Entered CNET Catalog: 03/12/2005
SKU: DMR-ES30VS
Manufacturer: Panasonic
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Manufacturer description
You sit down to watch this week's episode of your favorite show and realize that you never got around to watching your recording of last week's episode. Not a problem with Time Slip, featuring simultaneous record and play. Select this week's episode in the program guide, start recording, and as it records you can watch your recording of last week's episode. What if you set up your DVD recorder to record a movie from 8: 00 to 10: 00 while you're out, but dinner was faster than you expected and you get home early? With Panasonic's Chasing Playback feature, you don't have to wait for the program to finish recording in order to watch it. You can begin watching the portion of the program that has already been saved while the DVD recorder continues recording the remainder of the program. If you own a VCR, it's almost certain that at some point someone has accidentally recorded over a movie or show that you wanted to keep. One-Touch Record will save your favorite programs from the same fate by automatically scanning the disc for blank space before starting the recording process. No more worries that your favorite sitcom's season finale will be overwritten by a family member's Sunday fishing show. You and your family are sure to enjoy the convenience of your DVD recorder so much that you'll have a large library of recordings in no time. Keeping track of all those programs would be difficult if it weren't for Panasonic's enhanced Direct Navigator, which displays thumbnails of every program on the disc as you browse, making it easy to identify the contents of each recording. It can be heartbreaking when you play an old VHS home video and find that years of playback have degraded the image and sound quality. Preserve your precious VHS tapes by transferring them to DVD, which will provide durability and many years of enjoyment. With One-Touch 2-Way Transfer, you can dub a VHS tape to DVD by pushing a single button. The goal of any playback device should be accurate reproduction of the original content. In the case of DVDs, most of that content is film-based. Utilizing advanced progressive scan playback techniques and very accurate MPEG video decoders, this DVD recorder provides an image that faithfully represents the image you see at your favorite movie theater.Product summary
The good: Easy to use; stellar recording quality with VHS-to-DVD transfers, especially in LP mode; Flexible Recording custom recording speed; includes rear-panel S-Video input; chasing playback with DVD-RAM discs.
The bad: Cannot place chapter stops on DVD+R/-R/-RW discs; poor editing options; VHS outputs through only composite or RF jacks; no FireWire input.
The bottom line: While its inability to place chapter stops on DVDs is a bummer, this capable dubber shines in most other areas.
Average user rating: from 16 users
3.5 stars
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/15/2005
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
The silver Panasonic DMR-ES30V looks reasonably slick for a VHS/DVD-combo recorder, with a threaded, circular dubbing control on the right side, and play/record/channel-select buttons for the VHS and DVD decks flanking the LED display. Flip open the small gray panel on the left side of the deck and you'll find a set of A/V inputs for a camcorder, including S-Video (but no FireWire, unfortunately), as well as fast-forward/reverse controls for the VCR.The DMR-ES30V's remote may not be pretty, but it gets the job done with a minimum of confusion. The large five-way navigational keypad is surrounded by Menu and Setting controls, with the play/pause/stop and chapter-skip/fast-forward/reverse controls sitting just above. We like the one-touch VHS/DVD dubbing buttons, which we typically don't see on a remote, as well as the prominent VHS and DVD buttons that govern which deck you're controlling at any given time. All that's missing are buttons to cycle through the DVD player's repeat and angle modes.
The recorder's menus are relatively straightforward, with plenty of onscreen help and handy diagrams that show you the available controls on the remote. After a little trial and error, we were surfing through the various DVD menus and functions with ease. We were disappointed by the VHS deck's primitive menu, which has the big, blocky letters and blue background of a VCR from 15 years ago. The Panasonic DMR-ES30V handles VHS-to-DVD (and vice versa) dubbing with ease--just press the one of the dubbing buttons on the remote or on the face of the deck and you're in business. (The device won't let you record copy-protected VHS and DVD media, naturally.) The recorder's Setup menu lets you determine the recording speed for the DVD or VHS deck, and you can also set a timer that stops the recording after a set period. We had no trouble dubbing our shows in either direction, but we wish the deck would prompt us for the recording speed just before dubbing begins, rather than making us dig through the Settings menu. We'd also like the deck to create disc menus and thumbnailed chapters automatically, à la the YesDVD feature on GoVideo's VR2940 VHS/DVD-combo recorder.
