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. Very good contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--gave images depth and dimension. Brightness level was only fair, dimmer than most, best-suited for a darker room. The TV had deep black levels, just shy of the best sets. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. Film mode operation for HD film-based content was excellent, with no visible jaggies along the edges of objects during motion scenes. Deinterlacing was very good, with minimal jaggies visible when converting 1080i content to the display's native resolution.
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. It has Panasonic's "Motion Smoother" feature which effectively reduces motion blur, typically more of a shortcoming on LCD TVs not plasmas. With the feature turned on, this model had excellent motion performance, with no visible blurring even on our most demanding fast-motion test, among the best we've seen. Even when this feature was turned off the set's motion blur performance was very good, on par with most plasma TVs. It should be noted that setting the feature to "medium" or "strong" activates a motion-smoothing effect that removes film judder (the jerky motion visible during camera pans on film-based content), giving movies a soap opera-like appearance that some may not prefer. We left the setting at "weak," which preserves the film look while eliminating motion blur.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY The shiny screen surface on this plasma TV is very reflective, among the more mirror-like we've seen. This display does not use the darker screen technology we've seen on better plasmas to reduce glare, so the image will lose contrast or wash out if any light falls upon the screen. It's not the best choice for bright, sunny rooms.
SOUND QUALITY This TV's sound was good, fine for typical TV programming, and but won't reproduce the full range of movie soundtracks and music. It has a good volume range. At moderate volume settings the TV had a generally smooth sound with decent bass and impact. Most will find this sound quality acceptable.
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.
Remote has a dedicated button to access Internet features. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the TV to the included support stand is fairly straightforward. The stand requires the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides basic Internet functionality with a limited selection of applications. Movie streaming services include: Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Vudu. 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 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 two HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, and built-in Wi-Fi. 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, and a remote with batteries. 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.
