Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV

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Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV

PRODUCT FEATURES:42" Class (41.6" diagonal) Widescreen Viera Plasma 1080p HDTV with Anti-Reflective FilterDeep color technologyGame modeBuilt-in SD card slot / GalleryPlayer ready to view3 HDMI inputs and Viera Link HDAVI control

With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings an astonishing 1,000,000:1 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, 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?

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.

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 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

	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.

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.

Panasonic High Definition (HD) Image Gallery -- powered by GalleryPlayer GalleryPlayer allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition (HD) art and photography on your Panasonic high definition TV. Use the free GalleryPlayer software to purchase and download the images you like, then play them on your Panasonic HDTV right from your PC. Sign-up is easy and free. Plus, you get a free collection of high definition images to enjoy right away in your home or office. Download GalleryPlayer absolutely FREE and get a collection of ten high definition images to enjoy immediately. Buy additional images for as little as $0.99 each. Examples of some of the many images available through the Panasonic HD Image Gallery

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 Certification	24p Native Reproduction	Speakers	HDMI Inputs	One Sheet of Glass Design	Swivel Base	Shades of Gradation	H.624 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 and Gallery Player 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		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-46PZ80U	46 inches		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-50PZ80U	50 inches		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-42PZ85U	42 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-46PZ85U	46 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-50PZ85U	50 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-42PZ800U	42 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-46PZ800U	46 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-50PZ800U	50 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-58PZ800U	58 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-46PZ850U	46 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-50PZ850U	50 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-58PZ850U	58 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-65PZ850U	65 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120

 

Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV Accessories

HDMI Cable 2M (6 Feet)
Cables To Go - 40315 - 2M (6.5ft) Velocity HDMI Digital Video Cable (Blue)
Peerless ST650P Tilting Wall Mount for 32" to 50" Flat Panel Displays (Black)
Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
Playstation 3 40GB
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Playstation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
Monster HDMI 1000HD Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable (2 meters)
Monster Cable MP HTS800 Home Theater PowerCenter HTS800

Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ80U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV Reviews

I found I had to tweak the factory settings quite a bit to get the ideal picture out of this, I know how so if you don't get a pro or a guide of some type. These tv's were either abused in transit or should have gone to the trash heap and never left the factory. This is my fourth HDTV that I kept since they came out ( I have returned more than you would believe) so I've had a chance to evaluate a few sets and I know what is and is not acceptable. I'm glad I did listen to them.

I bought a top brand 42" lcd from a local best buy. I honestly don't expect to use it 30 years before getting whatever is newer at the time but if it lasts me 10- 15 years I would be thrilled. I researched and he was very right. I took it back and got another tv of another brand which was worse. However if you watch movies some nights, game others, watch broadcasts on others, or just want the best all around picture this plasma is it. Everything about this tv is better than lcd.

The viewing angles are very good on this. We are talking serious mura defects (uneven brightness caused from unequal dispersion of the liquid crystal or uneven pressure when pressing glass layers together during manufacturing) and one even would only make green snow on the screen. I would highly reccomend this tv to anyone else who is very picky about their electronics. Lcd is ok if you play nothing but games or have a super bright room. The tv did not perform as it was susposed to- it had terrible vertical and horizontal banding. This tv is rated for 100,000 hrs they say 8 hrs a day for 30 years right on the box and burn in is not much of a problem anymore on this brand of plasma as long as you use common sense and allow a reasonable break in period at moderate settings- and don't be stupid and pause a game for hours and leave it on the tv screen. Consistent picture from corner to corner.

This tv was the real deal on the first try. As long as it continues to work as good as it does now I will be very happy. Never will I look at tv the same way. Now that I have stepped up to this level I simply must stay here. I took back many tv's to the store and sold a couple to friends before I found this wonderful tv.

At least I can just sit back and enjoy finally. The picture really is very good. Best buy told me to go shop somewhere else since I brought back one too many I guess last year. After a few rounds of this nonsense and arguing with the store manager who was not nice at all I got my money back and decided to wait a while. And it just works like it is susposed to. I play ps3 on this and have no problems. I simply could not understand why I got multiple bum sets in a row and was very nervous about buying any tv again.

I had previously stayed away from plasma because of the short lifespan and the horror stories about image burn in. The picture quality is not often matched- especially in this price range. I thought lcd had a good picture in the past now I find them inferior. The quest for a 40-42 inch den tv began last year in the summer. So I went to a local store and bought one of these after looking at everything they had. All colors,even blacks just are so real. The specs on this tv are almost too good to be true, especially at this price point.

I have hdtv in most of my house now and have utilized technologies which are better for different applications and locations. I only wanted a decent tv. If burn in was such a risk you could not game do you really think they would give the tv a game mode. A friend recently told me plasma HDTV was much better now than in the past.

volume only controls unit's volume not external receiver and speakers. have to use another remote to control volume which is a pain. chat help with tech rep was no help. volume control on external speakers is fixed. audio w/fiber optic installed correct.