As with all the other VHS/DVD decks we've tested, the DMR-ES30V doesn't have an onscreen programming guide for setting up recordings. While you can program recordings manually or using VCR Plus, the deck lacks an IR blaster for changing the channel on a cable or satellite box, so you'll have to make sure the channel is set properly beforehand.
The DMR-ES30V records to all DVD formats with the exception of DVD+RW. When you record with a DVD-RAM disc, you get a handful of hard drive-type features, such as chasing playback--that is, watching a program that's still being recorded--and the ability to watch one title while another is recording. You can also edit, split, and combine chapters, as well as create playlists that reference your recordings without altering the original titles--but only with DVD-RAM discs, not DVD+R, DVD-R or even VR-mode DVD-RW, which usually supports a variety of editing features. As it stands, all you can do with non-RAM discs is change the title name or thumbnail. Even worse, you can't add chapter stops in any of the DVD+R/-R/-RW formats, although you can with DVD-RAM discs, and even then, the deck won't add them automatically--a crucial oversight that makes for tedious, tapelike navigation when you're ready to watch your DVD recordings.
In its favor, the DMR-ES30V starts quickly when you press the power button. We tried it with a DVD-RAM disc, and indeed, we were recording in about a second, although DVD-R/+R/-RW discs take a several more seconds to get started. We also liked the Commercial Skip button on the remote, which advances your DVD playback 60 seconds ahead (although we'd prefer 30 seconds), as well as the deck's Flexible Recording mode. This useful feature lets you fit a precise amount of video onto a DVD--anywhere from an hour to eight hours--and maintain optimum video quality. It's great for recording those movies that last just over two hours without having to resort to the four-hour recording mode.
The DMR-ES30V's connections are hit and miss. In back, you get composite, S-Video, and progressive-scan-capable component-video outputs; an A/V input with S-Video; and an optical digital-audio output, along with the standard RF and composite ports, while behind the front panel sits an S-Video-equipped set of A/V inputs. While we like the rear S-Video input (which is often missing in VHS/DVD combo decks), we were disappointed by the lack of a front FireWire input for digital camcorders. Likewise, the omission of a coaxial digital output is puzzling. We also wish the deck could upconvert VHS video for the component-video output; instead, the VCR plays through only the relatively low-quality composite-video output. There's been a steady drumbeat from Panasonic about the improved recording quality of its DIGA decks, thanks in part to new, 12-bit analog-to-digital converters, and the folks there aren't lying. In our tests, the Panasonic DMR-ES30V went above and beyond the performance of other recorders in its class, including the former champ, Sony's RDR-VX500. We were especially impressed by the quality of its four-hour LP mode.
Our VHS-to-DVD dub using a dusty, 12-year-old tape looked superb--in fact, it's the best we've seen so far from a VHS/DVD combo recorder. The image was solid and almost totally free of the muddy, distracting video noise we usually see in our tape-to-DVD dubs. While other decks sacrificed color or cranked up the brightness to cover up VHS imperfections, the DMR-ES30V delivered rich colors with nice contrast. Our only complaint is that the deck had a little trouble with the tracking on our VHS tape, resulting in some slight distortion at the very bottom of the picture (and covered by the frame of most TVs) and light, almost imperceptible static over the soundtrack.
The DMR-ES30V scored exceptional marks in our resolution tests. The DMR-ES30V delivered more than 450 lines of horizontal resolution--the video output of a typical DVD player--in its high-quality one- and two-hour recording modes; no surprise there. However, the deck hit almost the same score in its four-hour LP mode, quite a feat considering that the other recorders we've tested struggled to reach 325 lines in LP mode. In the six- to eight-hour EP mode (depending on the setting), the deck's recording quality fell sharply to about 250 lines; again, not unusual. In our test recordings of Star Trek: Insurrection, the peasants fleeing from the deadly flying probes looked nearly perfect in XP and SP recordings modes. In the four-hour LP mode, the picture still looked detailed but grew murky during fast motion, such as when the peasants ran quickly across the frame, and we saw a little blockiness in static backgrounds. Our EP recordings looked quite soft, with distracting MPEG artifacts and blockiness.
The deck had no trouble with our 2:3 pull-down test, smoothly rendering the difficult haystacks and jaggy-prone bridges in Star Trek. It also had little trouble playing the dozens of DVDs and CDs in our test suite, stumbling only with DVD MP3s and also with CDs and DVDs with DivX-encoded movies.
