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Panasonic PX80 vs PZ80 in color accuracy

post #1 of 30
1/22/09 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 
I know these units have been vs each other many times. It usually comes down to the resolution issue. I am not concerned with the resolution issue, unless it specifically helps the color reproduction.

I presently own the 42PX80U and am very unhappy with the color inconsistencies viewing OTA broadcasts. Skin tones change dramatically between shows....heck during shows. For example. Last night watching the repeat of the Tonight Show. The skin tones while viewing the film clip of the new Tom Cruise movie (not EVEN going to try and spell that) were excellent. Once it returned to Jay & Tom, the flesh tones turn orange. No matter how I adjust it, the dramatic changes in the flesh tones take away from my enjoyment of it. Sometimes I get a green hue/shadow to the image as well.

I already have a Samsung DLP and have NEVER been distracted by these issues.

Is the color quality any better with the PZ80 unit? I know a few of you have compared them side by side. I'm willing to pay the difference if the IS a difference.

FWIW, unit will be used for 90% OTA, 10% SD DVD.

I honestly don't know how anyone can make accurate choices between units hanging on the wall in BB. Comparing torch modes will not tell what it will look like at home.
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post #2 of 30
1/22/09 at 8:56am
If inaccurate color bothers you, you'll need to either get an 800u or switch to a different brand.
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post #3 of 30
1/22/09 at 9:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisherbert View Post

If inaccurate color bothers you, you'll need to either get an 800u or switch to a different brand.

Ouch!
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post #4 of 30
1/22/09 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by guest68 View Post

............... I'm willing to pay the difference if the IS a difference......................

Ok.......I can't quite make it to the 800u!
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post #5 of 30
1/22/09 at 9:47am
hard to justify double the cost, from PX to the 800u, over color when the PX80 looks pretty good to the eye out of the box.

being a Videophile can be expensive I guess
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post #6 of 30
1/22/09 at 9:53am
Then I would look at other brands. Samsung and LG have great color accuracy, as do the Pioneer Elites. The non-Elite Pioneers have inaccurate primary colors but in my experience this isn't a big deal. It's not nearly as irritating as the Panasonics, which I think have both inaccurate primary colors and color decoder errors.

You might also try the Vizios, which use Panasonic panel and probably have the same color points but may not have the color decoder issues.
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post #7 of 30
1/22/09 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
I think I'll take a look at the Samsung first. The 450 is comparable in price.

Like I said, it's a bear trying to decipher between units hanging on the wall.
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post #8 of 30
1/22/09 at 2:59pm
The 450's black levels will be much worse than the PX80, unfortunately.
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post #9 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:02pm
They will be noticeably lighter than the Panny, but a bias light would help a little.
I know personally I am going from a 50pz80u to a 50pna550...the color issues on the panny are aweful if color accuracy and skin tones are very miportant to you.
Blacks are very important as well, but without an Elite Kuro budget the Sammy will have to do for now.
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post #10 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah I've read enough that I realize the blacks won't be where the Panny's are, but I need something better for ALL the colors..........

I am also concerned about the reflections on the Samsung's screen. My room has windows and lamps to reflect into it.....
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post #11 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:09pm
Color accuracy is what I need to see all the time. Black levels aren't as dramatic for me. I can understand how irrating it is for colors to be off so I would recommend the Sammies for anyone especially where color and details are paramount.

Eagles, you're getting a 550! Nice! I promise to be kinder to ya!
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post #12 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisherbert View Post

The 450's black levels will be much worse than the PX80, unfortunately.

How much?
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post #13 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:17pm
Have you seen the blacks of last years Sammy's? Or remember the blacks of last years Panny's?
Around that area, maybe a tad lighter than last years panny's.

It's a shame that Sammy's don't have better blacks, they better in '09.
It's also a shame that you have to buy a high end panny to get color that isn't aweful.
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post #14 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
Well don't that suck. If the dimensions given on BB site is correct (they're wrong on my 42PX80) , the Sammy is too wide for my cabinet. The 42PX80's must be going fast; in the St. Louis area, there aren't many stores that still have them available.

I had considered exchanging mine for another unit, it I got the impression mine was not consistent with you guys have seen.
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post #15 of 30
1/22/09 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S View Post

Have you seen the blacks of last years Sammy's? Or remember the blacks of last years Panny's?
Around that area, maybe a tad lighter than last years panny's.

