Samsung's F8500 PDP owners thread with reviews

[Robert Zohn]

Good ^^ idea. What size are you considering?

-Robert

[marmup]

Originally Posted by robert zohn

good ^^ idea. What size are you considering?

-robert

64'

[Johnny Blu]

How does the picture quality of this set compare to a 4K TV? I want to pick this set up, but I'm afraid that I will be kicking myself for not holding out for a 4K set once their prices drop.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blu

How does the picture quality of this set compare to a 4K TV? I want to pick this set up, but I'm afraid that I will be kicking myself for not holding out for a 4K set once their prices drop.

4K LCD will never get to this. 4K OLED will, it isn't there yet.

At the price this TV is now?

3-4 years.

If OLED stumbles forth(it still is in its infancy. Remember what plasma was like prior to 2007?)...it may take longer.

Hem and haw your way too long and your decision will be made for you...as there won't be any.

[revgen]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blu

How does the picture quality of this set compare to a 4K TV? I want to pick this set up, but I'm afraid that I will be kicking myself for not holding out for a 4K set once their prices drop.

Despite being 1080p, my 64 inch F8500 is very sharp and detailed.

The 4K LED/LCD TV's didn't look that impressive to me from 10 feet compared to the F8500, which is about how far I sit when watching at home.

[Auditor55]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blu

How does the picture quality of this set compare to a 4K TV? I want to pick this set up, but I'm afraid that I will be kicking myself for not holding out for a 4K set once their prices drop.

Why would you hold out for 4K? Why not get a great TV now? It doesn't make sense to wait for 4K unless you plan on getting a large screen, 80 inches or so and sit about 10 feet, otherwise 4K is useless. Also, little to no content and that's the way its going to be for the foreseeable future.

"For 4K UHD TVs the question is will you actually be able to see a visual improvement in image sharpness and detail over a 1920x1080 HDTV? For 20/20 Vision if you have a 40 inch TV you’ll need to be watching from closer than 5.2 feet to see an improvement, a 50 inch TV closer than 6.5 feet, a 60 inch TV closer than 7.8 feet, a 70 inch TV closer than 9.1 feet, and an 80 inch TV closer than 10.4 feet" [Dr. Raymond M. Soneira
President, DisplayMate Technologies Corporation]

[Chisox]

Originally Posted by Johnny Blu

How does the picture quality of this set compare to a 4K TV? I want to pick this set up, but I'm afraid that I will be kicking myself for not holding out for a 4K set once their prices drop.

I personally prefer the Plasma over 4K. For the price, buying the 64" F8500 was a no-brainer.

Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

[Bruisermoore]

I'm seriously considering selling my 50" Panasonic ST60 I bought about a year and a half ago and get the 60" F8500. This was the TV I originally wanted but I had about $500 in Best Buy gift cards and reward zone certificates, so $500 for the Panny was a no-rainer and I couldn't really afford the F8500 at the time. I guess it will depend on how much I can sell my ST60 for, I love it, but the F8500 just blew me away when I saw it for the first time being demo'd at a Best Buy Magnolia plus I would like to have a larger display. If any one has any thoughts, I'd love to hear what you guys and gals think.

[RWetmore]

Originally Posted by Bruisermoore

I'm seriously considering selling my 50" Panasonic ST60 I bought about a year and a half ago and get the 60" F8500. This was the TV I originally wanted but I had about $500 in Best Buy gift cards and reward zone certificates, so $500 for the Panny was a no-rainer and I couldn't really afford the F8500 at the time. I guess it will depend on how much I can sell my ST60 for, I love it, but the F8500 just blew me away when I saw it for the first time being demo'd at a Best Buy Magnolia plus I would like to have a larger display. If any one has any thoughts, I'd love to hear what you guys and gals think.

The ST60 is a great set. Optimally, you'd want a 60" version of that model, but the F8500 is the last great 60" plasma you can buy. The blacks are a little better on the ST60 from what I understand, but the F8500 has much brighter whites. The 10" increase in size is significant enough to warrant going for it though, IMO.

[Bruisermoore]

Originally Posted by RWetmore

The ST60 is a great set. Optimally, you'd want a 60" version of that model, but the F8500 is the last great 60" plasma you can buy. The blacks are a little better on the ST60 from what I understand, but the F8500 has much brighter whites. The 10" increase in size is significant enough to warrant going for it though, IMO.

