PICTURE QUALITY This model had excellent high-definition picture quality. It did a top-notch job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was excellent, so colors looked very natural and life-like. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images showed some depth and dimension. In this respect, the TV was similar to most of the models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. The TV had deep black levels, among the best we've seen, giving images excellent depth and dimension. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did an excellent job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i content.
VIEWING ANGLE The overall viewing angle on this display is unlimited, as with all plasma TVs we've tested. Color accuracy, contrast, and depth of black level did not vary regardless of viewing position, unlike what we've seen with LCD TVs.
MOTION BLUR This Panasonic TV has excellent motion performance, like most plasmas, with no visible blurring on our motion tests.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY The glossy screen surface on this plasma TV is susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window, though the darker screen technology it uses minimizes reflections to some extent. The dark screen also makes it less prone to glare than most plasmas we've tested and helps maintain good contrast even in a bright room.
3D PERFORMANCE The overall 3D effect was very good, on par with the better 3D displays. 3D images showed effective depth, with minimal levels of ghosting (left eye/right eye crosstalk) on our 3D test patterns and on a wide variety of 3D program content. We didn't see any increase in ghosting when viewing at off angles. In 3D mode, we saw 1080i (interlace video) performance rather than true 1080p (progressive video) performance -- we saw on flicker on fine edge detail on our test patterns and graphics, and subtle jaggies along the edges of image content during motion scenes. Image brightness was on the dim side, less than we expect for normal 2D viewing.
SOUND QUALITY This TV's sound is only fair, acceptable for typical programming but its shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. It has a limited volume range allowing the TV to play just adequately loud. At more typical listening volume levels the TV's sound has good bass but lacks impact and sounds a bit boomy. The overall sound is "closed in" and bright. We also find the TV has very audible dynamic compression that keeps the sound from distorting but it also limits clarity when there are peaks in loudness. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system to this set.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was very easy, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is easy to navigate.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Panasonic's 2013 step-up Smart Viera smart TVs have a new customizable My Home Screen interface for organizing and accessing content, aided by voice-guided setup tutorials. You can choose to use one of the premade templates (such as the default Info Screen, or Lifestyle Screen, for example) that include live TV in a decent-sized window, surrounded by a number of select apps, or you can create your own home screen and populate it with your favorite apps. Features include a full Web browser and access to a library of applications via the company's Viera Connect Market. Movie streaming services include: Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Vudu. It also supports an optional webcam for access to video conferencing applications such as Skype. With Panasonic's "Touch Pen" (an optional accessory) you can interact directly with the screen's surface to draw multi-colored lines over a live TV program, photo, or freeze frame, or play interactive pen-enabled games through Viera Connect. An updated Swipe & Share 2.0 feature lets you send photos and videos between the TV and a compatible portable device simply by swiping your finger across the device's screen.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes three HDMI inputs, one shared component/composite connection (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, built-in Wi-Fi, and a SD memory card slot. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing. HDMI and analog cable connections made to the rear-facing panel will protrude beyond the panel's slim depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, a remote with batteries, and two pairs of 3D glasses. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
