I kinda wish it had that cool panel feature the 800's have where the backlight turns off in THX mode on a completely black screen.


Where did you hear about this turning off feature? Its news to me.

Where did you hear about this turning off feature? Its news to me.

I read it in the 50PZ800u thread. When watching a movie that changed scenes in THX mode, that panel would go completely dark (like it turned off), and not give off any light to the room.

I read it in the 50PZ800u thread. When watching a movie that changed scenes in THX mode, that panel would go completely dark (like it turned off), and not give off any light to the room.

Do you know on what page does the 50PZ800u manual state this feature?

Do you know on what page does the 50PZ800u manual state this feature?

I read it in the TH-58PZ800u thread. Ask them. I dont know why it would be in the manual.

I read it in the TH-58PZ800u thread. Ask them. I dont know why it would be in the manual.

Can't say I know why it would not be since you say it is a major actual feature. And no I wont bother to go to the TH-58PZ800u thread to ask about something that may not exist.

Hello - This is something that ties into Harmony 880 and TH-50PZ850U. I am trying to find the code or a way to setup Harmony 880, so when I choose Play Game. the TV goes no and using the existing HDMI (to my Onkyo) will change the Picture (Meny, down, picture, over one) to GAME versus Ref. Hope that makes sense. Wondering if there is a code for Game Mode of Picture setting from the menu?

My TH-58PZ800u screen does not go completely black on totally dark scenes. I have not read the manual carefully, but I don't think this is something that would be listed.

Where can I down load a copy of the operators manual for a 850, I did not see it on the Panasonic site.

Thanks

Have any 58pz850 owners had experience with the Pioneer 6020 as well? I wouldn't mind a fair comparison between the two as I am in the process of figureing out if the extra 1k is worth it. Thanks!

Where can I down load a copy of the operators manual for a 850, I did not see it on the Panasonic site.

Thanks

Operating Instructions
46”/50” Class 1080p Plasma HDTV (http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/TH46PZ850U.PDF) (PDF)

Hope that helps.

There was a new VieraCast update. I was very excited for it. However all it it did was update login, so passwords are saved too now. It also added some stupid Concierge info.

I was really hoping for more features. I also called them last month because when I log into picasa and go to activity, it should shows my friends albums, yet I get this error -52 and no one at panasonic knew what it meant, and all i can do is search. It should work the same as youtube. Sure I can look at my albums no problem. but it would be great to see photos from my friends trip. And for gods sake get rid of the music.

in another note I have the 58 incher, and haven't had any problems in 48hz mode yet. its very film like in its frame rate. I still dont see the big deal though with 24p.

Need 850 help:

I just got an 850, and found some what I think are some problems.

1. No matter what mode I am in standart, vivid, custom, reference, game mode I cannot get the brightness to have any difference on the picture going from 0-100 (min - max) shows no visual change. I have tried changing the picture options c.a.t.s, cinema color, pro settings, advanced pic controls, etc from on to off and still no change.
I unpluged the tv for a half hr and then powered it up and still no brightness control.

I called the Panasonic help line and at first they said this was normal and there would not be much of a change and when I question this, they then said it should change and I should generate a service call?? All the other controls function as expected, the only way I can get any picture change is with the picture control and the othe controls such as color and tint. Is this normal??

2. I also cannot get into the service mode, to check my run hours.
I start with the set on
Hold down the vol.- button
Press the info button 3 times while holding the vol- button down
Then release both buttons and no change in menu and does not go into the service mode.
After I release both buttons the remote does flash a couple of time but no change on the screen.


Thanks





;

You say hold down the Vol- Button but you don't say if your holding it down on the TV or the Remote Control?

You have to hold down the Vol- Button on the TV itself & not on the Remote Control then use the Remote Control for ALL the other Buttons.

WARNING:
Be VERY CAREFUL in the Service Menu & WRITE "EVERYTHING DOWN" before you make ANY CHANGES to it because you can really Screw Up your TV if you don't know what your doing in there.

You say hold down the Vol- Button but you don't say if your holding it down on the TV or the Remote Control?

You have to hold down the Vol- Button on the TV itself & not on the Remote Control then use the Remote Control for ALL the other Buttons.

WARNING:
Be VERY CAREFUL in the Service Menu & WRITE "EVERYTHING DOWN" before you make ANY CHANGES to it because you can really Screw Up your TV if you don't know what your doing in there.
Thank you, holding the on-off on the tv did the job

Need 850 help:

I just got an 850, and found some what I think are some problems.

