Panasonic TC-P50ST30

While some TVs can deliver deeper blacks or cut a more stylish figure -- the 55-inch Panasonic TC-P55VT30 (*Est. $2,400) , for example -- few TVs do as good a job of delivering very good overall picture quality, a full complement of cutting-edge features and a relatively wallet-friendly price as the 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50ST30. Even though the blacks fall short when compared against the very best, that shortfall is pretty small and most experts say the blacks are more than deep enough to please all but the very obsessed. Colors are potentially excellent, but several experts say that it takes a bit of tweaking and perhaps accepting a compromise or two -- for example, less than brilliant brightness -- to get them just right. That and the improved but not nearly perfect handling of room reflections means that those that watch the TC-P50ST30 in a darker room are likely to be happier than those that plan to place the set in a well-lit or sun-drenched environment -- though the same can be said for many plasma TVs. Signal processing is generally fine, but some motion artifacts are seen with certain material. Some reviewers are more bothered by this than others. Still, at the end of the day, most are impressed enough with picture quality to say that it's on the high side of very good.

The TC-P55ST30 offers a nice assortment of features for its price. For those that want it, the plasma TV is capable of displaying a very nice 3D image -- better than most of last year's 3D TVs, and as good or better than what's available from many of this year's other options. However, since 3D glasses are not included, you'll need to buy your own and they are expensive (*Est. $180 per pair). You can stream content from the Internet and from your own computer. Though the number of content partners isn't especially broad compared to what's available from other manufacturers, the essentials and then some are adequately represented (especially following the addition of Hulu Plus in late summer), and there's a third-party app store for even more content to keep you busy when there's nothing to watch on TV. Wi-Fi isn't built in, but Panasonic helpfully includes an adapter in the box for those that want to connect wirelessly.

Value, however, is the biggest plus. While picture quality technically falls short of this year's very best plasma TVs, it is not far behind. The feature lineup also compares favorably with that of more expensive TVs as well. Some criticize the styling, while others say it's perfectly fine -- though certainly not cutting-edge. If a 50-inch TV is too big or too small for your room or your budget, Panasonic has you covered. Other screen sizes (all should perform similarly) include the 42-inch Panasonic TC-P42ST30 (*Est. $800) , 46-inch Panasonic TC-P46ST30 (*Est. $900) , 55-inch Panasonic TC-P55ST30 (*Est. $1,400) , 60-inch Panasonic TC-P60ST30 (*Est. $1,700) and 65-inch Panasonic TC-P65ST30 (*Est. $2,500) .