Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ80U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ80U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
PRODUCT FEATURES:50″ Class (49.9″ 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 controlWith its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings anastonishing 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
- x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
- 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.
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
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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
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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
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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.
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Deep Color
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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.
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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 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. |
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| 4 HDMI inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television. | |
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Long Life
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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. |
Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc Players
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A Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920×1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720×480. 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 |
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| 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 |
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2 |
3 |
4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-50PZ85U |
50 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
2 |
3 |
4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-42PZ800U |
42 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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4,096 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ800U | 46 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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4,096 | ||||||
| TH-50PZ800U | 50 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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4,096 | ||||||
| TH-58PZ800U | 58 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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4,096 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ850U | 46 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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5,120 | |
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| TH-50PZ850U | 50 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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5,120 | |
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| TH-58PZ850U | 58 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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5,120 | |
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| TH-65PZ850U | 65 inches | |
30,000:1 | |
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4 |
4 |
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5,120 | |
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User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Very Nice Set
I had researched for months, I ended up buying a cheap phillips set from Sams Club, had terrible sound, ended up the sound quit working. Took back for a full refund.
After more research I found this TV.
At the time of my purchase amazon was about $100 dollars more then going direct through 6ave.com. I’ve seen some of the bad reveiws of 6ave but many of them were ridiculous. 6ave.com worked great, scheduled my delivery and they showed up when they said they would, overall very happy. If you are going to buy it through amazon, but the set it actually coming from 6ave, just order it directly through 6ave and most likely save some money, I paid $1288, a couple days later it went up.
If you have been looking at these sets you have mostly likely seen the 660?watts of maximum power, this is very high but the brightness of the TV makes a huge difference. I bought a kil-a-watt for this exact reason. Using the same screen, I tested Cinema, Custom, and Game viewing modes, they used approximately 280, 380, and 480 watts respectively. This is a huge difference and will make a difference in the electric bill. I do use the game setting when I’m playing Xbox, but I use custom for regular TV watching, Cinema is to dark for my liking, would probably be ok in a completely dark room though.
Anyway, if you are looking at this review and can’t decide, just buy it, you will like it.
3 Stars Dreaded Blink
No problem with the shipping or delivery service from Adorama. But within 2 months I got the 7 blink signal, and was told that it was a power supply problem. After being without the TV for 2 weeks, it seems to be fine now. I am just concerned that it will happen again out of warranty.
5 Stars GREAT Picture and Sound
There is simply nothing about this TV I can find to complain about. No blur during action scenes, great balance, shadows and color. Tried out our Discovery Channel’s “Planet Earth,” and took our breath away with not just the picture but the sound quality.
We are using an HDMI cord, which makes all the difference in the world.
Burn-in isn’t really an issue with plasmas anymore, but Panasonic has reduced the chance even more by incorporated scrolling bar and pixel shifting. We do plan to eventually get a surrround sound system, but until then, we are VERY pleased with the sound quality. The speakers are in the front framing, and have a great “surround sound” effect.
This is also one of the few sets out there that promotes an anti-glare screen. I find that the only time I have found it harder to see the picture is when sunlight is directly hitting the screen…just like any other TV. When it comes to lamps and overhead lighting at night, the screen does a great job of eliminating any trace glare.
One other great feature my husband and I love is the SD slot hidden in the front panel. We can remove our card from our camera or digital picture frame, pop it in our TV and watch a slide show on our TV! We really enjoy doing this with friends or family after an event to re-live our cherished moments together.
5 Stars Very Nice
Can’t find a thing to complain about. Fantastic Picture, sound as mentioned in other reviews……..
2 Stars Very hazy picture, can see pixels, do not buy
I am not sure if this is purely TV that I bought or it is normal condition for plazma TVs of this size but picture is not in focus, you can see pixels very well and comparing to other large plazma TVs we have this one is horrible. I really regret buying it to be honest. Not sure what else to add but I am very disappointed with this product.
Filed under: Panasonic 1080p HDTV Reviews