- 42-inch Plasma HDTV with 720p HD resolution; 720 lines of moving picture resolution
- 600Hz Sub-field Drive technology for superb full-HD motion; 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- VIERA Image Viewer for JPEG image slideshows directly from an SD memory card
- Inputs: 2 HDMI, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 digital audio output
- Includes removable stand; measures 40.6 x 27.8 x 12.1 inches with stand
Product Features |
Product Information
Technical Details
| Brand Name | Panasonic |
| Item Weight | 57.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 40.6 x 12.1 x 27.8 inches |
| Item model number | TC-P42C2 |
| Color Name | Black |
Additional Information
| ASIN | B003924U7A |
| Best Sellers Rank | #64,657 in Electronics (See top 100) |
| Shipping Weight | 66 pounds |
| Shipping | This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. |
| Date First Available | March 1, 2010 |
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Technical Details
- Brand Name: Panasonic
- Model: TC-P42C2
- Display Technology: Plasma
- Display Size: 42 inches
- Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Product Description
Amazon.com
Offering excellent picture performance, Panasonic's 42-inch VIERA TC-P42C2 Plasma HDTV features a 720p high-definition resolution and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity. This and other models in the C2 line offer Panasonic's VIERA Image Viewer feature, which enables you to play slideshows of JPEG images stored on SD memory cards, as well as the VIERA Link feature for controlling a variety of compatible components--from Blu-ray Disc players to digital cameras--through a single remote.
Adhering to Panasonic's commitment to the environment, this VIERA model--as well as all 2010 models--features improved power consumption and meets the new, more stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements. And you'll get a long Plasma panel life of up to 100,000 hours--more than 30 years of viewing when watched 8 hours a day--before the brightness of the panel decreases to half.
Key Features
|  Panasonic's VIERA C2 series Plasma HDTV. |
Key Specifications
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Connections
Dimensions
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What's in the Box
Panasonic C2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions| Series: | VT25 Plasma | GT25 Plasma | G25 Plasma | S2 Plasma | U2 Plasma | C2 Plasma | U22 LCD | X2 LCD | C22 LCD |
| Models: | TC-P54VT25 54" TC-P50VT25 50" | TC-P50GT25 50" TC-P42GT25 42" | TC-P54G25 54" TC-P50G25 50" TC-P46G25 46" TC-P42G25 42" | TC-P65S2 65" TC-P58S2 58" TC-P54S2 54" TC-P50S2 50" TC-P46S2 46" TC-P42S2 42" | TC-P50U2 50" TC-P42U2 42" | TC-P50C2 50" TC-P46C2 46" TC-P42C2 42" | TC-L42U22 42" TC-L37U22 37" TC-L32U22 32" | TC-L37X2 37" TC-L32X2 32" TC-L22X2 22" | TC-L37C22 37" TC-L32C22 32" |
| VIERA Cast |  | | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| VIERA Image Viewer | (AVCHD/MPEG2/JPEG/MP3 playback) | (AVCHD/MPEG2/JPEG/MP3 playback) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) | (JPEG) |
| VIERA Link | webcam capable | webcam capable | webcam capable | | | | | | |
| NeoPDP Panel | -- | -- | | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| THX Display | | | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite Black Pro / 5,000,000:1 Native | Infinite Black / 5,000,000:1 Native | Infinite Black / 5,000,000:1 Native | Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 | Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 | Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 | Dynamic: 20,000:1 | Dynamic: 20,000:1 22": 15,000:1 | Dynamic: 18,000:1 |
| Moving Picture Resolution | 1080 lines | 1080 lines | 1080 lines | 1080 lines | 900 lines | 720 lines | -- | -- | -- |
| Anti-Reflective Filter | | | | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Display Capabilities | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 720p, 480p | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p | 720p, 480p | 720p, 480p |
| 600Hz Sub-field Drive | | | | | | | -- | -- | -- |
| Game Mode | | | | | | -- | -- | | -- |
| Speakers | 3; 30W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total | 2; 20W total 22": 6W | 2; 20W total |
| Surround Sound | | | | | | | | | |
| HDMI input | 4 (1 side) | 3 (1 side) | 3 (1 side) | 3 (1 side) | 3 (1 side) | 2 | 3 (1 side) | 3 (1 side) 22": 1 | 2 |
| Component input (Y, PB, PR) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Composite input | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) | 2 (1 side) 22": 1 | 2 |
| PC input | 1 (side) | 1 (side) | 1 (side) | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USB | 2 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Ethernet LAN input | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Digital Audio output | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| iPod Universal Dock | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | -- |
| Energy Star | | | | | | | | | |
| Series: | VT25 Plasma | GT25 Plasma | G25 Plasma | S2 Plasma | U2 Plasma | C2 Plasma | U22 LCD | X2 LCD | C22 LCD |
Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?
 | With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.
