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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Blacks & Whites
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03.Color Accuracy
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04.Motion
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05.Viewing Effects
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06.Calibration
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07.Connectivity
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08.Audio & Menus
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09.Multimedia & Internet
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10.Power Consumption
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11.Vs. Panasonic TC-L42U25
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12.Vs. Sony KDL-40EX400
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13.Vs. Sharp LC-42SB48UT
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14.Conclusion
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15.Series Comparison
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16.Photo Gallery
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17.Ratings & Specs
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18.Comments
Panasonic Viera TC-L42U30
Previous: Page 4
MotionNext: Page 6
CalibrationViewing Effects
The Panasonic TC-L42U30 has a reflective screen but a very good viewing angle for an LCD TV.
Formats (9.00)
The Panasonic TC-L42U30 has a native resolution of 1080p and can display all standard NTSC resolutions.
Viewing Angle (7.10)
For an LCD TV, the Panasonic TC-L42U30 has a decent viewing angle, with minimal false coloration or solarization. While there is a significant dropoff in contrast at 34 degrees away from center on either side, this is a pretty good performance as far as LCD TVs go. If viewing angle is a chief concern of yours, plasma TVs tend to perform better than LCD TVs in this regard.
Reflectance (5.00)
The Panasonic TC-L42U30 has a reflective screen, no matter what angle the light source is shining on it. While the reflection can be annoying regardless of what’s on the screen, it isn’t always as bright as it is on other TVs. We can see that it’s trying to disperse the light somewhat, as there is a rainbow sunburst pattern on the screen, but that usually doesn’t do much to lessen the prominence of the reflection.
Video Processing (2.25)
The Panasonic TC-L42U30 has several video processing modes, most of which seem to do very little, but a few will change your viewing experience noticeably.
| Setting | Claimed Function | Our Impression |
|---|---|---|
| Color Temp | Selects a choice of cool, normal or warm color | Changes tint to a preset level |
| A.I. Picture | Adjusts brightness in dark areas without raising overall brightness | Automatically dims mid-tones, a bit distracting |
| C.A.T.S. | Automatically adjusts screen brightness according to amount of light in the room | Makes the backlight go up in a bright room, down in a darker room |
| Video NR | Reduces noise in picture | Very slight improvement |
| 3D Y/C Filter | Minimizes noise and cross color in the picture | Impossible to change |
| Color Matrix | Selects image resolution of component-connected devices | Changes little to nothing |
| MPEG NR | Reduces noise of specific digital signals of DVD, etc. | Very slight improvement |
| Motion Picture Pro 4 | Improves moving picture quality by reducing motion blur | Makes motion in film-based content appear odd, in some instances creates artifacting |
| Black Level | Dark or light, only used with external signals | Leave in "Light" setting, otherwise picture will appear very dark |
| Other Models in the TC-LxxU30 Series | |
|---|---|
| For more information on other models in this series, check our Series Comparison Page. | |
 Panasonic Viera TC-L32U3 32 in. |
 Panasonic Viera TC-L37U3 37 in. |
Shop for the Panasonic TC-L42U30
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