FAQs

By signing up, you’ll be part of an ever-evolving community where you can share insights, opinions and advice with others interested and enthusiastic about the world of HD. You’ll learn to how to get the most out of your HD products from fellow community members and experts, and get creative inspiration on how to use your HD products in new and exciting ways. You'll be able to view member How-To Videos about products and projects, participate in in-depth communal conversations about your experiences, ideas and creative discoveries. You can also create a network of other likeminded members where you can share, comment and rate each other's ideas. You’ll be delighted to see how real people are using their HD products in their everyday lives. Your input will help shape future generations of HD products.

Joining the LiHD community is quick and easy. Simply click here and follow the instructions on how to create an account.

No. Owning a Panasonic product is not a prerequisite. Anyone can participate: a family, a couple, someone single, a group of friends, co-workers, etc. Basically anyone with the desire to become part of this special HD community can join.

Being a Living in HD (LiHD) Family is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In addition to receiving a free suite of Panasonic products (Viera HDTV, HD Camcorder, Digital Camera, Blu-ray Disc™ Player, and Toughbook Laptop) and professional installation, the LiHD Families work in concert with Panasonic to share their experience. They provide feedback on how they use the products in their everyday lives and share their own inspirational and creative project ideas.

General Community Membership is open to everyone. All you have to do is create a member profile and you can:
• Upload and share your own How-To Videos and Inspirational Ideas
• Join in-depth conversations in the discussion forums
• Save, rate and comment on content throughout the site

You can create an account now or apply to become a LiHD Family. Learn more

By joining LiHD, you’ll be part of an ever-evolving community where you can share insights, opinions and advice with others interested and enthusiastic about the world of HD. You'll be able to join in-depth conversations with people like you—sharing your experiences, ideas and creative discoveries. Your input will help shape the LiHD community as well as future generations of HD products.

In order to communicate with other members of the LiHD community, you must first create an account. Once you are signed into the site, and discover another member you would like to talk to, go that person's profile page and click on the "Send a message" link. He/She will receive an email alerting them that another LiHD community member has left them a message on the site.

By signing up, you’ll be part of an ever-evolving community where you can share insights, opinions and advice with others interested and enthusiastic about the world of HD. You’ll learn to how to get the most out of your HD products from fellow community members and experts and get creative inspiration on how to use your HD products in new & exciting ways. You'll be able to view member how-to videos about products and projects, participate in in-depth communal conversations about your experiences, ideas and creative discoveries. You can also create a network of other like-minded members where you can share, comment and rate each other's ideas. You’ll be delighted to see how real people are using their HD products in their everyday lives. Your input will help shape future generations of HD products.

Panasonic established this community so people would have an opportunity to openly share thoughts, opinions and experiences in the world of HD. As such, we make sure the community is a safe place for people to explore without the fear of coming across inappropriate content. We forbid improper and illegal material in any user-submitted content, including, but not limited to:

• Profanity or other language not suitable for a public forum
• Indecency, obscenity
• Nudity or sexually explicit content
• Violence
• Threatening material
• Defamatory material
• Confidential, private, or personally identifiable information or trade secrets
• Contact information (address, phone number, e-mail, etc.) or other url’s
• False statements
• Advertising for other products and brands
• Repetitive content
• Off-topic content
• Content that violates the law or portrays inappropriate or illegal
activities (for example, underage drinking)
• Written or verbally abusive, discriminatory, or culturally insensitive language or comments (for example, based on race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, age, and veteran status)
• Content that injures someone or is otherwise harmful
• Content that infringes or violates any third party rights (for example, copyright, trademark, idea misappropriation, and rights of privacy and publicity)
• Must be 13 years of age to participate

As a member of the community, you are not forced to upload and share content, but we recommend you do, as you’ll get much more out of the experience. The more you contribute, the more you’ll get out of the community.

We're sorry to see you go and hope you check-in every once in awhile!

• On your profile page, please click on the "Profile" tab on the left-hand menu
• Under the "Profile" menu, please click on "Account"
• On the bottom of the "Account Information" page you'll see "Delete My Profile" in blue type (It's right under "Change Password")
• Click on "Delete My Profile" and that will erase all of your LiHD profile and account information.

Standard definition TVs (SDTV) have a lower resolution than high definition TVs (HDTV) and therefore a lower picture quality. They both use digital technology, but HDTV offers the highest resolution available within the digital TV category.

