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Yeah, standard def is the "support act". No, it is'nt. im sorry but please stop pushing the belief that it is, until reality matches your expectations.

Think you misunderstand here, al7478 - we're talking about the set selling ITSELF as the first Full HD 32in....

ahem. yeah. mighhtve been a bit rash. sorry. so, good telly but no better for being full hd? fair enough.

Clare, this is odd. In the forums, you answered the 24fps question as follows:

"ALL the 2008 sets (bar the entry-level 50hz LCDs, which use 2:2) use 4:4 pulldown for 24fps"

Now the What Hi-Fi review states that this model of the Panasonic 2008 range used 3:2 pulldown, which should, unlike 2:2 or 4:4 pulldown, introduce judder on 1080p24 material. This is in direct contradiction to the answer you have received from Panasonic and published in the forums, which I have quoted above.

I now begin to wonder what other TVs in the Panasonic range are using 3:2 pulldown inspite of the answer you received and published from Panasonic (quoted above). I know of quite a few people who are considering purchasing the PX80 and PZ80 range on the basis of that answer (rather than waiting for the PZ85 range) who will be extremely nervous now about their impending purchases.

Thanks for the review. The black frame round the TV looks very big to my eyes tho....

Regular Joe - that reference was a subbing error (original just said pulldown - sub assumed 3:2) already picked up by Andy and now amended. Sub has been flogged... Apologies.

Except of course when you're watching football, when it does 4-4-2 pulldown.

I'll get me coat...

Thanks Clare for the helpful clarification.  I ask for clemency on behalf of the sub.

Thanks Andrew for the excellent wit and...erm...not much else.

Clare, I'm sorry but this Panny isn't the first 32inch full hd, that was the Sharp 32X20.

Indeed - but we say it's the first from Panasonic and the first we've seen formally (and let's face it, Sharp hasn't set the world alight with its recent TVs...)

Now looking forward to seeing Full HD 32inchers from Samsung, Philips, Sony et al. And it'll be interesting to see whether Sharp gets a leg up from its Pioneer association....

You're very welcome, Reg. Must keep telling myself, "this is all very serious, this is all very serious, there is no place for humour in home cinema..."

But FWIW, my 2p's worth is that you're all getting far too steamed up about very little - it's a 32in screen, so it really wouldn't matter if it was 720p, as you really wouldn't see the difference.

We're all getting far too wound up in a numbers and specifications game, which suits the manufacturers well as it means this year's models have bigger and more impressive numbers than last year's.  And of course next year's will have even more big and impressive numbers...

What really matters is how the thing looks, and reading between the lines I think this review says you'd probably be just as well off with a 70 or 700 series set.

Hold on, isn't 4:4 pulldown 'pure' 24fps? Doesn't it essentially mean that you're seeing every frame 4 times ie. 96hz. Nothing in reality uses 'pure' 24fps as it would be to flickery (is that even a word? - oh you know what I mean) for the human eye. Even cinemas displays every frame twice for this very reason. The Pioneers use 72hz (3:3), the Toshiba Z series and the Sony use 120hz (5:5), and now the Panasonic 8 series use 96hz (4:4). Surely they are all delivering 'pure' 24fps if the refresh rate is a multiple of 24. Not knocking the review as I think it's good but I think people are get confused about the use of 24fps and pulldown methods. All those I've mentioned should be considered native 24fps.

Also I totally agree with Andrew regarding this set and the comparison with the old sets. The old sets look better too IMHO. The bezel on the new one looks massive.

FuzzyinLondon - "people are get confused about the use of 24fps and pulldown methods" - ill say!

FuzzyinLondon - 4:4 pulldown isn't the same as pure 24fps, which doesn't rely on ANY repeating of frames.

But as mentioned in the review, it looks incredibly smooth, and I agree people get WAY too hung up on this stuff. It's a great TV, and i'd hate to think anyone thought such details were more important than fundamentals like how a set looks with real-world content. Specs are such a small part of the performance story.

Agree with you Clare regarding specs. I don't see the point of Full HD on a 32" set and I don't really give a monkeys about pulldown. But I've seen in the past that you guys have taken a torrent of abuse over not giving people a clear answer regarding the pulldown issue on the 7 series so I'm just going to make this final point: 4:4 pulldown is pure 24fps.