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Product Description
***Brand New TV, Torn Box***
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
178 of 180 people found the following review helpful
By Opinunated
What a great buy this HDTV is. I paid less than $500.00 (including shipping) for this 2010 42" Panasonic Plasma.
I own a 58" 1080p Panasonic plasma which was top rated by CNET in 2008. In fact, CNET said it was the very best HDTV they had tested that year and awarded it Editors Choice
I see little difference between this low priced 42" Panasonic and my $3000.00 top of the line 58" 1080p Panasonic. Are there differences? Yes, but they are fairly subtle.
For a number of reasons I'd suggest you consider purchasing a plasma TV and if you can live without some bells and whistles, I'd recommend you purchase this exact model.
1.) 720p versus 1080p: While this is a 720P HDTV - I don't feel it makes much difference compared to a 1080 set. While the public has focused their attention on the obvious numeric difference between 720 and 1080 and assumed the larger number was always better --- that --- in a practical sense --- is not always the case. With smaller TVs, the difference between 720p and 1080 can not be easily detected unless you sit on top of the TV. Professional reviewers, time after time, have said the very same thing. Because of public perception - 720p TVs are becoming a dying bred and offer a unique buying opportunity. 720p displays process 1080 signals without any problem just as a 1080 display processes 720p signals without any effort. People forget that most Xbox and Playstation games as well as ALL of the content on ABC, FOX, and ESPN are sent in 720p.
2.) Viewing angle - EVERY LCD has a poorer picture when viewed off center. CNET, HD Guru, Displaymate, Consumer Reports, etc all note how picture quality deteriorates when an LCD is viewed from an angle. In some cases, just sitting one seat cushion away from the ideal sweet spot produces a much poorer picture on an LCD. In other cases the deterioration is more subtle. Plasmas have never had a problem with off center viewing. No matter where you sit, you will see the same picture on a plasma.
3.) Motion: While this is another perimeter that has been given far too much importance in the specification wars - plasmas are inherently superior at displaying motion. LCDs at 120HZ or better are pretty good with motion but rarely the equal of ANY plasma. What is interesting to note is that reviewers say it is not likely anyone can see the difference in every day viewing (as opposed to test patterns). The bottom line is that plasmas are generally better with motion handling but even the worst LCD will likely look fine to most non-sports viewers.
4.) Black levels. How black is black is the specification that plasma fans love to cite. The blacks of most plasmas are far darker than those of a typical LCD although local dimming LED/LCD sets are close if not equal. This C2 Panasonic is no exception and even in my bedroom, with all the lights out, the blacks are fairly dark (although not nearly as dark as my $3000 Panasonic). Panasonics, in the past, have been criticized because black levels increase over time, but in general, the blacks remain darker than LCDs even after they have risen. Whether the 2010 Panasonics even exhibit this problem is an open ended question.
5.) Reflections: The C2 has a shiny glass screen behind which is a dark background. It reflects, quite well, any bright objects which are opposite to it. If you are viewing program material that is fairly dark in nature you'll be able to see those reflections. With brighter program material - these reflections won't be visible
6.) Brightness: Plasmas are not overly bright - you might even call them dim when viewed in a room with moderate light. If you plan on viewing your TV in any room with a fair amount of ambient light then a plasma HDTV is not the best choice.
I'd recommend an LCD if you are viewing your TV in a medium to bright room. LCDs are often far brighter than plasmas. If you are worried about reflections then an LCD with a matte screen would be a wise choice. Unfortunately matte screens are becoming increasingly rare on LCDs and have never been available on plasmas. Update (9/2/2010): CNET just published a reasonably favorable review of the Samsung LN46C630 - an LCD with a matte screen (but it costs $810.00 for a 40")
While other Panasonics offer more bells and whistles and technically better performance, I really believe this model is the value leader in HDTVs - given its low price of less than $500.00 for a 42". If you are willing to spend about a hundred dollars more then look at the S2 series of Panasonics (latest 1080p Panasonic panel, more inputs and according to the manufacturer - a better anti-glare screen) or if you have even more money to spend - the G series. The VT25 series is the top of the line but prices start above $2,000.00
I really recommended this TV if it is selling below $500.00 (for the 42"). It truly is a best buy. I'd also recommend the S2 Panasonic if its selling for not much more than the C2.
