Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0007YFQD0
• Item model number: DMR-ES30VS
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,646 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #83 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > DVD-VCR Combos
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

For ultimate recording and playback quality and versatility, look no further than Panasonic's DMR-ES30VS combination DVD player/recorder and 4-head/hi-fi VCR. The space-saving combo device offers the flexibility of recording on both DVD-RAM--ideal for instant chapter access and for multiple rerecordings--as well as DVD-R, DVD+R, and rewritable DVD-RW for full flexibility in recording and sharing your favorite programs (you can tailor your choice of format to the playback capabilities of your friends and family).

With the DMR-ES30VS you can digitally record superb picture and sound--up to 8 hours on a single-sided DVD-RAM or DVD-R/RW or DVD+R, thanks to Panasonic's original VBR (variable bit rate) technology. (Rewriteable DVD-RAM discs can be rewritten over 100,000 times and offer 4.7 to 9.6 gigabytes per disc.)

The company's Time Slip feature lets the DVD recorder be used like a digital video recorder, or DVR. 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 Panasonic's Time Slip feature, which includes the ability to perform simultaneous recording and playback. Select this week's episode in the electronic program guide (EPG), start recording, and as it records you can watch your recording of last week's episode.

In addition to recording new video content, the DMR-ES30VS lets you transfer favorite VHS recordings to durable, space-saving discs. The Direct Navigator instantly accesses recorded material from an onscreen menu that lists recording dates, times, channels, and titles. Finding and viewing recorded material are simple, because there's no need to search, fast-forward, or rewind. And, with one-touch 2-way transferring, you can dub a VHS tape to DVD by pushing a single button or vice-versa (so long as the disc isn't copy protected).

One-touch DVD recording will save your favorite programs from accidental overwriting 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.

As a player, the DMR-ES30VS offers a progressive-scan video output for optimal picture quality when viewing a DVD movie on a high-definition or HD-ready TV. Progressive scanning doubles the scan lines of an interlaced signal by scanning all 525 lines in 1/60 of a second for each full pass. The higher-density video signal creates film-like DVD images with rich detail, extraordinary depth of field, and precise color reproduction.

VCR features include quasi S-VHS playback (plays Super-VHS tapes at standard-VHS resolution), Jet Search super-fast playback scanning, Jet Rewind, repeat play, and long-recording ability (10 hours to 1 VHS T-180 cassette). VCR Plus+ simplifies advanced programming. You can also record a TV program to VHS while you play or record something else on DVD.

What's in the Box
DVD/VCR combo, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, an AC power cord, a coaxial RF video cable, a stereo analog audio/composite-video cable (RCA), and a warranty/registration card.

Product Description

Includes: remote control Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder with Built-in VCR - This single home theater device takes the place of 3 different units. You get a DVD recorder, DVD player, and VCR in one unit! The DVD recorder is most interesting of the three, allowing you to digitally record your favorite shows to DVD media. You get the advantage of film-like image quality, the ability to browse through recordings via thumbnail, and much more. Coupled with the built-in VCR, you also get the ability to backup your old home movies with a single button. Your VHS tapes will only last so long, even if you don't watch them, so getting them to DVD can be essential to preserving your precious memories for a lifetime! 2x LP Horizontal Resolution Recording - records 500 lines of horizontal resolution in LP mode Rapid Random Access (with DVD-RAM discs) Selectable Recording Modes - XP/SP/LP/EP/FR Dolby Digital (Dolby AC-3) 2-channel audio recording Plays back MP3 CDs Black Level Control A/V Inputs - 2 S-Video (1 front) / 2 Composite (1 front) / 2 Audio L/R (1 front) / 1 RF (VHF/UHF) A/V Outputs - 1 Component Video (Y, PB, PR) / 2 S-Video / 2 Audio L/R / 1 RF (VHF/UHF) Optical Digital Output for DTS & Dolby Digital Surround Sound Color - Silver Unit Dimensions - 4 (h) x 17 (w) x 14 (d) Unit Weight - 13 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