1. No matter what mode I am in standart, vivid, custom, reference, game mode I cannot get the brightness to have any difference on the picture going from 0-100 (min - max) shows no visual change. I have tried changing the picture options c.a.t.s, cinema color, pro settings, advanced pic controls, etc from on to off and still no change.
I unpluged the tv for a half hr and then powered it up and still no brightness control.

I called the Panasonic help line and at first they said this was normal and there would not be much of a change and when I question this, they then said it should change and I should generate a service call?? All the other controls function as expected, the only way I can get any picture change is with the picture control and the othe controls such as color and tint. Is this normal??



If you have a grayscale image on screen, you'll likely see a difference with the brightness control. I can't really tell when watching programming, but there is definitely change happening with the control.

On my set, a setting between 79 and 85 tends to give the best grayscale ramp. If it's too low, the set will crush the darker grays down to black.

Although it is odd that the control does not offer significant visual change with programming, it does have a range that allows for decent setting of black levels.

Need 850 help:
1. No matter what mode I am in standart, vivid, custom, reference, game mode I cannot get the brightness to have any difference on the picture going from 0-100 (min - max) shows no visual change. I have tried changing the picture options c.a.t.s, cinema color, pro settings, advanced pic controls, etc from on to off and still no change.
I unpluged the tv for a half hr and then powered it up and still no brightness control.


The Brightness function does not adjust the brightness of the overall TV, Brightness adjusts the deep colors, for instance when someone is wearing black clothes or a pinstriped suit.

It is the Picture function that can brighten or darken the overall set although it probably does not affect the deep colors.

I bought the th-50pz850u through the panasonic direct site in July and the set was delivered on 8/11/08. So far, I have over 815 hours on it and absolutely love it. I spent over a year researching which brand, model, etc...that interested me and it in turn replaced my +10yr old panasonic 36" superflat CRT.

I have noticed what could be construed as a couple of snowy lines at the top of the picture when watching comcast HD. While annoying, it never caused me to think the tv is defective because it would dissappear on some channels or on program content. It definitely is not present on dvd nor blu-ray material.

Yesterday, as I was watching golf when the root cause dawned on me: Those "snowy" lines at the top actually belong at the bottom of the screen. Right beneath the "snowy" lines is a solid black horizontal line, a few mm thick. Yup, when the guy moved those top images that always were out of place matched the lower bottom screen images perfectly.

Hmmmmn....snowy lines actually = mis-aligned viewing screen. How to fix? :confused:

I watch all of my cable tv content in "justify" mode because, it looks the best to me. Fortunately, where I live, the non-HD channels are already broadcast in duplicate HD channels...so no more 4:3 box viewing for me.

In my attempts to correct the issue, I scanned through the different formats (many times) and it is still present with the exception of zoom. Though, zoom is just that...zoom. I did try to move the zoom picture up a little but avast me matey, I can't find any mis-aligned channels today...

Because the mis-aligned screen does not exist on all channels all the time nor does it exist on my dvd & blu-ray content any of the time. I feel it is safe to assume this phenomena is occurring at the various programming sources.

I see the mis-aligned pictures most often on my local abc,nbc and discovery hd channels. I doubt a call to a comcast operator would be of any help (by no fault of their own.)

Today, was an interesting day because as far as cable tv goes...all pictures were aligned properly. Maybe, it's over... I dunno.

Has anyone encountered this phenomena and/or can expand upon it?

TIA. :)

Is your HD Size set on 1 or 2? 2 shows the complete HD signal as delivered by the box, and sometimes it has noise around some of the edges. Size 1 has overscan, which zooms enough to remove rough edges.

The Panasonic manual dosn't specify the thead size for the four holes when wall mounting a 58pz850u.The mounting bracket has m8 x 40mm bolts, is this the correct size?

The Panasonic manual dosn't specify the thead size for the four holes when wall mounting a 58pz850u.The mounting bracket has m8 x 40mm bolts, is this the correct size?

To wall mount a VIERA plasma unit you will need four M-8 bolts with a 1.25mm thread pitch. The length of the bolt will vary depending upon the thickness of the mount used.

Have any 58pz850 owners had experience with the Pioneer 6020 as well? I wouldn't mind a fair comparison between the two as I am in the process of figureing out if the extra 1k is worth it. Thanks!

I would like to know too! In the same boat!

