Panasonic TC-L42E50 - Anyone? - Page 3

You're mistaken ...

The TC-L42E50 (120Hz Full HD IPS LED-LCD TV) is $529.00 today with a $100.00 credit ... but it was $499.99 yesterday with a $100.00 credit ... both an improvement over $547.99 with NO credit, which was the price on Saturday!

The TC-L42E5 (60Hz LED-LCD TV) is $449.00 today with NO credit.

You are correct when it comes to the price. Nevertheless, what I really wanted to point out was that there are two different models. Someone posted that they ordered one thinking it was 120 Hz but it said 60hz on the box. Maybe they ordered the 42E5 thinking it was the 42E50.

You may be right ... Panasonic probably shouldn't have put out two models with numbers that similar!

Yeah, I used those settings, amazon is sending me a replacement so I will be able to see if it gets better, hopefully it will. Obviously there will be a little bleed most likely but i thought that was a little excessive.

Plus the weather has been extremely cold so don't know if that could damage the screen during shipping.

I just bit on the Amazon deal for this set.

My oldest is heading to college in the fall, so the basement will be transitioning from "teenaged videogame hangout" to "middle-aged mancave" over the next 18 months. I was hoping the 1999-vintage Mitsubishi rear projection would hold out a few more months, but no, it finally turned unwatchable last week. This Panny should bridge the gap until I'm ready to commit to something really nice for myself, then it can go to the bedroom. I will report back once I get it set up.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with a dead 50" RP set. Is pulling out the innards and taking a Sawzall to it frowned upon?

I gave a 73'' mits rear projection set to the salvation army (1999 vintage). they didn't even ask if it worked. they came a got it ND all I had to do was get it into the driveway/garage.

Best,
jeff

I got my replacement today, and overall it looks better but that right corner is kind of gnarly. Would you guys try your luck one more time in my position?

I originally see your first pic when I previously posted. The first was nasty bleed for sure and the second is much improved. If its free and you don't mind the hassle, I would try again. It's a great price for a beautiful TV, IMO.

What is that big white dot?

It is just the pause on the ps3. But yeah I am going to try once more after Amazon receives the previous.

Just got 47E50 couple days ago for the bedroom. It's a very nice set. I went for this model b/c I dont care about 3D right now for the bedroom and dont need built-in wireless. The standard mode is very nice. I will try other settings from other posters here.
Just finished setting my PC to this TV...so look like it will 100% from the PC to the TV to watch cable TV and movies.

Just checked Pana's site and saw 65" E50...so if this one work out alright, I may 65" LED for the main TV...b/c right now I am looking at Pana Plasma 65".

Picked up this display for a workout area in my house. I am a plasma guy, so I am not happy with the picture quality, mainly black levels. I want to use the smart features on this display. I can make adjustments with other inputs, but watching anything within the smart features of this TV it resorts to a default of "light" black level.

Please advise if there is a work around to get into that setting and make an adjustment..

Thanks

get the plasma... This e50 is OK at best, but the black levels are horrible and the back lighting is much too strong/consentrated to provide uniform back lighting to the LCD panel. I can only imagine how bad it would be in larger sizes. the plasma is a better choice for PQ. If it weren't for the lack of 42" plasma panels with so called "smart" features, there is no way in hell I would own an LCD display like this....

Amazon is the best, I called them about replacing the second tv and asked them about upgrading to the TC-L42et5 instead. They did the upgrade for free. Haha, I'm not gonna complain about getting 3D at no extra charge.

I placed the order with Amazon on Janauary 21, for the TC-L42E50 42-Inch (120HZ) and received it January 24 via UPS. No damage to box or TV, and no dead pixels.
Paid 529.00 and 45.63 tax (NY) for total of 574.63. I applied for Visa credit card and got 50.00 off for total of 524.63. I'm awaiting the 100.00 promo code in my account that will bring it down to 424.63, The 100.00 promo code ended 1/26 and now I don't even see the model listed anymore at Amazon, only the 46" E50.

I like the TV but is not as nice picture quality wise as my Sony 46" LED KDL-640EX.
It is a bit heavier than I expected and the stand does not swivel. The back is made of metal and not the usual plastic.

