Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Pixelation with blurays on new TV

Jan 1, 2015 10:49AM PST

Hello, I just purchased a Panasonic 50" LED TV. The model # is TC-L50EM5.

On my previous 32" Samsung LED I enjoyed watching BluRays of movies shot on film and seeing the grain preserved in the image. However, when watching those same BluRays on my new TV, I seem to notice the grain looks more like an excess of small digital pixels, not fine film grain. Is this normal for a 50" television? I have played with the Sharpness which does not seem to return the pixelation to a more grain like look. I am sitting about seven feet from the television. Any thoughts on this matter? I am of course concerned that I've purchases an inferior TV.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Just one.
Jan 2, 2015 12:26AM PST

Is any motion smoothing enabled? I usually turn that off.
Bob

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 2, 2015 7:29AM PST

Thank you for your reply. It does not appear that this TV has a motion smoothing option, at least that I can tell. I did play with the Video NR setting which seemed to only soften the pixels, not make them finer. I am also noticing a very slight ghosting effect in certain scenes, particularly high contrast scenes.

At this point I'm just asking for opinions on this TV. I still have the receipt. Bought it for $499 at Best Buy, later found out it was a hot black friday bargain for $200. Not sure how I feel about that.

Model # Panasonic TC-L50EM5

- Collapse -
Link shows a few things.
Jan 2, 2015 8:04AM PST
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-L50EM5

I see GAME MODE which almost always cuts off all motion processing which will force it to show exactly what the player is sending.

On that page is "WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU" so you can ask more detailed questions.
- Collapse -
Thanks
Jan 3, 2015 12:43AM PST

Thanks R. Proffitt, switching to Game Mode did offer a significant improvement. The pixelation has returned to more of a fine grain look! It also seemed to help with the ghosting.

However, if anyone else has opinions on this television set I would appreciate it. That $200 black friday tag has me nervous. I mean, isn't that when manufacturers are shoving off their less than desirable products?

- Collapse -
That's an easy yup.
Jan 3, 2015 12:47AM PST

Cheap champagne is just that. I'm sure it's hard to accept there are grades of bad to good to great displays. CNET reviews them all the time but it's a cheap, something you may want to use in a office reception room but not a home theater setting.
Bob