Panasonic DMR-EH50 Review

Overall Rating

Almost everything.

The format for recording onto Hard Drive or DVD-RAM disk is widescreen aspect, although considering most people that are looking to buy a DVD recorder would normally be the type of people to already own a widescreen TV, then this is a minor concern.

It does not record onto DVD+RW, but considering it records onto all other formats, this is of little concern (unless you record for someone that uses this format).

The Panasonic DMR-EH50 is a very capable DVD recorder with easy to use features. I actually bought this recorder from Argos for £249.99, which was excellent value for money, and it was the cheapest I have seen for the model, which originally retailed at £400. I highly recommend this product.

This recorder really is a great piece of kit! Its 80Gb hard drive is good for 36 hours of high quality recording (in normal mode, although it states 34 hours in the guide! It will record up to 145 hours, although quality is unacceptable on the longest record mode).

Usable features are:
TIMESLIP - Great feature allows you to set an immediate search forward by the press of a single button (ie. if you want to skip adverts during playback you can set +2 minutes and it will immediately forward by that amount. It is also very useful when editing a recording into chapters/erasing), also works when recording with picture in picture.

PARTIAL ERASE - Very useful feature that allows you to erase unwanted portions of a recording, and it is very quick and easy to use using thumbnails.

GENERAL FEATURES -
1. Record and watch a previously recorded programme at the same time, either on the hard drive or DVD. This is an excellent feature which I love, and I recently made full use of it by watching a 2 part drama (recorded part 2 while watching (previously recorded) part 1 at the same time!)

2. Excellent Editing features, uses thumbnails to give visual when editing, naming of programmes is easy.

3. Transfer of titles from Hard Drive/Camcorder (connection at front of unit) to DVD is easy to use and edit.

4. VIDEOPLUS recording.

5. Easy link remote to most TV's. I linked my Sony TV to the remote in literally 2 seconds (the guide gives you an input code for 49 TV brands). The unit then gives channel changing, on/off, volume, link to AV output, which is much more handy than you think, as now I do not need my TV remote at all; just SKY and this one.

6. CHASING PLAYBACK - Similar to 1 to be fair. You can press PLAY whilst recording to watch the programme you are taping. Great feature.

7. FLEXIBLE RECORDING - It is possible to fit a programme onto DVD that is not a direct match for recording mode (ie. it will not directly fit using a single quality mode (XP/SP/LP etc..).Using FP as the mode the unit will find 'best fit' quality.
There are other feature that I have yet to use, but already it is worth its money twice over. It is so easy to use, and it provides options that you cannot get with a normal recorder. The Hard Drive, although small, gives you easy transfer to DVD's that makes the size virtually irrelevant.

Members' Comments onamountjoy's Review

• mikejking on 12th Aug 2006

  Yes but .....how do you get it to tune into Sky? I cannot get it to tune to any of the digital channels despite following the rather poor manual! Any ideas anyone? Cheers!