Depot.com
 Location:  Home» Outdoor Living » HDTVs » Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV  


Categories
Books
Electronics
Toys
DVD
Video Games
Music
Software
Computers
Cameras
Pets
Apparel
Baby
Beauty
Automotive
Health
Home & Garden
Jewelry
Kitchen
Magazines
Office Products
Outdoor Living
Sporting Goods
Tools & Hardware
Cell Phones
Gourmet Food
Grocery
Musical Instruments
VHS
MP3
Movie Downloads
US Flag
Related Categories
• HDTVs
TVs & HDTVs
Audio & Video
Categories
Electronics
• Plasma TVs
Flat-Panel TVs
TVs & HDTVs
Audio & Video
Categories
• HDTV & Accessories
Home Video
Panasonic
Custom Brands
Custom Stores
• TVs
Home Video
Panasonic
Custom Brands
Custom Stores
• ENERGY STAR Televisions
Green Electronics
Custom Stores
Specialty Stores
Electronics Features
• Amazon.com: 24-Month No-Interest Financing on Qualifying Products
Promotions
Special Features
Electronics Features
Electronics
• Energy Star
Eco-friendly (special_merchandising_browse-bin)
Browse Refinements
Refinements
Electronics
• 1080p
Resolution (feature_browse-bin)
Browse Refinements
Refinements
Electronics
• 5 Inches & More
GPS Display Size (feature_three_browse-bin)
Browse Refinements
Refinements
Electronics
• 13 Inches & More
Digital Frame Display Size (feature_three_browse-bin)
Browse Refinements
Refinements
Electronics
• Plasma & LCD Flat-panel TVs
Televisions
TVs & Video
• Plasma TV
Television
Electronics
Products
Subcategories
HDTVs
HDTV CRT Projection TVs
HDTV DLP Projection TVs
HDTV LCD Projection TVs
HDTV LCoS Projection TVs

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50 1080p Plasma HDTV
Brand: Panasonic

List Price: $2,199.99
Buy New: $1,668.99
You Save: $531.00 (24%)



New (32)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 62 reviews
Sales Rank: 1161

Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Display Size: 50
Shipping Weight (lbs): 88.2
Dimensions (in): 49.4 x 3.7 x 32.8

MPN: TH-50PZ85U
Model: TH-50PZ85U
UPC: 037988241811
EAN: 0037988241811
ASIN: B00142MUEM

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available

Features:
  • 1920 x 1080 Resolution
  • 1000000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for the Brightest whites and darkest blacks
  • 4096 Shades of Gradation for spectacular Color Reproduction
  • Viera LinK™ HDAVI Control lets you operate all of your home theater components by pressing a single button on your TV's remote control
  • GalleryPlayer allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition art and photography on your Panasonic HD plasma TV

Accessories:

  • Zircon 58430 DMS50L 50 Ultrasonic Measure with Laser Targeting
  • Zircon 61962/61963 Multiscanner i700 Onestep, Multifunction Wall Scanner, Yellow
  • Zircon 60369 Studsensor I65 Onestep Center Finding Stud Finder with "How To" Video Included
  • Zircon 60040 Multiscanner i500 One Step Wood, Metal, and Live Wire Stud Sensor
  • Monster Cable MV3CV-2M Monster Video 3 2-meter High-Resolution Component Video Cable

Similar Items:

  • HDMI Cable 2M (6 Feet)
  • Cables To Go - 40315 - 2M (6.5ft) Velocity HDMI Digital Video Cable (Blue)
  • Peerless ST650P Tilting Wall Mount for 32" to 50" Flat Panel Displays (Black)
  • Playstation 3 40GB
  • Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
PRODUCT FEATURES:50" class (49.9 " diagonal) widescreen VIERA Plasma 1080p HDTV with increased native contrast ratioPC inputAnti-reflective filter, deep color technologyGame modeBuilt-in SD card slotGalleryPlayer ready to view3 HDMI inputs and VIERA Link HDAVI control

Amazon.com Product Description--March 10, 2008
With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings an astonishing 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
  • 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 Cards Viera 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 PCs Easy 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 inches check 20,000:1



2
3


4,096




TH-46PZ80U
46 inches check 20,000:1


2
3


4,096




TH-50PZ80U
50 inches check 20,000:1


2
3


4,096




TH-42PZ85U
42 inches check 30,000:1 check

2
3


4,096




TH-46PZ85U
46 inches check 30,000:1
check

2
3


4,096




TH-50PZ85U
50 inches check 30,000:1 check

2
3


4,096




TH-42PZ800U
42 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 4,096




TH-46PZ800U 46 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 4,096




TH-50PZ800U 50 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 4,096




TH-58PZ800U 58 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 4,096




TH-46PZ850U 46 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-50PZ850U 50 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-58PZ850U 58 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 5,120 check check check check check
TH-65PZ850U 65 inches check 30,000:1 check check check 4
4
check check 5,120 check check check check check



Customer Reviews:   Read 57 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars Almost identical to last years   March 7, 2008
California (California)
88 out of 92 found this review helpful

I have owned a few different HDTV's in and I have to say the Panasonic plasma is one of my favorites. I own a 52" XBR4 LCD and this plasma blows that out of the water when watching fast moving sports and movies. I also have a Pioneer 5010 and under normal everyday viewing, there is very little if any difference in picture quality.

