 | Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV |
| Price: | Too low to display |
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
Product Description
1,920 x 1,080 Native Resolution / 1,000,000:1 Dynamic, 30,000 Native Contrast Ratio / Progressive Scan / Game Mode / SD-HC Memory Card Slot / 3x HDMI EDTV Display Capability (480p) Aspect Control - 4 - 3, Zoom, Full, Just, H-fill for TV/AV modes, 4 - 3, Full for PC mode G11 Progressive 1080p HD Plasma Display Panel Screen Coating AR (Anti-Reflective) Filter 480 Hz Sub-field Drive 24p Playback (2 - 3) Deep Color x.v.Color Motion Adaptive 3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter 3D Color Management Sub Pixel Control Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Speakers Full-range - 2x (L, R) Audio Output - 20 W (10% THD) (6 ohms, 70 Hz - 17 kHz) VIERA Link Pixel Orbiter (Anti-Image Retention) Trilingual Menu (English/Spanish/French) V-Chip Program Lock Out Built-In Closed Caption Decoder Video Input Label Video Picture Memory Integrated ATSC Tuner, HDMI Input 3 (1 side), Analog Audio Input for HDMI/DVI, Composite Video Input 2 (1 side), S-Video Input 2 (1 side), Audio Input for Video) 2 (1 side), PC Input Mini D-sub 15-pin x 1 (rear), Audio Input for PC Stereo M3 (3.5mm) Jack, Component Video Input (Y, PB, PR) 2, Audio Input (for Component Video) 2, Composite Video Output 1, Analog Audio Output 1, and Digital Audio Output 1 Dimensions - Height 28.3 x Width 41.9 x Depth 12.9 / 26.3 x 41.9 x 3.6 without stand Weight - 70.5 pounds / 66.1 pounds without stand
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #491 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Panasonic
- Model: TH-42PZ85U
- Dimensions: 28.30" h x 3.70" w x 41.90" l, 70.50 pounds
- Display size: 42
Features
- 1920 x 1080 Resolution
- 1000000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for the Brightest whites and darkest blacks
- 4096 Shades of Gradation for spectacular Color Reproduction
- Viera LinK™ HDAVI Control lets you operate all of your home theater components by pressing a single button on your TV's remote control
- GalleryPlayer® allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition art and photography on your Panasonic HD plasma TV
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description--March 10, 2008
With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings an astonishing 1,000,000:1 contrast ration to the table. advanced pixel resolution and image-processing technology with the plasma TV's natural ability to beautifully reproduce fast moving images, so every detail is rendered with amazing clarity, and all the action is delivered with a high degree of fluidity.
What's New This Year?
- Super Contrast--native contrast ratios on the PZ85, PZ800 and PX 850 series are 30,000:1, double last year's 15,000:1. Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,000,000:1.
- new anti-reflective filter; lead-free "Tough Under Force" panel is resistant to impacts and scratches
- Built-in SD card slot with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player software
- x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
- 24p native reproduction
- Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
- Viera Link is now compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
- At least 3 HDMI inputs on all models (4 on PZ800 and PZ850 series)
- THX Certification on PZ800 and PZ850 series
Which Viera is Right For You?
Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series. Amazing color reproductionThe incredible black reproduction of a Panasonic High-Definition Plasma TV results in impressive contrast and beautiful, natural colors. So you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. For color that's as rich and bold as life itself, look to a Panasonic Plasma TV. |
Consistent brightness from any angleA Panasonic Plasma combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle. |
 | Smooth, graceful motionWhen you're watching sports or movies with fast-motion graphics, you want a TV that can keep up with the action. With over 900 lines of moving picture, self-illuminating plasma displays eliminate afterimages in fast-action scenes. So whether you're watching a sporting event or an action-packed movie, you'll always get the most impressive viewing experience possible. |
 | 1,000,000:1 ContrastThe Panasonic's Real Black system (a pre-discharge suppression system) and improved panel production processes combine to reproduce outstanding blacks with superb contrast. Each image is richly expressive, from bright scense, like scorching desert landscapes, to dark cave scenes. Compare the image produced by conventional HDTV on the left to the Real Black image produced on the right |
 | More ColorsViera HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation "xvYCC" color space actually offers an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize.