Some negatives I want to mention:
1- It does NOT play .AVI files through the USB port, it DOES play MKV though, my Sony plays both.
2- There are absolutely no switches or ports on the front of the TV, to turn the TV on or off, volume, and channels are all on the right side in the rear. This may pose an inconvenience for those who wall mount it.
3- The manual is severely lacking. All the custom settings can be viewed in the Help screen, rather inconvenient when trying to make changes since you have to switch screens. You can download a 188 page setup menu that guides you through the various settings, a real workout for the printer as well as ink costs. They don't list the default settings in the downloaded setup PDF or in the help screen.

Some Positives
1-Picture is very nice and easy to adjust for different settings.
2- Some complain of poor sound, but for me sound is acceptable by changing the base setting to max (+7) and leave treble at 0.
3-Generous 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB port and 1 SD card reader.

Using my credit of 100.00 I will be buying a Sony Bluray player model # BDP- 590.
I already have one attached to my Sony 46" in the bedroom and I highly recommend that player. That Bluray player will play AVI files and just about anything else you want to play.

When I checked Amazon this morning, the 42" E50 set was no longer listed ... only the 47" and 55" versions. I wonder if that means they are no longer going to stock the 42" set ... and that's why they upgraded you to the ET5??

I had inquired about the upgrade on Saturday and they still had the 42e50 listed, I did notice it was gone today though. Not sure what is up with that.

Also now amazon has both the 47 an 55 as a 60hz refresh....thought the e50 was a 120hz?

Something very peculiar going on with Amazon and the two models of 42" Panasonic TV's.
NOWHERE on the box of my recently purchased TC L42E50 does it indicate this is 120HZ, nor is it on any publication that Panasonic has on it that indicates it is 120HZ refresh rate.
The difference between the TC L42E50 and the TC L42E5 is that the E50 has the following extra features:
Vierra Connect
Social Networking TV
E-Help (Help 0n TV)
Skype Communication

Amazon no longer has any listing for the TC L42E50, but does for the TC L42E5. Today’s price for the TC L42E5 is 649.00 (NOT ET5) and shows it is 60HZ refresh rate. They also show the 47 & 55" models of the E50's as 60HZ as member Hort22 indicated.
Newegg.com shows the TC L42E50 as discontinued, and nowhere do they indicate it is 120HZ.

I think Amazon and a few other vendors mis-advertised this TV as being 120HZ when in reality it is 60HZ.
I believe Amazon realized their mistake and pulled the TV from its listing and corrected the refresh rates on the other models.

If anybody has proof other than a vendors listing saying it's 120HZ i certainly would appreciate hearing about it.

From my Slickdeals forum posting earlier today:

Amazon has split the 3 models of the E50 set into separate web pages ... PLUS, they separated all the comments that were originally showing on the "combined" web page (approx 325 total) according to the size ... 42" (???), 47" (115), 55" (98). (I put ??? for the 52" set because that page seems to have vanished!) And the 2 sizes that still exist both show this set as 60Hz, not the 120Hz that was showing for all 3 sizes when I ordered my 42" set! If the 60Hz is correct, does Amazon owe us buyers a partial rebate for "false advertising"? UPDATE: Now they've put the comments back together ... both sets show 326 comments!

PLUS, I believe the 42" set was briefly pulled from availability by Amazon a couple weeks ago because, by their own admission, there was something "amiss" with that particular model or size. Does anyone else remember that happening?

The e5 is 60hz with Backlight scanning (BLS) simulating 180(Hz) this model was normally available though samsclub and costco and recently walmart and target. The E50/ET5 are 120Hz panels with a BLS rate of 360(Hz). Panasonics higher model like the DT/WT50 offered 240 panels with up to BLS 1920(Hz). I hope this helped?
http://reviews.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/panasonic-lcd-tv/panasonic-tcl47e50.html
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/VIERA+TV/VIERA+Overview/Smart+VIERA+%7C+Smart+TV+from+Panasonic/Picture+Quality/8935588/index.html

Thank you for your response, but the links you provided does not in my opinion confirm the E50 is 120HZ.
The first link is a review that states it is 120HZ, like some vendors that make that claim, once again no confirmation by Panasonic.
Just seems odd the E50 in the 47" and 55" models show at Amazon at 60HZ, why would the 42" be an exception at 120HZ?
Originally Amazon had the 47" & 55" E50"s listed at 120, now showing 60?

