Black Level
We performed a fresh black level calibration of our Klein Instruments K-10 meter – one of the few calibration devices which can measure black levels as dark as the best Plasma televisions can muster – and then measured a fully black screen from the TX-P42ST50. To our eyes, the black level was definitely something special, so we were happy to see the measurement come in at 0.009 cd/m2, which is an outstanding black level, especially for such an affordable HDTV. We haven’t seen blacks at this level since the high-end VT20 series in 2010. The recently reviewed TX-P65VT30, a top-of-the-line display costing many thousands of pounds, performed similarly well (measuring at 0.011 cd/m2), but we weren’t expecting blacks this deep on a mid-range television with a 3-figure price tag. It’s one of the best HDTVs we’ve ever tested in this regard, tied in second place and only beaten by the considerably more expensive and discontinued Pioneer PDP-LX5090. The Panasonic TX-P42ST50B features the best black level we’re ever seen from an HDTV costing less than £1800