Panasonic 42' 1080p or 50' 720p?

pjrocco · 10-22-2008, 02:22 PM

I was about to buy a brand new 50' Panasonic 720p plasma when I found a good deal locally for a like new 1.5 year old 42' Panasonic 1080p plasma for $200 less. The 50' comes with a four year warranty and the 42' comes with a two year.

I have DirecTV HD and will be getting a Blu-ray player for Christmas.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Rick-F · 10-22-2008, 02:29 PM

If it were my decision, I'd opt for a TH-50PX over the TH-42PZ . . . While the higher resolution is good, SIZE matters.

gossamer · 10-22-2008, 03:43 PM

If you're going 50 feet, you better get 1080p

!!

Bigloww · 10-22-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossamer

If you're going 50 feet, you better get 1080p

!!

Agreed...

What is your room size and normal viewing distance going to be??? If at least 8-10 ft I would highly recommend the 50''. If less I would still probably go with the 50'' but that depends on how less... At that distance the extra 8'' or 8'

will outweigh the pixel count IMO..

pjrocco · 10-22-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigloww

Agreed...

What is your room size and normal viewing distance going to be??? If at least 8-10 ft I would highly recommend the 50''. If less I would still probably go with the 50'' but that depends on how less... At that distance the extra 8'' or 8'

will outweigh the pixel count IMO..

I will be about 10 feet or so from the TV, give or take a foot and a half.

Bigloww · 10-22-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjrocco

I will be about 10 feet or so from the TV, give or take a foot and a half.

Then I would say the 50'' Panny all the wayyyyyyyyyyyyy.

**PFC5** · 10-22-2008, 04:45 PM

I agree that from 10' away viewing distance 50" is the way to go. I would check for sales on the pz series of 50" plasmas as those are the 1080p models and some of them have gotten very low priced lately making room for the next models that should be coming in the next month or so.

In May 2008 I got a special deal on the 50pz80u for only $1300.00, but I think you could get that model for around $1500.00 now if you look and be patient.

YoniX · 10-22-2008, 10:04 PM

That is really a tough one man. On the one hand you gain 8 inches, but lose 1080P on the other hand you always want to go as big as you can afford with high def equipment. I would say go for the 1080P, just so you can enjoy the full goodness of your blu ray player.

**PFC5** · 10-22-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoniX

That is really a tough one man. On the one hand you gain 8 inches, but lose 1080P on the other hand you always want to go as big as you can afford with high def equipment. I would say go for the 1080P, just so you can enjoy the full goodness of your blu ray player.

But from that distance (10') with only a 42" screen he would likely not even be able to resolve the higher resolution he is paying for.

At 10' he would start having serious problems resolving 1080p on that and likely couldn't tell much difference between the 720p and 1080p on a 50" display. Even WITH the source being BD.

dereileak · 10-22-2008, 11:12 PM

whats the price of the new one?

pjrocco · 10-23-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dereileak

whats the price of the new one?

$1,278 out the door with a 4 year warranty for the new 50' and $875 out the door for the used 42' with 2 year warranty. The 42' was actually more, but the seller dropped the price after I told them I was going with the 50'.

XDRoX · 10-23-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjrocco

$1,278 out the door with a 4 year warranty for the new 50' and $875 out the door for the used 42' with 2 year warranty. The 42' was actually more, but the seller dropped the price after I told them I was going with the 50'.

$1278 = New 50" / 720P / 4yr warr
$875 = used 42" / 1080P / 2 yr warr

Right now these are Costco's prices on their Panasonic Plasmas:

$1000 = New 50" / 720P / 2 yr warr
$750 = New 42" / 1080P / 2 yr warr

Here's a link,
http://www.costco.com/Common/Categor...=en-US&topnav=

I seriously think you should consider a different store.

