Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with HDMI, SD Card, and DV Input

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 3 inches ; 15 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 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: B000F4C1H6
• Item model number: DMR-ES45VS
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,803 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #76 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > DVD Players & Recorders > DVD Recorders

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Panasonic DMR-ES45VS brings together a VCR and multi-format DVD recorder, enabling you to continue to enjoy your VHS video tape library as well as record TV programming and home videos directly to DVD disc. It includes easy-to-use front panel controls as well as an S-Video/composite AV input for connecting gaming consoles and video camcorders. This unit provides easy, one-touch copying of non-copy protected DVD disc material to VHS tape, and vice versa--great for archiving your old home videos. It also offers a FireWire port (also known as IEEE1394 or i.Link) for direct connection to a digital video camcorder, enabling you to download footage directly to disc. You can also view individual images and photo slideshows using the integrated Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot (compatible with JPEG and TIFF file formats).

This unit also includes an HDMI digital audio/video output, which can "up-convert" standard DVD movie discs to near HD resolution. Where standard DVD players (even progressive scan models) provide just 480 lines of resolution, the DMR-ES25S up-converts the picture up to 720p and 1080i high-def video formats--taking full advantage of your HD television's sparkling resolution. (Note that your TV must have an HDMI connection; HDMI cable not included.)

Choose from a full spectrum of recordable DVD media--write-once DVD+R and DVD-R discs or rewritable DVD-RW/+RW and DVD-RAM discs. (For temporary storage, such as your favorite weekly shows, DVD-RAM discs are a great choice as they can be rewritten more times than DVD-RW/+RW discs.) In addition to standard DVD movie and CD audio discs and its compatible recordable formats, the DMR-ES25S can play back CD-R/RW, dual layer DVD-R/+R, and VCD disc formats as well as JPEG, and MP3 digital formats.

Panasonic's Time Slip function consists of two features designed to give you added flexibility and control when making DVD recordings: Chasing Playback and Simultaneous Record & Play. With Chasing Playback, you don't have to wait for an entire program to be recorded before watching it from beginning to end. This feature allows you to watch a program that's currently being recorded from any point that's already been recorded--while continuing to record the live program in progress. Simultaneous Record & Play allows you to record a program onto a disc while simultaneously watching any other program that's previously been recorded on the same disc.

You can set your recorder to one of five different recording speeds, each varying in recording quality and length. EP mode yields the most recording time, LP & SP modes provide less recording time with higher quality recording, and XP mode gives you the highest quality recording. There's also the FR (Flexible Recording) mode that lets you record with the best picture quality possible for the recording time and remaining space on the disc.

The Direct Navigator feature makes it easy to find a previously recorded program on a disc. A list of recording dates, times, channels and (user-entered) titles are shown on screen. With the Playlist Playback function, you can perform simple non-linear video editing using, such as rearranging the order of scenes, skipping over unwanted scenes, or copying selections

Jump directly to any spot on a disc and begin playback or recording right away with the Rapid Random Access function when using DVD-RAM discs. Even if there is no sequential area of empty space available, this DVD recorder can record data on available space throughout the rest of the disc. You will also avoid searching for a blank spot to start recording, or accidentally recording over desired material.

Enjoy a great picture on you flat screen LCD or plasma HDTV using the component video output, and immersive surround sound via the optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital and DTS home theater effects. The full lineup of video and audio connections includes:

• RF input: 1
• RF output: 1 (for VCR)
• Composite video/audio input: 2 (1 front)
• Composite video/audio output: 1
• S-Video input: 2 (1 front)
• S-Video output: 1
• Component video output: 1
• HDMI audio/video output: 1
• Digital audio output: 1 optical

Tech Talk
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. It provides up to a 5 GB per second bandwidth for transmitting pure digital video and audio signals with no degradation in the transfer. It can carry up to eight discrete audio channels, making it compatible with 7.1-channel surround sound systems. Signals are encrypted with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to prevent recording. HDMI is fully backward-compatible with most DVI connections .

Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.

High Definition Formats: The most common high-def (HD) video format is 720p, which displays video at 720 vertical by 1280 horizontal pixels. The "p" denotes that it is progressive scan, meaning that all video lines are filled at the same time. The 1080i format displays video at 1080 vertical by 1920 horizontal pixels, and the "i" means that it is interlaced (the old-school way of presenting video where the screen scans the odd-numbered video lines first, then the even-numbered lines). The 1080p format has the same pixel resolution as 1080i, but it is a progressive scan format and thus has a constant vertical resolution of 1080 lines.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/VCR, remote control (with batteries), AV cable, RF cable, power cord, one DVD-RAM disc, printed operating instructions

Product Description

Panasonic, DVD Recorder/ VCR Combo,HDMI,SD,DV Input

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

322 of 324 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need HD-upcoding and a VHS? This DVD recorder is the one !, July 30, 2006

By 

Jonathan W. (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with HDMI, SD Card, and DV Input (Electronics)

This is the latest generation (in summer of '06 anyway) of the new DVD recorders / players that upcode to attain near HD quality. (You will need a HD TV for that). It also has a VCR/VHS built in. If you need all that, you can't do better for the price. If you don't expect to connect to an HD TV (now or in the next year) go for a simpler model (eg., a progressive player w/o upcoding or a product w/o the VCR).

