Panasonic TH-50PZ800U Review

 

The Panasonic TH-50PZ800U

When talking about plasma HDTVs, the Kuro line from Pioneer is certainly the best there is, but this picture quality comes at a very steep price. The Viera line from Panasonic, on the other hand, also offers nearly the same picture quality at a more affordable price and this is especially true for the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U.

Design

The Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U looks very much like any other HDTV since it is surrounded by a glossy black frame. To set it aside from the other HDTVs, though, the designers decided to place a glass pane over the black plastic frame. The result? A less glossy frame but a more classy look. An HDMI, S-video and composite input, as well as the basic TV controls and an SD card slot are located in a hidden panel in the front for easy access. It also has a swivel stand which saves you the trouble of rotating a heavy HDTV.

The remote control that comes with the Viera TH-50PZ800U is the same as the previous models. It retains the large clearly labeled buttons that are easily recognizable. Thus, even if there is no back light on the remote control, you will be able to tell the difference buttons through touch alone. The menu system is not as sophisticated as found on other brands, but it is very intuitive, making navigating and configuring the HDTV a breeze.

Screen/Picture Clarity

The Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U comes with a native resolution of 1080p, which is becoming the standard among newer HDTVs. This HDTV is also part of Panasonic’s THX certified HDTVs. When using the THX preset, this HDTV delivers bright and crisp colors. Though the black levels produced are not as deep as those found on Pioneer’s Kuro line, the Viera TH-50PZ800U still produces very deep blacks. The only downside is that the color controls are not as extensive as those found on other models or brands.

Another feature that helps with increasing picture quality is the noise reduction feature. When enabled, it further cleans up the image, producing sharp pictures. Standard definition pictures are automatically rendered into higher quality with this HDTV. While you are not able to get Blu-ray quality pictures from a DVD, the Viera TH-50PZ800U is able to produce better quality DVD images, thus making DVD viewing a bit more pleasant.

Features

The Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U comes with the standard HDTV connections – 4 HDMI ports(one located at the front), 2 component video inputs, a VGA PC input, S-video and composite video ports. Another useful feature is the SD card slot located at the front, which you can use to show off your latest vacation pictures. Though this HDTV does not come with an energy saving mode, it does come with picture presets that can help you save electricity. When setting up the HDTV for the first time, it will ask you what environment you are in. By choosing the Home environment, you will be able to save more electricity than with the other options.

As with the other Panasonic models, this HDTV comes with the Viera Link which enables you to synchronize all your HD components with a single click of a button. The downside is that Panasonic did not include the Viera Cast which would enable you to watch Youtube videos straight from the internet. To prevent burn-in from happening on the HDTV, Panasonic included an application called the pixel orbiter that moves the entire picture around the screen. But do not fret, the movement is so slight that it does not affect your viewing experience. Another feature included to fight burn-in is a white scrolling bar that moves across the screen and acts like an eraser to remove the light and moderate cases of burn-in.

When it comes to picture quality, the Pioneer Kuro line is definitely champion. But with such a reputation, the Kuro line comes with a very steep price that many simply cannot afford. With the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U you get picture quality that is sometimes comparable to the Kuro line but at a fraction of the cost. Thus if you are looking for an HDTV with very good picture quality but are not willing to pay an arm and a leg for it, the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U is definitely worth taking a look at.

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