Official Panasonic 32/37LZ800 Owners Thread

[JoeBloggz]

Hey guys, I figured I'd make this official I plan on getting one of these ASAP. I know there is another thread regarding these but there is a lot of talk about other models in that thread as well. I know there are a few owners lurking and many more to come, So let the tinkering begin.

For more information on these http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702

[Pescadito]

Finally, i was waiting for the owners thread too. I will buy mine tomorrow from mountavision.

[shinji23]

Excellent thread! I just returned Sony KDL-32XBR6 and purchased TC-37LZ800 from Butterfly.com. I got a question regarding TC-37LZ800. I've done some research on this TV, but I am can not find any information regarding 120hz. I know LG Scarlet 37inch model has 120hz and since they are using same or similar panel (correct me if I am wrong), I just figured this TV has 120hz. But does this TV have 120hz???? Some sites states that this panel doesn't support 120hz, and majority of posts AVS Forum says otherwise. Can somebody please confirm this???

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by shinji23

Excellent thread! I just returned Sony KDL-32XBR6 and purchased TC-37LZ800 from Butterfly.com. I got a question regarding TC-37LZ800. I've done some research on this TV, but I am can not find any information regarding 120hz. I know LG Scarlet 37inch model has 120hz and since they are using same or similar panel (correct me if I am wrong), I just figured this TV has 120hz. But does this TV have 120hz???? Some sites states that this panel doesn't support 120hz, and majority of posts AVS Forum says otherwise. Can somebody please confirm this???

This question has been discussed here:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1021508

In short the LZ800 does NOT have 120hz. They have what Panasonic calls Motion Focus technology which is 120hz-like. I can't remember all the nuances of this feature but it can be found in linked thread. Also I have played with the Motion Focus feature when viewing the set at Tweeter and it does a nice job smoothing things out. I watched a HD soccer game(a lot of movement) which kept blur to a minimum, much less than your typical LCD.

[reallynotnick]

As soon as someone gets one of these I would like to see some pictures, as everyone seems to love these sets for there PQ but so far from the stock photos I am not crazy about the styling, though it is not horrible but that's just personal preference.

[SurfingMatt27]

Well now that you have an official owners club, ..How well does this tv handle PS3/360 games compared to other models?

That is the last most important question before i pull the trigger on this tv.i'm a huge gamer.

thanks,

Matt~

[dmikester1]

Another question about the LZ800, can the Motion Focus be turned off if one decides they don't like it? I also am seriously considering getting this TV for my soon to be bride and my new place!
Thanks
Mike

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by dmikester1

Another question about the LZ800, can the Motion Focus be turned off if one decides they don't like it? I also am seriously considering getting this TV for my soon to be bride and my new place!
Thanks
Mike

Yes , Motion Focus can be toggled on/off under the advanced tab within the picture menu.

[Higgs]

I'm in, mine will be here in a couple days. Been waiting to see this set for months and almost went for plan-B. Pannys store locator and phone operators said none were in WA state, so I went to gander at other sets. There on a long wall of LCD's were 2 that really stood out, it was the LZ800's! I was very impressed. I bought the 32", it had the best PQ for the distance I like to be at. One of the many things that stood out was they really hold their color when viewed at all angles while the other sets washed out.

I'll add more once I set it up here in 'mans land'. I'd have it now, but the salesman at Magnolia HiFi was a depressing unenthusiastic twit, so online I went. *this item contains a hint

[Pescadito]

hint?!?!?

[TRD Supra]

Originally Posted by JoeBloggz

This question has been discussed here:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1021508

In short the LZ800 does NOT have 120hz. They have what Panasonic calls Motion Focus technology which is 120hz-like. I can't remember all the nuances of this feature but it can be found in linked thread. Also I have played with the Motion Focus feature when viewing the set at Tweeter and it does a nice job smoothing things out. I watched a HD soccer game(a lot of movement) which kept blur to a minimum, much less than your typical LCD.

It has both Motion Focus and Motion Picture Pro/120Hz.... http://ccs.usask.ca/Panasonic/Specia...icture_pro.htm

LZ800 specs....
Motion Focus - YES
Motion Picture Pro - YES
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702

[Cinema Squid]

Originally Posted by TRD Supra

It has both Motion Focus and Motion Picture Pro/120Hz....