It's a shame that Sammy's don't have better blacks, they better in '09.
It's also a shame that you have to buy a high end panny to get color that isn't aweful.

Thanks for the comparison, I had several Panny 700u's. I was pretty happy with blacks but returned them for other issues.
I'm wondering if any of the new "budget" models from Panny or Sammy will have both blacks and color.
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post #16 of 30
1/22/09 at 4:00pm
You also should consider the LG pg20 series. Good colors and you can sometimes find them cheap. Blacks aren't great, probably about the same as the Samsung.
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post #17 of 30
1/22/09 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by guest68 View Post

I presently own the 42PX80U and am very unhappy with the color inconsistencies viewing OTA broadcasts. Skin tones change dramatically between shows....heck during shows. For example. Last night watching the repeat of the Tonight Show. The skin tones while viewing the film clip of the new Tom Cruise movie (not EVEN going to try and spell that) were excellent. Once it returned to Jay & Tom, the flesh tones turn orange. No matter how I adjust it, the dramatic changes in the flesh tones take away from my enjoyment of it. Sometimes I get a green hue/shadow to the image as well.

I already have a Samsung DLP and have NEVER been distracted by these issues.

I can't help but wonder if the color changes are within the sources. I see the same effect on OTA HD local news programming, and while KABC news might look perfect when i switch to KTLA the anchor's faces look a little too red by comparison. I see this effect not only on my Panasonic plasma, but i also see it on my Toshiba LCD TV, older HP LCD TV (Sharp OEM panel), as well as a few smaller tube TVs on the same stations.
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post #18 of 30
1/22/09 at 4:50pm
I've had the px80u and Sammy a450 and the colors aren't really different. Don't know about the others sets people are recommending though. I've also noticed color fluctuation's on HD cable with both those sets; it's all source related for me since I have no problems at all watching blu-ray or gaming. If you do plan on jumping to the a450, make sure to read about posterization that people have experienced on the set (present company included).
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post #19 of 30
1/22/09 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

I can't help but wonder if the color changes are within the sources. I see the same effect on OTA HD local news programming, and while KABC news might look perfect when i switch to KTLA the anchor's faces look a little too red by comparison. I see this effect not only on my Panasonic plasma, but i also see it on my Toshiba LCD TV, older HP LCD TV (Sharp OEM panel), as well as a few smaller tube TVs on the same stations.

I agree that a lot has to do with the different sources. It's strange that I never noticed it (and still don't) on the Samsung DLP. Sure, there is subtle changes; not near the extremes I see on the Panny.

There doesn't seem to be a large amount of people sharing my opinions (coming from the PX80 forum and product reviews) of the color problems.......maybe I got a crappy unit........
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post #20 of 30
1/22/09 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfoltz View Post

I've had the px80u and Sammy a450 and the colors aren't really different. Don't know about the others sets people are recommending though. I've also noticed color fluctuation's on HD cable with both those sets; it's all source related for me since I have no problems at all watching blu-ray or gaming. If you do plan on jumping to the a450, make sure to read about posterization that people have experienced on the set (present company included).

Well tfoltz, I went to official a450 thread and a only saw a few mention posterization. Most comments were about preventing temporary IR on their new 450 and about their satisfaction.
Perhaps you need to have a tech look at your 450.
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post #21 of 30
1/22/09 at 6:35pm
You're wrong. I'm speaking from experience with both sets. You are speaking on assumption. Samsung was contacted by a few owners about this issue, but no one has responded.
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post #22 of 30
1/22/09 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by guest68 View Post

I agree that a lot has to do with the different sources. It's strange that I never noticed it (and still don't) on the Samsung DLP. Sure, there is subtle changes; not near the extremes I see on the Panny.

There doesn't seem to be a large amount of people sharing my opinions (coming from the PX80 forum and product reviews) of the color problems.......maybe I got a crappy unit........

