Panasonic PZ80/PZ85 Owners Thread [No Price Talk] - Page 264

I'm new here this is my first post. I just purchased a TH-42PZ80U Sat 11/29/08. I'm already having problems.
first- the whites look grey
second- when i switch inputs and the screen turns black, the tv is covered with a bunch of tiny white spots.

This is my second tv purchased from Bestbuy this week. My first 42LG30 LCD JUNK! hated it.
So went back to the store today and everybody in the Magnolia service area noticed me again and joked, what are you living here haha. Anyways explained my problem with the TH42-PZ80U and right away offered to swap out for the TH42-PZ85U at no extra charge so ended up getting the TH42-PZ85U for $899.99.

Now my question is, the problem I was having with the TH42-PZ80U. Is it from improper setup like not breaking it in and not calibrating? Cause Saturday when set all up I started watching a blu ray and I was like man this looks like crap so set it to vivid and watched it like that. I also had it on all day Sunday for football.
Your feedback much appreciated.

the black level setting is only available when a HD signal is input. Some other picture settings are also dependent on other settings, and input formats.

If you set it to vivid and could actually watch it and not think the picture was crap then I think you should really go out and get an LCD.

Go watch a movie at a theater, then go home and look at your tv....make it so.

oh.. wow..
th-42pz80u..
had it for one week.. another stuck pixel appeared..
at first i had none.. then first day 10 mins of use, one green pixel
appeared.. but after 100 hours break-in and few hours of pixel remover, it's gone.. but instead one red pixel and one gray(?, could be dead pixel) appeared.. and they weren't movable even after 12 hours of stuck pixel removing software..
and just now, i noticed another red stuck pixel that wasn't there few hours ago.. it wasn't there when i checked after running stuck pixel removing software.. what the heck.. is this normal to have new stuck pixel comes out every other day? i did followed the rule and i did 100 hours break-in as well.
i love panasonic and all but getting new stuck pixel every other day isn't something i would enjoy to have.

Hello. I recently bought a TH-50PZ80U after much debating between LCD and Plasma. After owning this beauty for awhile, I'm now a Plasma fan for life. This set is amazing. It's my first HDTV...and I'm just blown away by how good it looks!

Anyway, on my set I noticed that static images are making a 'ghost' image that stretches across half the screen. They just look like dark, horizontal bars that appear on either side of an image. (It's easier to see on some colors than others.) When I open the TV's menu, for example, a dim, horizontal 'ghost' bar stretches across the screen starting from whatever option is highlighted. I'm noticing it in games too now. In Tales of Vesperia for example...whenever a text bubble pops up, these 'ghost' bars will stretch across the screen on both sides of it. I don't notice it in things that don't have static images, but as I mostly use this set for gaming, which obviously involves a lot of static images, it's pretty annoying how whereever there is a static image this ghosting effect will be on either side of it.

I've been very careful with this set...During the break-in period, I didn't game on it, never had black bars running, and set the brightness/picture very low...in fact, it was while running the break-in DVD when this was brand new that I first noticed the ghosting. (The DVD just plays solid-color images, and opening the TV menu will make a 'ghost' bar cut right through it.) Anyway, I wonder if anyone has some insight on this problem. I have old CRT's that do this, but I don't really understand how a plasma could have this problem?

Besides that, it's an amazing TV for gaming. Sometimes I'll play for 3-4 hours and I've never seen a hint of image retention. After the break-in period, Plasmas seem to be perfectly safe for gaming.

Need more information what is your input source and connection type
IE: OTA, cable, satellite, HDMI, component, Svideo etc,etc

If you know your blu ray player and cable (HDMI) are good, I would disconnect all other inputs to the TV and Check each HDMI port with the Blu-Ray connected directly to the TV. Recheck your setup setting if PQ is still bad you need a replacement.
You might want to check here for setup
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=5534

Hello,

I have been "lurking" for a while and reading all the post in this thread. At first, I had my eyes set on the TH-50pz85u. But, after reading what actual owners have said, I am thinking that the TH-50pz80u is just as good. Also, from what I had researched and what others have told me, the 10K difference in contrast ratio will barely be noticed, if at all.

I am not going to use this is a computer monitor and the "slimmer" looks of the 85u are not a deal breaker for me.

With that said, is there anything else I am missing regarding the two models? Any input is greatly appreciated so I can use it to make a decision.