Update: CNET just published a favorable review on the S2. At the right price, the S2 may be the better bargain and wiser purchase.
Another Update / IMPORTANT: Consumers Reports (December 2010) rated this set (the C2) a Consumers Reports BEST BUY. It is certainly nice to have a major publication agree with my analysis. They rated the S2 series very slightly higher (as I did) but what is NEW is that they rated the Panasonic U2 plasma series even higher than the C2 or S2 series. No other publication has ever reviewed the U2 series. I'm not familiar with the U2 series myself but customers should give it a long and hard look. Amazon currently has the U2 series (42") at $500.00. While it is hard to loose with any Panasonic plasma but which series to buy really depends on pricing and that seems to change daily. I'd certainly pick the U2 series over the C2 or S2 if it was priced closely.
Based on two recent but different reviews in Consumer Reports - the U2 series of Panasonic Plasmas - assuming they are priced right - has to be given priority! I keep updating this review and the latest information implies the U2 is better than either the C2 or S2 series but you will have to check current pricing to see which series is the the better buy.
I own a 58" 1080p Panasonic plasma which was top rated by CNET in 2008. In fact, CNET said it was the very best HDTV they had tested that year and awarded it Editors Choice
I see little difference between this low priced 42" Panasonic and my $3000.00 top of the line 58" 1080p Panasonic. Are there differences? Yes, but they are fairly subtle.
For a number of reasons I'd suggest you consider purchasing a plasma TV and if you can live without some bells and whistles, I'd recommend you purchase this exact model.
1.) 720p versus 1080p: While this is a 720P HDTV - I don't feel it makes much difference compared to a 1080 set. While the public has focused their attention on the obvious numeric difference between 720 and 1080 and assumed the larger number was always better --- that --- in a practical sense --- is not always the case. With smaller TVs, the difference between 720p and 1080 can not be easily detected unless you sit on top of the TV. Professional reviewers, time after time, have said the very same thing. Because of public perception - 720p TVs are becoming a dying bred and offer a unique buying opportunity. 720p displays process 1080 signals without any problem just as a 1080 display processes 720p signals without any effort. People forget that most Xbox and Playstation games as well as ALL of the content on ABC, FOX, and ESPN are sent in 720p.
2.) Viewing angle - EVERY LCD has a poorer picture when viewed off center. CNET, HD Guru, Displaymate, Consumer Reports, etc all note how picture quality deteriorates when an LCD is viewed from an angle. In some cases, just sitting one seat cushion away from the ideal sweet spot produces a much poorer picture on an LCD. In other cases the deterioration is more subtle. Plasmas have never had a problem with off center viewing. No matter where you sit, you will see the same picture on a plasma.
3.) Motion: While this is another perimeter that has been given far too much importance in the specification wars - plasmas are inherently superior at displaying motion. LCDs at 120HZ or better are pretty good with motion but rarely the equal of ANY plasma. What is interesting to note is that reviewers say it is not likely anyone can see the difference in every day viewing (as opposed to test patterns). The bottom line is that plasmas are generally better with motion handling but even the worst LCD will likely look fine to most non-sports viewers.
4.) Black levels. How black is black is the specification that plasma fans love to cite. The blacks of most plasmas are far darker than those of a typical LCD although local dimming LED/LCD sets are close if not equal. This C2 Panasonic is no exception and even in my bedroom, with all the lights out, the blacks are fairly dark (although not nearly as dark as my $3000 Panasonic). Panasonics, in the past, have been criticized because black levels increase over time, but in general, the blacks remain darker than LCDs even after they have risen. Whether the 2010 Panasonics even exhibit this problem is an open ended question.
5.) Reflections: The C2 has a shiny glass screen behind which is a dark background. It reflects, quite well, any bright objects which are opposite to it. If you are viewing program material that is fairly dark in nature you'll be able to see those reflections. With brighter program material - these reflections won't be visible
6.) Brightness: Plasmas are not overly bright - you might even call them dim when viewed in a room with moderate light. If you plan on viewing your TV in any room with a fair amount of ambient light then a plasma HDTV is not the best choice.
