Introduction to Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G10:

The 50-inch Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G10 plasma TV delivers a great image quality at a reasonable price. Bolstered by THX Certification, this set features 1920x1080 (1080p) pixel resolution, excellent contrast ratio, and pixel orbiting to eliminate screen burn-in. Inputs include HDMI, HD-Component, and VGA. This set also has ATSC/QAM tuners for receiving HDTV broadcast and unscrambled cable programs, and also an SD card slot.


Inclusion of Viera Cast also allows access to YouTube, Amazon video, and other web content without a PC connection. The listed price for the TC-P50G10 is $1,799.95.

Video Display Characteristics:

The TC-P50G10 has a screen size of 50-inches, 16x9 aspect ratio, and 1920x1080 (1080p/60 and 1080p/24) native pixel resolution. All lower resolution video input signals are scaled to 1080p for screen display. In addition, the TC-P50G10 features Panasonic's G12 HD Neo PDP technology, which produces excellent detail and contrast, as well as making possible a thinner display (4.2 inches) and enhancing energy efficiency. An added Pixel Orbiting feature prevents burn-in effects that can be caused by static images displayed for long periods of time, such as TV station logos.

Video Setting Options:

Basic video settings for the TC-P50G10 include: Contrast, Brightness, Color saturation, sharpness, color temperature,and aspect ratio. To further bolster picture performance, the TC-P50G10 includes a THX picture setting mode.

Also featured is C.A.T.S. (Contrast Automatic Tracking System). This is a sensor that is located on the front the TV has Adjusts the brightness and contrast according to ambient lighting condition. This function can be turned on or off as desired.

Video Upscaling:

Since all lower resolution video input signals are upscaled to 1080p, the TC-P50G10 also includes advanced adjustments tailored to enhance upscaling performance. These adjustments include: Block Noise Reduction (reduces macro-blocking and pixellation effects) and Mosquito Noise Reduction (the "buzzing" that appears around objects). If you don't have an upscaling DVD player, or the upscaling in your DVD player is not up to par, the scaler built into the TC-P50G10 may provide a better result.

Audio Input/Output Options:

The TC-P50G10 can accept audio signals from any of its 3 HDMI inputs, as well as four sets of analog stereo inputs associated with the Composite, S-Video, two Component Video inputs, and VGA input. As a further note, the TC-P50G10 also features both a set of analog stereo outputs and a Digital Optical audio output for connection to a home theater audio system.

SD Card and Network Connectivity:

Two additional connections provided with the TC-P50G10 are the SD Card Slot and the LAN/Ethernet connections. The SD Card allows the display of digital still images or the playing of video and music files stored on an SD Card, while the LAN/Ethernet connection allows connection of the TC-P50G10 direct to the internet and your home network without have to first connect to a PC.

Audio Capability:

Although most users would be connecting the audio output of the TC-P50G10 other devices through a home theater system, this does have onboard audio capability, via a built-in 20-watt stereo amplifier (10wpc) and two 6-ohm speakers with a response of 150Hz to 16Khz. Audio adjustments include: Bass, Treble, Balance, A.I. Sound (a preset equalization setting), Surround (Faux surround sound enhancement), and speaker on/off (internal/external). These features are convenient for those that may not be using the TC-P50G10 with an external audio system.

Remote Control/Onscreen Menu:

The TC-P50G10 has a comprehensive icon-based onscreen setup menu that can be accessed by the provided remote control or the controls located on the right side of the television. The importance of being able to access control functions at the set itself, as well as the remote, cannot be underestimated. If the batteries on the remote go dead, or if the remote is lost or damaged, you can still access all needed functions from the side panel of the TC-P50G10.

Price and availability:

The TC-P50G10 has an MSRP of $1,799.95 and is available now.

Final Take:

Plasma Television technology has leapfrogged its way into being providing an excellent viewing experience and increasingly affordable prices.

Also, what makes the TC-P50G10 stand out is not only its excellent picture quality, but its built-in internet and networking capabilities.

With the requirement of being connected directly to a PC, the TC-P50G10, via its own built-in Ethernet connection and built-in Viera Cast features, can access a variety of internet-based content, including; online weather reports, YouTube videos, Picassa web photo albums, Amazon Video, and Bloomberg Television, with more to be added.

In addition, to cutting edge performance and features, for those that are Eco-conscious, Panasonic claims an up to 50% reduction in power consumption from its Neo PDP technology over similar Plasma Televisions that don't feature Neo PDP technology.

The TC-P50G10 is an excellent example of where Television technology is headed for both Plasma and LCD televisions, making the television not only the center of a home theater viewing experience for Blu-ray Disc, DVDs, and other video components, but also providing access to the internet and your PC as an integral component of an entire home network.

With former high-end plasma television maker Pioneer now out of the Plasma market, much of Pioneer's technical expertise in Plasma television technology has moved to Panasonic. Panasonic, Samsung, and LG are now the remaining main players in the Plasma Television market.

This set is part of the Panasonic G10-Series is also available in additional screen sizes with the same features:

Panasonic Viera 42-inch TC-P42G10 THX-Certified Network Plasma Television.

Panasonic Viera 46-inch TC-P46G10 THX-Certified Network Plasma Television.

Panasonic Viera 54-inch TC-P54G10 THX-Certified Network Plasma Television.

For additional details on the Pansonic G10-Series, check out the single user manual that is provided for all four sets as well as Panasonic's online FAQs.