Thanks for the insight, that's pretty much what I was thinking as well. I did a lot of research before I settled on the ST60, and while I love it, I do wish it were a 60", but the price of the 50" was just perfect for me at the time. Right now, I sit maybe 9 feet away from the display, so it isn't a big deal, but my wife and I are looking at houses and I'm sure whatever we settle on will have a larger living room than the town home we're in now.

Like you said, the brightness of the F8500 was what threw me for a loop when I first saw it, and the black levels weren't the best, but they were way better than any LED I've seen, which is what attracted me and my friend over to it like moths to a flame. We both thought it was an LED at first because of the brightness, and I said, I thought it was the new Samsung plasma because of the black levels, and sure enough it was.

Well, anyways, thanks again for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it.

[Midnight Rambler]

Originally Posted by schan1269

4K LCD will never get to this. 4K OLED will, it isn't there yet.

At the price this TV is now?

3-4 years.

If OLED stumbles forth(it still is in its infancy. Remember what plasma was like prior to 2007?)...it may take longer.

Hem and haw your way too long and your decision will be made for you...as there won't be any.

At this point, I think we can safely assume that OLED is stumbling already with only one manufacturer (LG) making a serious effort at it. Samsung has said they aren't going there, at least not yet, and will focus on LCD.

[jjdpw50]

Thinking about pulling the trigger on a 51" 8500 before the end of the month. Only thing that concerns me is the input lag discussions I've read at AVS. I'm about 50/50 gaming and blu/dvd viewing. Don't really need a tv now but if one of my Pannys explode, don't want to miss out.

[Robert Zohn]

Originally Posted by jjdpw50

Thinking about pulling the trigger on a 51" 8500 before the end of the month. Only thing that concerns me is the input lag discussions I've read at AVS. I'm about 50/50 gaming and blu/dvd viewing. Don't really need a tv now but if one of my Pannys explode, don't want to miss out.

Good choice, and I'm sure you know my favorite authorized dealer.

Here's the Blu-ray.com tip of the day for gamers who want to speed up their F8500 display. If you put the F8500 in the PC mode it will bypass all of the internal video processing and greatly reduce the input lag to about 60ms to 64ms.

-Robert

[v_squared123]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Good choice, and I'm sure you know my favorite authorized dealer.

Here's the Blu-ray.com tip of the day for gamers who want to speed up their F8500 display. If you put the F8500 in the PC mode it will bypass all of the internal video processing and greatly reduce the input lag to about 60ms to 64ms.

-Robert

60 to 64 ms is awfully high for video games. I believe the Panasonic ST60 registered around those numbers and the input lag was very very noticeable.

anything below 45 ms is good enough for pretty much all games but 20 ms and below is ideal for those very competitive gamers.

[WillHunting]

Is it me or are the black levels best when there is some light in the room? I can't help, but think the blacks start to look a little grey in a pitch black room.

[Blu Balls]

I'm considering picking up the 60" F8500 but, I am wondering if there are any known issues with these sets from current or previous owners. Are they a pretty safe bet or should I have any concerns on pulling the trigger?
I was going to wait and see how next years crop of 4K sets look but, this is almost too good of a deal to pass up.

[Sixx]

Sooo interested in the 51f8500 at $1000.....just can't find it instock anywhere. Anybody have an idea where I might get one at that price?

[Blu Balls]

Can anybody tell me if the 2014 Samsung F8500 has the updated processor and features found in the evolution kit? Or is the evolution kit exclusively for the 2013 models, and the 2014 models have the last of the upgraded features?

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Sixx

Sooo interested in the 51f8500 at $1000.....just can't find it instock anywhere. Anybody have an idea where I might get one at that price?

I just checked Best Buy's website and they seem to still have it in stock. If your local store (if there is one near you) doesn't have it in stock offhand, you can either have it shipped to the store or just delivered directly to your home.

[Sixx]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I just checked Best Buy's website and they seem to still have it in stock. If your local store (if there is one near you) doesn't have it in stock offhand, you can either have it shipped to the store or just delivered directly to your home.

That's the problem. It's says it's instock on BB but when you go through the checkout process, it tells you it's not available for delivery or ship to store.