Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

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Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

PRODUCT FEATURES:50" class (49.9 " diagonal) widescreen VIERA Plasma 1080p HDTV with increased native contrast ratioPC inputAnti-reflective filter, deep color technologyGame modeBuilt-in SD card slotGalleryPlayer 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.
	Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VIERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor.

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-50PZ85U 50" 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)
Playstation 3 40GB
Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
Cables Unlimited Premium 2 Meter Version 1.3 HDMI Home Theater Cable (PCM229502M)
Fiber Optical Toslink Digital Audio Optic Interface 6 Foot Cable
Peerless Universal Tilt Wall Mount for 32"- 60" Flat Panel Screen with one Touch Tilt
Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV Reviews

It gives me a peace of mind and I know that I am not going to find my plasma television broken into pieces anytime soon. So I went on the Panasonic website and I found some info. I had been monitoring the price of this set ever since it got released earlier this year. My wife helped me carrying the display and securing it on the wall bracket since it is pretty heavy (approximately 80lbs). The problem is that the panel in the back where all the connectors go is not recessed enough. Two persons carried the large box to the second floor of my condo where my living room is and unpacked the television so that I could make sure that it was in good condition, which was the case. Instead, I mounted the display on the wall over my fireplace using a Sanus bracket.

What I did is that I purchased a couple of HDMI "right-angle" adapters (from an excellent Internet store called MonoPrice). Also, the free "while glove" delivery was a big plus as I had read too many horror stories about people getting a damaged or broken television and spending way to much time and energy to finally get a replacement. I surprised myself at watching a full hour of an animal documentary on Discovery HD, even though I have never been a fan of animal TV show. Note on "break-in" period:.

Bottom Line:. Installation:. The remote control is easy to use and it can also operate other devices such as a cable box, a DVD player and more. I use them to plug my video camera. Overall, the sound is excellent but when watching a DVD movie, I use my home theater system (I have a 5.1 speaker system with a SONY STR-DA3100ES receiver).

I also ordered a Sanus VMPL50B tilt bracket (also from Amazon) to mount the display over my fireplace. I didn't use the stand provided with the television. The great thing about HDMI is that it only takes one cable for both video and audio signals. I placed the ordered on a Thursday and the product was delivered the following Thursday. The display sits only 2.5 inches from the wall but it was actually hard to tilt because of the HDMI connectors in the back. The TH-50PZ85U is an incredible set for the price.

SO I watched different shows in Full format mode as well as DVDs. Whenever I would watch a channel with a logo on the bottom-right corner for over 30 minutes, I would use the "Anti-Static Retention" feature for a few minutes (accessible with the remote in the Main Menu). Ordering was easy. The display was delivered by a shipping company called CEVA Logistics.

What it does is that it displays a scrolling white bar over a black background. The installation was fairly easy and took about one hour total. Pricing, Ordering and Delivery:. I can always use the TV speakers while playing a DVD or watching a cable program.

Time Warner can't beat satellite in my area but I am not ready to switch yet. The level of details is amazing. Since I had read many threads dealing with playing a "Break-in" DVD, I called Panasonic Technical Support direclty. Initially, I was going to use the Sanus VMPL50B but, because of the position of the studs behind the wall, I decided to exchange it for a longer, adjustable one. The person told me that it was not necessary as long as the above rules were followed for the first 100 hours of usage and that it wouldn't make any difference in the end. This way, I was able to mount the bracket using 4 studs instead of just 2 studs if I had gone with the VMPL50B.

Several settings for the sound can be adjusted as well (balance, treble, bass and some other effects I am not really familiar with yet). With my configuration, this is pretty much the only remote I use now. I like the fact that there are some extra video inputs (including HDMI) located on the side of the display. I just wish there was an extra 1/2 inch of space.

Standard cable looks very good too but obviously not as good as HD. Not bad. This is my first flat-panel television and I switched from a 27 inch CRT Sony Trinitron. I have been reading reviews and comparing with other existings sets (including LCD sets) for the past 6 months almost and I think that, for this size, this is the best option in terms of price and quality.