I'd recommend an LCD if you are viewing your TV in a medium to bright room. LCDs are often far brighter than plasmas. If you are worried about reflections then an LCD with a matte screen would be a wise choice. Unfortunately matte screens are becoming increasingly rare on LCDs and have never been available on plasmas. Update (9/2/2010): CNET just published a reasonably favorable review of the Samsung LN46C630 - an LCD with a matte screen (but it costs $810.00 for a 40")
While other Panasonics offer more bells and whistles and technically better performance, I really believe this model is the value leader in HDTVs - given its low price of less than $500.00 for a 42". If you are willing to spend about a hundred dollars more then look at the S2 series of Panasonics (latest 1080p Panasonic panel, more inputs and according to the manufacturer - a better anti-glare screen) or if you have even more money to spend - the G series. The VT25 series is the top of the line but prices start above $2,000.00
I really recommended this TV if it is selling below $500.00 (for the 42"). It truly is a best buy. I'd also recommend the S2 Panasonic if its selling for not much more than the C2.
Update: CNET just published a favorable review on the S2. At the right price, the S2 may be the better bargain and wiser purchase.
Another Update / IMPORTANT: Consumers Reports (December 2010) rated this set (the C2) a Consumers Reports BEST BUY. It is certainly nice to have a major publication agree with my analysis. They rated the S2 series very slightly higher (as I did) but what is NEW is that they rated the Panasonic U2 plasma series even higher than the C2 or S2 series. No other publication has ever reviewed the U2 series. I'm not familiar with the U2 series myself but customers should give it a long and hard look. Amazon currently has the U2 series (42") at $500.00. While it is hard to loose with any Panasonic plasma but which series to buy really depends on pricing and that seems to change daily. I'd certainly pick the U2 series over the C2 or S2 if it was priced closely.
Based on two recent but different reviews in Consumer Reports - the U2 series of Panasonic Plasmas - assuming they are priced right - has to be given priority! I keep updating this review and the latest information implies the U2 is better than either the C2 or S2 series but you will have to check current pricing to see which series is the the better buy.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By R. Baird
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the 3rd 42" 720p panasonic TV I've owned. I bought this one to replace one that was fried in a freak electrical occurance at my house. The picture on these TVs is fantastic, and your really cannot beat the price to quality ratio anywhere. The only down side to this particular model is the lack of an anti-glare filter. This used to be STANDARD on even the lowest of models of these TVs. I didn't realize when buying it that it was gone, my fault. It really does make a difference. I'm really surprised that they took this "feature" away on this model. I still love the picture (when ambient light sources are off), but, if I now have to, I'll probably pay more to get one with an anti-reflective filter next time.
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Strategos
I've wanted an HDTV for a long time. When Flat Screen HDTVs were just starting to become more mainstream, I was, unfortunately, a newly graduated IT Student...and dead broke. After moving to the East Coast and back again, and owning two beautiful JVC CRT sets (a 27 inch and a 32 inch), I finally, finally, FINALLY managed to amass the capital needed to go flat and hi-def for real (thanks in part to a decent paying job and putting off buying a car when mine died for an entire year). Was it worth the wait all these years? Oh yeah!
First of all, after a lot of thought and effort, I decided to go plasma instead of LCD for several reasons. First, you can buy a 42-inch plasma for about the price of a 32 inch LCD (give or take). Second, the stuttering of LCDs is noticeable and unpleasant to me, and plasmas handle motion with greater fluidity. Thirdly, the black levels of plasmas are better (though they do require lower light to look their best, which is no problem as I'm a low-light kind of guy who lives in the dark overcast Northern West Coast).
I had initially tried to buy a Samsung from Amazon using their slightly-used-like-new Amazon Warehouse, but after more than a week the TV was delivered shattered. I returned it, sending an email to Amazon requesting they simply replace it rather than give me a refund...and my email was ignored. I was given a refund instead of the TV I had ordered. Starting to lose my patience, a friend from work helped me get a great store deal for this beauty. $450.00 with no tax (no sales tax in my state). Nice.
When I took my TV home and unpacked it one of the first things I noticed is the fact that not only would it not fit in my parents' TV cabinet in the living room, but it wouldn't fit in my room either. I had to completely re-arrange my furniture to make room. When I first hooked it up to my ridiculous home setup (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Saturn, VCR, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Computer) I was slightly disappointed to find that it only has two HDMI Inputs (if I buy a PS3 I may have to buy an HDMI switchbox). On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised to find that you can hook analog sound input into the component in, and it will play through the TV while using the corresponding HDMI (you don't have to have an audio signal on the HDMI so you can use your computer's analog out and a DVI to HDMI adapter for PC output). The only real downside to this is that the edges of the PC video in are cropped. Oh well, it beats analog video input any day.