No offense intended, but after the confusion surrounding the XBR6 I'm not going to believe it's got 120Hz until it's confirmed by an owner. It doesn't look like the user manual is available for download yet either which would at least be a slightly more reliable source of info than the product page.

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by TRD Supra

It has both Motion Focus and Motion Picture Pro/120Hz.... http://ccs.usask.ca/Panasonic/Specia...icture_pro.htm

LZ800 specs....
Motion Focus - YES
Motion Picture Pro - YES
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702

What about this then? It may just be semantics but for the sake of accuracy Numbacrunch wrote this in the other LZ800 thread:

Gary Merson Hd Guru has written that the flag ship units -- TC-32LZ800 and TC-37LZ800 -- are differentiated from the other three models in the line (two of which are only 720P units) by having:

PC inputs,
Four (4) HDMI inputs and
"Panasonic's Motion Flow Technology that sequentially fires the backlight to greatly improve motion resolution without resorting to 120 Hz refresh rate",
Contrast ratios have improved to: 1200:1 static and 10,000:1 dynamic

This appears to be quite a different approach to achieving the same end and, according to Mr. Merson, results in an improvement over the 2007 technique of Motion Picture Pro (120 Hz refresh rate).

I think the 120 Hz refresh rate was well implemented in 2007; can't wait to see the 'improvement':-)

Again, sorry for being too quick on the trigger with this, but it does explain the "No" for 120 Hz refresh. To tell you the truth, I was bothered by that and was checking to see if what I had remembered was, indeed, correct. Hopefully, the correct answer is: Technically, no, but the same end is acheived and improved upon by employing a somewhat different technique.

[hon143]

Originally Posted by Cinema Squid

No offense intended, but after the confusion surrounding the XBR6 I'm not going to believe it's got 120Hz until it's confirmed by an owner. It doesn't look like the user manual is available for download yet either which would at least be a slightly more reliable source of info than the product page.

I think it's been all but confirmed that the XBR6 does not have 120 Hz. Even Sony's website does not specify Motion Flow Technology as the key features to the 32XBR6. And with Sony TV's, I believe Motion Flow Technology is synonymous with 120 Hz...if I'm not mistaken.

[0V3CHKiN]

One with flash on:


One without:


Using regular Comcast service. HD taken with QAM. Settings out of the box.

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by 0V3CHKiN

One with flash on:


One without:


Using regular Comcast service. HD taken with QAM. Settings out of the box.

Images not working?

[0V3CHKiN]

Hmm. I have the IMG tags around them properly. Oh well -

One with flash on:
http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0206vl4.jpg

One without:
http://img368.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0208fj1.jpg

EDIT:
American Gladiators was in 1080i FYI.
Just found out I get ESPN-HD OTA. It's in 720p. Here's some shots of that in the dark:
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0215pj8.jpg
http://img355.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0210qa7.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0214qa9.jpg

[SurfingMatt27]

have you tried any 1080p sources yet? they must make the panny truly shine!

[Cinema Squid]

Dare I ask the burning question?

0V3CHKiN, can you confirm whether or not the LZ800 is 120Hz? Does it include the Motion Picture Pro feature in addition to the Motion Flow feature? Also, did you pickup the 32" or 37"?

I'd ask all the other questions again as well (gaming lag, 1:1 PC input, 24fps pulldown modes, etc.) but I don't want to overwhelm the first actual owner in the owner's thread!

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by Cinema Squid

Dare I ask the burning question?

0V3CHKiN, can you confirm whether or not the LZ800 is 120Hz? Does it include the Motion Picture Pro feature in addition to the Motion Flow feature? Also, did you pickup the 32" or 37"?

I'd ask all the other questions again as well (gaming lag, 1:1 PC input, 24fps pulldown modes, etc.) but I don't want to overwhelm the first actual owner in the owner's thread!

From tinkering with the set at Tweeter you can toggle Motion Focus on/off within the picture menu. From what I saw Motion Picture Pro is not included under any tab in the picture menu. But I dont think its something that can be turned on/off. Last years LX700, if I remember correctly, had Motion Picture Pro, but it was ON all the time.