I just bought the TH-50PZ85u and calibrated it yesterday. First of all let me say that I also own last years TH-50PZ77u and bought this to put in our bedroom. I was really excited about the improved contrast ratio because on paper it was such a huge jump over last years model but after getting it set up and watching it side by side with my TH-50PZ77u, I have to say it looks almost exactly the same. I played several Blu ray movies (Cars, Casino Royale...etc), test patterns and solid color screenshots and they were no differences to my eyes. In some instances, the blacks were more detailed on my TH-50PZ77u. I also prefer the bezel on last year's model. the TH-50PZ77u also has a great anti-reflective screen that helps out immensely with sunlight and ambient lighting

All this said, I do think that this TV displays and excellent picture both in HD and SD but it's not an improvement over last years model at all, just an updated look. I really wish that there was some sort of standardization when it comes to TV specs because this TV does not live up to its advertised specs.



4 out of 5 stars take reflection reviews with grain of salt please   April 4, 2008
Tim Lieberg (Twin Cities, MN)
31 out of 32 found this review helpful

I've only had this tv for 5 days and I'm new to big screen tv's but the reviews here stressing the glare are greatly exaggerated. Can you see reflections on the screen when it's off? Yes. Can you see lights reflected on the screen when watching the tv? Not really. If you're looking for it and focusing on nothing else maybe. Now would be a great time for you to go to a chain store and see these things including previous years models hanging on the wall as well as LCD's. You'll see they all will have reflections (you may have to lower yourself to see them - the stores deliberately tilt them and otherwise engineer it so these are hard to see) There are many reasons to choose LCD or plasma but if you're otherwise considering this tv don't let these complaints about reflection deter you. I'd have given it 5 stars but my home theater is still under construction and I haven't had it long enough to make a complete and fair assessment.

Update (4/18) - I've had the TV for three weeks now and if the "edit review" option permitted it, I'd up my score to a 5. The TV has great picture quality. The only notable "drawback" I would mention is that it does not excel at processing standard definition input so if you don't intend to get HD inputs (from an antenna, satellite/cable receiver, upconverting or Blueray dvd player, etc.) or if you need to continue to support SD inputs you may be disappointed in its performance on those content sources.



5 out of 5 stars The Best Plasma for the Money   April 13, 2008
D. Moujaes (San Diego, CA United States)
29 out of 29 found this review helpful

I'm not sure what the huffing and puffing is all about... Some people are leaving negative reviews supposedly because of the reflections on this Panasonic Plasma TV. One reviewer's comments and to paraphrase that "So bad that it almost makes the tv unwatchable in anything but pitch black room" What???? and as John McEnroe would say: You Cannot Be Serious!!

The TV is in our family room with several windows. Either we are all blind in my household or we are watching 2 different televisions.

I purchased the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV towards the end of March. This TV has been nothing short of amazing. The picture quality is unbelievable. It has 3 HDMI ports. I connected our PS3 and Wii to it and I can tell you that playing games on this puppy is awesome.

The screen life is rated at 100,000 hours compared to last year's model of 60,000. So basically if you keep the TV on for 8 hours a day, the screen will lose half its brightness in 30 years.

Consumer Reports rated last year's model as the best 50 inch Plasma TV, and I have no doubt when they review this newer model the rating will stay the same.

The bottom line, for the price and Panasonic's excellent reputation for Plasma TVs you can't go wrong with this one.



4 out of 5 stars Excellent Plasma   March 28, 2008
J. Jankord
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

I debated long and hard between buying the Pioneer Kuro 5080 and this Panasonic 50PX85U. The Pioneer as everyone knows has amazing black levels that set it apart from the competition. The Pioneer truely is the the best plasma tv on the market, but the cost to me outweighs the picture benefits. I decided that I could go with the Panasonic that came with 1080p versus the Pioneers 720p. I am very happy with the Panasonic's picture quality. I haven't had it calibrated yet...still waiting for the 150 hour break-in period. But the picture quality is first rate. From an eye perspective watching it in my home the blacks are great- but just slightly less black than the Pioneers. Still better than the other plasmas out there.

The anti-reflective screen works quite well. I have it in a room with three windows on the side and don't have a problem with glare being any worse than I had on my LCD tv that I replaced.

I highly recommend this new Panasonic.



5 out of 5 stars Great TV and awesome PQ!   April 4, 2008
Xpert37
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

Panasonic delivers again! This TV is incredible in terms of picture quality. I don't find the reflection to be that bad although my family room has blinds and can be much darker. I do not watch a lot of day time TV so if you watch a lot of night time TV, this plasma is for you.

In terms of the black level, although it's 30,000:1 native contrast ratio, I agree with another reviewer that it probably was not much blacker than last year's model (PZ700U), but even so, it's still much better than the best LCD TVs and minus the motion blur and other negative effects of LCD TVs.

If you are not ready to spend $2000 on this TV, wait for a couple of weeks and see how CNET reviews will be. I am confident that this Panasonic model is top of the line plasma out there for the price (Pioneers are simply too expensive).

Update: I have had this TV wall mounted along with Onkyo 7.1 Channel SR800 speakers, I could not be happier with the TV and the entire home theatre system. Please make sure you break-in the Plasma TV for the first 100 hours or so. Use either a break-in DVD (see www.avsforum.com) and you should always try to watch full-screen TV and movies and avoid those with top/bottom or side bars. Once the 100 hour break-in is completed, you can then set the TV to Cinema mode and enjoy.



We'll be adding even more exciting features to assist you in the coming year.
Thank you for shopping at the Depot.com online shopping depot.

©2008 Depot.com