I'm hooked up to cable with HDMI I am also using HDMI for the Blu-Ray. I am still having problems with the whites looking grey.
Would being at a higher altitude be the problem, I am almost at 6000 feet. I live in Colorado

I was going through the same thing before I settled on the 80u I did a lot of research between the two, and I can tell you with a good deal of confidence that they are basically the exact same things. You've mentioned all the changes that I'm aware of, 1. Higher contrast, 2. PC Monitor input, 3. Slimmer design. Besides those, there shouldn't be any picture quality difference between the two, and as you said, the contrast difference isn't very noticeable to most people. That said, the price difference between the 80 and 85 is usually just $100, so you might want to go for the newer model anyway...but don't feel bad if you settle on the 80u.

I'm in the same boat. So far the Z85 is $200 CDN more in most situations. If I can get the Z85 for the same price, I don't see why I'd get the Z80. I guess it's hard to buy something that is spec'd less unless there is a significant ca$h savings. I'll probably pick up a Panasonic BD35 or 55 with it too

One thing I like about the Z85 is that the extra HDMI is on the side instead of the front ( I have my PC plugged into it).

Search for deals, I got the Panasonic BD35 free included in the price under 1k.

Call Panasonic and see if there is a known problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by thedoctor29
Hi I just purchased a TH42PZ80U and have been watching tv in zoom with lowerd brightness and color settings. ive been running the break in dvd and low pinks to oranges i can see a bar coming down on the right sdie of the screen probly 3 inches thick its a little dimmer than its surroundings. wil this go away has anybody else had a problem similar to this?



I only notice it while playing the break in dvd when its on pinks low oranges and sometimes on a green
the bar seems to be a shade lighter in pinks/oranges but a lil darker in the green

Originally Posted by yojay
I'm hooked up to cable with HDMI I am also using HDMI for the Blu-Ray. I am still having problems with the whites looking grey.
Would being at a higher altitude be the problem, I am almost at 6000 feet. I live in Colorado

I live in the Denver area and do not have that problem with the Th-42pz85u

guys, I just received my 50pz80u....... but get "channels not available" when trying to hook it up...

i know it's gotta be something stupid.

I'm just running a hdmi from my cable box to my tv. what am I doing wrong here?

You have it set to the right input, right?

Unless you've got the cable slapped right into the TV I think you need to use the cable box for channels.. it's what I ended up setting up. The GOOD news for me was that the Panny remote immediately connected to my digital cable box so all I do is switch from TV to Cable and I can control my cable box. Took some experimenting to find the chanel guide (sub menu on the remote) and the buttons that correspond to the DVR (the first 3 colored buttons are used on mine, the 4th doesn't align to anything) Only thing I haven't found a direct button for activating the dvr menu..

iirc Panny's are green pushers.

This past I weekend I pulled the trigger on ordering a TH-46PZ80U. It hasn't shipped yet but I'm growing concerned about the increased posts related to stuck pixels on new sets. Does anyone think this reflects a trend in decreased production quality or simply a matter of coincidence? Is it cause to consider cancelling the order? Since it was purchased online, the thought of trying to deal with returning it etc. doesn't thrill me.

I don't think so, my set is only a few weeks old no problems at all.

I would scrap the break in dvd and continue watching your shows as you have been. My set is only 3 weeks old I didn't use the break in dvd and I have no problems at all.

okay I just might do that only downside is its first 100 hours of break-in will be slow cause i was running the break in disc as much as possible. also a little note. this discoloration bar isnt center but a little to the right of the center and about 3-4 inches wide running veritical. if it shows while watching tv i cannot tell it does not catch the eye.

i price checked the same model on cyber monday at the same locations i was looking to buy and they both jacked it up. one did 100 other 300

Guys, I just noticed something on the top left of my 80u...

I'm not sure what it's called, the best I can describe is that it looks like like there is fog or something?? Sort of like the screen needs to be cleaned but it will not go away. It's only noticeable at certain angles when the light hits it

I will try to post a pic later this evening.

I have a 3 year old Panasonic Plasma that used 0 (zero) as the middle setting. I just purchased a Panasonic TH-46PZ85U and zero is not the middle...looks to me like its 35-40ish. Anyone know what the middle setting is for the TH-46PZ85U??? Thanks in advance!

50

All the 2008 Panasonic models including the 46PZ85U use a range of 0-100 (50=center) for picture, brightness, color, and sharpness.
For tint the range is -50 to +50 (0=center)

Hey guys a sales guy at a store told me this last weekend that the 85 is being discontinued. I went to different store of the same store and they said the same thing....Has anybody else heard this?

I've noticed this a bit on my 80U as well, care to post your settings and how to get into the service menu?