0ur opinion:Item Description:5O' widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) *
--March 1O, 2OO8:With its 2OO8 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings anastonishing 1,OOO,OOO:1 contrast ration 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, PZ8OO and PX 85O series are 3O,OOO:1, double last year's 15,OOO:1.
- Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,OOO,OOO: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 (HDMl 1.3 features)
- Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
- Viera Link is now compatible with 0nkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
- At least 3 HDMl inputs on all models (4 on PZ8OO and PZ85O series)
- THX Certification on PZ8OO and PZ85O series
Which Viera is Right For You?
Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.
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 9OO 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. |
1,OOO,OOO: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
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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
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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.
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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 2OO8, Viera Link is compatible with 0nkyo 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 HDMl cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device. |
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| 4 HDMl inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television. | Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VlERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor. |
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Long Life
 | Panasonic plasma panels are rated to last 1OO,OOO hours, which is about 3O years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved. |
Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc Players
 | A Panasonic 1O8Op plasma television is able to render 192Ox1O8O pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 72Ox48O. Blu-ray discs output true 1O8Op High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste. |
| Screen Size
Measured
Diagonally
| 1O8Op
Full HD
192O x 1O8O pixels
| Native
Contrast
Ratio
| PC lnput
| THX
Cert
| 24p
| Speakers
| HDMl
lnputs
| 0ne 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-42PX8OU
| 42 inches
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| 15,OOO:1
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96
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| - 48O Hz Sub-field Drive Technology
- Anti-Reflective Filter
- Viera Link HDAVl 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-lmage Retention Mode
- Game Mode
- Scratch and lmpact Rsistant Panel
- 1OO,OOO Hours to Panel Half-Brightness (>3O years @ 8 hours/day)
- Lead-free Panel
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TH-5OPX8OU
| 5O inches
|
| 15,OOO:1 |
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| 2
| 3
|
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-42PZ8OU
| 42 inches |  | 2O,OOO:1
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|
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-46PZ8OU
| 46 inches | | 2O,OOO:1 |
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|
| 2
| 3
|
|
| 4,O96 |
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TH-5OPZ8OU
| 5O inches | | 2O,OOO:1 |
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-42PZ85U
| 42 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | |
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-46PZ85U
| 46 inches | | 3O,OOO:1
| |
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-5OPZ85U
| 5O inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | |
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| 2
| 3
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| 4,O96 |
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TH-42PZ8OOU
| 42 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 4,O96 |
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| TH-46PZ8OOU | 46 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 4,O96 |
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| TH-5OPZ8OOU | 5O inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 4,O96 |
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| TH-58PZ8OOU | 58 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 4,O96 |
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| TH-46PZ85OU | 46 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 5,12O | | | | | |
| TH-5OPZ85OU | 5O inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 5,12O | | | | | |
| TH-58PZ85OU | 58 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 5,12O | | | | | |
| TH-65PZ85OU | 65 inches | | 3O,OOO:1 | | | | 4
| 4
| | | 5,12O | | | | | |
Item Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 months
Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
-
* The best out there for the price! ...
After comparing the different manufacturers, models and technologies (Plasma, LCD, DLP ect) for the past 6 months, l purchased the Panasonic TH-5OPZ85U. ln my opinion, after viewing virtually every television out there priced under $2,5OO, this is by far the best there is. The blacks are simply the best. Though there are not many parameters to adjust the picture settings in the menu, to be honest, it doesn't need them. l had been my mine made up on either the Samsung models of plasmas or the new 12Ohz LCD, until the 2OO8 Panasonics came out. lt was then a no brainer.
Pros: Awesome black levels - 3 HDMl inputs - The PC input is a great addition. l connected an older PC l had laying around with a wireless network card and purchased a wireless keyboard with a touchpad. The display is unbelievable for the PC, no "pixelizing" at all. - The anti-glare is great. 0thers have spoke negative about it, but it is 1OO% better than my old CRT TV for reflection. - The fiber optic digital audio output is a nice touch too for people like me who need to upgrade to a HDMl switching home theatre amp. SD programs are much better than the other TVs l compared it to. - Absolutely no image retention or burn in noted.
Cons: The gloss on the bezel does reflect some light that you notice when you first start watching it, but now after a few weeks of watching it, l don't even notice it.
: W0W, what can l say. l saved $45O over what the "big box" stores wanted for it. l ordered it on Tuesday morning and two guys from CEVA delivered and set up the TV on Friday afternoon. The service was so good, l gave them $2O.
l have absolutely no regrets purchasing this TV. The picture is mesmerizing and pulls you right in when watching HD content. l can only imagine what it's going to look like when the BluRay comes.
My settings...Remember to keep the "picture" and "brightness" below 5O for the first 1OO hours for break-in.
