Panasonic DMR-ES25S DVD Recorder with DV Input with HDMI and SD Card Slot

Other products by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 17 x 2 inches ; 6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FJELQA
• Item model number: DMR-ES25S
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,058 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  #39 in	Electronics > Televisions & Video > Disc Players & Recorders > Upconverting DVD Players
  #47 in	Electronics > Televisions & Video > Disc Players & Recorders > DVD Recorders

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Record your home movies and your favorite TV programs easily to DVD disc with the Panasonic DMR-ES25S progressive scan recorder/player, which provides ultimate flexibility in recording media options. It 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.) It's easy to record TV programming with the built-in analog TV tuner with RF pass-through and seven-day TV Guide electronic programming guide. 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. 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).

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. 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. The full lineup of video and audio connections includes:

• RF Input: 1
• 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/player, remote control (with batteries), AV cable, RF cable, power cord, one DVD-RAM disc, printed operating instructions

Product Description

Panasonic, DVD Recorder, DV Input, HDMI, SD Card Slot

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

126 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best of the basic DVD recorders...., January 3, 2007

By	ScottMcClue (Joppa, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

First, let me say this - There is no perfect "basic" DVD recorder. (at least not for under $200) Different models have pros and cons which need to be weighed carefully. But I think this Panasonic is the best of the bunch.

I bought this recorder after trying out the Samsung DVD-R135. (which I would say is this players closest competitor.)

The DVD-R135 was very nice (great DVD menu creation!)but I just couldn't get past the lousy LP recording mode. Many programs I record are longer than 2 hours (like football games) so I HAD to have a recorder that captured decent quality into the 4 hour range. So after reading other reviews, I gave the Panasonic a try.

Lets get the bad out of the way first:

1.) No power light (its tough tell if the unit is on or not)
2.) No "time remaining" - so you can't tell how much time is left to watch during a movie
3.) No "Open/Close" button on the remote
4.) Couldn't use the "Commerical Skip" on DVDs burned on other recorders or at the "FR" custom speed.
5.) No "Skip Chapters" buttons on the front of the unit - Keep that remote handy!

These missing items are particularly frustrating because they are standard features on just about all other recorders.

Can you get the past those nitpicks? I hope so, because here is the good:

1.) Good LP recording mode - which means you can record for 4 hours and still have decent quality. (other players have lousy LP quality) Think about this for a minute - its a big deal.

Its also got flexible recording. This allows the recorder to match the recording time to the best quality possible. (The Samsung also has this great feature)

2.) Records on almost everything - DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM...you name it, it records on it. FYI - DVD-RAM is a bit like having a computer hard drive on your disc - you can rewrite it almost endless times, move chapters/data, edit, delete, etc. And its very reliable - disc errors are unlikely. (The Samsung only records on DVD-R and DVD-RW)

3.) Plays almost everything - Regular DVDs, Dual Layered DVDs, VCDs, etc. I've seen some mention that "homebrew" DVDs (meaning DVDs recorded on another player or PC) might not play, but I haven't had any problems. This includes DVDs burned on 3 different PCs)

In fact, I had a DVD burned off on my PC that has always had a "rough spot" on it. It played fine on my PC but skipped on my old player and the Samsung I tried. The Panasonic DMR-ES25S played the "rough spot" without missing a beat!

4.) Average remote, but good for entering text - The remote takes some getting used to but its better than the Samsung remote. I especially like the recessed directional control for moving around. Its great for entering text, which took forever on the Samsung.

So it comes down to a simple fact - The good far outweighs the bad with this player.

The Samsung DVD-R135 has great menus, menu creation formatting, and all of the missing items from my Panasonic "bad" list.

BUT the Panasonic DMR-ES25S scores big with a solid LP mode, huge Disc compatibility (playing and recording)and a better remote.

In its price range, the Panasonic was the only player that had everything that I HAD to have in a DVD recorder. So I can live with the few missing features.

And I keep thinking about how it breezed through that rough spot on my burned DVD while the other players choked on it.

So in my opinion....the best of the below $200 DVD recorders is: The Panasonic DMR-ES25S!

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value, December 6, 2006

By	Dr. Stuart Gitlow (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This lightweight and inexpensive component is incredibly powerful and capable given that the price would have gotten you only a barebones DVD player just a few years ago. My primary goal is that of transcribing a videotape collection now several decades old to DVD for better archival storage and ease of transport when moving. The DMR-ES25S has a variety of other features, such as the SD Card Slot input, which I've not taken advantage of.

First: Setup is a breeze. Plug it in, hook up your choice of outputs to your preamp, your choice of inputs from your preamp, and you're good to go. There's no question that this is potentially complicated for an A/V novice but Panasonic makes it easy by allowing a simple RF (coax) cable input and output so that the unit will essentially replace a VCR in a simple VCR/TV setup. That is, you can take the cable from the wall, plug it in to the back of the DVD-R, then take another cable and run it to the TV, and you're done. This type of setup works, but doesn't provide the unit's full audio or video capabilities. The player has component, digital optical, S-Video, and composite connectors all available. For my setup, I ran the cables directly from the VCR into the DVD-R, then from there to the pre-amp. This allows me to watch my videotapes as they run through the DVD-R, which is what I want because I'm recording as I go.

Functionality: This part is straight-forward once you get the hang of it. Push the record button and start your source. That's it. For DVD-R's and their assorted brethren, you simply keep recording until you run out of space. I find that the 4-hour mode for a single sided 4.7GB DVD-R is fine and doesn't lose any quality over videotape. DVD-RAMs give you much more flexibility at a price. (At the moment, DVD-R stock runs about a quarter per disc while DVD-RAM stock is about 1.35 per disc). The flexibility of editing, adding chapters, and so forth is quite good with the -RAMs, and this is the way to go if you plan on moving your home videos to disc.

As others have mentioned, this is a consumer grade DVD recorder, so don't plan to use it to transfer pre-recorded commercial macrovision-encoded VHS tapes. Although there are workarounds for this out there, it's simply easier to replace your tapes with commercial DVD's.

The remote control isn't the most intuitive one I've seen, but it gets the job done without a lot of waiting around for recorder response time. Some actions, like finalizing a disc, take several inputs to accomplish, but again, for the most part, the remote is fine and offers some universal support for TV's.

Instructions are complex but well-written. Again, this is a very complex component so plan to take some time studying the documentation. If you plan to use just a few functions, you'll be off and running within an hour, but if you want to get into the details of editing a DVD-RAM, you'll be experimenting for the better part of a day.

The only downside of the unit that I've found is that there's no indication that it's turned on! It displays the time of day, like a VCR, when it's off. Push the power button and it displays a message saying hello, then reverts to the time again. There's no little green light or other indication that the unit is turned on.

Picture quality is excellent. The component itself runs quietly and without generating excess heat. Overall, I'm very satisfied.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Choice for Upconverting DVD Recorder, November 7, 2006

By	Jeff H. Walker (Chattanooga, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The video quality is phenomenal when viewing uupconverted standard resolution DVDs through the HDMI connection at 1080i or even 720p. This unit has all the features I needed, including Dual Layer recording and SD card picture viewing and slideshow recording. It is easy to set up and burns all of the media I have tried on it, from expensive archival quality to throw away cheap DVD-R disks. The Quick Start recording feature is fantastic, taking no more than 1 second to go from off to recording. All of the features operate as advertised which is a breath of fresh air in this day of overhype marketing. I highly recommend this item.

I never had the problem with audio via HDMI cable as the previous reviewer reports.