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Home > CE > Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Price: Too low to display
     
Editorial Reviews: 
The PZ800 series meets the THX Certified Display specifications, signifying the highest standards of performance and quality. The PZ800 Plasma televisions feature an improved native contrast ratio of 30,000:1; Game Mode; VIERA Link; a PC Input, four HDMI connections and an all new one sheet of glass design concept.
With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings an astonishing 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio 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?

Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.

One Sheet of Glass Design

Beautiful, elegant, and functional -- a single pane of glass covers the entire front of the television, including the bezel. This design reduces or eliminates the "halo" effect that can occur around lettering and logos with traditional 3-pane designs

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 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.

24p native reproduction

Movies are shot at 24 frames per second. Unfortunately, TVs operating at 60Hz can only refresh 20 times per second, which means they must drop every fifth frame. With its 2008 Viera PZ85, PZ800, and PZ850 models, Panasonic introduces 24p native resolution, which means 24 frame per second movie content is reproduced frame for frame exactly, making for true-to-source smoothness of motion.

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 eliminates visible color banding

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

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.
SD CardsViera Link


Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VIERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor.4 HDMI inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television.
network with PCsEasy connectivity with HDMI ports

long life

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.

Blu-Ray disc player

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
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





  • 480 Hz Sub-field Drive Technology
  • Anti-Reflective Filter
  • Viera Link HDAVI 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-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 inchescheck20,000:1



2
3


4,096




TH-46PZ80U
46 inchescheck20,000:1


2
3


4,096




TH-50PZ80U
50 inchescheck20,000:1


2
3


4,096




TH-42PZ85U
42 inchescheck30,000:1check

2
3


4,096




TH-46PZ85U
46 inchescheck30,000:1
check

2
3


4,096




TH-50PZ85U
50 inchescheck30,000:1check

2
3


4,096




TH-42PZ800U
42 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck4,096




TH-46PZ800U46 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck4,096




TH-50PZ800U50 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck4,096




TH-58PZ800U58 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck4,096




TH-46PZ850U46 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck5,120checkcheckcheckcheckcheck
TH-50PZ850U50 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck5,120checkcheckcheckcheckcheck
TH-58PZ850U58 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck5,120checkcheckcheckcheckcheck
TH-65PZ850U65 inchescheck30,000:1checkcheckcheck4
4
checkcheck5,120checkcheckcheckcheckcheck


Custom Reviews: 
Panasonic Viera PZ800U 50 Inch
5 out of 5 stars.
I purchased this television about 45 days ago from a regional big box store for $1999.00 less than Amazon's price today (10/10/08). I would have purchased from Amazon but for GE Money Bank. Oddly enough the financing I received at the store was also GE Money Bank.

I unpacked the tv and plugged it in and nothing. I had no idea why. The tv was on the floor because I wanted to test it before mounting on the wall. When I bent over to unplug the tv my face was close to the screen and I could see a spider web of cracks in the screen that were not apparent from a distance. I took the tv back the next day and received a new one no questions asked.

The good part. From a non-technical standpoint I enjoy the clarity, vibrancy of color and contrast of this set. I am not a manual reader and like to dig in and figure out how something works. The features and settings were relatively easy to use. It took some trial and error.

I generally use the THX picture mode. I am not a gamer so the game mode was overly bright. Standard was too dark. There is a lot of room to customize your settings. The set is a nice complement to my 7.1 audio system. Watching action movies with surround is great. The set is responsive to the action in the program.

The recessed plugs in the back are helpful if you use a low profile mount but, as others have warned, make your connections prior to mounting. I am glad I read that advice. It was not difficult to mount with standard mounting hardware. I will be adding two more hdmi hookups so I will need to remove the tv from the wall to do so.

I chose the 50" model. If I had a do over I might go for the 58" model. I have yet to see a DLP or LCD that rivals the picture quality of the 800U.

If you are concerned about burn in, which does not seem to be the problem as in the past, you can set the tv to turn off without activity on the tv remote. Good feature for those of us who conk out watching.

Excellent delivery
5 out of 5 stars.
The delivery of the product couldn't have been any easier. It came on time and the delivery person unpacked the box for me and made sure the product was in excellent condition. It's been a month since our purchase and we love it!!!

Great TV--just wish it had picture in picture.
4 out of 5 stars.
Great performing TV! Setup was a breeze--although despite how thin it is, it is pretty heavy. Delivery was prompt and efficient. I wish it had picture in picture, but the HD picture itself is phenom!



Love this product--set up a little challenging--GREAT delivery
5 out of 5 stars.
First off, the delivery of this product--it's very large and heavy--was wonderful. The delivery people showed up on schedule and were very professional. Service like this should be the norm. I doubt our local electronics dealer would have done so well.

Once you get the product set up the picture is incredible. It took us a while to get everything connected properly, and we decided to upgrade our receiver to get HDMI connections rather than try to piece it all together. Keyword: settings. It took a while to get the settings on the various brands of equipment (TV, cable box, DVD, receiver) all to the optimum settings. Once this was accomplished, we have a better picture than we saw in the stores when we were researching these things.

On the way to becoming a couch potato, I am afraid.

Super TV
5 out of 5 stars.
This Plasma TV has a truely beautiful picture. There are plenty of HDMI inputs for added equipment. The sound is great but should be enhanced with a stereo system for true surround sound when watching movies.

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