What the press is saying:
"The affordable Panasonic TC-PST50 series exhibited outstanding overall picture quality, characterized by exceedingly deep black levels with great shadow detail, accurate colors, and solid bright-room performance. Unlike LCDs, as a plasma it has superb off-angle and uniformity characteristics. The styling is attractive and the feature set well-chosen, including excellent onscreen help options"...."The bottom line: With flagship-level picture quality for a midlevel price, the Panasonic ST50 series sets the value standard among videophile-grade TVs." ~CNET.com, (March 28, 2012)
The ST50 series features 1080p Full HD resolution, an Infinite Black Pro Panel, and VIERA Connect with web browser and built-in Wi-Fi. Other unique features include 2D to 3D conversion and 2500 focused field drive.
VIERA Connect is a cloud service that provides access to apps in categories like video and music, social networking, games, news and lifestyle, sports, health and fitness. Learn more about the world of Smart VIERA and VIERA Connect.
Enhance your TV Experience with Popular Apps
Popular apps on VIERA Connect include Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Facebook, Twitter, Wall Street Journal, and huluplus, all optimized for the best possible user experience. In the 2012 TVs, you can have an unlimited number of apps installed because those apps are stored in the cloud, rather than in the TV memory itself.
Learn more about "smart" TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at Amazon's.
Clicker - Video on Demand Cross Searching
Find your favorite movies and video content easily with one-step searching, which allows you to cross search from multiple VOD services. For ease-of-use, use the quick keyword input on VIERA Connect to help retrieve your desired content faster and easier. Customize your screen by grouping commonly used apps and displaying them on the screen for easier use.
VIERA Remote App Support
The VIERA remote app lets you use a smartphone or tablet device as a remote control. Tap and flick-based commands are intuitive. Use your smartphone as a gamepad for VIERA Connect game applications or your tablet as a touch pad to control what you do on the TV screen. Display the same web pages on both your VIERA screen and your smartphone with a simple flick. Simply "swipe" and share your favorite photos, music, and movies from your smartphone to your VIERA TV anytime.
Communicate with Family and Friends
The social networking TV app allows you to access social network sites and communicate with your loved ones while simultaneously watching TV. Watch live sports games while upping the excitement by chatting with your friends as the game unfolds. You can also record an original message and set it as your answering voice message. Callers can record messages onto an SD Memory Card (min. 512MB required), while you are away. *Skype camera not included with TV purchase.
Share Content on the Large Screen with 2D-3D Conversion
Unique Panasonic technology converts 2D images into high-quality 3D images. The technology generates a detailed depth effect for each type of image so the 3D effect is natural and realistic. Enjoy Blu-ray movies, DVDs and TV broadcasts in 3D. The Super Resolution function allows images that were converted to be displayed in sharp, clear 3D images. Learn more about Panasonic's true-to-life Full HD 3D technology .
Learn more about 3D, how it works, and exactly what you'll need to enjoy 3D at home at our .
Learn more about 3D, how it works, and exactly what you'll need to enjoy 3D at home at our .
The Perfect Smart TV Experience: A Suite of Technologies
Fast-Switching Phosphor
The use of fast switching phosphors has significantly reduced afterglow duration and reproduced clear 3D and 2D images. Fast switching phosphors are used in all full HD models.
3D 24p Cinema Smoother
VIERA gives you naturally flowing 24p images with the look and tonal characteristics of film, and familiar TV-like quality. Panasonic's advanced source analysis and frame generation deliver smooth, natural, and lifelike images.
DLNA/Built-in Wi-Fi
Connect this DLNA-compatible VIERA HDTV and DLNA-compatible AV equipment to your home network, and you can watch movies, listen to music, and view photos from any room in the house. VIERA HDTV's Wi-Fi capability gives you even more layout flexibility. The ST50 series has built-in Wi-Fi so a wireless LAN adaptor is not required.
600 Hz Sub-field Drive and 2500 Focused Field Drive
The ST50 features 600Hz technology which allows for superb full-HD motion and still images. Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology which allows for greater clarity with motion images. Each frame is displayed for a shorter length of time to reduce aftereffects. The ST50 also employs Neo Plasma Black 2500 FDD (Focused Field Drive) to provide a crisp image even when the content shows very fast motion.
Operate Multiple Systems with Just One Remote Control through VIERA Link VIERA Link
The ST50 features VIERA Link, a technology that allows a consumer to operate all VIERA Link compatible AV components using only the TV’S remote control. Just point the VIERA remote at your TV, and the signal will travel over the HDMI wires to the right piece of equipment, whether it be your Panasonic Blu-ray or DVD player or Panasonic Home Cinema Surround System.
