I'm trying to figure out what the small purplish-pink dot (size of a pin head) is at the top of my Panasonic Plasma (58PZ800U) TV screen when using the scrolling white bar in the ANIT-IMAGE RETENTION setting?? Is this a dead pixel?

I noticed it after using the white scrolling bar. As the bright white bar passes over the middle of screen, I notice a purplish-pink dot that appears near the top (in the bright white bar). After the scrolling white bar passes, that purplish-pink dot appears as a "dark" spot on the screen.

Any help or ideas is much appreciated.

Thanks for the replies :)

Sounds like a part of the pixel is not working correctly. Each pixel has three colors (red, green, blue). White requires that all these colors be active at the same time. Since you're seeing pink, it probably means that the green part of that pixel isn't working (blue + red = purple).

It could be dead or it could just be stuck. If you're able to hook up the TV to a computer, you can try running an application that switches colors really fast to try to correct the stuck pixel. This only works sometimes as the pixel may simply be broken.

A couple of programs i know of are JScreenFix (http://www.jscreenfix.com/)and Dead Pixel Tester (http://www.dataproductservices.com/dpt).

Well...it seems that my 58" Panasonic Plasma (58PZ800U) may have a defect pixel. I've had this TV for less than TWO months. To me, that IS NOT acceptable.

After doing a search through GOOGLE, I found some info regarding Panasonic's "defect" pixel policy. Not sure if this is still the practice as it was from 2006.

The definition of a defect pixel is as follows, dead pixel [not lit] lit pixel [always lit] pair defect [adjacent pixels both defect] Defects distance – distance between two defect pixels [5 cms]

With pixel problems the screen is looked at as two zones. Zone B is the 25% of the screen from the top, sides and base inwards. Zone A is in the middle of that zone.

Zone A may have a maximum of 3 single defect red or blue pixels, no lit pixels [pixel is lit always] and no pair defect pixels [adjacent two pixels are both defect]

Zone B may have a maximum of 6 single defect pixels [red, green and blue] no lit pixels, no pair defect pixels. Defects distance for zone B is 5cms.

The screen would therefore need to have equal or more than the accepted level of defect pixels as outlined above to be considered by your dealer/retailer for a warranty replacement option.

I'm gonna contact Panasonic regarding this issue and find out what they have to say. I'm also going to be contacting my local retailer where I purchased the TV from (purchased 4yr extended warranty as well). Should my TV need to be replaced or gets replaced, what are the chances that I get a brand new (not refurbished) Panasonic Plasma TV (58PZ8000U - 2008 model)?? Or, would Panasonic / local retailer have me hold off until the comparable 2009 Panasonic Plasma TV's (58" model) are released (not sure what the 2009 comparable model would be).

Looking for some insight regarding what might happen in my situation.

Thanks for the replies :)

I believe every TV maker will say that some number of dead/stuck pixels is considered "normal". Maybe the Pioneer Elites had a no-dead pixel warranty? Not sure.

Anyhow, there's over 2 million pixels on a 1080p set - 6 million subpixels - and occasionally one or a few aren't quite right. My bet is Panasonic will tell you it's not covered, and if the retailer takes it back understand that you're risking your new set having the same problem, and it could even be worse.

Can you even see this pixel when you're watching a show or playing a game?

jeff

I contacted Panasonic. They are going to be sending out a tech to repair my "defect" pixel. I didn't realize that a "defect" pixel could be repaired. Any idea what they will be doing to repair this "defect" pixel??

Thanks for the continued replies.

At the same time, they will be troubleshooting the "floating / snowy" green dots my Panasonic Plasma TV (58PZ800U) is experiencing in "THX" mode. I don't see that in any other mode (standard / vivid / game /ect)....so I'm anxious to see what is causing that issue.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1120995