12/09/2008

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Flat Panel Displays

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
From Panasonic

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description--August 05, 2008
With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings an astonishing 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio to the table. advanced pixel resolution and image-processing technology with the plasma TV's natural ability to beautifully reproduce fast moving images, so every detail is rendered with amazing clarity, and all the action is delivered with a high degree of fluidity.

What's New This Year?

  • Super Contrast--native contrast ratios on the PZ85, PZ800 and PX 850 series are 30,000:1, double last year's 15,000:1.
  • Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,000,000:1.
  • new anti-reflective filter; lead-free "Tough Under Force" panel is resistant to impacts and scratches
  • Built-in SD card slot with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player software
  • x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
  • 24p native reproduction
  • Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
  • Viera Link is now compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
  • At least 3 HDMI inputs on all models (4 on PZ800 and PZ850 series)
  • THX Certification on PZ800 and PZ850 series

Which Viera is Right For You?

Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.

One Sheet of Glass Design

Beautiful, elegant, and functional -- a single pane of glass covers the entire front of the television, including the bezel. This design reduces or eliminates the "halo" effect that can occur around lettering and logos with traditional 3-pane designs

Amazing color reproduction

The incredible black reproduction of a Panasonic High-Definition Plasma TV results in impressive contrast and beautiful, natural colors. So you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. For color that's as rich and bold as life itself, look to a Panasonic Plasma TV.

Consistent brightness from any angle

A Panasonic Plasma combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle.

Smooth, graceful motion

When you're watching sports or movies with fast-motion graphics, you want a TV that can keep up with the action. With over 900 lines of moving picture, self-illuminating plasma displays eliminate afterimages in fast-action scenes. So whether you're watching a sporting event or an action-packed movie, you'll always get the most impressive viewing experience possible.

24p native reproduction

Movies are shot at 24 frames per second. Unfortunately, TVs operating at 60Hz can only refresh 20 times per second, which means they must drop every fifth frame. With its 2008 Viera PZ85, PZ800, and PZ850 models, Panasonic introduces 24p native resolution, which means 24 frame per second movie content is reproduced frame for frame exactly, making for true-to-source smoothness of motion.

1,000,000:1 Contrast

The Panasonic's Real Black system (a pre-discharge suppression system) and improved panel production processes combine to reproduce outstanding blacks with superb contrast. Each image is richly expressive, from bright scense, like scorching desert landscapes, to dark cave scenes. Compare the image produced by conventional HDTV on the left to the Real Black image produced on the right

More Colors

Viera HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation "xvYCC" color space actually offers  an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize.
  • Next-generation "xvYCC" color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals
  • Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately
  • Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors
deep color eliminates visible color banding

Deep Color

Where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
  • Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors
  • Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors
  • Enables increased contrast ratio
  • Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white.

Connectivity

Viera flat panel HDTVs interact with an array of high-definition devices and services, making it easy for consumers to access and enjoy content as never before. As of 2008, Viera Link is compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems.
Videos and stills recorded on SD cards can easily be viewed via the SD slots on Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc players and Viera HDTVs. Viera Link means easy connectivity via HDMI cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device.
SD Cards Viera Link


Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VIERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor. 4 HDMI inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television.
network with PCs Easy connectivity with HDMI ports
long life

Long Life

Panasonic plasma panels are rated to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved.
Blu-Ray disc player

Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc Players

A Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920x1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720x480. Blu-ray discs output true 1080p High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste.
 

Which is the Right Viera for You?

Screen Size
Measured
Diagonally
 1080p
Full HD
1920 x 1080 pixels
 Native
Contrast
Ratio
 PC Input
 THX
Cert
 24p
 Speakers
 HDMI
Inputs
 One Sheet
of Glass
Design
 Swivel
Base
 Shades
of
Gradation
 H.264
Codec
 Digital
Cinema Color
 Studio
Reference
Mode
 Pro
Setting
Menu
 Serial
Port
 Standard Features
TH-42PX80U
 42 inches
15,000:1


2
 3

4,096




  • 480 Hz Sub-field Drive Technology
  • Anti-Reflective Filter
  • Viera Link HDAVI Control
  • Built-in SD Card Slot w/Photo Viewer
  • Deep Color Technology
  • x.v. Color
  • 3D Color Mangement
  • Sub-Pixel Controller
  • Motion Pattern Noise Reduction
  • Anti-Image Retention Mode
  • Game Mode
  • Scratch and Impact Rsistant Panel
  • 100,000 Hours to Panel Half-Brightness (>30 years @ 8 hours/day)
  • Lead-free Panel
TH-50PX80U
 50 inches
15,000:1