The picture on this TV is absolutely outstanding, but you will want to adjust it to your liking in all probability. First of all, by default, like the iPod Touch, the screen dims with the ambient lighting. What this means is that when you have the room nice and dark as you should for optimal viewing, the screen will be so dark you can't see it. You will have to go into the menus and turn off C.A.T.S. if like me you can do without that "feature".
Some people like to adjust the color temperature or fidelity to make the picture warmer, but personally I like white to look white, not pink. And while the cinema mode certainly is bright it makes image artifacting and pixelation stand out, so I prefer to leave colors and brightness on the standard settings.
Personally, I like my image to appear softer as opposed to pixelated, so I set both MPEG and standard noise reduction to on, and set my Xbox 360 (which I use as a DVD player) to output 1080p signal. This results in the image being up-sampled and then down-sampled, smoothing edges and making DVDs have a more "film-like" appearance.
With those settings changed, this display went from good to absolutely amazing. The richness of the colors, outstanding contrast, and overall image smoothness and clarity made video games look outstanding (I actually decided to keep a game I was going to trade in because it looked so much better on this TV), and animation is draw-dropping. Well-mastered DVDs look as good as they possibly can, and I can't wait to get a PS3 so I can try out the Blu Ray discs that are sitting on my shelf.
The sound on the TV is actually very good for a TV once you break in the speakers, and the only real downsides to this TV overall are that it produces a lot of heat, it has bad glare in direct sunlight, and you might need to be a LITTLE more careful than with a CRT about screen burn-in (the TV has a mode to clear after-images, pixel shifting, and a screen-saver, but over the long-term it's probably best to try to wear the screen evenly by not over-doing 4:3 and content with black bars on the top and bottom).
And last but not least, I love the aspect ratio abilities of this TV. The standard aspect ratio is academy flat which is perfect for wide-screen TV programs (including wide-screen anime), and if you want to watch 4:3 content stretched (as I very often do) there are two modes to do so. The justified mode condenses the center of the screen so that character in the center look less stretched. I watch pan-and-scan content and old anime in this aspect ratio and it looks outstanding.
Flat-screen plasmas have been around a long time, but I am very glad I waited to get mine. The current generation handles wide-screen and regular content well, have a digital tuner built-in, and the contrast, color, and overall image fidelity are magnificent. The black levels will probably fade over time, but around the time this TV dies I will probably be getting a 3D TV that doesn't require glasses, or spending my time in the holodeck... Overall I could not be more pleased and would highly recommend this TV to anyone looking to go hi-def and flat.
First of all, after a lot of thought and effort, I decided to go plasma instead of LCD for several reasons. First, you can buy a 42-inch plasma for about the price of a 32 inch LCD (give or take). Second, the stuttering of LCDs is noticeable and unpleasant to me, and plasmas handle motion with greater fluidity. Thirdly, the black levels of plasmas are better (though they do require lower light to look their best, which is no problem as I'm a low-light kind of guy who lives in the dark overcast Northern West Coast).
I had initially tried to buy a Samsung from Amazon using their slightly-used-like-new Amazon Warehouse, but after more than a week the TV was delivered shattered. I returned it, sending an email to Amazon requesting they simply replace it rather than give me a refund...and my email was ignored. I was given a refund instead of the TV I had ordered. Starting to lose my patience, a friend from work helped me get a great store deal for this beauty. $450.00 with no tax (no sales tax in my state). Nice.
When I took my TV home and unpacked it one of the first things I noticed is the fact that not only would it not fit in my parents' TV cabinet in the living room, but it wouldn't fit in my room either. I had to completely re-arrange my furniture to make room. When I first hooked it up to my ridiculous home setup (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Saturn, VCR, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Computer) I was slightly disappointed to find that it only has two HDMI Inputs (if I buy a PS3 I may have to buy an HDMI switchbox). On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised to find that you can hook analog sound input into the component in, and it will play through the TV while using the corresponding HDMI (you don't have to have an audio signal on the HDMI so you can use your computer's analog out and a DVI to HDMI adapter for PC output). The only real downside to this is that the edges of the PC video in are cropped. Oh well, it beats analog video input any day.
The picture on this TV is absolutely outstanding, but you will want to adjust it to your liking in all probability. First of all, by default, like the iPod Touch, the screen dims with the ambient lighting. What this means is that when you have the room nice and dark as you should for optimal viewing, the screen will be so dark you can't see it. You will have to go into the menus and turn off C.A.T.S. if like me you can do without that "feature".