About to make the jump and get the 850. Man, I've been reading and debating for months, maybe a year. Always difficult when the technology keeps evolving so much. Am tempted to hold out for a Sammy 950 LED LCD, but the price hit is too much. I have a pretty bright room, but I'll invest in some darker shades.

I have a question - it's not 850 specific, but I noticed a few people have mentioned getting a warranty plan. Is this common? -- advisable or waste of $$$? I know they haven't been out long to break outside of the warranty period, but am curious.

In case anyone didn't know, look into the Visa warranty. They will add a year to the manufac warranty just by purchasing the TV with your Visa card ... but ya gotta buy it entirely with the card ... no gift cards, etc.. They do this for free. Go to the Visa website (I'd post the URL, but not enough posts yet) and search for warranty manager service. If you want more, they will extend even further - three years for $120 (for a $2,000 purchase, which is what the 850 is going for at the moment). It's a reimbursement deal, but hey, seems cheap - 5 years for $120. Ha! like I wouldn't upgrade in less time anyway. :) Even better, I guess you can buy the extension any time before the free 2 years is up.

And no, I don't work for Visa, just chipping in in case anyone can make use of the info. Seems like a lot cheaper than many third-party plans out there.

In case anyone didn't know, look into the Visa warranty. They will add a year to the manufac warranty just by purchasing the TV with your Visa card ... but ya gotta buy it entirely with the card ... no gift cards, etc.. They do this for free. Go to the Visa website (I'd post the URL, but not enough posts yet) and search for warranty manager service. If you want more, they will extend even further - three years for $120 (for a $2,000 purchase, which is what the 850 is going for at the moment). It's a reimbursement deal, but hey, seems cheap - 5 years for $120. Ha! like I wouldn't upgrade in less time anyway. :) Even better, I guess you can buy the extension any time before the free 2 years is up.

Great price, 3 yrs for $120, and if I were you I would get it. especially if it is in house repairs.

Now I need to check and see if Master Card offers the same deal.

You know it's strange. I just checked and around Boston the 800 model cost more then the 850 model.
It must be because of the THX on the 800 but I thought the 850 had something that acts like THX.

I need some help on this.

I am sure someone said that the 850 has something that acts like THX but I can't find my notes on it now.

By acting like THX I mean the ability to just turn on that mode (?) and have the colors etc already pre adjusted for you.

Can someone fill me in on that because I may buy one of these next weekend.

I would hate to buy the 850 model thinking it has something that acts like THX and then get it home and find out it does not.

Please don't tell me to ask the people at CC or BB. They would say anything just to make the sale.

Jim

EDIT: Found it. I was thinking of the studio reference mode.

I have a Citibank Mastercard, and not only do they extend the warranty for an additional year beyond the manufacturer's warranty, they also give you 60 days price protection. So if you see it advertised in print for a lower price within 60 days after you bought it, they'll refund you the difference. And yes, there are some "gotchas", like it has to be advertised in print, not online, and it can't involve things like clearance items, special financing deals, rebates, etc. You can call your credit card company and ask them about benefits like this, or look them up on the card's web site. Whatever you do, be sure to read the fine print so you understand the restrictions.

I have a Citibank Mastercard, and not only do they extend the warranty for an additional year beyond the manufacturer's warranty, they also give you 60 days price protection. So if you see it advertised in print for a lower price within 60 days after you bought it, they'll refund you the difference. And yes, there are some "gotchas", like it has to be advertised in print, not online, and it can't involve things like clearance items, special financing deals, rebates, etc. You can call your credit card company and ask them about benefits like this, or look them up on the card's web site. Whatever you do, be sure to read the fine print so you understand the restrictions.

That's good news. With prices falling the price protection may work out well.

FYI

I was on line with the Panasonic concierge service today. They are telling me that even though CES is next week the new models for 2009 will not be on their web site until "sometime in April". I could not get a definite date from them.

That doesn't sound right to me.

Does that sound right to you guys?

I reminded him that CES is next week but he still says April.

Panosonic to models come out between June and September.

Panosonic to models come out between June and September.

Thanks for the feed back. Boy, that's much longer then I thought it would be. There better be some great news coming out of CES to wait that long.

