Calling Panny Plasma owners

[Wolfpacker96]

Alright, I've unboxed my new plasma and set it up. What I'd like to know is has anyone had any issues with burn-in on a newer plasma, and what was done to cause the burn-in. And if you haven't had any burn-in, I'd like to know that too! I read this on CNET:

Burn-in: You may have heard that plasma has a couple of drawbacks. One such downside is burn-in, which occurs when an image--such as a stock ticker, a network logo, or letterbox bars--gets etched permanently onto the screen because it sits in one place too long. In our experience, the danger of burn-in has been greatly exaggerated, and people with normal viewing habits have nothing to worry about. The potential for burn-in is greatest during the first 100 or so hours of use, during which time you should keep contrast low (less than 50 percent) and avoid showing static images or letterbox bars on the screen for hours at a time. After this initial phase, plasma should be as durable as any television technology. Many models also have burn-in-reduction features, such as screensavers and pixel orbiting, or settings to treat burn-in once it occurs, such as causing the screen to go all white.

Do you agree with this person's assessment about the "greatly exaggerated" part? My issue is that I really like plasma's picture, but I can't stand to watch SD shows in the stretched mode. I"ll do what I have to to protect the TV, but I was wondering if anybody has had any issues with burn-in from the pillarbox? The CRT I had before was supposed to susceptible to burn-in also, but I did all the things you weren't supposed to do (pillarboxed SD, played video games) and never had any issues.

Thanks in advance for any help!! :thankyou3

[Ratman]

CRT's and plasma can "suffer" from burn-in. I'm sure there is something in your user's manual for warnings/guidelines.

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=6821

[ohheck]

My son's brother-in-law bought a plasma last year and has suffered burn-in on it. However, according to my son his brother-in-law has the bad habit of pausing a video game and walking off for and hour or two to do something else. His particular set doesn't have pixel orbiting, etc. I bought my plasma set last Feb and have had no issues with image retention/burn-in. My set does have pixel orbiting and a whitewash feature you can use if necessary. My set also has an automatic picture sizing the adjusts the program to full screen when it's not an HD broadcast. For my part, I don't have a problem watching a "stretched"
broadcast, but that's just me. As for tickers, etc., I haven't had any problem with them either. :grandpa9:

[Wolfpacker96]

I obviously know they can suffer burn-in as I've had a CRT for years. The owner's manual says the same thing that all manuals say, not to watch 4:3 for extended times. And I have read 57U's FAQs numerous times over the past 6 years. I was just curious about (1) what people thought about CNETs statement about just being careful for the first 100 hours, then you don't have to really worry about it and (2) what Panasonic owners have seen with their sets.

What led me to buying the Panny was when I was at CC, I was looking at the similar TV put out by Samsung. The reviews and Consumer Reports said that was a better TV. But the one they had on display was suffering from burn-in. It had been on ESPN for 12 hours a day for about 2 months (at least according to the staff). The Panny I bought also had been on for a similar amount of time on ESPN and had no burn-in. I was just wondering if Pannys were really that much better.

[Ratman]

CNet's advice is good advice. After the break-in period of 100 hours, you should still follow guidelines to minimize risk. Plasma's suffer from burn-in... no matter the manufacturer.

IMO... 100 hours of caution shouldn't be that inconvenient.

From the Panasonic FAQ's:

4. What is the "break-in" period and what should I do during the break-in period to minimize any risk of image retention?

When your plasma TV is initially installed, the first 100 hours of use is known as the "break-in period." During this time, to minimize any risk of image retention, you should:

1)Make sure the plasma TV is in a viewing mode (aspect ratio) that completely fills the screen. The panel is shipped in this condition, in what is called the "Just" mode.

2)Turn down the Picture setting (in the Picture menu) to +0.

3)Briefly engage the 4:3 mode and confirm the side bars are set to "Mid", or "Bright". This can be adjusted in the Set Up menu.
4)Always return the display mode that fills the screen (such as Just, Zoom, Full, or H-FILL).
5)Try not to view channels with stationary backgrounds or logos for extended periods of time.
6)Avoid extended display of static images (video games, computer images, DVD title screens, etc.).

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PlasmaFAQ?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&langId=-1&catGroupId=24973

[Wolfpacker96]

Wow, thanks for looking that up for me. You'd think they'd put something that important in the freaking owner's manual. Guess they didn't want to waste the ink or something.

Now the hard part is convincing my daughter and wife they have to watch their 4:3 shows in "Just" mode. They think I'm off my rocker and trying to ruin their lives or something for suggesting this. Guess I can print this out for ammunition! I just wish there was someway to have the TV automatically switch to "Normal" mode when it detects an HD signal. My dish box can go to a full zoom mode for 4:3 and switch back for HD, but it's more obviously stretched more in the middle than the "just" mode. So one has to do the annoying two remote TV or Dish controls manually depending on what channel you change to. And it's hard for me to get my daughter and wife to do that. I do have a fully programmable remote that I can just add a TV control button, but I still doubt they'll do it.

Do you think Panny's "Picture" and everyone elses Contrast is the same thing? I'm sure it is, but I thought I'd ask. Turning it down to zero seems a bit extreme, but at least that won't cause a family squabble cause I'm sure they won't notice. ;)