Review: Panasonic PF20 (TH-42PF20) Plasma Monitor Review
Over the last few weeks we have delved into the new 2010 consumer range from Panasonic and have been very pleased with the quality on offer. However, as we are also an enthusiasts website it is no surprise that a great many of our members also look at professional monitors to see if better image quality can be obtained from such displays.
The Panasonic TH-42PF20 is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of its use and results. It is a professional monitor so has no TV tuners and needs to be fed video material directly. It has a few professional uses that range from video monitor to digital display signage and is customisable to each of its tasks. However, as a quality video playback monitor it has a few issues. Of these, the black levels and severe lack of picture presets to the industry standards is disappointing given the excellent consumer ranges now available from the company.
This screen will appeal to those who want to feed the PF20 with quality images from an external scaler or video system and its major calling will be the custom installation market. It is not a bad display by any stretch of the imagination and it can offer up stunning reference grade accuracy with the correct devices attached. But we also can’t help but think ‘what if’ when comparing it to the likes of the G20 and VT20 plasmas from the consumer range. If Panasonic was to take on some of the feedback here and add in the same excellent black levels and accuracy of the consumer 2010 models, they might just produce a ‘must have’ plasma monitor. Sadly on this occasion it’s a near miss in our opinion.