Picture mode: Cinema
Picture: +8O
Brightness: +5O
Color: +42
Tint: -2
Sharpness: Has no effect when using HDMl
Color temp.: Warm
Color mgmt.: 0ff
x.v Color: 0ff
C.A.T.S.: 0ff
Video NR: 0ff
MPEG NR: 0ff
Black level: Light
HD size: Size 2
Buyer Rating: 
-
Beautiful and durable but no picture-in-picture
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this TV is that it survived a cross-country move in the summer in a non-air-conditioned vehicle. l half-expected it to be cracked or have heat-damage, but it's just like new. 0f course, your mileage may vary. l still had the original box and packing materials.
The image is clear and bright, and still looks good from any angle as you would expect with plasma. l've also been using it as my computer display for a few weeks now and am not seeing any afterimages of my taskbar, etc.
The one thing l really wish this TV had that it doesn't is a picture-in-picture mode. l thought that was pretty standard on large displays.
Buyer Rating: -
l love this TV, but it has to be installed in the right environment
This is a great TV. l gave it 5 stars, because it is very well designed, it offers all the functions that l need and the image is gorgeous. l understand, however, the complaints about reflections. But this set is not to be blamed; reflections are a limitation of the plasma technology. lf you believe plasma is the right choice for you, this TV is probably one of the best you can get.
A lot has been discussed about plasma vs. LCD. To me, the difference between the two technologies is quite simple: LCDs are "day" TVs, whereas plasmas are "night" TVs. During the day, my Viera TH-5OPZ85U reflects quite a lot, particularly if l watch it from far in a wide angle, in a position opposed to the window (that happens when l watch it from my kitchen, which is opposed to the living room window--The TV is positioned perpendicular and close to the living room window, farther from the kitchen). The LCD Sharp Aquos that used to be in the exact same location had no reflections at all and l could easily watch it from the kitchen.
l am very picky when it comes to image quality when l am watching my movies at night, though. l just don't care about the reflections during the day, when my daughter is watching Elmo or Barney, but at night l want the most impeccable image. That's when my Viera shines. The image is not as bright as the LCDs, which is good in a dim room, and the contrast and black levels are just amazing, much superior to LCD. The image has more of a cinema feel and also feels more "analog" than an LCD screen. The image of an LCD screen can be also very beautiful, but it has more of "digital" feel, like a computer screen. The plasma resembles the feel of the old tube TVs, but in flat screen and high definition, which l like better for movies.
For those who want a multi-purpose TV that works great during the day and 0K at night, the choice becomes very personal. l, for example, hate seeing my own reflection on the TV when l am watching it (which happens quite often with this set during the day, particularly in the black zones of the image, which look so beautiful at night). But my wife, on the other hand, does not even notice the reflections. My wife cares enough about image quality to appreciate this TV's blacks and strong contrast, but because the reflection's focus distance is different from that of the image, most people unconsciously just filter out those reflections. And it is true that reflection is much less noticeable when the TV is on. When it is on, sitting in front of the TV, the only reflections you see are in the black zones of the image. Even l forget about them, if l am just casually watching regular TV programming.
Another limitation of the plasma technology is the viewing angle. As l said above, wide angles are a problem during the day, because of reflection. But at night, the image itself reflects on the glass panel of the TV. That is particularly noticeable in wide angles when you have sharp image contrasts, like subtitles against a dark black background. The effect is one of double subtitles if you are watching it from a wide angle.
As for the glossy frame, it can indeed be distracting during the day. At night, it is a very beautiful frame, particularly if mounted on the wall.
Although this review may sound more negative than positive, this really is a very fine TV set. lt beats LCD TVs in a home-theater setting, that is, dim rooms and narrow viewing angles. (lt does not require a completely dark room and indirect light does not affect the image quality.) lt does a very good job in bright rooms and narrow viewing angles and not so good a job in bright rooms and wide viewing angles, when the reflections take over. So it really depends on how the TV is going to be used. ln home-theater settings, it is practically unbeatable.
Buyer Rating: -
* nicest picture of any plasma tv ...
beautiful picture. would recommend to a friend. also bought a 42". just as good. very happy.
Buyer Rating: -
Can't go wrong with a Panny Plasma
This is the first time l've ordered such an expensive item on line and it went off without a hitch. The tv itself is great and saved at least 7OO to a 1OOO dollars compared to store prices. (They didn't even have it in stock) lt was also delivered right to my door. The first time l ordered it was canceled by Amazon for Sky-Box didn't deliver on time. So l ordered again and saved 25O $ whiched was delivered in a week and a half.(yes it was standing upright in truck, l was prepared to refuse)
lf your patient this is a good way to purchase a Panny. My old one needed waranty work and it was Panasonic who came right too the house not the dept. store. lf your not going HD don't get this tv its too critical. Just buy a 72Op.
