Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P50S1 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Other products by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 48 x 30.3 inches ; 72.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 91 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• 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.
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B001U3YJTY
• Item model number: TC-P50S1
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,868 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

(April 23, 2009)
Panasonic's new VIERA S1 Series Plasma HDTVs are perfect for sports and cinema-quality movies. Neo PDP technology delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, and all with lower power consumption. Get the best from your viewing experience with the 50-inch TC-P50S1.

VIERA S1 Series Plasma HDTVs ensure full-time 1080 TV lines of resolution, even during fast moving scenes in sports and movies. Click to enlarge or view inputs.

Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution
Did you know that some HDTVs deliver considerably less than 1080 lines of resolution, when processing fast motion on screen? VIERA S1 Series Plasma HDTVs ensure full-time 1080 TV lines of resolution, even during fast moving scenes in sports and movies. The S1 series features:

• 1080p Full-HD Resolution
• Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution
• Contrast Ratio: 40,000:1 Native; Infinite Black Panel
• Brighter Panel
• 600Hz Sub-field Drive
• VIERA Image Viewer
• VIERA Link
• AR (Anti-Reflective) Filter
• Game Mode
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• 100,000 Hour Panel Life

Stunning Picture Quality
Time spent with family and friends can be even more exciting when you gather around the 50-inch TC-P50S1. 1080p Full-HD resolution brings you exceptional clarity and smooth, fluid motion--even during high-speed action. VIERA HDTVs offer incredible black reproduction, with a rated dynamic contrast ratio of up to 2,000,000:1, so you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. And now, all of your friends and family can get in on the action thanks to an extra-wide viewing angle that provides an excellent view from almost anywhere in the room.

The advanced AR filter keeps images sharp, with minimal glare.

View breathtaking images with rich, vivid colors from anywhere in the room.

600Hz Sub-field Drive gives you even greater clarity with motion images.

With the new VIERA Tools user interface, simply press a button on the remote control and icons such as the photos or movies from the menu screen.

Wide Color Viewing Angle
View breathtaking images with rich, vivid colors from anywhere in the room. Because plasma TVs are self-illuminating, images look beautiful from any angle. Black areas do not fade, and colors look virtually the same no matter where you sit.

600Hz Sub-field Drive
600Hz technology lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images with 1,080 lines of resolution. For even greater clarity with motion images, Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology. This technology converts the motion in each scene into data. And each frame is practically displayed for a shorter length of time than in previous systems, to reduce aftereffects.

Over 2,000,000:1 High Contrast (Native 30,000:1)
New VIERA models incorporate an improved panel production process and the new Real Black Drive system. A pre-discharge control system, the Real Black Drive system achieves next-generation black reproduction. When you're watching movies, VIERA renders images just the way the director intended, even in scenes where it's difficult to achieve a proper balance of light and dark.

AR Filter
This advanced filter keeps images sharp, with minimal glare. While dramatically reducing reflections from external light, it helps to produce clear images. This filter creates pure, crisp images in a wide range of colors.

VIERA Image Viewer
VIERA Image Viewer makes it easy to watch full-HD images by using the SD card slot. It lets you enjoy high-resolution, full-HD photos and videos with superb image quality and vivid colors on VIERA's large screen. Simply insert an SD card into the SD card slot to show your photos and full-HD videos on the large screen!

• Shoot still and motion images with a digital camera or HD camcorder.
• Insert the SD card into VIERA's card slot
• View photos and motion images in full-HD quality on VIERA's large screen.

Network Your AV Devices, Quickly and Easily
With VIERA Link, you can control your compatible Panasonic DVD recorder, Blu-ray Disc player, home theater sound system and HD camcorder, all with a single remote and helpful on-screen menus. VIERA Link is a function that lets you easily operate various AV devices that are interconnected with your VIERA TV, using only the VIERA remote control. You can choose the connection method--either an HDMI cable or a LAN cable--to match your devices and applications. You don't have to keep switching remotes to operate each device, so there's no more hassle and operation is easier than ever. Networking your devices with VIERA Link adds both convenience and fun to AV entertainment.