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 | Deep ColorWhere x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
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Connectivity
Viera flat panel HDTVs interact with an array of high-definition devices and services, making it easy for consumers to access and enjoy content as never before. As of 2008, Viera Link is compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems. | Videos and stills recorded on SD cards can easily be viewed via the SD slots on Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc players and Viera HDTVs. |
 | Viera Link means easy connectivity via HDMI cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device. |
 | Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VIERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor. |
 | Long LifePanasonic plasma panels are rated to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved. |
 | Panasonic High Definition (HD) Image Gallery -- powered by GalleryPlayerGalleryPlayer allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition (HD) art and photography on your Panasonic high definition TV. Use the free GalleryPlayer software to purchase and download the images you like, then play them on your Panasonic HDTV right from your PC.Sign-up is easy and free. Plus, you get a free collection of high definition images to enjoy right away in your home or office. Download GalleryPlayer absolutely FREE and get a collection of ten high definition images to enjoy immediately. Buy additional images for as little as $0.99 each.  |
 | Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc PlayersA Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920x1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720x480. Blu-ray discs output true 1080p High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste. |
Which is the Right Viera for You?
| Screen Size Measured Diagonally | 1080p Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels | Native Contrast Ratio | PC Input | THX Certification | 24p Native Reproduction | Speakers | HDMI Inputs | One Sheet of Glass Design | Swivel Base | Shades of Gradation | H.624 Codec | Digital Cinema Color | Studio Reference Mode | Pro Setting Menu | Serial Port | Standard Features | |
| TH-42PX80U | 42 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 |
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| TH-50PX80U | 50 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||||
| TH-42PZ80U | 42 inches |  | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-46PZ80U | 46 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-50PZ80U | 50 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-42PZ85U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-46PZ85U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-50PZ85U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-42PZ800U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ800U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-50PZ800U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-58PZ800U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ850U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-50PZ850U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-58PZ850U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-65PZ850U | 65 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | |
Customer Reviews
Great picture and price. A few small issues, but still a nice TV.
I research and stressed about a $1000+ TV for several weeks. I was going to purchase an LCD, but once a salesman educated me on a plasma, I was sold.
Plasma is so much better than an LCD. Don't buy an LCD just because they are popular now. There are a ton of them in the stores and online only because it wasn't until recently that manufacturers could make an LCD affordably in large sizes. So they are, but plasma is a better picture for the same price. Better color, high definition, contrast, viewing angle, and nearly indestructible screen. The only advantage of an LCD is that they tend to be lighter.
The screen was a big selling point for me. I have a 3-year old that likes to touch the pictures. This can damage an LCD, so too can cleaning off the finger prints. The plasma is just solid glass and has been "wii-proofed", capable of taking a wii-remote that accidently gets thrown at the screen.
Also, I stressed over the 120mhz vs. 60 mhz for an LCD. The 120mhz promised less image blue for fast moving objects and sports, but you pay up for it. I saw a little Wimbledon while at best buy and the ball did see fuzzy at times. Well, a Plasma is at 480 mhz image refresh rate, so you don't have to worry about 120 vs. 60. ALso check out the contrast ratios. They are significantly higher on a Plasma. I'm not a huge spec person because they don't mean everything. But there is a difference between 1,000,000:1 vs. 10,000:1 on an LCD. So go with the plasma.
I did have some issues with Butterfly photo. The mispriced the extended warranty i also purchased and had to call back to correct it. When the warranty showed up in the mail, it was for an LCD, not plasma. SO I had to call back. Then since I had the item in my Amazon cart, I saw they had lowered the price and Butterfly would not honor their own price reduction just 24 hours after purchasing it. It had not even been shipped yet and they claimed they could not cancel the order and resell it at the lower price. BS. However, I purchased the item over the phone from butterfly, not online. Their phone price was lower than the AMZN price and the extended warranty was on special, which I would not have know about. So I saved about $150 just by calling, so I'm not too upset by the $50 price reduction. They will try to sell you other things, like cables or power units, just say you'll think about it.