The second link you provided for the UK does not show the TC-L42E50 perhaps their model #'s and specs differ from those of the USA.

Here's a link to the Best Buy page for the 42" set ... http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+VIERA+-+42%26%2334%3B+Class+-+LED+-+1080p+-+120Hz+-+Smart+-+HDTV/4837525.p?id=1218540195572&skuId=4837525&st=tc-l42e50&cp=1&lp=1
And one for Paul's TV ... http://www.paulstv.com/LED-Televisions/Panasonic-TCL42E50.asp
And Sears ... http://www.sears.com/panasonic-42inch-smart-viera-174-led-hdtv-tc-l42e50/p-05726755000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

They all show 120Hz ... so Amazon was not alone!

Here's one for Fry's showing 60Hz ... http://www.frys.com/product/6994107?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

So which is it ... 60Hz or 120Hz
Edited by bankerjohn - 1/30/13 at 12:24pm

I think Panasonic needs to clean their act up and list in their literature or manuals exactly what the refresh rate is.
The refresh rate has a distinct bearing on the price of the unit, omitting that is irresponsible.

I still think it's a 60Hz since Amazon originally had all three models of the E50's listed at 120Hz, now the 42" disappeared completely and the 47" & 55" are listed at 60Hz. Why would they lower the Hz, surely not to attract customers.
I doubt calling Panasonic will unveil the truth of exactly what the true refresh rate is since it's not published in their literature.
As we can see relying on vendors brings conflicting specifications. Newegg.com shows as discontinued and does not show the refresh rate and I find them to be quite accurate in their descriptions. So my question still remains unanswered of what the true refresh rate is on the E50 series.

The uk generally has a different designation for their models.

Just got this TV, and while I don't have the time to check whether it's 60 or 120 hz (nor do I really know of a definitive way to tell... no input source just yet), a quick run through of the settings shows a setting named "Motion Picture Setting".

The description is: Improved moving picture quality by reducing motion blur.
Setting options are: Off, Weak, Medium, and Strong.

Sure sounds like 120 hz to me with this setting changing the "soap opera" effect.

I got my TV on Wednesday and received the $100 promotional Amazon credit today. The setting mentioned above does create a massive soap opera effect if it's set to strong. Even on medium its soapy. I have it set to weak. I haven't logged much use just yet but overall the picture is decent. I wasn't expecting a superb picture and since I technically only spent $350 ($499.99 - $50 for opening visa - $100 credit for stuff I was going to buy anyway) I think it's still a good buy. I intentionally went with this set because I wanted 120hz though so I hope it really is.

Also you might note that Panasonic's website as well as Amazon lists this TV as "360 BACKLIGHT SCANNING" as well as the next model up (The ET5 which still shows as 120hz). The description for that is:

360 Backlight Scanning
By increasing the panel refresh to 120Hz with a 3-phase backlight system, crystals are more active and responsive than 120Hz standard systems to minimize image softening under motion. 360 backlight scanning allows for smooth images, without flicker, even in fast-moving scenes. Afterimages are thoroughly reduced by finer blinking.

I think there's just some misinformation on the part of certain vendors at this point.

Yes, they stopped selling it for a couple days right after I put my order in. I talked to CS a couple times and they wouldn't tell me why. They'd only mention the primary criteria for the type of pull they did. The TV was then listed on Amazon, but they pulled themselves as a seller of the 42".

Great observation noting that the E50 has the 360 Backlight scanning as does the ET5 advertised as120 Hz.

Today, January 31st , I noticed the TX-L42E50 is being sold again at Amazon for 499.99, but without the 100.00 promotion

It is also advertised as 60Hz to match the 47" & 55" models. All three of the E50 models indicate they have 360 Backlight Scanning both at the Amazon site and Panasonics site.

I'm still confused to the actual refresh rate.