After many hours of searching reviews and pricing I have decidied to purchase the
58PZ850u. Hope I have made the right choice?? The DCC and pro settings, studio reference mode seem to be intriguing

After many much negotiating I go the price down to $2,700 local pickup. My goal was to get this model at $2,650...After much debate the gentlman I was dealing with agreed to take $50 off of the Sanus systems wall mount....Also will get the calibration done after 100hrs or more...Was this a good deal? Any thoughts would be appreciated....Also go the wall mount at the lowest cost possible...articulating wall mount.

After many much negotiating I go the price down to $2,700 local pickup.

Great price and good luck with you set.

if people want to see the effects of DCC, i dare you to compare the jokers hair on an 850 vs another tv through bluray.

You can even toggle it on and off from the PS3 main menu with the default background and see a huge difference in the wave. I think in videogames and sports especially right now it has a nice advantage over your standard set with THX certification....which is meant for movies (or more specifically, only movies that are THX certified).

After many hours of searching reviews and pricing I have decidied to purchase the
58PZ850u. Hope I have made the right choice?? The DCC and pro settings, studio reference mode seem to be intriguing

After many much negotiating I go the price down to $2,700 local pickup. My goal was to get this model at $2,650...After much debate the gentlman I was dealing with agreed to take $50 off of the Sanus systems wall mount....Also will get the calibration done after 100hrs or more...Was this a good deal? Any thoughts would be appreciated....Also go the wall mount at the lowest cost possible...articulating wall mount.


Good deal. I have found the 58pz850 to be calibrated quite well. I use mostly custom mode and have only adjusted the color temp/panel brightness/brightness/contrast so you may not even need it to be calibrated. The colors are phenominal though. Skin is skin, with all its imperfections, and sports grass is realistic and shows the brown patches. Studio ref was too tinted for my taste, but stands out with quality filmed movies like "Oh brother where are thou" I was never a fan of "warm, or cool" settings though.

Is the 50" Panasonic TH-50PZ85U currently the top of the line model in this size.

Can anyone tell me how far apart the mounting screws are on the back of this tv? I already have bought a stand before the tv and Im not sure if i can fit the stand mount on here. The maximum width they can be is 24" .. the stand is actually http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8387113&st=whalen&type=product&id=1179876185999

Can anyone tell me how far apart the mounting screws are on the back of this tv? I already have bought a stand before the tv and Im not sure if i can fit the stand mount on here. The maximum width they can be is 24" .. the stand is actually http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8387113&st=whalen&type=product&id=1179876185999

(WxH) 26"x12.6" (spacing of the wall mounting holes on the back of the TV)

omg i just almost had a heart attack. the brackets dont open past what i thought was 24 inches. i just re measured and it turns out 2 feet 4 inches is not 24 inches dOH. so i guess i have up till 28 inches, so i should be good.
I wonder if the 58pz850 has the same mount points

omg i just almost had a heart attack. the brackets dont open past what i thought was 24 inches. i just re measured and it turns out 2 feet 4 inches is not 24 inches dOH. so i guess i have up till 28 inches, so i should be good.
I wonder if the 58pz850 has the same mount points

Yes it's the same

thanks a bunch, you saved me a trip and with annoyance to the local bestbuy

Have any 58pz850 owners had experience with the Pioneer 6020 as well? I wouldn't mind a fair comparison between the two as I am in the process of figureing out if the extra 1k is worth it. Thanks!

+2
I too am looking at the 850u vs. the Kuro. Who has compared them side by side and what did you think?

Thanks.

omg i just almost had a heart attack. the brackets dont open past what i thought was 24 inches. i just re measured and it turns out 2 feet 4 inches is not 24 inches dOH. so i guess i have up till 28 inches, so i should be good.
I wonder if the 58pz850 has the same mount points

The only difference I found was the mounts that attach to the TV itself couldn't be installed without a spacer because the flatness of the TV on the 50" back wasn't the same as on the 58".

I ended up going all the way up on the mounts which in turn lowered the TV by about 4 inches.
It ended up being about perfect as my 50" was slightly high.
This is with the 800U series but I assume the back mounting points are the same.
Using the Sanus VMPL tilting mount.

Is the 50" Panasonic TH-50PZ85U currently the top of the line model in this size.


The TH-50PZ850U is top-of-the-line for '08.

+2
I too am looking at the 850u vs. the Kuro. Who has compared them side by side and what did you think?

Thanks.

I'm not sure if this will help, but I too have been volleying back and forth between the Kuro and the 850. I found a local BB that had the Elite and 850 set up next to each other, rather the 850 was wall mounted right above the Elite and both ran the same signal.