User opinions
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2.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
my opinion on this product
Pros: recording ability from VHS to DVD or visa versa is nice
Cons: can't copy VHS tapes are recognized at copyright protected
Review: overall this is a good product for getting rid of some of the old VHS tapes and putting them on DVD. However, after about a year, it had problems recording to DVD and just doesn't seem to work anymore. Still plays DVD, plays and records to VHS, but I thought it would last longer than it did on the DVD recording function.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
High Quality Consumer Product
Pros: Easy and excellent quality VHS/DVD Dubbing and playback
Cons: Remote is a bit difficult to opperate, Poor editing features, no chapter stops
Review: As an electronics dealer and enthusiast, it is my privilege to run across alot of these types of devices. This particular deck has been sitting on my shelf along side a $2000 (yes, with 3 zeros)JVC VHS/DVD Recorder for quite some time now. Believe it or not, this particular model fairs quite well in quality against it's considerably more expensive cousin. It has a very easy to access menu and great, high quality, one touch dubbing procedures. For the price tag it well beyond out performs itself. Unfortunately however, the editing options for recorded dvd's are a little slim. It can also only output the VCR through one composite video jack or the RF jack. Those would be my only complaints. For most users I would highly recommend this product and as with most Panasonic products, I'm quite impressed.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Excellent product - just don't let it overheat
Pros: Most everything
Cons: Lack of more vents
Review: I have had the product for exactly one year now, and I have been mostly pleased. Like others, I have noticed it has been going into SELF CHECK mode and having more errors. I finally figured out that it is related to heat, at least in my case. I had some papers and other stuff piled on top of the unit, and also it was sitting on top of a large tv. I made an effort to give it more 'breathing room', and it seems to work better now. In fact it will record onto the same disks that were previously causing errors. I'm sure it heats up quicker when both the VCR and DVD Burner are running at the same time, so also keep that in mind. I've even thought about mounting a little fan outside one of the vents, but so far it seems fine without that. I'd recommend it, just don't get lax about remembering to allow air to circulate around it, and don't keep it in a very warm room. I use it to record off the air onto DVD as well as dub old VHS tapes, and it works well for both purposes. As others have mentioned, it seems to improve the quality of the old tapes by stabilizing the image and removing some of the noise. I like it. I'd give it 9 stars if some of the controls were more intuitive, but it's not terribly awkward. I've had good luck using cheap JVC DVD-R+ disks. I have had no trouble with the VCR, and I like the high speed rewind and FF features.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Another Good Panasonic Product
Pros: VCR/DVR, Dolby Digital and dts capable, Digital audio out, Composite video out, S-video in and out
Cons: Manual could be better
Review: There are many good reviews here I can't add much. I'll simply say I'm happy. But I can post the pertinent limitations and two of it's best features, flexible recording and the TP channel for watching VCR tapes in progressive scan.
Note.
You cannot record programs that allow “One time only recording” to CPRM compatible DVD-R and DVD-RW on this unit. You can record other programs as DVD-Video format.
COMPONENT VIDEO OUT terminal.
These terminals can be used for either interlace or progressive output and provide a purer picture than the S-VIDEO OUT terminal. The manual does not say the other video connections can be used for either interlace or progressive.
DVD-Video format.
This recording method is the same as commercially available DVD-Video. Digital broadcasts that allow “One time only recording” cannot be recorded. These can be played on a DVD player. However programs recorded on this unit must be finalized to be played on other DVD players. Use a DVD-R or DVD-RW to record in DVD-Video format.
DVD Video Recording format.
This is a recording method which allows you to record and edit TV broadcasts and so on. Digital broadcasts that allow “One time only recording” can be recorded to a CPRM compatible disc. You can record to CPRM compatible DVD-RAM on this unit. Play is only possible on a compatible DVD player. Use a DVD-RAM to record in DVD Video Recording format.
Pictures.
You can play still pictures (JPEG/TIFF), CD-DA, Video CD and MP3 format data recorded on CD-R/RW. Close the session or finalize the disc after recording.
Note about using a DualDisc.
The digital audio content side of a DualDisc does not meet the technical specifications of the Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) format so play may not be possible.
Regarding DVD-Audio.
Some multi-channel DVD-Audio will prevent down-mixing of all or part of their contents if this is the manufacturer’s intention. Tracks that are prevented from being down-mixed will not play properly on this unit (e.g. audio is played from the front two channels only). Refer to the disc’s jacket for more information.