[0V3CHKiN]

I don't have a Blu-Ray player or other 1080p device yet. That's next on my list. Most likely the PS3 or the Panny BD30

I'm still not certain if this is 120Hz or not. My intentions with this purchase was to replace a 10+ year old Panasonic TV I had been using. "Motion Focus" was one of the few options available to turn on/off in the advanced picture menu. I wouldn't know about the gaming lag or PC Input since I strictly use this as a TV for the time being. Doesn't help that the manual was written by a chemical engineer :-/ Sorry I can't help on that. I may play games depending on if I choose a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player.

Here are a couple more photos of the Picture Menus though:
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9725/img0216xr2.jpg
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3865/img0218pz0.jpg
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6623/img0219ik4.jpg
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5712/img0220ph1.jpg

(note: SD show playing in the background.)

[TRD Supra]

120Hz isn't an option. It's a feature that is in the TV and is NOT able to be turned off. This is because its the refresh rate and if there was an option it would be to turn it down to 60Hz, being the norm refresh rate in none 120Hz TVs. Again the only way to know for sure if the LZ800's are 120Hz or 60Hz is if Panasonic tells someone with a strait answer.

[Cole5]

Originally Posted by TRD Supra

120Hz isn't an option. It's a feature that is in the TV and is NOT able to be turned off. This is because its the refresh rate and if there was an option it would be to turn it down to 60Hz, being the norm refresh rate in none 120Hz TVs. Again the only way to know for sure if the LZ800's are 120Hz or 60Hz is if Panasonic tells someone with a strait answer.

I called Panasonic today and asked the 120Hz question. Unfortunately, tech support didn't have an answer other than "the LCDs use the latest technology so most likely it is 120Hz."

[dmikester1]

The 32" has dropped ~$18 since I last checked at Buydig! This will be my first HDTV purchase. Do these come with a stand so I can set it on something without it tipping over?
Thanks
Mike

[Higgs]

Mike, the stand is very sturdy, even has a built in hidden/recessed swivel. The stand appears to be flush with the surface, but it's slightly raised, resting on rubber footed rotor that rotates -15+

[BOSTON-HD]

Originally Posted by dmikester1

The 32" has dropped ~$18 since I last checked at Buydig! This will be my first HDTV purchase. Do these come with a stand so I can set it on something without it tipping over?
Thanks
Mike

Mike: Bought mine from Buydig.com for $16.00 more then it is now (I'll Live) Delivery was free & fast! Really can't complain about thier service. Now I have to take money out of savings to pay the CC bill when it comes in (sigh)

[dmikester1]

I was also going to buy the $99 Mack 3 yr extended warranty. What are your guy's thoughts on that? Worth it or no?
Thanks
Mike

[0V3CHKiN]

I forgot to mention, mine is the 37". Tweeter was willing to match Best Buy's Memorial Day price including the 12% Reward Zone coupon discount. I also purchased the 5 year warranty @ $179. 3 Year was $129, so the price on that sounded pretty decent to me.

[Higgs]

Oh man, what a sweet TV this is.

I temporarily set it up in challenging conditions to see if it could keep up. A bright daylight room with 3 walls of large unshaded windows, faced it to the solid wall, sat 8 feet back and fired it up with factory settings. I'm very impressed, this is the kinda toy I like. I'm a hi-end audio guy (musician), so I don't have all the techie jargon you want to hear, but I can tell you I've been shopping for a flat panel tv for a few years now. I've always walked out of the store because none of them impressed me, I felt the technology had a long ways to go and I wasn't gonna settle just because it was flat and popular.

This one, wow, the blacks are deep black, the colors are vivid, the remote is simple/intuitive, the manual is good and not one thing took away from visual experience I had. LCD's finally have come of age. Sorry, no pics, you need to see this one in person and you'll agree this ones a winner. Don't trust the Panny store locater or their 800 number, they don't have a clue. Make some calls around town, someone may have it.

Enjoy,
Higgs

TC-32LZ800

[JoeBloggz]

Originally Posted by 0V3CHKiN

I forgot to mention, mine is the 37". Tweeter was willing to match Best Buy's Memorial Day price including the 12% Reward Zone coupon discount. I also purchased the 5 year warranty @ $179. 3 Year was $129, so the price on that sounded pretty decent to me.

BB in my area(MA) do not carry the LZ800's and they have no record of when/if they will ever get them.