This product has lots of bells and whistles:
- it connects to your DV camcorder,
- you can pop your SD camera cards right in,
- it handles all kinds of DVDs (DVD+R and DVD-R, CDs,and Panasonic's unique DVD-RAM),
- has all the latest connectors (HDMI, optical sound, component video)
- you can record on a DVD-RAM while you are watching that same DVD -- how did they do that??).

If you have piles of old VHS tapes that you want to transfer to DVD, this machine will do it nicely without having to bother with your old VCR machine. It has one-button recording that did the trick for me on the first try.

Also, picture quality when upcoding a regular (non-HD) DVD on my HD TV definitely improved the picture (beyond that of my previous progressive DVD player). (You will need to connect to your TV via the HDMI or an HDMI to DVI cable by the way. No need to get the hugely expensive cables, go for the generic ones you'll find on the Amazon site).

For some DVDs the upcoding improvement was modest, but in other cases it was real noticeable (though not full HD). I guess we'll have to wait till the HD DVD format war (and price point) settles down over the next few years.

This machine is well engineered for humans and has a very complete and readable (if you are patient)users' manual. However, a warning for those who haven't done DVD recording before; this machine -- and all others as far as I can tell-- are not for the faint-hearted. While you can use the "one touch" keys to do the basics, as you will read for just about any DVD recorder review on the Amazon web page, there can potentially be all kinds of compatibility problems between discs, players and PCs. I haven't encountered any yet, and this machine seems to read and write just about any kind of disc. Also, I can tell you that doing anything fancy is somewhat complicated. So be prepared to do some homework and you may have to settle for a bad or incompatible disc from time to time.

All in all, so far (I have had it for 3 weeks) I give this a thumbs up and I would certainly would recommend the Panasonic DMR-ES45VS for those needing its features.

125 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Potentially a very good machine, but mine arrived broken., September 25, 2006

By 

Nicholas Christo (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with HDMI, SD Card, and DV Input (Electronics)

Pro's: Recording controls are intuitive; Quality of DVD recording is very good; Quality of VHS recording is very good.

Cons: My unit would not eject VHS tapes (right out of the box) & I had to return it for a refund. Quality control may be an issue; One of three DVD recordings I made would not play in my other DVD machines.

This machine does a lot. This makes for some complicated instructions and remote control functions. This machine isn't for those who have no patience with reading an operating manual and learning a new remote control. I used the DVD burner to transfer one VHS tape, record one television show from local cable and record one movie from a satellite cable channel before returning the machine because it wouldn't eject VHS tapes properly. For all three experiments I used the same brand of -R DVD blanks.

The quality of the transfer from an ancient VHS tape to -R DVD worked well. The quality of the DVD image was at least as good as that of the original VHS Tape. The recording of a movie from satellite cable also worked well. After finalizing, the other DVD machines in my house read the recorded DVD. However, the recording of a television show did not work out very well. Though I finalized the -R DVD disk after recording, I could not get the recorded DVD to play on two other DVD machines in my house. It would however play on the Panasonic machine it was created with. Given this, it sounds as if the failure was caused by the equipment rather than a bad DVD blank or incorrect operation of the machine.

Use of the DVD recorder and the editing functions is fairly intuitive. Panasonic has tried to make operation of the DVD recorder very similar to operation of a VCR. For example, you can pause the recording when a commercial comes up and restart the recording again when the commercial is over. This is done by pressing the pause button and then the record button to start again just like with a VCR. Unfortunately, there is a two or three second delay in starting the recording again. Therefore, the best way to edit out commercials is to record the entire show and then use the editing functions from the remote control before finalizing the DVD. The ability to play the DVD in the Panasonic machine even before finalizing the DVD lets you fill up a disk with many shows while retaining the ability to edit out commercials, insert titles and insert chapter breaks before you decide to finalize the disk. After finalizing, the disk can't be edited. Also, editing on the Panasonic machine was much, much faster than using my computer and re-burning the DVD.

For the most part, the Panasonic machine seemed to do everything it was advertised to do well. Given my short experience with the machine, it is hard to tell if the one failed DVD copy was the exception or the rule. In regard to the failure of the machine to eject VHS tapes properly, in all fairness to Panasonic, the box the machine was shipped in from J & R Music was really battered and I don't think it had been packaged well. The failure to eject VHS tapes may have been caused by a combination of harsh shipping and poor packing rather than a flaw in the machine. It's hard to tell.

For the kind of money these machines cost and the insane delays in getting service even when a product is covered by warranty, these machines really need to work out of the box. If it wasn't for the failed DVD recording, I would have given this machine a four or five star rating. Perhaps I would have given it a higher rating if I had kept the machine longer and used it more. However, I was unwilling to take the financial risk by waiting to see if the machine really worked or not over the long term.

74 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works exactly as advertised., October 8, 2006

By 

Yang Cheng Fu "A Searcher" (Feasterville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with HDMI, SD Card, and DV Input (Electronics)

Wow, I searched alot and read alot of reviews of unhappy owners of other equipment and I chose this one for converting edited home VHS to DVD. My reasoning was that panasonic has alot of experience in both VCR and DVD, their systems sometimes lack extras like zoom but they tend to last a long time and are well built. I liked the extra large fan and cabinet height as compared to the LG 299 and I did not feel LG had to much experience with vcr. I have not tried out all the features yet but right now I am very happy, also I recommend buying the extended replacement warranty on any equipment of this type, there are alot of horror stories out there. I have some gaps between my clips and I was worried the system might stop recording on these but no problem, thanks panasonic.