Deep, Rich Blacks with the Infinite Black Pro Panel
The ST50 series feature self-illuminating panels with ultimate black levels. Enhancements to the panel and cells help reproduce images with smooth, natural gradation and deep, rich blacks - even when viewed in bright surroundings. In movies, the true, deep blacks faithfully convey the intent of the filmmakers, adding power and realism to the viewing experience.
Environmentally Friendly
Panasonic’s commitment to sustainability and producing products that are ecologically sound is evidenced in the 100,000 hour life span of the Plasma Display panel and the lack of lead or mercury in the panels. Thanks to a newly designed phosphor process and rear panel process, Panasonic's plasma panels last for up to 100,000 hours before the brightness decreases by half. That's more than 30 years of viewing 8 hours a day. Plus with Eco Mode, Panasonic TV's turn off and adjust brightness depending on the VIERA's operating status. Settings can be configured by selecting Eco mode from VIERA Tools. The Power Save setting also adjusts screen brightness to reduce power consumption.
- 60-inch Plasma display.
- Full HD 3D; Infinite Black Pro Panel.
- Vera Connect Wi-Fi Built-In with Web Browser.
- TV without stand (Width x Height x Depth): 55.4-Inch x 33-Inch x 2.1-Inch, TV with stand (Width x Height x Depth): 55.4-Inch x 34.9-Inch x 15.3-Inch.
- Refresh rate: 600 Hz,1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty.
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SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW'S
1) Great TV, Great Value, Few of the Issues You Are Worrying About - Bottom line: Beautiful picture (black is really black!), nice internet functionality, and little impact from the issues that have been noted here and elsewhere.
Prior to making this purchase I did many hours of online reading that consisted of: CNET, AV/high def message boards and reviews, and Amazon reviews and comments. I asked myself the same questions most TV purchasers ask themselves: plasma vs. LED/LCD, Samsung vs. Panasonic, etc. I purchased the 60ST50 from Amazon and it was delivered in the middle of June 2012. By way of background, I own three other LCD's (one of them an LED/LCD) and this was my first foray into plasma. I felt like plasma was a low risk choice for this TV as it is going in a basement with no windows.
The general consensus online is that the ST50 is the best value available for an excellent picture. Always wanting to get the biggest bang for my buck, this consensus opinion was the number one factor in my decision.
As I said, I read a lot of reviews and, despite the consensus above, had a number of reservations because of issues that others encountered with the ST50. Here is a summary of my concerns and my findings. I should note that I ran the screen prep slides that you can find out there on the message boards and then played around with two different suggested calibration settings. I have no idea whether the screen prep slides are necessary and can't say whether they prepared my screen for calibration. What HAS been proven is that I am a serious nerd.
Screen buzzing: Some reviews have noted screen buzz. I was very concerned out of the gate as the screen prep slides have a white slide. When this slide was shown and all of the phosphors were glowing at 100%, there was a clear buzz emanating from the TV. You could hear it from everywhere in the small room where I was prepping the TV (what a nerd!). The good news is that the buzzing actually reduced over the time that I ran the slides. In a larger room watching actual TV content, it is not audible from in front of the panel even when the content is quiet. If you stick your head behind it, you can still hear a low buzz. My recommendation: do not buy this television if you plan to watch it from behind. Otherwise, if you will be watching it conventionally you should be relieved to hear that I have no issues with buzzing after the break-in period.
Viewing in a bright room: As noted, this television is for my basement but I had a chance to view it in a fairly bright room and with ceiling lights above. Generally, no issues. The filter works fairly well. I could see issues if you had a room with lots of bright sunlight where the windows could reflect off the panel. If that's your situation, you're probably considering LED/LCD anyway. Only you can decide what's right for your individual circumstances.
Image retention: Another early scare: my Directv rebooted and the directv logo was onscreen for 15 minutes or so. When it was finished the image was retained as a shadow for 30 seconds or so and then it went away. Gave me a quick scare but wasn't anything to be concerned about. I have had the menus open for decent amounts of time. I have watched channels with logos. I have watched several movies with black bars on the top and bottom. No further issues.
Hockey: The one entertaining guy in the Amazon reviews that had hockey issues might have scared me. But I don't watch hockey. I have, though, watched baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, track and field, etc. They all look great. No issues.
Some reviews have noted that the picture is too dark relative to an LED/LCD, has no pop, and looks washed out. I will tell you that the picture is different from an LED/LCD. This television has very lifelike pictures and colors. It's a very refreshing change. The best part of this television are the blacks which are really black. My wife, who usually doesn't notice such things, said, "Wow! The picture is so bright." (Hint for those that don't find it bright enough after calibration - adjust the gamma setting for instant brightness).
I really like this television and am happy with my purchase. If that changes over time, I will update this review.
By Drew Miller on June 25, 2012
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