42in Plasma Picture Sound Features Usability Value Exceptional performance, at a price. HD Ready: yes Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Rating: 93%

Reviewed: 24 September 2008

Design

Instantly recognizable as part of the Panasonic family of Plasma's, the TH-42PZ800 features a frame length silver arch underpinning the bottom edge of the screen.

With a more minimalist approach to design than other Panasonic plasmas, the TH-42PZ800 presents a more understated look which is sure to add a touch of style to your living area.

Features

Panasonic's flagship TH-42PZ800 features an impressive 4 HDMI inputs, a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution along with 100Hz processing. An incredible 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio should be taken with a pinch of salt, but with Panasonic's legendary 'Real Black Drive' system on board we are not expecting to be disappointed with performance in this area.

	Screen: 42in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: 1,000,000:1 Other Features: V-real Pro 3 picture processing, 100Hz, Inteligent Frame Creation, Integrated Freeview. Sockets: 4 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, SD card slot.

 

The flagship TH-42PZ800 features the latest incarnation of Panasonic's picture processing engine V-Real Pro 3. Designed to complement the Full HD resolution, V-Real Pro 3 aims to boost contrast levels, reduce video noise while enhancing fine picture detail and boosting colour reproduction.

Working in tandem with V-Real Pro 3, 'Intelligent Frame Creation' technology adds extra frames to the picture giving then a smoother and more fluid appearance. These extra frames are created using a complicated algorithm which analyses the current speed and direction of on-screen elements. 100Hz has also been added to enhance the stability of fast on screen action.

With 'Digital Cinema Colour' Panasonic claim an impressive 5.120 steps of colour gradation for 'Cinematic' quality pictures. 1080p/24p support enables the 42PZ800 to render a 'judder free' interpretation of films shot at 24 frames per second (most TV is shot at 25 frames per second).

A surprisingly useful addition to any flat panel screen, the SD memory card slot allows you to pop in your latest digital camera holiday shots into the slot and a slick slide show function appears. View your snaps or video recordings in the full glory of a big screen.

With Panasonic's 'Smart Sound' speaker system, the TH42PZ800 has the potential to produce a powerful acoustic performance.

The 42PZ800 features a new 'Tough Panel' finish, designed to prevent enthusiastic gamers from scratching or even smashing these panels. The environmentally aware among you will be pleased to know that production of this panel is lead-free while an 'Eco' mode lowers power consumption.

Panasonic's impressive 'Viera Link' technology is also present and uses high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connections to automatically control similarly enabled devices using a single remote.

Performance

Testament to the exceptional black level abilities of their more recent plasma screens we now take for granted this aspect of performance from Panasonic. The TH-42PZ800 does not disappoint with some of the richest and darkest blacks the industry produces. Complementing the sheer depth of blacks is a subtlety across darkest scenes which picks up every nuance of shadow detailing.

An accomplished black level performance provides an excellent backdrop for colour. The TH-42PZ800 makes excellent use of this backdrop with some of the richest most natural colours we have seen from any flat panel. It is the subtlety with which these colours are presented which really impresses with tricky areas such as facial tones never less than wholly realistic. With 'Digital Cinema Colour' turned on colours become much more vibrant, perhaps a little garish for some.

The Full HD (1920 x 1080) panel produced some of the most accomplished High Definition (HD) pictures we have seen. Had it not been for other Panasonic Full HD panels we have tested, this performance would have been a revelation. As it is, HD rendition of scenes from our 'Planet Earth' Blu-ray still compel you to reach out and touch - the impression of reality being so strong. Every imaginable nuance of detail is presented in a flood of vibrantly rendered colours, a truly involving experience.

The Standard Definition (SD) performance of the TH-42PZ800 is not the best we have seen from a 42in flat panel, but considering that it has to take the 576 or so lines of a poorer quality Freeview source and upscale to Full HD, the results are very impressive. A little too 'soft' for some (compared to the sharper pictures of many LCD TV's in particular) the Panasonic will appeal to those who like the typical Plasma rendition of SD material.

What the Th-42PZ800 does exceptionally well is handle fast on screen action. The combination of V-Real 3 Pro, 100Hz and 'Intelligent Frame Creation' create a remarkably 'judder free' picture which will have sports fans drooling. Pictures are remarkably fluid at all times exhibiting virtually no intrusion from motion blurring.

More accomplished than virtually any flat panel we have come across, the TH-42PZ800 delivers a powerful acoustic performance from the 'Smart Sound' speaker system.

Conclusion

The TH-42PZ800 is an exceptional flat panel performer that comes at a price. Other Panasonic plasmas come close in performance terms and offer better value for money (especially the 'Freesat' enabled model), but if you want the best ...

Panasonic TH-42PZ800

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