Panasonic TC-P50ST50

We haven't had a chance to fully test this product yet, but we've assembled this helpful overview of relevant information on it.

It's the baby of the ST50 line of plasma TVs from Panasonic in the TC-P50ST50.

The 50-inch TC-P50ST50 is the smallest set in Panasonic’s ST50 line up of plasma televisions. Admittedly, 50-inches is nothing to sneeze at though. The P50ST50 displays in 1080p full HD resolution. It comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio and filters through Panasonic’s Infinite Black Pro. Cinematic playback comes up to 48 Hz. Watch 3D TV in passive and active 3D plus the set comes with 2D-3D conversion. Audio comes from the two bottom speakers that are four watts each. It also has a 10 watt woofer. According to Panasonic the speakers can play up to 3D Real Sound. Connect blu-ray players and other accessories via the 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports and the several in/out RCA ports. Put home theaters and photos on the screen using the SD card slot. Internet access is available via the Wi-Fi and ethernet port. VIERA Link provides apps like Skype, Netflix and Flickr plus web browsing. 

Features List:

- 50-inch screen

- 1080p resolution

- 16:9 aspect ratio

- Infinite Black Pro

- 48 Hz cinematic playback

- 3D capable

- 2 x 4 watt speakers, 10 watt woofer

- 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, SD card slots

- Wi-Fi, Ethernet

- VIERA Link

Digital Trends’ Television Buying Tips:

Should I worry about viewing angle?

Absolutely. All LCDs will distort when viewed from extreme angles, but the degree of distortion and the angle it starts to occur at varies from TV to TV. If you plan to pack a dozen people in front of a single TV for entertaining, viewing angle will make a huge difference for the unlucky few who get scattered off to the sides. Most manufacturers will state viewing angle in degrees (for instance, 160) in the specifications for a TV, but be warned: methods for measuring this very subjective figure vary, and we can guarantee most companies opt for the most generous figures. When possible, try to evaluate it yourself in person, or read hands-on reviews that can offer anecdotal evidence, rather than relying on easily-manipulated numbers.

Which other panel specs should I pay attention to?

In short: brightness, contrast, and refresh time.

Brightness is measured in Candelas per square meter, or cd/m2. A typical figure, for instance, might be 500 cd/m2. More is always better, especially if you plan to plant your TV in a bright room where the screen will have to overcome other light sources.

Contrast is measured as a ratio of the brightest white a TV can produce, over the darkest dark. For instance, Insignia’s NS-L42X-10A offers a 4,000:1 contrast ratio. More is also better, but beware of “dynamic contrast ratios,” which use unrealistic measurement conditions (the brightest white is measured with the backlight set to full, and the darkest dark with the backlight to minimum, even though those levels could never occur side by side on the same screen) to inflate the number to levels like 2,000,000:1.

Refresh time is measured in milliseconds, such as 5ms. Lower is always better, and will prevent the “ghosting” that can sometimes be seen in fast-motion video.

LCD or Plasma?

Debating between LCD or plasma can almost get as subjective as debating between chocolate and vanilla. But unlike the never-ending ice cream debate, there actually is a superior TV choice, depending on how you plan to use it.

Check out some of our previous guides on the subject to get a better look, but in short, plasmas use more electricity, come in bigger sizes, have deeper blacks, don’t suffer from motion blur, and offer an unlimited viewing angle that’s best for off-axis viewing. LCDs are more energy-efficient, have fewer problems with glare due to their matte screens, can hold an image for hours or days without suffering “burn-in,” and generally look brighter.

After deciding which format to go with, our LCD and Plasma HDTV buying guides can help you with more questions specific to your type of TV.

How large of a screen do I really need?

“Bigger is better” doesn’t make any more sense when choosing an HDTV for your living room than when choosing a couch for your living room. A lot of factors come into play. As a general rule, consider a TV 1.5 to 3.0 times the screen size. For instance, a 32-inch television might make sense for viewing distances as close as four feet away, and as far as eight feet away. Check out our guide to choosing the right size HDTV for more details, including a helpful chart.