Down-mixing.
This is the process of remixing the multi-channel audio found on some discs into two channels. It is useful when you want to listen to the 5.1-channel audio recorded on DVDs through your TV’s speakers. Some discs prohibit down-mixing. If this is the case, this unit can only output the front two channels.
Region number supported by this unit.
Region numbers are allocated to DVD players and DVD-Video The unit will play DVDs marked with labels containing “1” or All.
Disks that CANNOT be played.
2.6/5.2 GB DVD-RAM, 12 cm (5z)
3.95/4.7 GB DVD-R for Authoring
DVD-R recorded in DVD Video Recording format
DVD-R (DVD-Video format), DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R recorded on another unit and not finalized (l 64, Finalize)
PAL discs (you can still play the audio on DVD-Audio)
DVD-Video with a region number other than “1” or “ALL”
Blu-ray
DVD-ROM, DVD-R DL, +R DL, +R 8cm (3z), CD-ROM, CDV, CDG, Photo CD, CVD, SVCD, SACD, MV-Disc, PD, DivX Video Disc, etc.
Restrictions with DVD-R, etc.*
16:9 aspect programs are recorded in 4:3 aspect.
Either Main or SAP can be recorded for MTS broadcasts.
Playing the disc on other DVD players is not possible before finalizing.
* DVD-R, DVD-RW and +R are collectively referred to as “DVD-R, etc.” on this page.
TP: Dubbing input channel
The DVD output terminals can only output the DVD signal. If your TV is connected to the DVD output terminals, the VHS picture is not displayed on your TV unless you select the TP channel. When the TP channel is selected, it becomes possible for DVD to receive audio and video signals from VHS. This enables dubbing from VHS to DVD. When you play back a tape after turning the channel to “TP”, the picture on VHS is displayed on the TV screen. Utilizing this feature, you can enjoy the picture on the tape in progressive output. Compared to the TP channel, the DC channel enables VHS to receive audio and video signals from DVD. When the DC channel is selected on VHS, you cannot select the TP channel on DVD.
Flexible Recording.
The unit calculates a recording rate that enables the recording to fit in the time you set (within the remaining time on the disc) with the best picture quality.
Note.
You cannot record programs that allow “One time only recording” to CPRM compatible DVD-R and DVD-RW on this unit. You can record other programs as DVD-Video format.
COMPONENT VIDEO OUT terminal.
These terminals can be used for either interlace or progressive output and provide a purer picture than the S-VIDEO OUT terminal. The manual does not say the other video connections can be used for either interlace or progressive.
DVD-Video format.
This recording method is the same as commercially available DVD-Video. Digital broadcasts that allow “One time only recording” cannot be recorded. These can be played on a DVD player. However programs recorded on this unit must be finalized to be played on other DVD players. Use a DVD-R or DVD-RW to record in DVD-Video format.
DVD Video Recording format.
This is a recording method which allows you to record and edit TV broadcasts and so on. Digital broadcasts that allow “One time only recording” can be recorded to a CPRM compatible disc. You can record to CPRM compatible DVD-RAM on this unit. Play is only possible on a compatible DVD player. Use a DVD-RAM to record in DVD Video Recording format.
Pictures.
You can play still pictures (JPEG/TIFF), CD-DA, Video CD and MP3 format data recorded on CD-R/RW. Close the session or finalize the disc after recording.
Note about using a DualDisc.
The digital audio content side of a DualDisc does not meet the technical specifications of the Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) format so play may not be possible.
Regarding DVD-Audio.
Some multi-channel DVD-Audio will prevent down-mixing of all or part of their contents if this is the manufacturer’s intention. Tracks that are prevented from being down-mixed will not play properly on this unit (e.g. audio is played from the front two channels only). Refer to the disc’s jacket for more information.
Down-mixing.
This is the process of remixing the multi-channel audio found on some discs into two channels. It is useful when you want to listen to the 5.1-channel audio recorded on DVDs through your TV’s speakers. Some discs prohibit down-mixing. If this is the case, this unit can only output the front two channels.
Region number supported by this unit.
Region numbers are allocated to DVD players and DVD-Video The unit will play DVDs marked with labels containing “1” or All.
Disks that CANNOT be played.