Some people like to adjust the color temperature or fidelity to make the picture warmer, but personally I like white to look white, not pink. And while the cinema mode certainly is bright it makes image artifacting and pixelation stand out, so I prefer to leave colors and brightness on the standard settings.
Personally, I like my image to appear softer as opposed to pixelated, so I set both MPEG and standard noise reduction to on, and set my Xbox 360 (which I use as a DVD player) to output 1080p signal. This results in the image being up-sampled and then down-sampled, smoothing edges and making DVDs have a more "film-like" appearance.
With those settings changed, this display went from good to absolutely amazing. The richness of the colors, outstanding contrast, and overall image smoothness and clarity made video games look outstanding (I actually decided to keep a game I was going to trade in because it looked so much better on this TV), and animation is draw-dropping. Well-mastered DVDs look as good as they possibly can, and I can't wait to get a PS3 so I can try out the Blu Ray discs that are sitting on my shelf.
The sound on the TV is actually very good for a TV once you break in the speakers, and the only real downsides to this TV overall are that it produces a lot of heat, it has bad glare in direct sunlight, and you might need to be a LITTLE more careful than with a CRT about screen burn-in (the TV has a mode to clear after-images, pixel shifting, and a screen-saver, but over the long-term it's probably best to try to wear the screen evenly by not over-doing 4:3 and content with black bars on the top and bottom).
And last but not least, I love the aspect ratio abilities of this TV. The standard aspect ratio is academy flat which is perfect for wide-screen TV programs (including wide-screen anime), and if you want to watch 4:3 content stretched (as I very often do) there are two modes to do so. The justified mode condenses the center of the screen so that character in the center look less stretched. I watch pan-and-scan content and old anime in this aspect ratio and it looks outstanding.
Flat-screen plasmas have been around a long time, but I am very glad I waited to get mine. The current generation handles wide-screen and regular content well, have a digital tuner built-in, and the contrast, color, and overall image fidelity are magnificent. The black levels will probably fade over time, but around the time this TV dies I will probably be getting a 3D TV that doesn't require glasses, or spending my time in the holodeck... Overall I could not be more pleased and would highly recommend this TV to anyone looking to go hi-def and flat.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Greatest Plasma from the best Plasma maker.
I've owned this tv for nearly 2 1/2 years and throughout that time the picture has never dulled. The display is crisp, natural, and the blacks are perfect... 2 1/2 years later. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jayme
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still great after 2 years+
Paid $500 delivered to the door over 2 years ago and it's been great the entire time.
I read some previous reviews stating theirs had died fairly young. Could be a heat issue. Read more
I read some previous reviews stating theirs had died fairly young. Could be a heat issue. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Prime Waverider
1.0 out of 5 stars
Nice TV but died in under 2 years
TV was great when working.. last week I went to turn it on and the red light turned on, nothing else happened, then it shut off. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Christopher Joseph
1.0 out of 5 stars
Beware the blinking red light.
I bought this model, and after 16 months it will not turn on...Just out of warranty. Quick research online revealed a very high rate of power supply or board failure in this... Read more
Published 13 months ago by B. Otter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent choice in first HDTV
We have had this plasma Panasonic for 16 months now, with it being our first HDTV. While I had an idea of what I was missing with HD, I saw no reason to get rid of our 36 Toshiba... Read more
Published 14 months ago by W. Langston
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for watching TV, not so much for movies or gaming
I bought this to put up in my office's breakroom after test-driving it in a store. The picture is great, Panasonic has the best plasma sets on the market right now. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Garner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Tv for the Price
I bought this tv for less than $500. I did not want to spend a lot of money on a tv but wanted high def. This tv was almost perfect for what I needed. Read more
Published 19 months ago by B. Maynard
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT IN ALL RESPECTS
I have had the same old TV for a long time. So old, it only had a single jack in the back. Can you imagine my utter amazement when I fired this baby up and put in my favorite DVD? Read more
Published 21 months ago by Thomas Hanson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Good Price, Poor Quality
My fiance purchased this TV at a good price, and initially we were fairly pleased. The Mhz, and motion quality were only average, and certainly never had that beautiful smooth... Read more
Published on April 29, 2011 by B. Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars
First time plasma
I have never owned a flat screen tv. I purchased this on the suggestion of a friend. A tremendous value and price. Love this addition to my home.
Published on April 5, 2011 by Mark A. Farlow
