Plasma question!

There are options in the menus of the Viera to address Image Retention and by default they are on. I too have a 50" Viera and over the past month I have been gaming heavily on it and I'm quite happy with it. I will admit that I noticed some IR of my PS3 XMB when I was on a black screen, but once I started playing some content it went away.

You could technically "burn in" a plasma and that is generally irreparable damage and it will require a lot of ignorance on your part, but Image Retention is normal and will go away. What I sometimes do when playing games for long streaks is pause the game and switch over to TV for about 30 seconds just to refresh the image. I may not be doing anything of value, but I do it just the same.

One MAJOR thing I would recommend is to look at a plasma preferably while playing games and look for something called Phosphor Lag (google it, there is a lot of info on it) and if you A) Don't notice or B) Don't care then go for it.

I went through a bout a little while ago where I bought my plasma, noticed the Phosphor Lag, returned it, bought a Samsung LCD (both sets we over $3000) and didn't like the motion on movies (unnatural) and despised the delay when playing games. There is a Game Mode on the Samsungs, but I refuse to use any "digital" option with my TVs as they generally ruin something when trying enhancing something else. So I returned that and went back to the plasma and I don't regret it. The picture is the best I've seen.

One MAJOR thing I would recommend is to look at a plasma preferably while playing games and look for something called Phosphor Lag (google it, there is a lot of info on it) and if you A) Don't notice or B) Don't care then go for it.

But who knows, maybe none of this info will apply to you, you may think LCDs look better and that is fine. You are spending the money this time around.Large_Soda

Phosphor lag is only really apparent if your contrast is set to high thats why I think a lot of people find it when they try and get the contras just like an LCD which is always to bright thats why they have a problem with black levels and the such

[QUOTE="Large_Soda"]

One MAJOR thing I would recommend is to look at a plasma preferably while playing games and look for something called Phosphor Lag (google it, there is a lot of info on it) and if you A) Don't notice or B) Don't care then go for it.

But who knows, maybe none of this info will apply to you, you may think LCDs look better and that is fine. You are spending the money this time around.boyinfridge

Phosphor lag is only really apparent if your contrast is set to high thats why I think a lot of people find it when they try and get the contras just like an LCD which is always to bright thats why they have a problem with black levels and the such

I've tried many different combinations of settings and I still see it, I've reduced the "Picture" setting quite a bit and it doesn't appear to get any better. I've learned to live with it as the other functions of this TV are excellent, but I thought I'd at least mention it as it might be a deal ender for some.

I'm not sure exactly who can see it or who can't. Personally I can't see it as being something only certain people are susceptible to, I just think if you haven't seen it you aren't looking for it. I remember reading up on the Rainbow Effect that DLPs have and someone said women are more prone to noticing it, but who does these studies is beyond me.

I'm not sure exactly who can see it or who can't. Personally I can't see it as being something only certain people are susceptible to, I just think if you haven't seen it you aren't looking for it. I remember reading up on the Rainbow Effect that DLPs have and someone said women are more prone to noticing it, but who does these studies is beyond me.

So far I have noticed the Screen Door effect, the Rainbow Effect and Phosphor lag in all of the TVs I've owned. I also can't stand the 120Hz "natural motion" on LCDs. I guess I have the most sensitive eyes in the world.Large_Soda

Yeah Ive noticed the screen door effect and I agree about the 120Hz on LCD's but I really think the phosphor lag is more brand and version specific, My friend has a samsung Plasma and I have noticed it on his but I rarely notice it at all on my panasonic only with the odd second in the odd game but never with any TV or movie footage.

My dad has a brand spanking new model Panny plasma and I am yet to see it on his at all so maybe it is something they are working on.

[QUOTE="Large_Soda"]

I'm not sure exactly who can see it or who can't. Personally I can't see it as being something only certain people are susceptible to, I just think if you haven't seen it you aren't looking for it. I remember reading up on the Rainbow Effect that DLPs have and someone said women are more prone to noticing it, but who does these studies is beyond me.

So far I have noticed the Screen Door effect, the Rainbow Effect and Phosphor lag in all of the TVs I've owned. I also can't stand the 120Hz "natural motion" on LCDs. I guess I have the most sensitive eyes in the world.boyinfridge

Yeah Ive noticed the screen door effect and I agree about the 120Hz on LCD's but I really think the phosphor lag is more brand and version specific, My friend has a samsung Plasma and I have noticed it on his but I rarely notice it at all on my panasonic only with the odd second in the odd game but never with any TV or movie footage.

My dad has a brand spanking new model Panny plasma and I am yet to see it on his at all so maybe it is something they are working on.

Well I have one of the better Panasonic plasmas the TH50PZ800u (which came out this May I believe) and I notice Phosphor Lag predominantly in videogames, but I have seen it in movies with fast cuts and heavy camera motion, as well as some TV.

It's there when I consciously look for it, but if I'm enveloped in a game or a movie I tend not to see it (or focus on it).

Don't worry there two settings that wipeout the supposed burnin.

One is called pixel shifting, which is alraedy on auto, and another that displays a white bar on a black screen that wipes all IR within a few mins.

As long you set the colors proper, and not on VIVID mode, burnin is just a myth with panasonic.

It even has a setting for games too, and I game on it a lot and never notice any IR.

Even if I saw a hint of IR, it fades away in seconds.

Also that "Phosphor lag" which that user keeps complaining about is only presnt when you don't calibrate the colors for your HDTV.

Don't worry there two settings that wipeout the supposed burnin.

One is called pixel shifting, which is alraedy on auto, and another that displays a white bar on a black screen that wipes all IR within a few mins.

As long you set the colors proper, and not on VIVID mode, burnin is just a myth with panasonic.

It even has a setting for games too, and I game on it a lot and never notice any IR.

Even if I saw a hint of IR, it fades away in seconds.

Also that "Phosphor lag" which that user keeps complaining about is only presnt when you don't calibrate the colors for your HDTV.

Boxcutters

That is absolute crap. It is a problem on all plasmas and you are not going to correct it by "calibrating the colors". My Panasonic which is high end is one of few that are THX Certified, so much so that there is a specific THX mode amongst the Standard, Vivid and Cinema type options which was designed to ensure proper color temperature and tone.

I guarantee if I looked at your TV I would see it.

That is absolute crap that you don't calibrate your hdtv like any reasonable owner would do.
Boxcutters

Why would I calibrate the TV when THX have done it for me? Sure I could throw my Digital Video Essentials disc on and try, but the end result would be the same.

Of all the tvs out, Plasma and CRTs (tube television) are the most likely to get burn in. The least likely are DLP and LCD.I say go with a LCD. They are about the same cost as a plasma anyways.

[QUOTE="Boxcutters"]That is absolute crap that you don't calibrate your hdtv like any reasonable owner would do.
Large_Soda

Why would I calibrate the TV when THX have done it for me? Sure I could throw my Digital Video Essentials disc on and try, but the end result would be the same.

Wrong, and LCDs are mostly junk compared to plasmas

[QUOTE="Large_Soda"]

[QUOTE="Boxcutters"]That is absolute crap that you don't calibrate your hdtv like any reasonable owner would do.
Boxcutters

Why would I calibrate the TV when THX have done it for me? Sure I could throw my Digital Video Essentials disc on and try, but the end result would be the same.

Wrong, and LCDs are mostly junk compared to plasmas

Watch who you quote :P