2.6/5.2 GB DVD-RAM, 12 cm (5z)
3.95/4.7 GB DVD-R for Authoring
DVD-R recorded in DVD Video Recording format
DVD-R (DVD-Video format), DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R recorded on another unit and not finalized (l 64, Finalize)
PAL discs (you can still play the audio on DVD-Audio)
DVD-Video with a region number other than “1” or “ALL”
Blu-ray
DVD-ROM, DVD-R DL, +R DL, +R 8cm (3z), CD-ROM, CDV, CDG, Photo CD, CVD, SVCD, SACD, MV-Disc, PD, DivX Video Disc, etc.
Restrictions with DVD-R, etc.*
16:9 aspect programs are recorded in 4:3 aspect.
Either Main or SAP can be recorded for MTS broadcasts.
Playing the disc on other DVD players is not possible before finalizing.
* DVD-R, DVD-RW and +R are collectively referred to as “DVD-R, etc.” on this page.
TP: Dubbing input channel
The DVD output terminals can only output the DVD signal. If your TV is connected to the DVD output terminals, the VHS picture is not displayed on your TV unless you select the TP channel. When the TP channel is selected, it becomes possible for DVD to receive audio and video signals from VHS. This enables dubbing from VHS to DVD. When you play back a tape after turning the channel to “TP”, the picture on VHS is displayed on the TV screen. Utilizing this feature, you can enjoy the picture on the tape in progressive output. Compared to the TP channel, the DC channel enables VHS to receive audio and video signals from DVD. When the DC channel is selected on VHS, you cannot select the TP channel on DVD.
Flexible Recording.
The unit calculates a recording rate that enables the recording to fit in the time you set (within the remaining time on the disc) with the best picture quality.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Wierd performance
Pros: Many features
Cons: Erratic VHS operation, complex manual, poor customer help
Review: I have owned a LOT of Panasonic products. This model -- not only complex, it sporadically fails to record VHS programs. It is set to tape two shows every Friday evening. It missed again. Calls to tech support in the past provided no help.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Very good machine but need a few improvements
Pros: good quality
Cons: can't dub all types of VHS
Review: I was surprised that I could not dub my personal Disney VHS to DVD. I got "Protected Materials" message. This is the only problem I have had so far with this combo and considering that I have found a very nice solution for above problem I can tell that like this combo very much.
BTW the solution I'm talking about can be found here:
http://www.xdimax.com/dvdred_faq/faq_vcrdvdcombo.html#dmr_es30v
BTW the solution I'm talking about can be found here:
http://www.xdimax.com/dvdred_faq/faq_vcrdvdcombo.html#dmr_es30v
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Very Disappointed
Pros: Worked great for 4 months
Cons: Major problems with finalizing/recognizing discs after using it only 4 months
Review: I bought this product on 8/23/05 and it worked GREAT till last week, when suddenly it seems to be having problems with the very same DVD-R's I've been using all along. Wont finalize/won't recognize SONY/TDK/MAXELL discs. Firmware upgrade suggested by Panasonic Cus Svc didn't work/I'm afraid to insert partially filled DVD-Rs to finalize or or play as it ruins them.
Big Disappointment.
Big Disappointment.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Easy to use & great quality!
Pros: Use right out of the box, easy to use, quality is excellent, one touch dubbing!! timer record on either VHS or DVD, easily delete segments on DVD.
Cons: no chapter recording, very limited editing, does not appear to have battery backup for clock.
Review: I shopped around for a long time before buying this machine and it was worth it! I can't say enough good things about this machine!! There is a small learning segment when you first set it up but it is very user friendly and the User Manual is well written with easy to understand instructions. I am very pleased with the performance of this machine and have yet to see anything else that comes even close for this kind of money (I paid about $300 for mine). I have had requests to dub family home VHS videos to DVD. I also recorded some favorite tv cartoon shows for my granddaughter. Yup ... I am a grandma with no formal technical training. If I can do this, anybody can! I now buy my -R DVD disks in bulk! I highly recommend this product.
Updated
This machine also plays MP3 files burned to a disk and it will play digital photo disks! It won't exercise for you if you pop in an exercise video but it does just about anything else you could ask a DVD/VHS combo to do!! I may even start a business dubbing other peoples VHS tapes to DVD using this machine. It's that good!!
