I'm seriously considering the Samsung PN50C7000

[Anthony1]

I'm seriously considering getting a Samsung PN50C7000. Mainly due to pricing. I've only seen this TV demoed once, and the ghosting was disappointing, compared to the Panasonic plasma. However, this was before a firmware update that supposedly corrects alot of the ghosting issues. Still, I would absolutely have to see one of these in action before jumping on the bandwagon, but I'm definitely interested. I can buy one of these at Amazon.com for $1600, with no tax and free shipping. Very tempting.

The thing is, I just bought a new TV for the living room only a few years back. Late November 2008, actually, a Samsung PN50A450 plasma. It's supposed to be 3D ready, but it won't really work with any of this new 3D stuff, unless I try to find some workaround to get it to work, but even if it did work, the 3D just isn't that good on this Samsung. I don't really think it's worth all the drama. So, I'm thinking of just taking the loss on it, and selling it off. I paid about $950 for the thing in late November 2008, and I'd be lucky to get $600 for it. So, it would basically cost me a cool grand, just to bump it up to 1080p resolution, and having a more legit 3D mode that is compatible with ESPN 3D and PS3 3D, etc, etc.

Still, I just might have to do it. I need to find a retailer somewhere around town that has this TV with the latest firmware, and try to get another demo. Hopefully next to the Panasonic, so I can compare them side by side.

[DmitryKo]

I need to find a retailer somewhere around town that has this TV with the latest firmware

The firmware is user-updatable, so you may just want to find the nearest store and try to persuade the sales people to update it themselves.

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-v ... ab=support" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cybereality]

Well I haven't seen this set myself so I can't speak to the quality but it seems like an alright kit. Like you said I have heard there was ghosting but that should be mitigated slightly by the new firmware. I know myself that I have considered this TV and it has all the features you could want but the ghosting reports still scare me. For the price and all things considered its probably not a bad buy. And its probably still a really good 2D set also (which is important given the lack of any 3D content). So I am not sure what to tell you, the choice is yours.

[Anthony1]

One thing that I'm really concerned about this set is it's black level. I've heard the black level is really weak. God, I just wish I could afford the extra grand for the Panasonic.

[Anthony1]

I think I've changed my mind on the Samsung. The way I understand it, the Panasonic VT25 absolutely kills the C8000 series, much less the somewhat weaker C7000 series. The bad news, is that the Panny costs about $700 more. One bit of good news, is that the Panny comes with one pair of 3D glasses ($150 retail value - $100 real world value), and you can do the mail in for Coraline and Ice Age.
I know it's possible to get the PN50C7000 for $1600 out the door, and I've heard it's possible to get the TC-P50VT25 for $2300 out the door. It's a $700 difference, but if you factor in the glasses ($100) and selling the two 3D BD's on Ebay ($100), it's basically a $500 difference. Well, well, well... worth the extra $500 thrown in. The 3D is superior, and the 2D picture quality is vastly superior. Basically, the Panny plasmas are the best (consumer level) 3D tv's currently available.

[Okta]

Ive had a brief look at the samsung and the ghosting was horrendous. Possibly worse than my old sammy like yours.

[Anthony1]

Ive had a brief look at the samsung and the ghosting was horrendous. Possibly worse than my old sammy like yours.

Are you talking about the Samsung plasmas? I know the ghosting is very bad on the LCD's that haven't had the newest firmware update from Samsung. The ghosting on the plasmas is a little bit concerning, if they don't have the newest firmware either, but I wouldn't all the ghosting horrendous, at least in regards to their plasmas.