Making the choice between a LCD or Plasma HDTV is a matter of personal preference. Several factors should be considered when making your decision, including the general layout and lighting of the room, the viewing distance from your sitting area to where the TV will be placed, and your budget.

To research and compare products, you can visit third-party sites such as CNet.com and engadget.com, or compare products online at panasonic.com. If you'd like to see the product for yourself, use our Dealer Locator to find a retailer near you.

Panasonic products are available for purchase at local and online retailers, as well as directly from Panasonic at Panasonic.com.

The first product to buy is the HDTV – it's considered the centerpiece of the HD suite and enables you to view HDTV content as well as HD content from Blu-ray Disc™ players, digital cameras and HD camcorders. The latest HDTVs even enable you to view Internet content directly on your TV.

Before you purchase your HDTV, there are several points to consider, including the size and lighting of the room and your budget.

A basic HD Suite is a combination of an HDTV, an HD signal from a content provider and high-quality sound system.

If your content provider offers HD channels, the best viewing experience will be achieved by using an HDMI cable. An HDMI cable allows you to view those channels in full high definition resolution.

If you are thinking about buying an HDTV, the first decision to make is whether you want an LCD or a Plasma, which are the two different types of technologies available in HDTVs.

Things to consider when making this decision are:
• The size of the room in which the TV will be placed
• The lighting in the room
• The viewing distance between your sitting area and where the TV will be placed

For help in the decision-making process, you may want to reference third-party online resources, such as CNet.com and engadget.com.

You should create a custom HD Suite that best matches your viewing environment, budget level and interests.

The main components of an HD Suite are the HDTV, a high-quality sound system, an HD signal from a content provider (such as your cable company), and HDMI cables to allow for viewing in full high definition. To complete the suite, you may want to consider purchasing a Blu-ray Disc™ player.

Panasonic Plasma and LCD TVs have multiple inputs that allow you to connect your TV to different standards, such as standard definition analog, high definition analog component and high definition digital.

At this point in time there are no completely wireless solutions on the market. All speakers need a power source. In some models, rear speakers can be connected to their own amplifier and to a power source rather than running speaker wires from the main system to the rear speakers.

We offer customer support for those who are in the market for HD products, as well as for those who already own them.

You can contact our award winning Call Center at 1-800-211-PANA (7262) (en Español opcion #2), Mon-Fri 9:00am - 9:00pm EST and Sat-Sun, 10:00am - 7:00pm EST

You can find detailed information on all of our products, including interactive demonstrations, more FAQs and How To Videos, on our Consumer Support Website.

And, if you already own a Panasonic HDTV, you can use our Concierge Service, which is available to all current Panasonic HDTV owners.

High definition technology is advancing rapidly, becoming a mainstay in households across America and enabling consumers to do far more than just watch television. As a leader in HD, Panasonic is deeply interested in how real people use these products in their everyday lives. This interest is what led Panasonic to develop “Living in High Definition” – an online community that can truly be deemed an “HD Playground.” Within LiHD’s online community you can communicate with families who are already Living in HD, interact with tech experts, view How-To Videos and find inspirational ideas for exciting new ways to use your products. If you’re interested in becoming an LiHD family and receiving a free suite of Panasonic HD products, click here for more details.

Come. Play. Learn. Enjoy!

The first product to buy is the HDTV. The HDTV is considered the centerpiece of the HD suite and enables you to view HDTV content, HD content from Blu-ray Disc™ players, digital cameras and HD camcorders. The latest HDTVs even enable you to view internet content directly on a your large screen TV. Before you purchase your HDTV, there are several points to consider. For example, room size, lighting and budget available will be the filters to use when you are in the market for a HDTV.

The term "full-HD panel" refers to 1,920 x 1,080-pixel panels that display progressive images of full-specification HDTV signals without the use of up-sampling.

We recommend you use the optional mounting brackets manufactured by Panasonic. However, if you choose to use another brand of wall bracket, please be sure it will accommodate the position of the mounting bolt holes on the Panasonic Plasma TV, the thread of the screws (M8 type), and support the weight of the display (consult the Operating Instruction manual for your model). Panasonic recommends that a qualified installer perform the wall-mount installation.

For more information about mounting your TV, watch our How-To Video.

