The Japanese company Panasonic is an old hand in the TV sector: Its first black-and-white TVs appeared on the Japanese market in 1952, its first color TV in 1960. Today, the company's displays use both LCD and plasma technology. While the manufacturer used to use only plasma technology in screens with a diagonal of 37 inches (94 centimeters) or more, the limits have become less strict in the current catalog - often enough, both technologies appear alongside one another. Panasonic markets its current LCD and plasma models with the sub-moniker "Viera".

Panasonic plasma/LCD TV: Series G 10
The G 10 series is a solid mid-range option in the current Panasonic range - here, the customer can expect the best price-performance ratio. The LCD models in the G 10 series, for example, run at 100 hertz with "Intelligent Frame Creation" - objects are therefore supposed to keep looking crisp, even during fast motion.

The plasma TVs in this series use "600 hertz Intelligent Frame Creation Pro" technology. Once again, the impressively high number, 600, is a result of the way plasma screens work; in reality, the technology corresponds to a 100-hertz system. Still, the plasma models also promise fluid, detail-rich motion. The G 10s accept 1080p signals at 24, 50, and 60 hertz.

The screens in all of the TVs in this series provide Full HD resolution - that is, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. In the G 10 series, there's also a corresponding HD tuner: The TVs receive satellite, cable, and terrestrial channels (DVB-S, -C, -T) - and all also in HDTV resolution. Panasonic does not, however, advertize the digital cable reception in certain countries, because the TVs lack support for the CI Plus encryption standard. Depending on the country and network operator, the TVs will not be able to receive all digital channels. In the United Kingdom in any case, it is forbidden to attach third-party equipment to the cable network. For more information on receiving HDTV signals in the U.K., see our article First steps to HDTV. Like all such tuners, the analog cable tuner only receives PAL-resolution signals.

The G 10 series also plays back JPEG photos and AVCHD camcorder videos from an SD or SDHC memory card. The two Scart sockets allow you to connect any older AV devices to the TV, and the three HDMI inputs should suffice for the usual array of Blu-ray players, games consoles, or HD camcorders. The LCD TVs in this series even provide a fourth HDMI connection.

We've already tested the equivalent TX-P 42 GW 10 - also read our full review of the Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 GW 10. Televisions.com provides detailed product analyses for the 42-, 46-, and 50-inch models Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 G 10, Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 G 10, and Panasonic Plasma TX-P 50 G 10 in the series, in which we also compare the TVs with their direct rivals.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 GW 10

It's extremely rare to find more user-friendly TV viewing or better picture quality for such a low price. Bear in mind, however, that this Panasonic plasma is better suited to darkened rooms and uses two extractor fans that are clearly audible during quiet movie scenes.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 G 10

A TV, pure and simple - this 46-inch (1.17-meter) TV is from the lower mid-range of Panasonic models. In this series, the manufacturer concentrates on the main virtues of a TV - buyers will have to make do without top multimedia features. This can be a positive thing: Many customers only want to use their TVs to watch TV - but in the best possible quality. Panasonic sees plasma screens as the best basis for this.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 50 G 10

This 50-inch (1.27-meter) TV belongs to Panasonic's equivalent of the Volkswagen "Golf class" - that is, the lower mid range. If you know about cars, you'll know what this means: This class provides the best price-for-performance ratio.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 32 G 10 B, 32 inches (81.3 cm), around 590 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 37 G 10 B, 37 inches (94 cm), around 690 GBP

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 G 10 B, 42 inches (106 cm), around 880 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 G 10 B, 46 inches (117 cm), around 990 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 50 G 10 B, 50 inches (127 cm), around 1,100 GBP

Panasonic plasma/LCD TV: Series G 15
The G 15 is another of Panasonic's mid-range series. It's also got Full HD resolution, as well as two Scart sockets and four HDMI inputs. The tuners accept analog cable, DVB-C, DVB-S, and DVB-T - all of the digital tuners also receive HDTV. CI Plus, however, is not supported here.

With 100-hertz technology and "Intelligent Frame Creation", the LCD models hope to make motion appear more fluid; the plasma models do the same job with so-called "600 hertz" technology. The TVs support more-detailed colors ("Deep Color"), but, so far, the corresponding images are only available from a PC. The G 15s also accept 1080p at 24, 50, and 60 hertz.

