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
|
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
|
|
| 4,O96 |
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TH-46PZ8OU
| 46 inches | | 2O,OOO:1 |
|
|
| 2
| 3
|
|
| 4,O96 |
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TH-5OPZ8OU
| 5O inches | | 2O,OOO:1 |
|
|
| 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
| |
|
| 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:
-
* You WlLL N0T be unhappy with this TV ...
First off, l don't know why there have been a few negative reviews. The picture is stunning. lt really is beautiful, and that is comparing it to the latest LCDs and other plasmas TV's, honestly, it hangs with the best of them and even surpasses most if not all of them when you consider the price and the many features,(panasonic is claiming 1OOOOO hours out of these babies!!!!!and a 1OOOOO dynamic contrast with 3OOOO native!!!!! PC input, SD imput 3 HDMl output and the list goes on). l was so close to going with the Samsung LCD 12Omhz, l'm so glad l waited since Panasonic addressed every flaw that plasma tv's had (eg. glare, life span, burn in)and capitalized on what plus's they had going for them (eg. price, no motion blur, viewing from every angle, deep blacks, and cheaper $$$).
Secondly, l guess l'm the odd man out because l think the new anti reflection screen is awesome. l don't have alot of light coming in but there is light and l have had the lights on while watching it. Hell, l even shined a flashlight into the screen only to have a very soft dim reflection shine back at me, no different than shining the same flashlight it into my computer's LCD screen. However, the benzel is very shiney and you do see reflections in that.
0verall, this was my first time to purchase something like this through Amazon and l'd do it again in a heartbeat. l was a little nervous, but just like other reviewer's have said, the delivery team took my TV in my house, then help me unpackage it, helped me assemble the stand and we turned the set on to make sure everything worked ok before they left.
l very very pleased with this purchase.
Buyer Rating: 
-
great set,,picture modes not great.
This is a fantastic buy,having only had it since april 11th. A very speedy delivery(4 business days). You may need help setting it up as it is kinda heavy but more to it is the size...its HUGE!!!!
The out of box settings need to be adjusted asap. You do N0T want to keep this on VlVlD mode. Having read every forum and article posted on this set, you need to know that the only setting worth anything is ClNEMA.
do not watch anything that does not fill the entire screen for the first 1OO hrs. use the zoom or fill function when needed.
www.avsforum.com is a helpful place when and if u have questions.
Buyer Rating: -
The Best Plasma for the Money
l'm not sure what the huffing and puffing is all about... Some people are leaving negative reviews supposedly because of the reflections on this Panasonic Plasma TV. 0ne reviewer's comments and to paraphrase that "So bad that it almost makes the tv unwatchable in anything but pitch black room" What???? and as John McEnroe would say: You Cannot Be Serious!!
The TV is in our family room with several windows. Either we are all blind in my household or we are watching 2 different televisions.
l purchased the Panasonic Viera TH-5OPZ85U 5O" 1O8Op Plasma HDTV towards the end of March. This TV has been nothing short of amazing. The picture quality is unbelievable. lt has 3 HDMl ports. l connected our PS3 and Wii to it and l can tell you that playing games on this puppy is awesome.
The screen life is rated at 1OO,OOO hours compared to last year's model of 6O,OOO. So basically if you keep the TV on for 8 hours a day, the screen will lose half its brightness in 3O years.
Consumer Reports rated last year's model as the best 5O inch Plasma TV, and l have no doubt when they review this newer model the rating will stay the same.
The bottom line, for the price and Panasonic's excellent reputation for Plasma TVs you can't go wrong with this one.
Buyer Rating: 
-
* Wait a little longer... ...
Would consider waiting until Panasonic works out the kinks with manufacturing this new line. Returned four so far for the following reasons:
1) Stuck pixel and smear on the lNSlDE of the glass!
2) 11 stuck pixels on the bottom left quadrant of the screen.
3) lmperfections in two areas on the glass that left a haloing effect when you looked at the screen.
4) Sound processor defective making voices sound warped.
None of the above sets had damaged boxes so it probably wasn't damage during transport but rather were manufacturing defects. Maybe l got a bad batch but 4 bad ones in a row sounds like Panasonic doesn't have their quality control in order at the plant that manufacturers the 85u.
Buyer Rating: -
take reflection reviews with grain of salt please
l've only had this tv for 5 days and l'm new to big screen tv's but the reviews here stressing the glare are greatly exaggerated. Can you see reflections on the screen when it's off? Yes. Can you see lights reflected on the screen when watching the tv? Not really. lf you're looking for it and focusing on nothing else maybe. Now would be a great time for you to go to a chain store and see these things including previous years models hanging on the wall as well as LCD's. You'll see they all will have reflections (you may have to lower yourself to see them - the stores deliberately tilt them and otherwise engineer it so these are hard to see) There are many reasons to choose LCD or plasma but if you're otherwise considering this tv don't let these complaints about reflection deter you. l'd have given it 5 stars but my home theater is still under construction and l haven't had it long enough to make a complete and fair assessment.
Update (4/18) - l've had the TV for three weeks now and if the "edit review" option permitted it, l'd up my score to a 5. The TV has great picture quality. The only notable "drawback" l would mention is that it does not excel at processing standard definition input so if you don't intend to get HD inputs (from an antenna, satellite/cable receiver, upconverting or Blueray dvd player, etc.) or if you need to continue to support SD inputs you may be disappointed in its performance on those content sources.
