My Sharp LC42D64U has some minor banding in the very dark ranges only when running this test DVD on it. It passed every single other test there with flying colors. http://tvblink.com/
Actual viewing experience: when watching Bluray Planet Earth, as hard as I try I can't see banding. Didn't see the banding on all 3 Bluray Pirate movies or some of my upconverted DVD's(via PS3). ie Tron, Voltron: Black Lion tin set, Justice League, Moulin Rouge. Games display nicely as well. COD4, Uncharted, GT Prologue demo.