I first looked at 46" and 50" sets, but they use a lot more power, and after looking at units in the store decided the 42" was quite large enough (70% more viewing area than our old TV). The picture out of the box definitely needs adjustment for optimal results - I set the black levels to dark, turned up the Picture (contrast) and brightness, lowered the color and sharpness, in Standard mode. The picture is stunning - though our old Aquos looks great, this Panasonic blows it away in terms of contrast, black levels, and overall picture quality. Another thing I really like about the set is it passes through Dolby 5.1 sound from the HDMI connector to the optical digital out - which I then pass into my Logitech Z-5500 THX speakers (an inexpensive way to get surprisingly good home theater sound) - the Sharp didn't pass through the signal from our PS3 Blu-Ray player. The number of connections is extremely handy - with 3 HDMI connectors I have enough for my DirecTV box, my PS3, and a front connector for the occasional times when I hook up my MacBook Pro via a DVI-HDMI cable. For environmental reasons we wanted low power consumption - usually plasmas lose out there, but Panasonic comes through - only 170 watts, as measured by an independent test, which is less even than some of the similar-sized LCD TVs tested by that same outfit.

I certainly don't. This set is cheaper than most LCD sets of the same size, and the picture quality is better. Definitely recommended. Blu-Ray discs are unbelievable - Planet Earth on this set is tremendous. There's not much to say about the built-in speakers - serviceable but not great - but who uses the built-in speakers on their HDTV.

As others have noted burn-in and ghosting are mostly non-issues with the new plasma sets - some basic precautions will prevent any problems, and this Panasonic set comes with some display "reset" patterns to cure any burn-in issues you might face. Properly adjusted, the DirecTV HD channels look fantastic - much better than they do on the Sharp or most other TVs I have seen. Fiddle with it a bit and you can get a stunning picture. We bought this as an upgrade from a Sharp Aquos 32" LCD HDTV - an excellent television, but a bit too small for our new, larger living space. (DirecTV tends to compress its HD channels quite a bit - yet on this Panasonic, after adjusting it, the image looks very clean and cinematic).

After a few weeks of online research, visiting big box retailers, and talking to friends, I took the plunge and bought the Panasonic 42PZ80U. Even on break in settings, my xbox 360 (with HDMI cable) is astoundingly clear and beautiful. No problem, right. I've had previous experience with Panasonic and so I went with what I knew. In sum, I got an AWESOME plasma at 1080p for under twelve hundred - While you can get even better TVs if you drop more than $2000, I definitely recommend the 42PZ80U as a great buy. Instead, go with reviews by professionals and peers; there's a really useful AV forum out there that you can find if you type in your top product models.

What I've learned from the experience: . Distributing the images requires downloading GPs software and buying images. The picture is excellent, the build feel is excellent, the menus are intuitive, and I've had no problems with burn in, etc. Second, the GalleryPlayer feature, which I was really into as an added perk, has some hitches. Since I got it last week, I've been amazed at the quality. .

You can get deals online, of course, but i just want to put it out there. First, don't trust what you see on the floor at big box retailers. All the settings get screwed up, so you can't make good comparisons. GalleryPlayer (GP) is an independent company contracted with Panasonic and other manufactures. Well, you also need to buy a specialized Panasonic SD card reader that protects the copyright of the images and runs $50.

It will also get you a PC input, though I just use one of those $2 HDMI-to-DVI converters to get around this, but I don't really connect the PC to my TV much anyway; if I do, I use the PS3, which can do it wirelessly. I saw on one of the AV sites that image retention, which is one of the concerns with plasmas, is as likely on the new plasmas as it was on the old school CRTs. As for picture quality, it's great on this TV, which is the main advantage of plasmas over LCDs. They also were on the earlier part of the delivery window (~10am), took out the TV, assembled the stand, and make sure it was setup before they left. The 85z model does come with a 30k contrast ratio, however, I don't think I could see the difference. I have had this TV for a month and I'm very happy with it. The blacks are great and it's much closer to a CRT for SD television, and HD TV looks great, even upscaled DVDs.

If you like to tinker a lot with the settings, this TV probably isn't for you, as there isn't much you can play with, but it does the job. The price is closer now then when I got the TV, however, so for $50 bucks it might get you piece of mind. I did use one of those break-in DVDs for the first 100 hours or so, using it to watch some TV (with those logos) and my PS3 for no more than an hour at a time, but again I did not have any issues, which was a relief since I was playing mainly sports games, which have those tickers. The one thing this TV does not have is 24p (the specs say it has it, but it's 2:3, not full 24p), which you have to pay $500 bucks or so more for; I have never seen any of the ghosting or jagged edges though on anything, so it hasn't been any issue. Still if you want that feature it's something to consider.

As another reviewer mentioned, I don't think burn-in is an issue and haven't seen any on my set. I actually got this TV for $1,155 thanks to the price guarantee from Amazon, though I'd still get it at the $1,250 it's selling at now. Even if there are burn-in issues 5 years down the line this TV probably won't be worth anything, so I'm not too worried, especially now that I am past the 200-hour mark and haven't noticed anything. Some people say the burn-in DVD is a waste and it seems like that might be true, though I'd rather not roll the dice. I'm pretty lazy so it was nice to not deal with unpacking it and lugging it from the store.

Overall, I'd say you can't get a better TV for this price and I am very happy that I went plasma and got it on Amazon. Finally, Amazon's delivery service was great; they were scheduled to delivery the TV two weeks from the order date but were actually ready to come by the 3rd day. I would also suggest forcing the pixel orbiter on 4, which prevents burn-in and image retention.