If there are small children in your home, consider using a safety strap to secure the TV to the table top.

The Pixel Orbiter feature helps to prevent “Image retention” with wobbling. It is a setting in the television's menu. There is an automatic option, which shifts the display image automatically or a periodic setting, which shifts the image every 1/2/3/4 minutes. There is also a Scrolling Bar option which also works to prevent "image retention". This scrolls a white vertical bar from top to bottom on a black screen which is also in the menu.

Yes. This is a good investment that will protect your TV from storms and power fluctuations.

VIERA Link™ is a function that lets you easily operate various AV devices that are interconnected with your VIERA TV, using only the VIERA remote control. You can choose the connection method -- either an HDMI cable or a LAN cable -- to match your devices and applications. You don't have to keep switching remotes to operate each device, so there's no more hassle and operation is easier than ever. Networking your devices with VIERA Link™ adds both convenience and fun to AV entertainment.

To learn more about VIERA Link, watch our How-To Video.

VIERA Cast technology allows you to watch web entertainment - such as movies and YouTube videos - right on your HDTV. The technology is available on all of our PZ850 Series HDTVs.

Additionally, since your HDTV is hooked up to an Internet connection, you're able to upgrade features right from home, instead of having to send your TV in for service.

VIERA Cast™, which connects Panasonic PZ850 Series TVs to the Internet, allows you to access great online entertainment all with just a click of a button - no PCs or external boxes required. You can watch YouTube videos, view your digital photos on Picasa Web Albums, get instant weather updates and read the latest financial information from Bloomberg® Television, right on your HDTV.

Best of all, the VIERA Cast menu will self-update as soon as great new online content becomes available.

If your TV has an Ethernet port, it can be routed to an Internet router. You can also use a wireless adapter or your home wiring to enable the connection.

Yes, through an external adapter such as a gaming adapter.

No. Since your television doesn’t use a web browser or have email access, it is not susceptible to spam or viruses.

No, not directly. There are pre-programmed sites such as YouTube and Bloomberg that are able to be viewed directly on your TV, but if you would like to surf the web, you will need to connect your PC to your TV.

Most cable and satellite boxes have the ability to resize/stretch the picture to get rid of the black bars with the use of their remotes or through a menu setting. This is also dependent upon the type of source you are playing such as Blu Ray, DVD, etc. which are formatted in a variety of widescreen aspect ratios.

Once the computer is connected to the TV, you must set the external output mode of the device you are connecting. This is usually done using "hot keys" usually located on the top row of your keyboard. Please check with the manufacturer of the device for instructions on how to do this necessary step.

To see how easy it is, watch our How-To Video.

The result are smoother, more beautiful images.

There are several ways to archive and save your videos:
• Use a SD card and copy your video to your computer using the HD Writer software
• Create a standard DVD
• Create a high-definition DVD that can be played in your Blu-ray Disc™ player

5.1 sound recording allows you to capture sound from the left, right and center, which is how most movies record sound. While most camcorders only record in left and right, Panasonic camcorders feature 5.1 channel sound recording.

Yes, if you use a wired or wireless microphone it will disable the internal microphone.

A zoom microphone records voices that sound sharp and clear even when you zoom in on a subject from a distance.

Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.), on the other hand, uses gyrosensors to detect jitter, microcomputers to calculate compensation needs, and tiny linear motors to instantly adjust lenses to stabilize your video. It's a much more precise technology, and results in footage that's sharp and clear, with no image degradation. O.I.S. also works in concert with a camcorder's zoom feature, stabilizing the image as it is enlarged.

To learn more, watch our How-To Video.

How do I playback movies recorded with my HD camcorder?

A great starting point for choosing the right camera is to determine how you intend to use it. Are you a novice, a hobbyist, or an expert? Will you be shooting indoors, outdoors, or both? Do you prefer a basic point-and-shoot model, or a camcorder with more advanced manual settings? There are several features to consider before buying a camera:
• Lens Quality: All Panasonic cameras feature Leica lenses, which are known for their high quality glass

To learn more about the importance of a quality lens, watch our How-To Video.

• Image Stabilization: This feature keeps the camera steady and allows you to shoot high-quality photos without a tripod

To learn more about Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), watch our How-To Video.

The amount of megapixels doesn’t necessarily determine quality, but it's important to consider when thinking about how you're going to view your photos. For example, if you plan on enlarging your pictures up to poster size, then you should consider purchasing a camera with higher megapixels.