Cinema projectors use 2:2 pulldown so you see every frame twice to make the motion smoother. Pioneer's HD Digital Film Direct 24 uses 3:3 pulldown to display at 72hz, Sony's 24P True Cinema uses 5:5 pulldown to display at 120hz. My point is that 24fps is a myth. Every TV that can correctly display 24fps is repeating a 24hz signal at a multiple of 24 to give you smooth playback - the same way a cinema projector does. The issue with the old Panasonic sets was that they used 3:2 pulldown to display a 24hz signal at 60hz (the display's native rate). As a result, some people detected judder on the slow panning shots. If, as you say, the new sets use 4:4 pulldown then it can be called 'proper' or 'native' 24fps playback and the whole issue can be put to bed.

Hallelujah to the whole issue being put to bed... but I feel I had to make the pulldown/Pure distinction as it seems to matter a heck of a lot to some people.

Panasonic, too, make the distinction between these sets and the 85/800 model that use slightly different processing, so full disclosure (from them and subsequently us) seems the way forward...

Apparently the 85/800 sets will have something called 'Intelligent Frame Creation' which means the processor will create extra frames to make playback even smoother. Sounds dodgy to me.

And here we go again.

Today on panasonicunofficial.com, we will mainly be discussing...

IFC (Intelligent Frame Creation) is something you can turn on or off, it appears. I've seen a brief demo, but again, will reserve judgement til we've tested it thoroughly.

As opposed to Huge Frame Creation, which is what the industrial design people seem to have used on this set.

Thanks for the review.

For me the full HD screen is important as I'll also be using the TV as a computer monitor.

Am also considering the Toshiba 32XV503DB which should be available any day now.

Do you have any specific date to review that set?

what about sharps LC32X20E isnt that the first Full HD 32"?

Yes, but as I said in the intro to the story, this is PANASONIC's first Full HD 32in.

Which was also already answered earlier on in this comments thread, Matthew S - do keep up!

Will the TX-32LZD85 be worth waiting for to get the 100hz (not sure of what other differences it may have over the 80)? Or will this be another case of "not really necessary" the same as Full HD on a 32"?

100Hz made a noticeable difference on the 70 series models, I had the LMD70 (without 100Hz) for a month or so before I swapped for the LXD70, and the 100Hz really did make motion smoother looking.

The LZD85 promises several advantages - not just picture processing but (IMHO) better styling, plus Panasonic claims it has a better contrast ratio and a wider viewing angle. Time and testing will tell!

Interesting review!  How does it sound? and does it improve in any other areas other than the HD debate?

Doesn't the TX-32LZD85 look almost identical to the TX-32LZD80?

Nope, the 85 and 800 sets have more of a curved, silver 'swoosh' at the bottom: see pictures in our original story on the range:

Hi is the tv finished in gloss black or is it matt black

Thanks for clearing that up Clare, and FWIW I agree the 85 does look better (certainly in the picture - will wait to see it in the flesh). I realise you haven't done any testing on the 85 yet - but based upon what you have seen with the 80 do you think the 85 will provide any improvements over your current premium set of choice the 32LXD700 (or the 32LXD70 without the improved sound system). Will we have a new champion?

The other dilemma is that Amazon currently has the Sony KDL32D3000 for £605 - which seems very good value. By the look of it the new Panasonic 32LZD80 and 32LZD85 will be about £800 and £850 respectively and no doubt the new Sony models will be similarly priced. Do I pick up the Sony from Amazon before they are gone? Am I going to regret no waiting for a new model from Sony or Panasonic?

Forseti - the Panasonics are more of a satin black! Glossier than matt, but not as shiny as, say, the current Samsungs. Hope this helps...

r1ch - the 85 has a better spec, but who knows whether it'll translate into better performance, especially as a premium cost (remember we test everything on performance-per-pound). We'll let you know as soon as we know!

And as for buy now or later - that Sony seems a good deal, but with the two new-season sets we've seen so far being so good, i'd be inclined to wait.

Thanks again Clare. I will wait for your review of the 85 (and possibly one of the new Sony's) before making a decision. All the best.

Thanks Clare, Andrew, and team for getting this up so quickly.

I'm considering one of the larger new Panasonics, or whether to go for a current one and trying to squeeze the dealer a little!

Would either of you be able to cast your expert eye over my main post, "Please help! - green-light my shopping list!" in the home cinema forum?

Thanks so much

Just re-read the review above. It doesn't mention anything about the sound quality - I get the impression that the LXD70 has only average sound quality - has this been improved upon with this new model?

Good point, r1ch one - we've added in a paragraph about sound. It's nothing special, i'm afraid - but then flatscreens that sound truly great on their own are almost unheard of (literally!).