VIERA Tools
With the new VIERA Tools user interface, simply press a button on the remote control and icons such as the photos or movies from the menu screen. Now you can just select the one you want. This kind of easy operation means you have more fun and less hassle.

The Next Level of Video Gaming
Take your team to the championship and your gaming to the next level. A specialized Game Mode helps ensure fluid and seamless gameplay by minimizing time lag when displaying game images. With Game Mode turned on, you get the motion resolution and enhanced details you need to win. And don't worry about racking up all those long hours playing; anti-image retention technology and a remarkable 100,000 hour panel life ensure that your VIERA HDTV will still run smoothly and beautifully long after you score the game-winning goal.

Mercury and Lead Free Plasma Display Panel
Panasonic products are more friendly to the environment. All VIERA plasma display panels are mercury- and lead-free. This reduces the impact on the environment when recycling or disposing of them in the future.

Standby Power Save
When the VIERA power is turned off, the standby power of connected devices is minimized.

With VIERA Image Viewer, simply insert an SD card into VIERA to display photos and full-HD videos on the large screen.

Auto Power Standby
Power loss is minimised by using VIERA Link control for interconnected devices.

Long Panel Life, Up to 100,000 Hours
These TVs can be used for over 30 years. Using high-quality products longer, and taking care of them, is the first step to environmental conservation. A newly designed phosphor process and rear panel process give the plasma panel a longevity of 100,000 hours. This is more than 30 years of viewing when watched 8 hours a day, before the brightness of the panel decreases to half.

Exceptional Service
With its lead-free construction, TUF DISPLAY screen, and long lifespan, a VIERA HDTV is a safe, eco-friendly, durable and lasting investment in high definition entertainment. Of course, should your VIERA TV ever need service of any kind, you are entitled to the VIERA Concierge program--a free service made available to all VIERA owners to bring peace-of-mind to your purchase. Benefits of this extensive service program include: use of an exclusive toll-free expert hot line, live chat with a VIERA HDTV expert, priority service scheduling, and a personalized VIERA Concierge benefits card.

What's in the Box
Panasonic Viera S1 Series TC-P50S1 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Remote control, Remote batteries, AC cord, Pedestal with installation hardware, Cleaning cloth, Operating instructions, Quick setup guide

Product Description

50" Plasma, 1080p, NEO PDP Panel which is brighter, Full-time 1080p TV lines of moving picture resolution, 3 HDMI, Native contrast ratio 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast infinite black 2,000,000:1, Game Mode, Anti Reflective Filter, 600 Hz Subfield Drive

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy, April 2, 2009

By	Stephen Howland (Hampton, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The value you get for the price of this tv is second to none. I just recently put this tv in my house replacing an old rear projection tv and i am amazed at its color accuracy. I did find my self making a few tweeks from the factory settings but once you get it to where you like the picture you'll fall in love. Sports and movies shine on this set. I preferred the plasma over the lcd because the movement on the tv was much more natural than the 120hz lcd displays. I sell T.V.s at sears and after being around both for a while I find the plasma image much easier and natural to look at. I chose Panasonic because they seem to have mastered the plasma technology and even a Samsung rep told me that he preferred Panasonic's plasma to Samsungs plasma. I will admit to liking some of the new Sony's coming out and the new LED tv is really cool but you cant touch those televisions at this price point. I kind of wish I had waited for the G10 seeing as it came in at such a close price difference but I cant complain I love this tv and it is a few hundred dollars cheaper. I should also note that the anti-glare filter works really well I wouldn't be worried about glare issues. If anyone got through this review my advice to you is to buy this or the step up G10.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For most people, this set represents the best value for money of any 50" class HDTV, April 13, 2009

By	James Ahearn - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I decided on the P50S1 after about 250 hours of daily HDTV research for the past 3 or 4 months, in which I debated everything from plasma vs. LCD to screen size to features to ease of use to durability.