This machine also plays MP3 files burned to a disk and it will play digital photo disks! It won't exercise for you if you pop in an exercise video but it does just about anything else you could ask a DVD/VHS combo to do!! I may even start a business dubbing other peoples VHS tapes to DVD using this machine. It's that good!!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Works well but not creating chapters is unacceptable
Pros: VHS to DVD copy quality very good , DVD+R disk played in my Onkyo 601
Cons: Manual is poorly organized, not in PDF either. Can't have a DVD+R create multiple chapters, unless you do it manually :(
Review: Overall I like this DVD recorder. I bought this to copy a bunch of VHS tapes I have of the kids and such. There are two issues with this recorder. The manual is not well organzied. For example, you have to go to page 56 to read how to copy a vhs tape to dvd. However, before you are done, you have to read page 31 to learn how to finalize the dvd. It also doesn't help that the manual is not available in pdf. Secondly, the unit has the capability to make chapters if you use DVD-RAM only. Not with DVD-R or DVD+R. The only way to make chapters is to manually stop a vhs tape at a point where you want the chapter to end. Then you restart the tape and begin recording again. There should be an option to have chapters of 10 or 15 minutes each. I have submitted this to Panasonic, but they said there is no firmware to do this. Perhaps if more of us make this request to Panasonic they will write the firmware! So plan on using a PC video editing program after the DVD is finalized.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Nice Machine
Pros: fairly easy to use good pic quality
Cons: user manuel is confusing
Review: As I said the user manuel is garbage far to complicated and poor at explaining procedures. Once you figure it out on your own or toll free number it's a snap. All in all Iam glad I bought this unit
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
Pros: GREAT FEATURES AND EASY TO USE
Cons: AFTER 2 MONTHS OF USE-I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS
Review: THIS RECORDER IS A VERY NICE MACHINE. THE COSMETIC AND INTUITIVE CONTROLS ARE VERY WELL LAID OUT FOR EASY USE. THE RECORDED IMAGES ARE EXCELLENT. AND ESPECIALLY I LIKE THE FULL MOTION THUMBNAILS FOR FINDING YOUR RECORDED MOVIES ON A DISK.IT PLAYS MY MUSIC CD'S JUST FINE. THE KIND OF INPUTS AND OUTPUTS IT HAS ARE VERY ADEQUATE AND I PARTICULARY LIKE THE DIGITAL OPTICS AUDIO OUTPUT THAT I USE FOR MY YAMAHA RECEIVER/AMP. HOME THEATRE SYSTEM.I ALSO LIKE THE REMOTE WITH THE WHITE BUTTONS AND BLACK LETTERING AND IS LAID OUT VERY WELL. THE MENUS ARE EASY TO NAVIGATE AND VERY INTUITIVE. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION I WOULD NOT TRADE MY PANASONIC RECORDER FOR ANY OTHER MACHINE BE IT CHEAPER OR MORE EXPENSIVE. IT DOES EVERYTHING I WANT IT TO AND DOES IT VERY WELL.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Complicated and underperforming. wait for next gen product.
Pros: Few. The cool features like 1 button dubbin don't actually work.
Cons: Many. Instructions were terrible. Some features didn't work as promised.
Review: I have many electronics toys (so I don't think its me) but Iwas so frustrated by this Panasonic unit that I returned it. It took hours to disentangle the gibberish manual. It did NOT support all the formats as stated. Some of my DVD's would NOT play in other players. The quality degraded rather than be enhanced. A fuzzy line was added to the bottom. The recorded soundtrack was markedly inferior. The "one-button dubbing" feature (the reason I bought it was to quickly transfer a large home VHS library) could not be trusted as some of the recordings cut off mid-way.
All in all a waste of time and money. Weighed down with far too many features and connections -- designed by comittees of engineers without any input from users at all.
All in all a waste of time and money. Weighed down with far too many features and connections -- designed by comittees of engineers without any input from users at all.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Best I've seen for converting tapes to DVD
Pros: Terrific video quality
Cons: No firewire input
Review: I am using this deck primarily to convert old VHS tapes and Hi-8 video tapes to DVD. I don't want to edit the tapes on the deck, but rather I want to get them onto a DVD in the best possible quality, then I read them into the computer, edit them on the computer,create the menus, title pages, etc. and re-burn a new DVD. I've been unable to create DVDs of the quality I can get from this Panasonic unit going direct into my Windows box (Matrox RT-10 card). The fact that the Panasonic will upconvert makes the video look much better than the original VHS tapes. Finding the tools to read in a DVD and allow you to edit them seemed much more difficult than operating the Panasonic.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Nice but needs more instructions
Pros: Very powerful
Cons: Poor manual
Review: Chapters are very hard to use.