Panasonic cameras feature eight to ten megapixels, which is great for most photo finishing choices.

Intelligent Auto is a feature that detects faces, night scenes and active sports, and then automatically sets the camera settings for things such as F-Stop, shutter speed and ISO setting. This allows you to focus on the composition of the photo you're taking instead of worrying about the settings.

Movie mode shoots in AVI.

Yes, some models, such as the Panasonic TZ50, record audio, but be careful not to cover the microphone with your finger.

There are several ways to play back movies that you've taken with your camera:
• Place your SD card into select Panasonic Viera® HDTVs
• Copy your video to your computer using the HD Writer software
• Create a standard DVD
• Create a high-definition DVD that can be played in your Blu-ray Disc™ player

The original SD cards were limited to 2GBs of memory space, whereas the new SDHC cards can store up to 32GBs.

This depends upon the size and capacity of the SD card as well as the image quality (ex. JPEG/Fine/Standard/RAW) and the picture resolution (ex. 14.7/10/9/8 megapixels).

There are several ways to transfer these photos:
• Use an SD card to copy your video to your computer using the HD Writer software
• Create a standard DVD
• Create a high-definition DVD that can be played in your Blu-ray Disc™ player

WiFi Certified products, such as the Panasonic TZ50 digital camera, allow you to upload pictures directly to a photo sharing site such as Google Picassa using public internet access or a WiFi enabled hotspot.

WiFi Certified products have been tested and approved by the WiFi Alliance to be interoperable with each other, regardless of manufacturer.

Optical zoom lets you capture dynamic images of sports action, animals in nature, and any subject that you cannot get close to. Digital zoom is A feature found in many digital cameras that takes a portion of the image's data and displays it at full size, producing an enlargement (magnification) of the original image, similar to the effect of using a telephoto lens. This process, however, is different from the magnification produced using the camera's optical zoom, and the stronger the digital zoom, the more the image will degrade.

If you would like to display your photos on a traditional TV choose 4:3; for standard prints, choose 3:2; and for widescreen TV, choose 16:9.

For regular TV viewing, no, you don't need five speakers and a subwoofer. However, movies were designed to be watched with five speakers and a subwoofer.

A multichannel sound technology that features 7 channels of sound in the left, right, center, left surround, right surround, left rear, right rear positions. 7.1 systems also have 1 channel for LFE (low frequency effects) which is usually sent to a subwoofer.

The most important speaker is the center speaker, which should be directly above or below the screen. The left and right speakers should be equidistant on the left and right side of the screen.

To learn more about creating a surround sound experience, watch our How-To Video.

Speakers need power. A wireless amplifier kit will work with all Panasonic speakers.

Panasonic speakers have a "check speaker" function, which will auto sequence sound and display where the sound is on your receiver.

Panasonic speakers have a "check speaker" function which will auto sequence sound and display where the sound is on your receiver.

There is a Smart Setup function/button on the receiver that will allow the customer to adjust the speaker output level automatically in the Auto Speaker Setup portion of the menu. During this setup process, a test signal is output from each speaker.

Not all programs are available in multichannel sound. For example, mono will come out of the center speaker, while stereo will come out of the left and right speakers.

Yes. All Panasonic receivers have headphone jacks.

Yes. It can also convert up to a higher resolution.

Yes, in full Divix, MP3, DVD-R and most varieties of home recorded CDs and DVDs.

In order to access these features, you must have a broadband connection and an SD card with 1 GB or more of free space (SD Speed Class Rating 2 or higher) needs to be inserted prior to inserting the BD-Live compatible disc.

The SD card slot on the Blu-ray Disc™ Player can be used in a number of ways. It allows for:
• Playback of movies and photos
• BD-Live functionality
• Storing remote content

Blu-ray Disc™ Players offer the highest quality 1080p signal, which is only available with digital HDMI cables.

Please visit the Panasonic web site to find the latest firmware updates for your model, which can be burned to a CD. There are instructions available to walk you through the download process and CD burning process. When visiting the Panasonic web site, type in your model number in the Search bar at the top of the page. Click on the link to your model's information. Next, click on the Drivers & Downloads button.

Blu-ray Disc™ Players hold ten times more content than standard DVDs, which affects its start up time.