I watched both and was really impressed with the 850 and found that the Elite did have a slight black advantage over the 850. I watched them both for about a hour then left the store. I felt I liked the 850 more.

I went back two different times on different days and watched both for about 45 minutes to an hour. In every viewing session, I walked away thinking I liked the 850 more, which kinda confused me since I had expectations of liking the Elite more.

I felt the 850 had better detail and was more vibrant. I also felt it had better detail and crispness in the shadow regions of any picture I was viewing. I didn't see the same detail in the Elite, or I should say the 850 showed better shadow or dark scene definition.

A couple of days later, I then went to a dedicated Magnolia, not at a BB, and they also had the 850 setup right next to an Elite. Both were playing the same signal and after watching and comparing both sets for awhile, again I liked the 850 more. At this point, I decided to get the 850. After some haggling, I ended up buying the 850 and will get it the first of February.

Don't get me wrong, the Elite was really nice, but even if the prices were even, I would have bought the 850. I think I had to overcome the "impression" that the Pioneer is unbeatable.

To be honest, I thought the Panny 850 had a better PQ. Now before all you Elite homeboys gasp, this is just my opinion... Your opinions may vary.

Hope this helps,
Dennis

^^^ Thanks dlt123me. :D

This is my first plasma so I am not really sure if what I am hearing is normal or not. How loud is this set supposed to be? If I am playing the slideshow for breaking it in (of all different solid color images) I can hear it anywhere in the room, especially on the gray images. When watching TV, the volume drowns it out, but if there is a particularily quiet part, I can still hear it. It is all coming from the left side of the TV in back and it definitely changes pitch and volume depending on the picture it is displaying.

Thoughts?

This is my first plasma so I am not really sure if what I am hearing is normal or not. How loud is this set supposed to be? If I am playing the slideshow for breaking it in (of all different solid color images) I can hear it anywhere in the room, especially on the gray images. When watching TV, the volume drowns it out, but if there is a particularily quiet part, I can still hear it. It is all coming from the left side of the TV in back and it definitely changes pitch and volume depending on the picture it is displaying.

Thoughts?

I found the same thing when running the slideshow through the break-in period. Some colors would trigger more buzzing than others. It has either: gone away, been completely drowned out by anything on TV, or I'm not noticing it anymore. Since I tend to be pretty sensitive to things like this, and there are quiet shows, I tend to think it's dissipated. I was a little nervous about burn-in when I first got it a few weeks ago, so I ran the color slides for awhile, and then when I watched anything in non-HD widescreen for a length of time, I'd run the sliding white bar for three passes.

I'm very happy with the TV - color, sound, remote, menu system. Actually, the menu system was important to me. If it was illogical, ugly, slow, or inefficient, it would really drive me nuts. And I was considering the Kuro too, so I'm glad I saved serious bucks and am still quite happy. Actually, it's shocking how bad even the Magnolia '850 displays look compared with my out-of-the-box home install, which is barely even tweaked.

So I'm happy with all except for the VieraCast. I finally got that hooked up to a DMP-BD55 (last one at a local Circuit City) and then got a Linksys Game Adapter to connect it to my local network. BTW, that works out great, simplest way I could think to do it. The VieraCast seems really slow. My broadband connection is fast - I get over 1 MB/sec, and the reception seems fine at the TV, even the firmware upgrade was okay, although I don't know how big it was, so I gotta think it's their server? How does that even work?

Oh, and I gotta replace my semi-opaque shades on the windows directly opposite the TV with fully light-blocking shades. But I suspected that was coming.

I do see digital errors every now and then on the HD Comcast. Is this relatively common, or at least not uncommon, for people and how does this fare against DirecTV?

Hate to wake a dead thread but next week (barring nothing goes wrong:() I will have one.

Hate to wake a dead thread but next week (barring nothing goes wrong:() I will have one.

You're going to love it. I got mine a couple of weeks ago. I got the 850 50". So far I have about 100 hours of break in on my set and the picture is spectacular.

I am so glad I got this set. I've never had HD or plasma before and I can see why ppl like plasma. Colors are very vibrant and true to life.

What a great set. Enjoy your new TV and be sure to break it in, it will improve over time.

Dennis

I've brushed up a little on the break in, but any specifics you can give me on it?

I previously purchased a mitsu 52" lcd and took it back. I love the samsung lcds but I wanted this for whatever reason. I'm hoping I'll be happy, I haven't seen a 850 in the store anywhere. The only thing I've seen are the 80/85u and the 58" 800u (which didn't look that great imo.)