The price on Amazon was several hundred dollars less than most local retailers. There is no mention of it anywhere in the user's manual. I have been the proud owner of the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U plasma TV set for about a month. It is such a pleasure for the eyes to watch anything. I know there are many forums talking about the 100-hour "break-in" period. There are some reports that new HD channels will be added soon so I just need to be patient. Basically, for the first 100 hours of operation, it is advised to watch television in Full Mode or Zoom Mode only (to avoid black bars on the side) and to avoid prolonged period of time of static image or channel logo. I have one HDMI cable running from my digital cable box (Time Warner - Scientific Atlanta) to the TV and one HDMI cable coming from my SONY DVP-NS3100ES DVD player (up-converting DVD player, not Blu-Ray).

I picked a Sanus VMPL3B which is basically the same, with the difference that the plate is 10 inches longer, when fully extended. HD channels are simply outstanding, even in Standard mode. My only concern is that currently I only have 22 HD channels (and 3 or 4 of those don't even have regular programming). Operation and Picture Quality:.

Panasonic is a reputable manufacturer and no one can go wrong with this display. So, when I saw the attractive price - with no sales tax - on Amazon, I jumped on it. I am truly impressed by the TH-50PZ85U.

This way, the HDMI cables run along the back of the plasma set and it is way easier to tilt the display. I had many opportunities to look at the set with my own eyes at Best Buy and other retailers but the price from most of these retailers was a little high, when considering that I would need to add sales tax as well as shipping (I found out that the box with the television would never fit in my car). Not only it performs well but it looks great on the wall.

When I switch to the receiver, all I have to do is mute the sound from the TV. The only connectors I have are HMDI.

This TV is awesome. Set up was easy. Delivery was earlier than projected, but well communicated and efficient. I would highly recommend this TV. We chose the tv after reviewing consumer reports, then found the best price here. The quality and price are great.

I purchased thru Amazon even though others were slightly lower priced, and sure nuff, Amazon has already credited me for a nifty price decrease. I see no need for BlueRay until it gets much less expensive. I highly recommend this Panny, and the same for the Onkyo. I previously had a Toshiba rear projection HD that only lasted 6 years, so this is my first experience with Plasma.

The 50PZ85U does put out some heat, but I had read about this. I purchased it based on seeing a live unit, and because of favorable reviews here and on the AudioVisual forum. The forums mention a 100 hr "breakin" time, but I see no mention of this in the Owners Manual.

I have had the TH-50PZ85U for several days at this writing. I am treating it carefully in any event. Setup was okay, I am fairly technical, but I had to read the documentation carefully several times.

I have a new Sony DVP-NS77H DVD player, and the upconversion thru the system is outstanding. The White Glove delivery was excellent, delivered much quicker than shipping email estimated. The picture settings published in the forum were right on the mark for my eye, although the out of the box picture wasn't too bad.

I am completely satisfied. It is connected to an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver which also came from Amazon, all with HDMI cables.

Thanks Amazon, for staying ahead of the competition, and thanks to Panasonic for another great hdtv product.

I am very happy about the fast delivery, great picture quality, ease of set up, and EXTREMELY pleased with the price.

After having the set for a month now, I can say that I have not been disappointed in the least.

Before deciding on the Panasonic 50" I did a lot of research checking out web site reviews, consumer reports, and going to some box chains to take a look at the picture quality for myself.

I then read the reviews from people who had purchased the Amazon PZ85 model where 31 out of 32 reviews were completely satisfied.

I knew I wanted the 50" and once I narrowed it down to Panasonic, it came down to 2 models: the PZ80 and PZ85.

I visited the local TV chain and when I saw that Amazon's price for the PZ85 was several hundred less; that was all I needed to make my decision.

I had never purchased anything of this value on a web site before this purchase, but I can tell you that it has been one of my "best buys" of the year.

Reading the Amazon feature chart entitled "Which is the right Viera for You" that lists all the essential characteristics of all Panasonic Plasma models, I decided on the PZ85.

Overall, very happy so far. Blue-ray movies look fantastic. Standard definition picture looks OK. For this price, they probably should give us a better speaker. Have owned this product for about 2 months. The speaker can be a little bit better. It is not bad, but just a normal speaker for TV. Great product.