After six years, it was time to replace my aging 42" Samsung plasma (during which a circuit board died, which ended up requiring an all new screen to be installed--thank goodness I had the extended warranty). At first, I went with the UN55D8000, which was a good looking set, granted, but just didn't have the picture quality I wanted, so I ended up returning that less than a week after it arrived. Then I heard about the new Panasonic models coming out, and realized that the GT50 looked like a promising candidate.

I have had the TV for less than a week, and there is no way I am returning this incredible plasma television. I will share some initial thoughts (and have submitted photos as well), and will update my comments later as a kind of progress report.

If you care about picture quality and don't feel like waiting for the VT, look no further. This set has one of the best pictures out of the box I have ever seen, with deep, silky blacks and vibrant (not never... Read more

I bought this TV to replace my previous Panasonic TV which lasted for 7 long years and 4 moves without a scratch or a problem.
The GT50 produces stunning pictures, some of the best I have seen. I looked at a number of different TVs and brands from edge lit LEDs, back lit LEDs to Plasmas. This TV has one of the best picture quality in my price range. It also offers a comprehensive list of practical features ( no gimmicks like gesture response etc). The on board dual core processor offers smooth performance while browsing, watching online movies etc. No question about this offering the best value for your money in terms of both features and functionality. I also like the look of the TV. I am not a big fan of the edge less design offered by brands such as Samsung or LG. The GT50 has a thin glass like edge which actually makes the picture stand out better against the background.

The only negatives I have is, I wish it came with 3D glasses. The glasses themselves cost 50$ a... Read more

I purchased a Samsung series 8000 TV and loved it. Unfortunately a dead pixel appeared, so I did a little more homework and decided to go with a plasma, which are praised for quality, affordability, and deep and realistic blacks. I am pleased with my purchase.

Pros:

*Picture looks stunning. I was watching a show on Netflix, and I never noticed how red the main characters hair was until watching from this TV. It was so realistic, even the wrinkles were on his face. My Samsung that was 33% more expensive did not show this!

*Blacks are deep and realistic, especially in night scenes. Usually you may see a glowing black during night scenes, but the darkness it pitch black, which makes it so much more pleasing to the eye.

*Backlighting is perfectly even. The LED had blotches of uneven backlighting; this one is perfect

*Built in WiFi, Netflix, apps, etc. are good quality and easy to navigate

Cons:

*Menus are... Read more