Rick-F · 10-23-2008, 12:10 PM

Samsung plasmas are good. A new PN50550, 1080P, can be had for about $1200-$1300 -- a FTP5084 could be less if you can find one on line; it's also is 1080P. If you shop around you can have the 50" and 1080P . . . But as others have said. at 10 feet you may not see any difference with the 1366 X 768 50" PDP. My prime TV was a 50" Panny plasma (768P) for 4 years-- the picture was OUTSTANDING.

kdog03 · 10-23-2008, 02:47 PM

Go with 1080p, especially if you have a pc.

kila · 10-24-2008, 02:12 AM

Honestly, if there is any way to bump up your budget by a few hundred dollars, I think you'd really be happy you did. For example, 123BuyDirect just had a sale (ended 10/22/08) that offered the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U for $1682 shipped! That's a 50 inch, THX, 1080p, 4 speakers, 4 HDMI inputs, swivel base, x.v.color, etc. etc.

As we get closer to Christmas I'm almost positive we will see this model on sale again for this price or possibly even lower.

10-22-2008, 02:22 PM	#1
pjrocco High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 31	Panasonic 42' 1080p or 50' 720p? I was about to buy a brand new 50' Panasonic 720p plasma when I found a good deal locally for a like new 1.5 year old 42' Panasonic 1080p plasma for $200 less. The 50' comes with a four year warranty and the 42' comes with a two year. I have DirecTV HD and will be getting a Blu-ray player for Christmas. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

10-22-2008, 03:43 PM	#3
gossamer 50 is the new 42 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Da Boogie-down Bronx Posts: 538	If you're going 50 feet, you better get 1080p !! __________________ Living Room: Panasonic TH-50PZ700U Plasma Scientific-Atlanta SA8300HD DVR Sony PlayStation 3 80GB Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Toshiba SD-4700 SD DVD Apple Mac mini, 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo Onkyo TX-SR706 Receiver Paradigm Cinema 110 Speaker System Pioneer CLD-3070 LaserDisc Player Quasar VHQ760 VCR Bedroom: Panasonic TC26LX50 26-inch LCD Scientific-Atlanta SA8300HD DVR Panasonic DMP-BD30K Blu-ray Panasonic DMRES15 DVD Recorder JVC HR-S8000U S-VHS

10-22-2008, 04:45 PM	#7
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,342	I agree that from 10' away viewing distance 50" is the way to go. I would check for sales on the pz series of 50" plasmas as those are the 1080p models and some of them have gotten very low priced lately making room for the next models that should be coming in the next month or so. In May 2008 I got a special deal on the 50pz80u for only $1300.00, but I think you could get that model for around $1500.00 now if you look and be patient. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

10-22-2008, 02:29 PM	#2
Rick-F 58" & 50" PDP / 2 32" LCD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,560	If it were my decision, I'd opt for a TH-50PX over the TH-42PZ . . . While the higher resolution is good, SIZE matters.

10-22-2008, 10:04 PM	#8
YoniX High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 324	That is really a tough one man. On the one hand you gain 8 inches, but lose 1080P on the other hand you always want to go as big as you can afford with high def equipment. I would say go for the 1080P, just so you can enjoy the full goodness of your blu ray player.

10-22-2008, 11:12 PM	#10
dereileak High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 31	whats the price of the new one?

10-23-2008, 12:10 PM	#13
Rick-F 58" & 50" PDP / 2 32" LCD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,560	Samsung plasmas are good. A new PN50550, 1080P, can be had for about $1200-$1300 -- a FTP5084 could be less if you can find one on line; it's also is 1080P. If you shop around you can have the 50" and 1080P . . . But as others have said. at 10 feet you may not see any difference with the 1366 X 768 50" PDP. My prime TV was a 50" Panny plasma (768P) for 4 years-- the picture was OUTSTANDING.

10-23-2008, 02:47 PM	#14
kdog03 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	Go with 1080p, especially if you have a pc.

10-24-2008, 02:12 AM	#15
kila High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winter Garden, FL Age: 56 Posts: 44	Honestly, if there is any way to bump up your budget by a few hundred dollars, I think you'd really be happy you did. For example, 123BuyDirect just had a sale (ended 10/22/08) that offered the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U for $1682 shipped! That's a 50 inch, THX, 1080p, 4 speakers, 4 HDMI inputs, swivel base, x.v.color, etc. etc. As we get closer to Christmas I'm almost positive we will see this model on sale again for this price or possibly even lower.