Do you think it's possible that you're looking at it the wrong way, and that the Panasonic plasma is actually more accurately reflecting the particular color palette of the individual source, while the DLP isn't really picking it up? Since i see this same effect on so many different TVs (i also notice this at friend's and relatives houses) it just seems to me that it's not really the TV, but the differences in the color palettes of the various source material.
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post #23 of 30
1/22/09 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfoltz View Post

I've had the px80u and Sammy a450 and the colors aren't really different. Don't know about the others sets people are recommending though. I've also noticed color fluctuation's on HD cable with both those sets; it's all source related for me since I have no problems at all watching blu-ray or gaming. If you do plan on jumping to the a450, make sure to read about posterization that people have experienced on the set (present company included).

I don't see how that is possible?
The 80u has bad color to start with and no control to change that...the sammy comes out of the box pretty accurate and then adds a ton of features to further dial it in.
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post #24 of 30
1/22/09 at 9:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

Do you think it's possible that you're looking at it the wrong way, and that the Panasonic plasma is actually more accurately reflecting the particular color palette of the individual source, while the DLP isn't really picking it up? Since i see this same effect on so many different TVs (i also notice this at friend's and relatives houses) it just seems to me that it's not really the TV, but the differences in the color palettes of the various source material.

Interesting thought. Except for the fact that the skin tones with the DLP are closer to the image given by a CRT. I know that some of the source material is the problem, but it's very rare that I get a balanced skin tone with the Panny.

I just found a setting from zippo775 on the VIVID mode. I had not tried that preset before......the skin tones are MUCH better. I know that it is reprehensible to use the torch mode, but at this point, I want some better skin colors or the thing is going back
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post #25 of 30
1/23/09 at 12:03am
Pannys have the better blacks, yet Samsungs PNA550 Plasma has the better color....Ugh, i need the best of both worlds.

How does the 800u compare to the 550 Color Wise?

Besides that, i'm really interested in Panasonics new 09' Plasma lineup. especially the S1 Plasma series. They offer Full 1080 Lines of resolution, 40,000:1 cr, deeper blacks and hopefully accurate and better color than the 80u/85u models...Here's hoping.
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post #26 of 30
1/23/09 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
I'm guessing that either no one knows if there is any diff between the X & Z models......or there isn't any difference.
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post #27 of 30
1/23/09 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by guest68 View Post

I'm guessing that either no one knows if there is any diff between the X & Z models......or there isn't any difference.

I don't think there's any big difference.
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post #28 of 30
1/23/09 at 12:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaveBoy View Post

Pannys have the better blacks, yet Samsungs PNA550 Plasma has the better color....Ugh, i need the best of both worlds.

Pioneer Elite.

Quote:


How does the 800u compare to the 550 Color Wise?

Both are capable of virtually perfect color. With a pro calibration or a DIY calibration with a colorimeter, you could probably get the 550 basically perfect. Calibration controls on the 800u are more limited though they are pretty accurate out of the box in THX mode.
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post #29 of 30
1/23/09 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisherbert View Post

Pioneer Elite.



Both are capable of virtually perfect color. With a pro calibration or a DIY calibration with a colorimeter, you could probably get the 550 basically perfect. Calibration controls on the 800u are more limited though they are pretty accurate out of the box in THX mode.


Well, Pioneer isn't an option for me, since they're so expensive. Besides, Panasonics 09' new Plasmas(and i'm guessing Pioneers as well, not that it matters to me) offer 1080 lines of motion resolution...So i'm guessing that means better motion? and of course they'll offer deeper blacks...But do you think the S1's color will match the 800u, or will it be inferior?

There's always the higher class G10 and Z1 series coming out...but eh, cash is an issue...
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post #30 of 30
1/23/09 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaveBoy View Post

Well, Pioneer isn't an option for me, since they're so expensive. Besides, Panasonics 09' new Plasmas(and i'm guessing Pioneers as well, not that it matters to me) offer 1080 lines of motion resolution...So i'm guessing that means better motion? and of course they'll offer deeper blacks...But do you think the S1's color will match the 800u, or will it be inferior?

There's always the higher class G10 and Z1 series coming out...but eh, cash is an issue...

I think that the 2009 models with THX mode will likely offer very good color. I don't know about the others.

I'm also very skeptical about 1080 lines of motion resolution. That would be great but I'll believe it when I see it.

Are the non-Elite Pioneers also too expensive? They don't have 100% accurate color but they are much better than the Panasonics.
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