Where the G 15 stands out is with its extra multimedia: From SD cards, the TVs will play back not only JPEG photos and AVCHD videos (as above), but also DixV-format movies. The TVs also have a network connection that allows playback of DivX and MPEG-2 videos, as well as JPEG photos. The prerequisite for this feature is to have a PC in the network running DLNA-server software. The "VieraCast" system also gives access to selected online content. More about this in Panasonic Technology: Highlights. We've already produced detailed previews of the Panasonic plasma TVs TX-P 42 G 15 and TX-P 46 G 15 in which we also compare the TVs with their closest rivals.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 G 15

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen knew it already: "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)". The song is showing its age - the number of TV channels has gone up a bit since then - but the title definitely still rings true. Panasonic's G 15 series, however, means this no longer poses a problem.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 G 15

Looking for a TV that gives you more? If the answer is yes, then Panasonic's G 15 series might be just what you're looking for. With these plasma TVs, the Japanese manufacturer caters for users that aren't content to just watch TV; thanks to a network connection and Internet access, this TV hopes to serve as a stepping stone between the PC and TV.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 37 G 15 B, 37 inches (94 cm), around 820 GBP

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 G 15 B, 42 inches (106 cm), around 920 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 G 15 B, 46 inches (117 cm), around 1,160 GBP

Panasonic plasma display: Series VX 100
Panasonic offers an unusual but solid product for home-theaters or professional applications: The "Custom Home Theater Display" series consist only of screens and interchangeable connection-modules. The only fixed connection on the unit is an analog input for computer signals; for other connections, there are a total of three expansion slots. The standard factory setup offers four HDMI sockets and a YUV interface.

You can switch off the screen's scaler (which, for example, up-scales traditional PAL pictures to the screen's resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels) - if you have an AV receiver or DVD player with quality video electronics, you'll know how valuable this feature is. The VX 100 models accept 1080p at 24, 25, 30, 50, and 60 hertz. Since they're intended purely as a display, the VX 100s have no integrated speakers.

There's another advantage of the VX 100 series: In countries that charge TV license fees, the screens will save you money - without tuners, they're not actually TVs. We've already tested the TH-65 VX 100 - also read our detailed review of the Panasonic plasma display TH-65 VX 100.

Panasonic plasma display TH-65 VX 100

This professional-series plasma from Panasonic isn't quite perfect: The picture looks weak in daylight conditions; red and green tones are slightly over-exaggerated; and the display will not accept HDMI-576i signals. Nevertheless, the massive, contrast-rich, and highly cinematic picture is truly spellbinding.

Panasonic plasma display TH-50 VX 100 B, 50 inches (127 cm), around 3,500 GBP
Panasonic plasma display TH-65 VX 100 B, 65 inches (165 cm), around 8,000 GBP

Panasonic LCD TV: Series C 10
The C 10 series is Panasonic's cheapest LCD TV line, and its feature set is correspondingly meager. Both models have a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, and can therefore only bear the "HD ready" label. According to the manufacturer, the screens support 1080p video at 24, 50, and 60 hertz. The tuners receive analog cable as well as DVB-T (only in PAL resolution). The two Scart sockets match today's norm, but the two HDMI sockets still aren't a matter of course. Digital photographers will love the SD-card reader, which allows playback of JPEG photos. What's more, these budget models have a headphone socket - some rivals, on the other hand, don't.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 26 C 10 B, 26 inches (66 cm), price not known at time of writing
Panasonic LCD TX-L 32 C 10 B, 32 inches (81.3 cm), price not known at time of writing

Panasonic plasma/LCD TV: Series X 10
This series is another of Panasonic's entry-level offerings and adheres to the company's traditional division of labor: From 37 inches and up, the TVs use plasma technology. The X 10 series has a very basic feature set: The resolution is only sufficient for the HD ready logo; the LCD models display 1,366 x 768 pixels, the plasmas 1,024 x 720 (TX-P 37 X 10) or 1,024 x 768 (TX-P 42 X 10).