164 of 166 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does What It's Supposed To Do and Does It Well, May 10, 2005

By 

J. Wild (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder/VCR Combo (Electronics)

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 it. Not only was it very easy to set up (less than 15 minutes), it starts up very quickly and the dvd playback quality - even in LP mode the picture is very good. The one touch vhs to dvd dubbing button is a definite plus as well. The only negative I found was on the universal remote. 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. 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. The DVD menu is very visually friendly but the VHS menu is like the old vcr menus from 15+ years ago with the big white lettering. However, these 'cons' are not enough to bring my review down to 4 stars because this recorder does what it's supposed to do (records dvds and vhs) and does it well. It is worth the money!

256 of 265 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So impressed, I bought 2., May 13, 2005

By 

C. FOSTER (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder/VCR Combo (Electronics)

I had to return this machine after a week because it had a little bug in scheduled recording. It recorded the wrong channel (and no, it wasn't "pilot error". The thumbnail in the title menu says one channel, but the program recorded is something else. Very strange). I guess even Panasonic isn't perfect.

However, to tell you how impressed I am with this machine, I exchanged it for the exact same model. And bought another one for my office.

Some highlights:
This new model will record on +R disks.
It has a very solid feel.

Recording in LP mode is a little blocky. EP mode is TERRIBLE. but in SP, the picture looks great.


I also own a Toshiba DR2. I was in for a big surprise when I called up the disk menu on this new Panasonic. The thumbnails are animated and have sound (silent stills on the Toshiba). Pretty cool.

The Panny also seems to load faster than the Toshiba.

The machine lacks firewire. The Panny's CM Skip only skips forward (the DR2 also skips backward 10 seconds in case you over-skip). The Panny's skip seems to only work on disks recorded on it (it will play but won't skip on finalized DVD-RW disks).

On the VCR side, the rewind is blazing fast. There is a setting mentioned in the manual that allows you to run the vcr through the component connection. I've never seen a vhs picture this clear.

Be sure to read the manual and learn how to deactivate the rf connection so you don't have to push the vcr/tv button every time you turn on the machine.

All in all, a well made, well designed machine with options to record/play just about every format except DVD+RW.

91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars VCR part Broke., January 23, 2006

By 

A. James (Richmond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder/VCR Combo (Electronics)

Okay. Here are some important notes if you plan to buy this product:
1) The manual is not hard as some people said if you read it while doing what it says at the same time. This is called Kinetic learning.
2) The DVD Burner is great with the Flexible recording feature, 1 button recording and a nice interface. That's why I give it 3 stars.
3)If you press Stop instead of Pause while recording, this will produce a short pause when playing back that DVD on some models of players. It was no problem on my Sony player or any Mac computer but did it on my portable. So if you can, just pause if you can.
4) Remember to Finalize to play a DVD on other players! It's in the Disc Management window.
5) The VCR part of the unit crapped out on me. In the middle of recording it would sop and rewind a little. Where this happened, there was a double-take in the recording. I was also getting random pauses in the middle of some DVD's when I played them back on other units.
6) I called Panasonic about this and was on hold for an hour!!!! The guy had no idea how to fix he problem.
7)The Tapes started showing snow. I thought it was a little early for the heads to need cleaning so I took the unit back.
8) I still liked the Recorder part of the unit so I got just that part by itself (Panasonic DMR-ES20S) and a Sony VCR separately.
9) I still got some random pauses when I played the DVD's on other units. THEN I thought. Hey! The DVD RW's have never been a problem, just the DVD-R. The RW are TDK brand! the DVD-R are Phillips! I went out and bought some Memorex DVD-R (because I've played those on the portable at one time with no problem and now the recordings are great! Even on the portable! Woo-hoo!

So, even tough I would have returned it because of the crappy VCR part, a lot of the problems came from cheap blank DVD's! You get what you pay for.

Hope this helps.