Panasonic TC-P42C2 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)What a great buy this HDTV is. I paid less than $500.00 (including shipping) for this 2010 42" Panasonic Plasma.
I own a 58" 1080p Panasonic plasma which was top rated by CNET in 2008. In fact, CNET said it was the very best HDTV they had tested that year and awarded it Editors Choice
I see little difference between this low priced 42" Panasonic and my $3000.00 top of the line 58" 1080p Panasonic. Are there differences? Yes, but they are fairly subtle.
For a number of reasons I'd suggest you consider purchasing a plasma TV and if you can live without some bells and whistles, I'd recommend you purchase this exact model.
1.) 720p versus 1080p: While this is a 720P HDTV - I don't feel it makes much difference compared to a 1080 set. While the public has focused their attention on the obvious numeric difference between 720 and 1080 and assumed the larger number was always better --- that --- in a practical sense --- is not always the case. With smaller TVs, the difference between 720p and 1080 can not be easily detected unless you sit on top of the TV. Professional reviewers, time after time, have said the very same thing. Because of public perception - 720p TVs are becoming a dying bred and offer a unique buying opportunity. 720p displays process 1080 signals without any problem just as a 1080 display processes 720p signals without any effort. People forget that most Xbox and Playstation games as well as ALL of the content on ABC, FOX, and ESPN are sent in 720p.
2.) Viewing angle - EVERY LCD has a poorer picture when viewed off center. CNET, HD Guru, Displaymate, Consumer Reports, etc all note how picture quality deteriorates when an LCD is viewed from an angle. In some cases, just sitting one seat cushion away from the ideal sweet spot produces a much poorer picture on an LCD. In other cases the deterioration is more subtle. Plasmas have never had a problem with off center viewing. No matter where you sit, you will see the same picture on a plasma.
3.) Motion: While this is another perimeter that has been given far too much importance in the specification wars - plasmas are inherently superior at displaying motion. LCDs at 120HZ or better are pretty good with motion but never the quite the equal of ANY plasma. What is interesting to note is that reviewers say it is not likely anyone can see the difference in every day viewing (as opposed to test patterns). The bottom line is that plasmas are better with motion handling but even the worst LCD will likely look fine to most non-sports viewers.
4.) Black levels. How black is black is the specification that plasma fans love to cite. The blacks of most plasmas are far darker than those of a typical LCD although local dimming LED/LCD sets are close if not equal. This C2 Panasonic is no exception and even in my bedroom, with all the lights out, the blacks are fairly dark (although not as dark as my $3000 Panasonic). Panasonics, in the past, have been criticized because black levels increase over time, but in general, the blacks remain darker than LCDs even after they have risen. Whether the 2010 Panasonics even exhibit this problem is an open ended question.
5.) Reflections: The C2 has a shiny glass screen behind which is a dark background. It reflects, quite well, any bright objects which are opposite to it. If you are viewing program material that is fairly dark in nature you'll be able to see those reflections. With brighter program material - these reflections won't be visible
6.) Brightness: Plasmas are not overly bright. If you plan on viewing your TV in any room with a fair amount of ambient light then a plasma HDTV is probably not the best choice.
I'd recommend an LCD if you are viewing your TV in a medium to bright room. LCDs are often brighter than plasmas. If you are worried about reflections then an LCD with a matte screen would be a wise choice. Unfortunately matte screens are becoming increasingly rare on LCDs and have never been available on plasmas. Update (9/2/2010): CNET just published a reasonably favorable review of the Samsung LN46C630 - an LCD with a matte screen (but it costs $810.00 for a 40")
While other Panasonics offer more bells and whistles and technically better performance, I really believe this model is the value leader in HDTVs - given its low price of less than $500.00 for a 42". If you are willing to spend about a hundred dollars more then look at the S2 series of Panasonics (latest 1080p Panasonic panel, more inputs and according to the manufacturer - a better anti-glare screen) or if you have even more money to spend - the G series. The VT25 series is the top of the line but prices start above $2,000.00
I really recommended this TV if it is selling below $500.00 (for the 42"). It truly is a best buy. I'd also strongly recommend the S2 Panasonic if its selling for about $600.00 (42") and you can afford the extra hundred dollars.
Update: CNET just published a favorable review on the S2. At the right price, the S2 may be the better bargain and even wiser purchase.
Another Update / IMPORTANT: Consumers Reports (December 2010) rated this set (the C2) a Consumers Reports BEST BUY. It is certainly nice to have a major publication agree with my analysis. They rated the S2 series very slightly higher (as I did) but what is NEW is that they rated the Panasonic U2 series even higher than the C2 or S2 series. No other publication has ever reviewed the U2 series. I'm not familiar with the U2 series myself but customers should give it a long and hard look. Amazon currently has the U2 series (42") at $500.00. It is hard to loose with a Panasonic plasma but which series to buy depends on pricing and that seems to change daily. I'd certainly pick the U2 series over the C2 if it was priced identically.
Based on two recent but different reviews in Consumer Reports - the U2 series of Panasonic Plasmas - assuming they are priced right - should also be given a hard look! I keep updating this review and the latest information implies the U2 is better but at what price. This may be splitting hairs.

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Offering excellent picture performance, Panasonic's 42-inch VIERA TC-P42C2 Plasma HDTV features a 720p high-definition resolution and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity. This and other models in the C2 line offer Panasonic's VIERA Image Viewer feature, which enables you to play slideshows of JPEG images stored on SD memory cards, as well as the VIERA Link feature for controlling a variety of compatible components--from Blu-ray Disc players to digital cameras--through a single remote.
Adhering to Panasonic's commitment to the environment, this VIERA model--as well as all 2010 models--features improved power consumption and meets the new, more stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements. And you'll get a long Plasma panel life of up to 100,000 hours--more than 30 years of viewing when watched 8 hours a day--before the brightness of the panel decreases to half.

Key Features Panasonic's VIERA C2 series Plasma HDTV.

Key Specifications


What's in the Box Panasonic C2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions
Panasonic 2010 VIERA Plasma and LCD Comparison
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