so i have done the measurements in the room where my new tv will be going , on the main facing couch it is 3.50 mtr away, my on going struggle is weather or not to go and get a full hd or just plain hd ready , the tv i have in mind is the Panasonic TH-42PX80B i read alot of good reviews , but there is that niggling the fact that is not 1080p , would it be worth paying the extra for the z series , or would it be a realistic waste of a further £200 . Any feed back please.
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audiphile76
Prominent Member
At 3.5 meters, its a shame if you dont get a 50inch monster like 50PX8(720p)
darthwenger
Standard Member
I had the same problem when buying my first plasma, as my new living room is so wide, I got a lot of advice from friends etc and decided to go for the Samsung P50A456. (got it from Dixons for £957)
Even though its a 720P its got a great picture and to be honest wouldn't have made much difference to the picture so far away (I spent the extra money I saved on a Samsung cinema system)
Even though its a 720P its got a great picture and to be honest wouldn't have made much difference to the picture so far away (I spent the extra money I saved on a Samsung cinema system)
Nik73
Distinguished Member
I'm in the market for a new tv and this issue is stressing me out too! lol.
My viewing distance is around 8ft and I'm looking to get a 42" set. This seems to be on the edge for getting any benefit from 1080p.
I really can't affford a 1080p set but am worried I'll be settling for second best with a 720p one for the sake of £200. I've tried looking in shops but they all have the tvs so badly set up you can't use them to see if you can tell any difference.
My friend has just upgraded to a 1080p set and the picture is amazing, much better than his old 720p set. But how much is down to it just being a newer/better model and how much the 1080p? Aaaaaaargh!
My viewing distance is around 8ft and I'm looking to get a 42" set. This seems to be on the edge for getting any benefit from 1080p.
I really can't affford a 1080p set but am worried I'll be settling for second best with a 720p one for the sake of £200. I've tried looking in shops but they all have the tvs so badly set up you can't use them to see if you can tell any difference.
My friend has just upgraded to a 1080p set and the picture is amazing, much better than his old 720p set. But how much is down to it just being a newer/better model and how much the 1080p? Aaaaaaargh!
YellowSphere
Prominent Member
Nik73, I would say it was at least 90% down to it being a better TV, or just set up better than his previous television.
1080p is not the be all and end all. All other things being equal, it's a nice thing to have, but there isn't really any decent reason for it to be the only priority.
1080p is not the be all and end all. All other things being equal, it's a nice thing to have, but there isn't really any decent reason for it to be the only priority.
radman2002
Standard Member
Stop stressing and just get the 1080p telly jobs a gud 'un
jayden28
Established Member
i saw both sets at a local retailer on saturday because i was also interested in the px80,both sets were in displayed in hd and the difference was huge the pz85 stood out by a mile,i was not to impressed by the px,i thought my pioneer 4270XD was a far better set,if i was you i would go down to a retailer and see for yourself,as for reviews i always take them with a pinch of salt,i for one will be getting a pz85 very soon!
Nik73
Distinguished Member
I find the trouble with looking at sets in retailers is the way they have them set up in order to sell the set they want. I looked in my local Panasonic shop the other day and they had the PX80, PZ85, PZ70 and the PZ700 all together showing the football on SKY HD. The 7 series sets looked much better than the 8 series (which both looked identical btw) which just happened to be on sale, being last years model of course, with lots of promo material around it.
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
vipergrm
Prominent Member
I'm in the market for a new tv and this issue is stressing me out too! lol.
My viewing distance is around 8ft and I'm looking to get a 42" set. This seems to be on the edge for getting any benefit from 1080p.
I really can't affford a 1080p set but am worried I'll be settling for second best with a 720p one for the sake of £200. I've tried looking in shops but they all have the tvs so badly set up you can't use them to see if you can tell any difference.
My friend has just upgraded to a 1080p set and the picture is amazing, much better than his old 720p set. But how much is down to it just being a newer/better model and how much the 1080p? Aaaaaaargh!
You are far better off getting a quality 720p panel than a mediocre 1080p panel. Your viewing distance suggests that you could get away with a 42" 720p panel as it would be difficult to see the difference. It's really hard to see past the Panasonix 42PX80 which can be had for less than £700. The only thing that puts me off the PX80 is it's rather bland looks. I had everything set on getting the 42PZ80 but went against it as one for the HDMI ports is on the front and it has no VGA port. Despite the PZ series' higher contrast ratio the black levels are about the same (excellent). If the looks don't bother you then the PX80 is easil;y the best 42" 720p set available bar the Kuros.