Is the 24p flicker problem something to worry about or have you noticed it?

You're going to love it. I got mine a couple of weeks ago. I got the 850 50". So far I have about 100 hours of break in on my set and the picture is spectacular.

I am so glad I got this set. I've never had HD or plasma before and I can see why ppl like plasma. Colors are very vibrant and true to life.

What a great set. Enjoy your net TV and be sure to break it in, it will improve over time.

Dennis

Does the 850 look pretty good right out of the box or does it take quite a bit of tweaking to get a good picture. I realize that to get the very best picture I'll need to make adjustments but how does it look as it comes from the factory?

Bsavitz I don't have the tv yet, if you do a search you can find the preferred settings for everything to set it up yourself on here.

I'm VERY temped to pick up the TH-50PZ850U @ its current price...But with the 2009 models on the horizon I'm temped to hold off for the TC-P50G10 which is rumored to be around the same price point.

Should the lack of 24p on the 2009 steer me towards the TH-50PZ850U? I'm not a tech guru, but I enjoy getting the most out of my Blu-ray viewing experience and I feel the lack of 24p, or whatever it is that causes the "flicker" might hinder that.

I really appreciate any insights, thoughts or opinions (this is a BIG purchase for me).

Thanks

i just got mine today i have had it on since i bought it today at 5pm. One question i have is what is the setting to use during its break in period? im currently using the studio ref mode setting. i love how it looks at night and i know some people say it might be too dark for their taste, but i was the owner of a 46inch sony xbr4 and it took me about 5 months to finally get the best picture out of the unit. I loved my final adjustments and it was very bright and all, but there is something i find right now that the sony did not have. yes, i know the xbr4 had more POP, but movie theaters do not really pop. i know this plasma has not yet shown me what it can do until i break it in completely. i am looking forward to seeing what it can do...

I'm VERY temped to pick up the TH-50PZ850U @ its current price...But with the 2009 models on the horizon I'm temped to hold off for the TC-P50G10 which is rumored to be around the same price point.

Should the lack of 24p on the 2009 steer me towards the TH-50PZ850U? I'm not a tech guru, but I enjoy getting the most out of my Blu-ray viewing experience and I feel the lack of 24p, or whatever it is that causes the "flicker" might hinder that.

I really appreciate any insights, thoughts or opinions (this is a BIG purchase for me).

Thanks
Odds are the new models will be better. Tough choice.
Does the 850 look pretty good right out of the box or does it take quite a bit of tweaking to get a good picture. I realize that to get the very best picture I'll need to make adjustments but how does it look as it comes from the factory?
They look good right out of the box.

Does the 850 look pretty good right out of the box or does it take quite a bit of tweaking to get a good picture. I realize that to get the very best picture I'll need to make adjustments but how does it look as it comes from the factory?

Sorry I didn't see your post.. Yes, it looks great right out of the box, but after some break in the magic really starts to happen.

I can't believe how nice my set looks now that I have over 100 hours of break in on it. It doesn't even look like the original picture I got out of the box, it looks like something magic happened and it looks way more 3-D now. I cannot believe how nice this set looks.

I can't wait to see it after 200 hours. It's an amazing set.

Dennis

For those who have a Panny 850 I want to make sure you know about this cool functioning of your 850 remote.

Check out the post I made in the "The Official PANASONIC PZ850u thread - All sizes (settings, feedback, etc...)" (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15858495&posted=1#post15858495)

Dennis

I'm VERY temped to pick up the TH-50PZ850U @ its current price...But with the 2009 models on the horizon I'm temped to hold off for the TC-P50G10 which is rumored to be around the same price point.

Should the lack of 24p on the 2009 steer me towards the TH-50PZ850U? I'm not a tech guru, but I enjoy getting the most out of my Blu-ray viewing experience and I feel the lack of 24p, or whatever it is that causes the "flicker" might hinder that.

I really appreciate any insights, thoughts or opinions (this is a BIG purchase for me).

Thanks

MSRP is 1999 plus tax on the G 50".........I just picked up a th-50pz850u for 1850 shipped to my door with extended 3yr warrany (total 4yrs), not to mention its delivered using white glove service. It is the top of the line from panny last year. The G is replacing the pz85 not the 850u, if you want something up to the specs of the 850u then you would be looking at the V series which has all of those features and then some. Plus the 850u is sexy with the one sheet of glass, a plus in my book. But ulimately its up to you and your budget. I decided on not waiting because I got a great deal and saved several hundred bucks, which I used to improve my living room to cater the new panny panel as well as some ps3 games,a copy of dve and planet earth!!!! Good luck in your search.

