DVD Recorders

[mysteriesofedgarwallace]

Back to the plot............

Its worth remembering that new is not automatically best.

Panny have a new machine out now, the DMRES10, but I have heard it has some glitches, but it will handle ALL formats.

I have both Panasonic E50 and E55 and, whilst the E55 is an excellent machine; the older E50 is a better machine: better build quality, better remote, better menus, etc. (For instance, you can get a bitrate readout whilst recording and/or playing)
Also, the older Panasonic E20 and E30 machines are also highly regarded.
I tend to use the E55 as a 'source' and the E50 as a 'recording' machine.
The E55 is nice as it has a 'static' menu which I like while I set up something to 'play' (the E50 starts playing title1 of a RAM disc the minute you put it in, which I find annoying)
The E50 has a better menu structure for recording, IMO.
Also, the E55 has thumbnails and the E50 doesn't so if I use the E55 to record, I feel obliged to set a thumbnail!!!. Thing is I can never be arsed, the E50 has just a title/disc name.
Also, if I want to record off the TV and copy at the same time, I just swap leads around. I gave up with SCART switching as it never worked very well.
Also, with the Pannys, you get 'flexible record' so the machine calculates a bitrate to fit, say a 90min film on a disc at a better bitrate than in 2hour mode; but using the whole disc.

I also have a burner on my PC which handles DVD+R discs, but I find it too much hassle. I prefer a 'standalone' DVD recorder to faffing around with PC burning.

I hope this has been some help.

However, do not part with any folding stuff until you have done some homework here


***EDIT***

Apologies for multiple use of the word also

[Harbottle]

Very interesting I have both the Panny E-50 and E-55 too but used in different rooms. I only use them to record to RAM, in fact I don’t think I have ever made a DVD-R recording! I far prefer to edit recordings on a PC and make simple menus adding a background pic edited in Photoshop etc.

I agree that the E-50 is far more solid in build terms and I think the quality of recordings is marginally better too. However I find the remote better on the E-55.

Agreed about the Flexible Record feature which is excellent, as is Time Slip where you can watch a RAM recording while its still being made. I thought this was a gimmick which I would never use but its proved very handy especially for recording sporting events.

For anyone whose VCR is on the way out I would recommend a Panasonic recorder, and in the latest Which? survey it came out well for reliability.

[Jim]

Originally posted by Jonathan Woss@Jul 10 2005, 03:05 AM I use a Pioneer DVR 520H which has all of the above but without a ram disc. Editing can be done on the hard drive before burning to disc and I'm particularly fond of the title menu function (see pic). Being a bit slow in the technical department, I needed a machine that was idiot proof, i.e. easy to use. I've had it for just over a year and have had no problems.

Wow! Now there's some info/gen to be getting on with! Thanks guys!