Can anybody tell me if you need a topuptv cam for this tv,or does it have a slot for the card?

yes two of the scarts are RGB wired. and for the comment above about the 500 series it is out in june/july. And the 50 series will accept a HD Signal of 720P and 1080I through the component. Obv in scaled form but not as much as you would expect i have seen. And seeing how Sky when it launchs its Hd boxes Next year has component people who buy the 50 series will be ok. Since Sky is only launching 720P. Obv HDMI sends higher bandwidth but is not a must have for HD

see shop@Panasonic sales people no more than the currys/comet sales people.

Looks like Panasonic have made an error on their website & in their brochure, as this model definitely does have 3 scarts as i saw them with my own eyes. I was told that two of these scarts were RGB wired however cannot confirm this.

BTW Analogue pic quality looked OK,didn't have time to examine freeview channels.

Hmm! odd that 3 scarts, has anyone informed Panasonic about these extra scarts? List below is the specs from not only their website, but from one of their brochures as well.

SD Memory Card Slot
- No

PC MCIA Slot
- No

Composite Video Input
AV3: RCA phono type x 1 (front)

S-Video Input
AV3: Mini DIN 4-pin

Audio Input (for video)
AV3: RCA phono type connectors (L, R) (1 set, front)

Component Video Input
RCA phono type x 3 [Y , PB (CB), PR (CR)] (rear)

Audio Input (for component video)
RCA phono type connectors (L, R) (1 set, front)

21-pin Input/Output
AV1: AV In/Out, RGB In (rear)

Audio Output
RCA phono type connectors (L, R) (1 set, rear), Headphone jack (1, front)

Just to dispel a few rumours the New Panasonic 50 Series, has three scarts, two of which are apparently RGB wired. Component + Audio Phono Left & Right. Saw these sockets on a 32" model in a local Panasonic Shop at ?1799 apparently Panasonic have already knocked ?200 off the the original ?1,999 RRP.

I'm waiting for the 32" 500 Series version, with HDMI was told that the RRP will be ?2,199

I have the 26 version of this, you need the top up cam which fits in the Common Interface Module slot in the back. Built in freeview is nice.

I,ts for my wife,she likes the look of it and less wires as it has Freeview built in.Looked at it and it has a very good picture,and looks good,so it will do her.Also going for a very good price of ?1500 delivered from the BT shop.Tried to get one of the 50 series,but nobody seems to have them in stock.Already got the 46in Tosh dlp for myself which has hdmi.

Why bother, old outgoing model, and by all accounts not Panasonic at their best. New models launched just last week, the 50 series, although connectivity woeful. If you want HDMI for Hi Def then you need to wait until July with the 500 series, if not then have a look at the 50 series first, by all accounts a much better offering, using the very latest technology.

Sorry folks, but a wee clarification is required here. Yes, Sky will provide HD broadcasts over component, but this will be a pretty limited service and will possible be for only a limited time. There is also no gaurantee that the component output from the Sony STB will actually be HiDef. (probably will be tho)

For the majority of broadcasts you WILL NEED an HDCP capable DVI or HDMI socket. No doubt about it.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds19787.html

Also the Sky broadcasts will be both 720p and 1080i at 50Hz.

So, all current Sonys (and Panasonics) will be of little use with Skys HD service.

Jimmy

Since Sky has just confirmed that the Hd Box will have a component analogue output for people with only Hd Compatible screens ( Not HD Ready)they will work. Obv Sky is trying to push people towards HDMI because it is a better way but it is possible thorugh analogue.

and the current range of panasonic models do the LXD1 is current the LXD50 does 720P 50Hrz through component which Sky are going to launch with and 1080I. And the other panasonic model LXD500 has both analogue and a HDMI input with HDCP support so sorry jimmy but the current range of panasonic support it.

llg,

Read my post again. The point I was making is that no current Sony or Panasonic will be much good with the new Sky service as they do not offer HDCP DVI or HDMI connections. The new 50 series Panasonic does not have this and I do not rate the component input as a viable alternative to HDCP connections due to its limitations.

The 500 series will have an HDMI connection, but will not be available until July so cannot be classified as a current model.

Jimmy

I have now pulled the specs for the 50 series from among others Electrical Discount UK regarding the three scarts - again it only lists the one, see below. My local Shop@Panasonic have also replied to my email tonight and they state the 50 only has one scart unlike the outgoing model which does have 3 ....? Anyone got these models mixed up?

Features: LXD 50 32"

? 81cmV HD LCD Widescreen

? Remote Control

? XGA Panel (1366x768 Pixels)

? VIERA Colour Management System

? Built-in FREEVIEW DVB Tuner

? NICAM Stereo

? 2000-page Level 2.5 Teletext

? 16:9 Screen Aspect

? Picture-and-Text Multi-Window

? 800:1 Contrast Ratio

? 2 x 10 Watts Audio OUT

? 1 x SCART Connection

? 7 x Aspect Modes

? S-Video IN

? Inc's Stand Illustrated

? W:795 x H:635 x D:300 mm

? Weight: 21kg

Only 1 scart socket, this is very unlikely. The only Panasonic TVs that have only 1 scart socket are the most basic models that cost a few 100 quid.

Just taken delivery of TX-26LXD50 yesterday from John Lewis paided a little more but get 5 yrs warranty . I can confirm that it has 3 SCART sockets 2 are full RGB & 1 is video/S-video (AV2 & AV4 support Q-Link). It supports 720p and 1080i through its component view sockets. I enclose a screen shot of the connections from the PDF user manual that Panasonic mailed me. The older models as does this accepts a topuptv card (found in the area of the SCART ports).

Picture looks good close up and great 5ft away, will mostly use DVB for terrestrial TV. Also have a Philips DVDR80, Philips DVD player D520, Sky Digital (via DVDR) & PS2 hooked up so use all SCART sockets. Have the DVDR connect via Component view ? picture is very impressive.

The LXD50 looses the PIP features as well as the SD and PCMCIA socket at the front but has better contract ratio 800:1 (former 500:1) as well as true Wide Screen (WXGA - 1366x768 Pixels). Happy to answer questions from other Panny LCD users or potential ones.

A lot of current LCDs can display HD but are not "HD Ready" which is the important distinction. When Sky start broadcasting HD initially there will indeed be a number of broadcasts that won't have HDCP encryption and therefore can be viewed by component but as Jimmy said these will be probably be just tasters and for a limited time. Most of the major shows, movies and sports broadcasts will most likely be HDCP encrypted so without the appropriate HDMI/DVI connections existing owners of non "HD Ready" screens will have problems.

IMO as the new SKY HD box is also a PVR it will likely replace the existing 160Gb Sky+ model and thus allow non-HD customers to still use it via component and scart.