For the money just go for the 850u. I finally got mine Thursday and the quality of blu ray play and ps3 is really nice. For the money I don't think another tv is out that would be better.

I have a decent htib setup but the tv speakers sound really good IMO.

I wasn't able to see the 850u before I bought but the set as a whole is a beaut! The tv was quite a bit bigger than I had thought it was going to be.

My only fear is trying to keep the entire set clean and away from scratches/imperfections. I went and bought a special cloth and some ice for auto detailing to hopefully help keep it clean and scratch-less. Any other recommendations?

The set is quite heavy, I didn't have any help maneuvering the thing around and putting the stand on it. I'd make sure you have help for it.

Overall I'm very happy with my choice and I will enjoy it more once I'm able to have the set at the settings I want them to be at or where they should be. Every now and again I second guess myself in wondering how any of the samsung lcds would look in comparison but for the money I got the better tv/deal especially when size is taken into consideration.

I don't regret this tv like a previous mitsubishi lcd panel I bought last spring, that thing was horrible and I could have nearly bought the 50 850u and the 46 850u for what I paid for the mitsu 52".

My 850u just got delivered less than 2 hours ago and I can't wait until the tv is fully broken in. My local hifi store had this at a really good price because they managed to get some at low cost. So i managed to score the last 850 they had at a price lower than the 800u.

I originally had the pioneer elite and the 800u in mind when i was about to purchase. I wasn't really considering this TV but it so happened to be beside the 800u so i compared the two using the I Am Legend BD that I brought with me. Setting this to Studio Ref mode looked so much better/darker already compared to the THX mode. The sales rep then told me the deal and it was the cherry on top. The Pioneer with a TV stand would have ran me almost $2000CDN more after taxes than the 850u.

I could've gone all out, but I think I will be happier in the long run with $2000 more in my pocket.

On another note, I'm breaking in the TV using standard settings because the 'Picture' option is set to 50, while everything else is 100. I've read that Panasonic recommends leaving the Picture to 50 or less during the first 100 hours, but anyone know how long I should run each colour for? Also, is it ok to leave the TV on during the whole break-in period to get it done faster or is it better to give it some breaks in between hours or slideshows?

I've been curious on breaking the tv in as well, I've read so many different things on the internet that it's kind of hard to know what is best for the set.

Is it alright to use the anti image retention? My being anal tells me it's alright:confused:

Can someone tell me how to check my hours on my 850U? I can get to the service screen but don't know what to do from there, and I sure don't want to screw something up. Also how do you set up the Picasso picture service. I have the web set up now, I just don't know how to establish a password...etc

Thanks
Mark

I have had my 850 now for about 8 months, many hundreds of hours of use. The set displays a beautiful picture, I am quite picky and notice every little thing. The only complaint I have is the flicker on very bright scenes. It can be quite anoying. I was hoping that maybe a software/firmware might address this but it looks like I will have to live with it

Hey everyone. I just got an email from panasonic. They are gonna be rolling out some new VeriaCast features, and want user input. I bought my TV from panasonic, so thats why i got the email, but I think this would benifit everyone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Do you know that YOUR TV (model TH-xxPZ850U) will soon be receiving exciting new services?

Your opinion will help us to provide services you would like on your TV!

By answering just a few survey questions, you can help us in designing products and services that will better fit your taste and needs. Your survey response will not be disclosed to any 3rd party.

To participate, please click on the link below.

NOTE: If the survey Web page does not open, then please highlight the link line, Copy it and then Paste it into the address line in your Internet browser.

If you have any questions regarding your Panasonic Viera TV, please call us at 800 95VIERA or visit VieraConcierge.com.

Thanks,

Panasonic User Experience Team, Secaucus, NJ



http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=U2BUUBSCRHCC

I should go through the rest of this thread sometime. I'm a lowly 800U owner, but there doesn't seem to be an owners thread for the TH-50PZ800U. I was hoping you could help me out.

I've owned my 800U since September and love it. The THX setting is super sweet. Here's my question, Is the "Picture" setting in the video options the same as "Contrast"? The only other place contrast is mentioned is in the C.A.T.S. setting.

