsung and Sony we have a mix of LCD and plasma TVs we use a variety of 3D video to test the sets including Blu-ray movies and broadcast sporting events such as the World Cup soccer matches baseball games in the US Open we also have footage we shot using a new consumer 3D camcorder when we watch 3D content on these sets our Engineers notied that all the TVs experience some loss of brightness 3D glasses are tinted like sunlasses our tests show that they make every set a little less bright but we find some sets get darker than others the other issue is called ghosting that's when you see a Double Image even when you're wearing the 3D glasses here you can see the ghost image over the character's shoulder one of the challenges in testing 3D TVs is that currently there are no 3D test patterns so our Engineers have developed their own to measure and evaluate how well each set performs with 3D content in this particular pattern we show here a wide variety of objects that have different shades against different shades of background and they only exist on the right side image when you put on the glasses you can assess the degree of ghosting by seeing whether or not these objects are visible on the left eye image the testers switch the set to 3D viewing then check for ghosted images for example on this set you can see the triangles through the right eye of the glasses but you can also see them through the left eye where you should see only bars on this set the Box test pattern shows up the way it should on the right eye but you also see it with the left eye where there should be just a blank screen this set did better with the Box pattern it's there on the right but the left eye doesn't see anything some sets looked okay when you look straight on but once you tilt your head even a little the ghosting gets pretty bad in general the plasma 3D TVs performed better than LCD models although the LCD TVs were brighter the plasmas had far less ghosting across a wide range of content remember 3D is just one feature to consider when you're buying a new TV to get the most for your money and to ensure a great 3D experience check our ratings this is Jim Wilcox for Consumer Reportshere at Consumer Reports we have 3D TVs from all the manufacturers who have sets on the market LG Panasonic Samsung and Sony we have a mix of LCD and plasma TVs we use a variety of 3D video to test the sets including Blu-ray movies and broadcast sporting events such as the World Cup soccer matches baseball games in the US Open we also have footage we shot using a new consumer 3D camcorder when we watch 3D content on these sets our Engineers notied that all the TVs experience some loss of brightness 3D glasses are tinted like sunlasses our tests show that they make every set a little less bright but we find some sets get darker than others the other issue is called ghosting that's when you see a Double Image even when you're wearing the 3D glasses here you can see the ghost image over the character's shoulder one of the challenges in testing 3D TVs is that currently there are no 3D test patterns so our Engineers have developed their own to measure and evaluate how well each set performs with 3D content in this particular pattern we show here a wide variety of objects that have different shades against different shades of background and they only exist on the right side image when you put on the glasses you can assess the degree of ghosting by seeing whether or not these objects are visible on the left eye image the testers switch the set to 3D viewing then check for ghosted images for example on this set you can see the triangles through the right eye of the glasses but you can also see them through the left eye where you should see only bars on this set the Box test pattern shows up the way it should on the right eye but you also see it with the left eye where there should be just a blank screen this set did better with the Box pattern it's there on the right but the left eye doesn't see anything some sets looked okay when you look straight on but once you tilt your head even a little the ghosting gets pretty bad in general the plasma 3D TVs performed better than LCD models although the LCD TVs were brighter the plasmas had far less ghosting across a wide range of content remember 3D is just one feature to consider when you're buying a new TV to get the most for your money and to ensure a great 3D experience check our ratings this is Jim Wilcox for Consumer Reports\n"