2
 3

4,096




TH-42PZ80U
 42 inches check 20,000:1


2
 3

4,096




TH-46PZ80U
 46 inches check 20,000:1


2
 3

4,096




TH-50PZ80U
 50 inches check 20,000:1


2
 3

4,096




TH-42PZ85U
 42 inches check 30,000:1 check

2
 3

4,096




TH-46PZ85U
 46 inches check 30,000:1
 check

2
 3

4,096




TH-50PZ85U
 50 inches check 30,000:1 check

2
 3

4,096




TH-42PZ800U
 42 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 4,096




TH-46PZ800U 46 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 4,096




TH-50PZ800U 50 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 4,096




TH-58PZ800U 58 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 4,096




TH-46PZ850U 46 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-50PZ850U 50 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-58PZ850U 58 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-65PZ850U 65 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
 4
 check check 5,120 check check check check check

Customer Reviews

A Great Choice For My First Plasma TV5
After considerable investigation of the TV's available in the Plasma HDTV market, I chose the "Panasonic TH-50PZ800U" based on a combination of features, performance, and price. An added bonus is that it is projected as possessing a 100,000 hour lifetime--seldom heard of in this market presently. It has 4 HDMI inputs that will allow for future growth. After one month I am delighted with the television and feel comfortable recommending it to anyone in the market.

It is a beautiful television with a very dark screen (when off) surrounded by a black classy, nonintrusive bezel. Mine sits on a swivel stand that comes with it although it could be easily mounted on a rear stand or wall. It has a p.c. input and an SD card slot with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player software. It also has a game mode function that automatically adjusts the image quality appropriate to game needs.

I am not a techie so I will just mention that it 1920 X 1080 resolution with 5120 shades of gradation. It represents a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio which is part of what Panasonic calls its "Real Black" system which seems highly impressive. It has 24P native reproduction which will most be appreciated while watching Blu-Ray movies.

For me, I find the contrast between a program or sports event on regular mode versus the same scenes on HDTV mode to be an incredible difference--a difference that makes the additional cost of a plasma screen to be well worth the cost. There is amazing color reproduction with extremely high contrast ratios that produce brighter" whites" and darker "blacks".

My Panasonic is slightly recessed where it is mounted so I have no problem with screen reflection of any kind; indeed, I find consistent and distortion free brightness from any viewing angle. Similarly, as promised in Plasma screen televisions, there is very fluid, smooth and graceful movement in any program, sports event, or action sequence.

This Panasonic carries the prestigious THX certification and once you watch an event in that mode you will not want to watch any other mode. The "Panasonic TH-50PZ800U" has four speakers that provide decent quality sound reproduction when you are not running the TV through your sound system or a receiver.

I can heartily recommend the "Panasonic TH-50PZ800U" to anyone seeking value, multiple features, and great performance in the current Plasma HDTV market.

Cognitive Dissonance5
I researched HDTVs for a couple of months, and decided to pull the trigger on the 50pz800u. I am very pleased with my decision. I think the 800u is the best high-end plasma for the money.

After reading countless CNET reviews, Amazon reviews, and AVSforum comments, I narrowed my decision to the Samsung LN46A650 LCD, Pioneer 5020FD Plasma, and the Panny 800u. After watching a couple of football games at Best Buy, I decided that plasma was the way to go--sports looked incredible.

The Pioneer Kuro line has the best picture quality and black levels, but I feel that they have poor value. In my opinion, the differences in quality are not worth the premium you must pay for the Kuros (especially the Elites).

Having said that, the Panny looks far better at home than it does in any store. This is especially true in the THX mode. The THX mode was a major selling point for me, and it looked mediocre at best inside many brick & mortar stores. I knew that I would never have my HDTV calibrated and the 800u has a very accurate picture right out of the box with the THX mode.

Additional thoughts:

- After you watch the THX mode (especially at night) it is hard to go back to vivid. I never realized just how cartoonish colors were in the vivid setting.

- Viera link is a great feature. To control my surround sound (Panny HTIB) or Blu-ray player, I can conveniently use the TV's remote--a very underrated feature.

- 24 fps. I was excited about the 24 frames-per-second feature, hoping it would be a more film-like experience. As so many have noted--there is definitely flicker that is clearly visible in bright scenes. Flicker seems the least-noticeable when you are looking directly at the tv from a distance. If this is a major selling point for you--try and find an 800u at a store that is hooked up to a Blu-ray player and watch. I can't handle it, some can.

- Shipping. Amazon's shipping (through Pilot) was great. I received the television 5 days before I thought I would, in perfect condition. Pilot called me twice to notify me of the TV's delivery. Do not let ordering such a valuable product online scare you (its a LOT CHEAPER). This was my first major purchase ($1000+) from an online retailer--and I am extremely pleased.

- Value. As I mentioned before, I wanted a high-end HDTV with a lot of relevant features (the Samsung's 650 series hooks up to the internet for news on your TV--but who really uses that?) and a great price/value ratio. If money isn't an option, get an Elite. Otherwise, spend the money you save on surround sound.

I wanted the best HDTV I could possibly buy for under $2000---and I made the right decision going with the 800u.

Beautiful picture5
Beautiful picture. Easy setup. Love having so many inputs. Also have Viera DVD setup. Saved hundreds off retail price.


List Price: $2,499.99
Price: $1,829.08
Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Posted by taatoo at 5:15 PM

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