The LCD models run at 50 hertz, the plasmas at 100 - although these simply display each frame delivered by the DVD or TV station twice. This reduces large-area flicker, but causes double edges on moving objects (horizontal scrolling texts, for example). The X 10s also support 1080p signals at 24, 50, or 60 hertz.

All TVs in the series provide two Scart sockets. The TX-L 19 X 10 only has one HDMI socket; all larger models have a more practical three. On the other hand, the tuners in this series are very meager, accepting only analog cable and DVB-T. Digital photos will, at least, play back via the X 10 series' SD-card reader.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 19 X 10 B, 19 inches (48.3 cm), 343 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 19 X 10 BW (white), 19 inches (48.3 cm), 343 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 26 X 10 B, 26 inches (66 cm), 490 GBP

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 37 X 10 B, 37 inches (94 cm), 586 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 X 10 B, 42 inches (106 cm), 684 GBP

Panasonic LCD TV: Series X 15
The X 15 is related to the X 10, but uses LCD technology with "100 hertz Frame Creation". This is supposed to make motion look more fluid, while objects should also have more-precise edges. Full HDTV resolution still, however, fails to appear in this series. With 1080p video, this model behaves just like its brothers in the X 10 series.

Three HDMI inputs and two Scart sockets should be plenty for most users, but the tuner in the X 15 series is almost embarrassingly poor: It accepts only analog cable - not even the now-commonplace DVB-T is on board. There is, at least, some extra multimedia: The TV can play back AVCHD camcorder videos - as well as JPEG photos - from SD memory cards.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 32 X 15 B, 32 inches (81.3 cm), 586 GBP

Panasonic plasma/LCD TV: Series S 10
This is where things start to hot up! The S 10 series is Panasonic's cheapest line to have a Full HD screen - that is, with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The LCD models in the series run at 50 hertz, while the plasmas offer "400 hertz Intelligent Frame Creation Pro". The "400 hertz" here are actually just a consequence of the way plasma screens display pictures - in reality, the technology corresponds to a 100-hertz model. Unlike in the cheapest Panasonic plasmas, however, these TVs generate 100 frames from the 50 supplied by the TV station - that is, they produce new motion phases. The technology therefore promises a picture free of large-area flicker and with precise edges on moving objects. And, once again: the S 10s claim to accept 1080p signals in 24, 50, and 60 hertz frame rates.

The tuners in the S 10 series can also receive signals in Full HD resolution; Panasonic does not, however, specify this in many European countries. Nevertheless, the TVs have tuners for DVB-T and DVB-C, and also receive high-definition pictures wherever such broadcasts exist. Since, however, the cable tuner isn't suitable for the forthcoming CI Plus encryption standard, the TV will not be able to receive certain stations, depending on the cable operator.

Three HDMI inputs on each of the TVs isn't luxury, but will suffice in most cases; all the TVs in the S 10 series each have two Scart sockets for older input devices. JPEG photos and AVCHD videos will play back from SD cards.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 32 S 10 B, 32 inches (81.3 cm), 635 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 37 S 10 B, 37 inches (94 cm), 782 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 42 S 10 B, 42 inches (106 cm), 880 GBP

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 S 10 B, 42 inches (106 cm), 929 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 S 10 B, 46 inches (117 cm), 1,221 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 50 S 10 B, 50 inches (127 cm), 1,270 GBP

Panasonic plasma/LCD TV: Series V 10
The V 10 series is largely the same as the G 15 series: HDTV-capable digital tuners for all signals types, but no CI Plus; 100 hertz in the LCD models, 600 hertz in the plasmas; network connection and internet videos via Viera Cast.

But the plasma models here are supposed to provide better pictures than the cheaper versions in other series, thanks to a "Natural Vision pro" filter, as well as being THX certified - more on this in Panasonic Technology: Highlights. "24p Smooth Film" is supposed to reduce judder in Blu-ray movies delivered at the original 24-hertz frame rate; "Deep Color" is also on board in this series, and, as before, the TVs accept 1080p with a frame rate of 24, 50, or 60 hertz. Using the picture-in-picture function, it's possible to follow two TV channels at once. Like the G 15 series, the V 10s have four HDMI inputs.