Whether it's buying a soundbar, routing the sound via your hi-fi or adding a full home cinema system, an additional audio system is a must for anything much beyond basic TV viewing for flatscreens...

Thanks again Clare. As long as it is no worse than the equivalent Sony, Phillips or Samsung etc then I guess as you say in time I could add a home cinema system.

Thanks to FuzzyInLondon for correcting the twaddle in the review "it does so using the 4:4 pulldown method rather than delivering 'pure' 24fps. ". Heck - who would want to watch such  "pure" 24fps - it would be intolerably flickery.

What HiFi could do us all a favour by doing a Mag article on the benefits (or rather the lack of them) of full HD at various viewing distances. While there are some who may indeed want a set to double up as a computer monitor and sit really close this is pointless even at 32,37,42 or even 50 inches if you sit far enough away. There are tables on the web for people with 20:20 vision but it would be helpful to have it explained. I am still sore at having bought a 720p 37in Panasonic PV500 which at 12 feet has barely any benefit over SD. I have to wonder how many people will waste their money on full HD?

Simple question - is this new set any great improvement over the existing 70 series?

Is it known when the 800 series will be out and when it will be reviewed?

bf1 - as we say in the test, it's not a night-and-day improvement over the 70 series, but it is better.

The last I heard on the 800 series was a May-onwards release date - as ever, we'll review them as soon as we can get our hands on them...

Thanks Clare for your response. Presumably the prices in the respective current series will begin to fall once the others arrive?

From what I hear, there aren't many '7' series models left - there may be some bargains to be had, but it could just be a pretty seamless handover.

Would I be right in thinking that Standard Definition content from either the built in Freeview tuners or via Sky are equally, or if not better than, the LXD70 even though this new set is Full HD compared to the HD Ready LXD70?

I feel sick.......my heads spinning......so much info, it`s all very confusing !!

"From what I hear, there aren't many '7' series models left"

I knew they were in short supply but I thought that was due to it being a `new` model.

Then the 8 series is announced and no doubt a shortgae will ensue for that too?

Will the 800 32inch have 100Hz as did the 700?

I have tracked down four 700 series, money in hand , do I buy or do I wait??????? HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!

I believe the 800 will share the same panel as the 85 (which will be 100hz) - but as with the current range will have side mounted speakers with an enhanced sound system and an additional HDMI socket making a grand total of 4 on the 800.

Clare, compared to the 700 series which as i remember correctly you said ( the mag ) had inky blacks in the review, and the LMD70 which you wrote had blacks which weren't true in color; where would this set fall compared to these two ? Thanks.

Hey everyone - i'm new to this and not sure about all the 'pulldowns' and other techy jargon...

but I'm looking for a 32" HDTV to play PS3 and Blu-Ray - as far as this article goes, it appears it's not worth getting full HD (that's 1080p, right?) on a 32" screen. Which is fair enough, i understand that much. However, could anyone recommend a specific TV that would fulfill my requirements?

So far I've had mentioned to me the Panasonic TX-32LMD70 (or LXD?), or the Sony S3000/D3000, and the Sony KDL-32P3020 from this article.

By the way, budget is £550 at the most, please!

thanks!!

Help, I don't understand about "pulldowns" but want an LCD TV to replace my unreliable TX-25AD2DP B Panasonic CRT and am now torn between the Panasonic TX-26LXD60, Philips 32PFL9632D (as raved about in What Video last month), Panasonic TX-32LXD700, or now this LZD80B.

Whatever choice it must be compatible with Panasonic's DMR-EZ47V DVD Combi Recorder (ordered on strength of What Video test issue 331 from Total Digital last week for £199, to replace my faulty 3 year old  PANASONIC DMR-E55 DVD recorder which keeps turning itself off mid-recording, or even when starting it up to watch recorded programes, or several times whilst watching recorded programmes so you have to turn it on again and search through to where you'd got to - during which time it turns itself off again. Recorded programmes come in chunks where it's stopped and then restarted but has missed minutes in between. Absoloutely hopeless and frustrating).

The TV must be suitable for watching F1 motorsport and for use without any extra speakers as I don't have room for them in my small lounge.

Suggestions and advice please, and comments on Panasonic's current reliability issues.

As the TX32LZD80B is avail for £699 as opposed to the older TX32LXD700 at £725 is that significant?

Thanks

I am quite amazed the review does not mention the EPG. It's a commercial product complete with unsolicited adverts! What has this done for panasonic? Made them a few pence for each set sold? At the expense of function and speed? A disgrace and an insult to panasonic's customers IMHO.