As for as some small issues with the TV. The channel change button are on the side of the TV, but still tucked several inches behind it. There are a little difficult to see if the TV is in a cabinet, which mine is. Plus my 3-year old can no longer change the channels. She used to be able to switch between the DVD or Leapfrog games, but cannot do it without help now. Also, adding components to the TV requires several different cables. The TV accepts many inputs, but only two or each. I had been connection my with the same blue, red, green, white, and red cables. But after the DVD and PVR, I have to buy different cables to connect the cable box, VRC or game consol.
Other than that. A great TV. Definately go with the Plasma. The old burn-in issues of old have been solved and its so much brighter, crisper, and worth the money compared to an LCD.
LIKE SITTING IN A 3-D ART MUSEUM
I've been following this 42 inch Panasonic model through its growth and changes for six years waiting to finish college so I could give tv undivided attention. This is the most exciting piece of electronics I have ever purchased, or ever owned. I put up full-length black, black-out curtains which cut out any glaring from direct sunlight during the day, and provide a theatre atmosphere. The high def channels (Time-Warner) are so life-like and 3-D in appearance, I sometimes forget I am not actually in the scene, wherever it is.
The sound is certainly adequate on its own, if one is not an audiophile, but I wanted the Sony home theatre over the Panasonic and was worried they wouldn't be compatible. Much to my delight, the cable DVR and Sony Home Theatre are all controlled by the Panasonic Viera by just simply selecting the HDMI input source (there are three here) and naming the components I wanted to use. There is no hunting for numbers or holding and aiming remotes for a half-hour to find each component setting, as Panasonic Viera does that for you INSTANTLY, even if it is another brand. Push the Panasonic remote power button and the home theatre and DVR are started, vice versa when turning off.
I have also connected, by HDMI, a new Playstation 3 (thanks again Amazon) through the game port, and it is UNBELIEVABLE PICTURE QUALITY. Panasonic recognized them immediately and the menus on this tv are one push button drop down and simple to navigate. Likewise, the new Wii Console (from Amazon) is into another input using their video cables and the picture is crisp, clear and stunning. I chose the pre-selected game mode picture quality for the Wii, and custom picture settings for the cable and PS3. As I switch between them, the Panasonic remembers my screen settings for each so I don't have to "switch" back and forth manually as I change programming.
I'm sure I don't know half the things the TV does yet (purchased May 27th), but you cannot go wrong with this tv. I am sitting about twelve feet away in an apartment and it is just the perfect size screen. Next, is connecting my laptop to the PC input and "flying" Microsoft X flight simulator. That is going to be exciting!!!!!
The delivery took a while about two weeks, but the white glove service was excellent (actually two men who used to work for years delivering Sears tv's) and they were extremely knowledgable, helpful, and professional. If you want state of the art technology, with picture quality that passes for art every time, you want this particular plasma!!!!!!! By the way, I am a 58 year old single, female, and yes, while I am pretty technically literate and experienced, you don't have to be with this TV. Just plug and play!!!!
Big purchase, but worth it in the end
I went to HH Gregg and they quoted a much higher price than Amazon offered, sales tax of 9.5 percent on top of it, with an expensive warranty, here in Tennessee. They even did an "internet search" for me in the store. When I told them I could do better, the sales tactic was to tell me that these sites that were cheaper were "shady".
I got the TV for my mother in law, and it was delivered in pristine condition to her house. Overall, cheaper than local vendors. It works great! I would skip Amazon's warranty, unless you can't feasibly replace it (and then you probably shouldn't buy it if that's the case, but that's another story). The warranty doesn't cover a major failure of plasma TVs in general, and from what I hear the service is terrible. They take your money easily, but everything else is a headache.
But, I have never bought a TV before on the internet, so I was nervous, but it all worked out well in the end. I'm satisfied with it. The colors/brightness are brilliant, looks great. Works great. Would highly recommend.
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