Panasonic has reserved the bigger sizes for this series - only here will you find Panasonic TVs with huge 58- and 65-inch screen diagonals.

Panasonic LCD TX-L 32 V 10 B, 32 inches (81.3 cm), around 740 GBP
Panasonic LCD TX-L 37 V 10 B, 37 inches (94 cm), around 860 GBP

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 42 V 10 B, 42 inches (106 cm), around 1,080 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 50 V 10 B, 50 inches (127 cm), around 1,450 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 58 V 10 B, 58 inches (147 cm), around 3,500 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 65 V 10 B, 65 inches (165 cm), around 4,500 GBP

Panasonic plasma TV: Series Z 1
The TVs in the Z 1 series are the flagships of the current Panasonic catalog. The elegant casing of these extremely slim TVs differs significantly from that of cheaper Panasonic TVs. The technology, on the other hand, largely corresponds to that of the V 10 series, apart from one fundamental difference: The models in the Z 1 series have no space for the usual connections and therefore use a separate connections box, which also includes the tuners. A small receiver mounted on the edge of the screen then relays the signals to the TVs' single HDMI socket. Televisions.com has already tried out this wireless transmission: Unlike some competing systems, it works excellently. In terms of the picture, too, Panasonic promises an extra dose of quality: Only the best panels make it into the Z 1 series.

Panasonic Plasma TX-P 46 Z 1 B, 46 inches (117 cm), around 4,000 GBP
Panasonic Plasma TX-P 54 Z 1 B, 54 inches (137 cm), around 4,500 GBP

Panasonic plasma display: Series PF 10
This series currently comprises just one model. Like the VX 100 series, the PF 10 is aimed at professional users or home-theater fans. For this series, you'll need not only a big living room, but also a big wallet. A spartan feature set supports this Full HD TV: Apart from a DVI input (which will also accept HDMI via an adapter), this series has no other digital connections.

Panasonic plasma display TH-103 PF 10 EK-S, 103 inches (262 cm), around 40,000 GBP

Many products that are no longer in production offer almost as much functionality as their successors, and can often be found at greatly reduced prices as second-hand or clearance stock. If you're interested in technical information or reviews on such models, we invite you to follow the links below.

Panasonic LCD TX-37 LZD 70 F

- this Full HD model from the year 2007 produces a picture whose quality varies little with viewing angle. That's not to be taken for granted on an LCD.

Panasonic LCD TX-37 LZD 80 F

- this TV from the year 2008 displays Blu-ray movies perfectly in the original frame rate.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42 PX 60 E

- this model from autumn 2006 lacks HDTV resolution and therefore cannot display the full detail of some images. It also struggles with 24p signals from Blu-ray discs.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42 PV 71 F

- this TV from 2007's spring collection lacks a Full HD panel and therefore holds back some detail.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42 PZ 70 E

- this model from summer 2007 impresses with deep blacks, but movies in the original 24p frame rate from a Blu-ray disc judder more than on other TVs.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42 PZ 85 E

- this Full HD flat-screen TV from spring 2008 displays pleasingly rich images.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42 PZ 800 E

- this Full HD screen from summer 2008 gleams with its rich, detailed picture, but criticism goes to its slight, greenish tint.

Panasonic Plasma TH-46 PZ 80 E

- this model released in early summer 2008 combines typical plasma virtues - like a natural, rich picture - with typical plasma vices - like high power consumption.

Panasonic Plasma TH-50 PZ 700 E

- this 50-inch model from spring 2007 offers a pleasingly rich picture with excellent sharpness, but struggles with Blu-ray pictures in the original movie frame rate.

Panasonic Plasma TH-50 PZ 80 E

- this flat-screen TV from autumn 2008 impresses with its natural picture and high contrast, but its power consumption is too high.

Panasonic Plasma TH-65 PX 600 E

- this juggernaut from spring 2007 astounds with the sheer size of its 65-inch (165-centimeter) screen.

The following were involved in producing this article on Panasonic plasma/LCD TVs:

Author(s): Karl-Gerhard Haas
Editor in Chief: Florian Friedrich
Photos: Manufacturer and AV T.O.P. Messtechnik GmbH
Last update: September 2009