They seem to build within each other.
Cant erase Chapter titles without erasing the whole DVD.
Does a very good job of copying HI 8 camcorder to DVD RAM
Havent yet figured put how to move data from DVD to VHS
They seem to build within each other.
Cant erase Chapter titles without erasing the whole DVD.
Does a very good job of copying HI 8 camcorder to DVD RAM
Havent yet figured put how to move data from DVD to VHS
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
A good feature-filled product.
Pros: Great features. Great picture quality.
Cons: Somewhat complicated manual. You've got to delve into it for details.
Review: I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality and features of this product. After my VCR died I decided it was time to get tapes transferred over to DVD. The transfer procedure can be incredibly simple in this DVD recorder, although adding the titles and finalizing the disk require a bit of extra work.
Contrary to the CNET review, I found that DVD recordings can have both individual titles which you can create (including picking a frame from the active movie to be used as a thumbnail on the built-in menu system created)and automatically created chapters which you can also manipulate and move. The procedure, however, isn't as straightforward as one might want, requiring two different approaches to menus to do titles and chapters and then finalizing the disk.
Another feature that must be discovered that seemed to be missed in the original review was the output of all video output through the DVD-only S-Video output channel. In fact, through a setting on the DVD channel designed to review VHS input through something they call the "TP Channel", all input from any source can be routed to the DVD for recording as well as output through the S-Video DVD channel. DVD output can also be through component video and audio can be output through a digital (optical) audio channel.
One last feature that really helps is the number of recording speeds being topped off by a feature Panasonic refers to as "Flexible Recording". When you wonder if you have enough space left on your disk, enter the hours and minutes required under flexible recording and the machine will change the compression rate to make the recording fit the available space.
If I were to have a complaint it would be the size and complexity of the manual. Since the product has so many features it's not as simple as plugging it in and instantly recording. It requires some study to really understand the product.
Picture quality of both ordinary input video and recorded (DVD) video are beautiful and it also has progressive output for TV's that support it and can produce MP3/JPG (or other) slide shows. Overall, a very impressive machine for the money!
Contrary to the CNET review, I found that DVD recordings can have both individual titles which you can create (including picking a frame from the active movie to be used as a thumbnail on the built-in menu system created)and automatically created chapters which you can also manipulate and move. The procedure, however, isn't as straightforward as one might want, requiring two different approaches to menus to do titles and chapters and then finalizing the disk.
Another feature that must be discovered that seemed to be missed in the original review was the output of all video output through the DVD-only S-Video output channel. In fact, through a setting on the DVD channel designed to review VHS input through something they call the "TP Channel", all input from any source can be routed to the DVD for recording as well as output through the S-Video DVD channel. DVD output can also be through component video and audio can be output through a digital (optical) audio channel.
One last feature that really helps is the number of recording speeds being topped off by a feature Panasonic refers to as "Flexible Recording". When you wonder if you have enough space left on your disk, enter the hours and minutes required under flexible recording and the machine will change the compression rate to make the recording fit the available space.
If I were to have a complaint it would be the size and complexity of the manual. Since the product has so many features it's not as simple as plugging it in and instantly recording. It requires some study to really understand the product.
Picture quality of both ordinary input video and recorded (DVD) video are beautiful and it also has progressive output for TV's that support it and can produce MP3/JPG (or other) slide shows. Overall, a very impressive machine for the money!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 16 user reviews
Does what it's supposed to do and does it well.
Pros: Video quality, fast start up, one touch vhs to dvd dubbing
Cons: Limited tv control functions on remote - no "go back" button to switch between 2 stations.
Review: I bought this item after my RCA vhs/dvd player bit the dust only after 2 yrs. This is my first experience with a Panasonic model and I was pleasantly surprised with the dvd playback quality - even in LP mode the picture is amazingly clear after recording. The one touch vhs to dvd dubbing button is a definite plus as well. The only negative I found was on the universal remote. Also, I do wish you were able to use scheduled recording on both dvd and vhs at the same time as there are occasions where there are two different tv shows/movies (on at the same time) and I am not home to watch them. When you are using just the TV you only can switch channels by hitting the + or - buttons and there is no 'go back' button to switch back and forth between two channels. So I have ended up using my other remote for tv viewing. However, these 'cons' are not enough of a drawback because this recorder does what it's supposed to do (records dvds and vhs) and does it well. It is worth the money.