Also, I have tried to back light mine with LED rope light. This dim setting makes me have to turn down the contrast/picture, and as a consequence my black levels suffer (in a relative sense - compared to the brightest pixel). Do you think it's better to have a brighter room and increased contrast or a dimly lit room and a lower contrast?

Is the "Picture" setting in the video options the same as "Contrast"?

Yes, Picture is the same as Contrast.

In THX mode, your contrast can be 90-100. A dim backlight is actually recommend and part of the specification. The light output of the backlight should be about 10% of the light output of the panel.

Yes, Picture is the same as Contrast.

In THX mode, your contrast can be 90-100. A dim backlight is actually recommend and part of the specification. The light output of the backlight should be about 10% of the light output of the panel.

Thanks, at that high of a contrast level I'll need to add a little more ambient light to reduce eye strain.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=U2BUUBSCRHCC[/URL]


I'd like to have some input but on my first visit the site tells me that I've already taken the survey. WTF ??

I'd like to have some input but on my first visit the site tells me that I've already taken the survey. WTF ??

I'm sorry about that, they embedded the user in the link. I thought it would save cookie info, but i guess they didn't want people cheating the survey.

Good news thought, and a lot of the survey was about how many people are actually using it, and what features people would be interested in. There was a lot about VOD services and netflix support in there. Also topics included what type of typing method was preferred. RSS support, and basic email support were asked too. I basically said yes to anything that would be a new feature (minus games, cause they would all be lame so why waste time on them). I also recommended a better way to view vieracast without loosing picture from the current input on your tv (i.e. more of a widget approach). Samsung and LG are doing a great job of this. Once all the TV's come out with Yahoo widget support too, the content options will be endless and make viera-cast weak sauce unless panny supports it too in some way.

I'm sorry about that, they embedded the user in the link. I thought it would save cookie info, but i guess they didn't want people cheating the survey.
snip
.


Thanks for that info. I'd appreciate any further info too. Maybe I should locate and send in my 'warranty registration card' and get on the info list myself.

Al

This is a great forum. Hopefully this is the correct thread to post my question. I just bought a 58PZ850u which is the same set at a larger size. I have been very impressed with it so far with one exception. Recently while watching a movie with a lot of white backgrounds, I noticed that the white background had a bluish tint which was evident in some sections of the screen. In other areas, white was either displayed correctly or had a reddish tint especially towards the screen edges. Two Panasonic warranty technicians saw the issue today. They scheduled a follow-up in home visit with a more experienced technician. Is this a common phenomena with Panasonic plasmas? Please comment. Thanks.

I have been very impressed with it so far with one exception. Recently while watching a movie with a lot of white backgrounds, I noticed that the white background had a bluish tint which was evident in some sections of the screen. In other areas, white was either displayed correctly or had a reddish tint especially towards the screen edges. ... Is this a common phenomena with Panasonic plasmas? Please comment. Thanks.

No, I switched back to plasmas because of their uniformity in color and brightness. My white screens are completely white. There can be an optical illusion if you have your contrast high and you're watching in a dark room. It might make the edges seem darker. But no color shift should be occurring. These are very good TVs so I would definitely get this issue checked and resolved.

No, I switched back to plasmas because of their uniformity in color and brightness. My white screens are completely white. There can be an optical illusion if you have your contrast high and you're watching in a dark room. It might make the edges seem darker. But no color shift should be occurring. These are very good TVs so I would definitely get this issue checked and resolved.

Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear your tv does not exhibit the issue. My contrast is set pretty low in the 30s. The company will be sending out an experienced technician to review the issue shortly. I will report the outcome.

Thanks

Watching live or recorded program, there is no sound at all.
It just stopped working mid-program.
Extended warranty provider is out-of-business (no surprise there)

Is it an easy sound board swap?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

...Any suggestions would be helpful.
I'm wondering why you have a nice TV like the 850, and are using the TV speakers? The last thing I would do is replace the TV. The first thing I would do is upgrade your sound options.

Maybe you use the TV speakers for easy access to audio and video, and in that case I recommend getting a remote that can turn everything on with one button.

The easiest solution that I know will work (unless the problem is with your input device): get a sound bar.

I was wondering if anyone knew of any quick fixes for this dithering (dot crawl) I'm seeing so often. I only usually see it on bright sky shots (blue/white/orange, etc) and it is quite distracting. This occurs on HD signals via verizon fios and are 1080i signals. Any ideas on how to fix this besides calibration?