The 2009 Panasonic plasmas use the new "Neo-PDP" panels, which I can tell you personally having lifted both are much lighter than an equal size 2008 model plasma. The manual prudently warns against a single person lifting the set, but I did so myself with no problem.

This model was initially sold on Amazon at the initial MSRP of $1799, but has now dropped to a street price of under $1400 one month after being released. Placed my order on Wednesday the 8th, scheduled delivery for the following Wednesday the 15th. Was very surprised to get a phone call from Amazon's freight carrier, CEVA, asking if they could deliver the TV on the 11th. Four days early, and on a Saturday no less. The CEVA driver carried the box into my apartment, unpacked it, let me inspect the TV, assembled the stand, put the TV on the stand, and let me hook up the power and HDMI connection to turn the TV on, all before I signed for it.

Picture quality in the Cinema preset is already outstanding to my eyes. However I'm sure color accuracy will improve once I tweak some settings as posted at [..]. The Panasonic 2009 S series, G10 series, and V10 series all use the same physical panels, so the only differences between them are software/firmware, and extras like the VGA input and VieraCast on the other series. If you don't need the extras and are willing to tweak your picture settings, the S series is the best value for money out there.

If I really nitpick, the only negative I can come up with is the glossy black finish shows dust very easily, but that is true of most any HDTV currently sold.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent TV for the money...., September 15, 2009

By	Shawn Hedrick (Missouri) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My current TV was a Toshiba DLP, which was going through $170.00 bulbs once a year ! So i went looking for a new lcd or plasma. First, i don't see how anyone will be very impressed with the standard picture setting ? It's a dingy, dull screen. However on "Cinema" or "Custom" setup, this picture is night and day brighter and more colorful. Maybe too much so. But at these settings, this tv easily rivals anything out there.

Here are CNET's calibrated settings, which i was'nt impressed with at first, but am using now.

On your remote click "menu", then click "picture" to get into these adjustments. Use the "arrow buttons" to navigate and change settings. Click the "return" button to get back out.

Use a quality HDMI cable, and give it about 3-4 weeks to break in. These settings really work well after some break in.
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picture mode: CINEMA
Contrast: +55
Brightness: +63
Color: +32
Tint: 0
Sharpness: 0 ( I am at +50 )
Color temp: Warm
C.A.T.S: Off
Video NR: Off
Zoom adjustments: ( Grayed out )...not adjustable

-Advanced picture submenu...< same menu, but arrow down and you'll see this.>
3D Y/C filter: ( grayed out )...not adjustable
Color Matrix: ( grayed out )...not adjustable
MPEG NR: Off
Black level: Light
HD Size: Size 2.......(mine is now on size 1 now and grayed out,Maybe a Dish network thing ?)
H size:( grayed out )......( mine is now adjustable and i have it on size 2? ) I'm guessing another Dish Network thing.
____________________________________________________________________

I have the TV picture size ( format ) on "full".

I have the Dish box tv size ( format ) on "normal"

The zoomed picture screens are blurry, IMO.

For sharpest picture and easiest setup, use quality HDMI (digital) cables instead of Component (analog) cables. They don't have to be $150 monster cables. I ended up using a $9.00 HDMIKing HDMI cable. Component cables will provide HD, but you won't get as sharp of picture as HDMI.

I got into it with Charter because they had given me a HD box that was component cable only, and they would'nt swap my box out for a HDMI box. I ended up switching to Dish Network, and am glad i did.

In 1983 i paid $750.00 for a 27" Toshiba flatscreen, picture tube. 4 years ago my 46" 720p DLP cost me $1699.00. This 50" 1080p Plasma was under $1000.00 !

Out of the box, i think Panasonic sets this TV up to get their energy star rating, and not for best picture ? In fact Panasonics at the showroom were pretty good, but not great, IMHO. However, once broken in and dialed in, the picture quality is excellent.