Editorial Review:Item Description:The Panasonic DMR-ES15K Diga DVD Player and Recorder is a new generation of DVD recorder, for modern home theater. Taking what worked well in previous models and improving them, it also includes new features that make everyday DVD recording simpler than ever. The HDAVI-Control allows you to connect multiple components without the mess of wires and remotes that you'd normally face. The DV input and multi-drive recording and playback let you record & play back DVD-Audio & Video, CD audio, CD-DA and MP3/JPEG discs. With its easy operation and versatility, the DMR-ES15K offers you the DVD player and recorder you need to complete your home entertainment center. VCR Refresh Dubbing with advanced DNR Transfers content from a DV camcorder in just one step Auto DVD-R Finalizing DV auto recording and playlist creation Task-oriented GUI menu for easier use and completion of DVDs Simultaneous playback and recording Chasing playback tool allows you to watch the start of a program while you're still recording it Records using MEPG-2 compression, for up to 8 hours of video on one disc VBR recording for optimized bitrate depending on type & length of recording Time base corrector for stable, natural images Front A/V input Inputs - 2 S-Video, 2 Component, 2 SCART, 2 line in 1 line out, 1 Optical, 1 Component, 1 S-Video, 1 Composite Playable formats - DVD-RAM, -R/RW, +R/RW, DVD Video, VCD CD-R/RW, MP3 CD Recording formats - DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW Dolby Digital 2-channel audio recording
Amazon.com Item Description:Record your home movies and your favorite TV programs easily to DVD disc with the Panasonic DMR-ES15S progressive scan recorder/player, which provides ultimate flexibility in recording media options. You can choose write-once DVD+R and DVD-R discs or rewritable DVD-RW/+RW and DVD-RAM discs (the latter being a great choice for temporary storage of recorded material as it can be rewritten more than DVD-RW). It's easy to record TV programming with the built-in analog TV tuner with RF pass-through. In addition to standard DVD movie and CD audio discs and its compatible recordable formats, the DMR-ES15S 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. 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
- Digital audio output: 1 optical
Tech Talk 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.
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
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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* Don't Waste Your Money ...
This thing is probably the worst DVD recorder I've ever had. It works, but that's about it. The interfaces are all horrid, the remote, and the menuing system. I can't say how hard it was to navigate the menus. And what, no eject button on the remote -- unforgivable! The video was horrible, and the DVD-R discs were not compatible with all my standard players. Also, I got bars on the sides of the video I was recording and couldn't get rid of them no matter what I did. I'm guessing that the HDMI output told the unit it was 16:9 and so the DVD's were ALL recorded with this buffer (left and right bars), and it didn't matter that the input was 4:3 or 16:9. Also in case you're wondering, I had the bars even playing the discs on a standard 4:3 system (both DVD player and TV). We gotta start getting the word out on these DVD recorders, they all seem to have problems and this one definately does. Can I give it -0- stars?
Rating: -
* NOT A VERY GOOD RECORDER GREAT DEAL OF PROBLEMS $500 REPAIR BILL ...
I have three of these, I wanted to have all of them compatible with each other and out of the three one has died, completely and the other two are giving me a great deal of trouble. I purchased all three at different department stores, Sears best buy and circuit city and I can say there is no prejudice when it comes to retailers these panasonic dvd recorders are bad across all of them. I was told by Sears employee that they are so bad that they stopped carrying them. This particular model stopped recognizing its own discs that it recorded itself! Thats how the problems start and from there they get progressively worse. I have had a drive replaced in my number two model and the one in my number three model died, if your are counting thats three bad drives, The Circuit city repair bill for Third was over $500, thats right FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! I didn't even pay that much for the drive itself! Thank God for the extended warranty. When I explained to the clerk that I would like a replacement he said they wont allow it for these models, due to numerous problems. I knew I should have paid more and gotten the Pioneer. Well you live and you learn.
Rating: 
-
* Very good DVD Recorder ...
Although I have not used this product alot, I have had no issues with it and it seems to function very well. It looks nice and records how I expected it would.
Rating: -
* Really great....when it works ...
Bought this unit almost a year ago. Had all the features I wanted and it worked great for about four months. Then it started ruining DVDs while burning them. Repairs were covered under warranty but had to wait about a week for parts. The problem (as I understand it) was in the circuit board that controls the drive.
Time passes...about four months. And the exact same problem arises again. Still covered under warranty and have to wait again about a week for parts.
That was almost four months ago. So guess what the unit started to do today? I think I have one week left under warranty protection.
In summary, unit will have had the exact same three major problems in a year and ruined dozens of disks and lost countless recorded programs.
In four months, I expect the fourth problem incidence will occur then this unit will be heading for the trash heap. Lemons like this unit greatly contribute to the problem of being a "throw-away society."
Rating: -
* Is there a Negative star rating? Avoid Panasonic at all costs! ...
I purchased the ES-15, loved the features, but I do expect the thing to actually last past nine months. It started with some funky, chunky sounding noises. When I'd put in a disc, newly blank, one to add to, or a finalized one, it actually sounded like it was eating the disc. Similar to that grinding sound a vcr makes when it eats a tape. I wound up throwing about 10 discs that it randomly corrupted. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Then, it finally just got worse and died completely. Off to the authorized service center. Quick fix, right? Oh, heck, no.
After an extremely long run around with Panasonic about taking the recorder to an authorized service center (found the info on their website) and finding out that, of course, you're not supposed to do that, send it directly to Panasonic instead. Why would they put information like that on their website? That might help their consumers. So, it's in the shop for 3 months. Panasonic gave up on repairing the POS and offered to replace it with the ES-17. Thanks a lot. (that's sarcasm in there).
ES-17 has been stripped of the features that were so great about the ES-15. And, less than 6 months later, the same problems are happening. I'm currently researching other manufacturers and will certainly NEVER buy any Panasonic products again, not just the DVD-Recorders.