... I had everything set on getting the 42PZ80 but went against it as one for the HDMI ports is on the front and it has no VGA port.
The 42PZ80 does have a VGA port, just not a DVI port. The front mounted HDMI port and higher resolution would be good for connecting a PC with HDMI, something I'm currently considering.
Nik73
Distinguished Member
You are far better off getting a quality 720p panel than a mediocre 1080p panel. Your viewing distance suggests that you could get away with a 42" 720p panel as it would be difficult to see the difference. It's really hard to see past the Panasonix 42PX80 which can be had for less than £700. The only thing that puts me off the PX80 is it's rather bland looks. I had everything set on getting the 42PZ80 but went against it as one for the HDMI ports is on the front and it has no VGA port. Despite the PZ series' higher contrast ratio the black levels are about the same (excellent). If the looks don't bother you then the PX80 is easil;y the best 42" 720p set available bar the Kuros.
Thanks Viper, that's the set I'm on the verge of buying. I just have this nagging feeling that I'm missing out on something, especially PQ
, by not getting a 1080p set.
vipergrm
Prominent Member
I'm sure I read in the 42PZ80 didn't have a VGA port but seeing as you have it I must have read wrong. My bad
vipergrm
Prominent Member
Thanks Viper, that's the set I'm on the verge of buying. I just have this nagging feeling that I'm missing out on something, especially PQ
Not at all. It really does depend on your viewing distance. My set is a 50" and I'm about 12 ft away and it's a 720p panel. Getting full HD set wasn't necessary for me
I find the trouble with looking at sets in retailers is the way they have them set up in order to sell the set they want. I looked in my local Panasonic shop the other day and they had the PX80, PZ85, PZ70 and the PZ700 all together showing the football on SKY HD. The 7 series sets looked much better than the 8 series (which both looked identical btw) which just happened to be on sale, being last years model of course, with lots of promo material around it.
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
Oh wow, I noticed the same thing at Comets, the 7 series looked better than the 8 series when they had them in a row. though it wasn't football on sky hd and i dont' remember the 7 series being on promotion. I'm talking about the LCDs though.
jayden28
Established Member
about 9 feet away,why?.
I got Comet to set the 42PX80 next to a Samsung 1080p LCD, both connected to a Blu-Ray player.
The only way I could see any extra detail on the Samsung was to sit less than 2 feet away, and even then we had to pause the disc and study the picture.
Moving back to approx 8 feet there was not extra detail on the 1080P.
I have just purchased the TH42PX80 and the quality once setup at home beats anything displayed in any of the shops (as has been said so many times on this forum, you can't get a true picture when viewing in the shops). Very impressed with SD and 720P films played through the Xbox look stunning
The only way I could see any extra detail on the Samsung was to sit less than 2 feet away, and even then we had to pause the disc and study the picture.
Moving back to approx 8 feet there was not extra detail on the 1080P.
I have just purchased the TH42PX80 and the quality once setup at home beats anything displayed in any of the shops (as has been said so many times on this forum, you can't get a true picture when viewing in the shops). Very impressed with SD and 720P films played through the Xbox look stunning
Its just that im in exactly the same dilemma. I have ordered a 42pz85 waiting for it to come in stock but have the same dilemma. Do i really need 1080p at this distance on a 42" or do i go bigger or lump for a 720p 42". This is pain full. I have to make a decision tonight to give the shop time to change my order. But surely if you watched a bluray at 1080p on a 1080p panel it must be better than a 720p on 1080 panel?
Jimb077
Established Member
It's pretty clear, but you have to see it in context. If you're getting a projector on a big screen, I'd go for 1080 too. But if you're sitting 3 to 4 meters from a 42" plasma, there's no need for it. It all depends on your application. And of course, for optimum cinema-like viewing, I'd also sit at 2 meters from a 50".
Jimb077
Established Member
But if you're sitting 3 to 4 meters from a 42" plasma, there's no need for it. It all depends on your application. And of course, for optimum cinema-like viewing, I'd also sit at 2 meters from a 50".
Exactly......I'm gonna be sitting roughly 13-14ft from my new TV, hence why I don't need 1080p!
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