Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DMR-EX77 - 160gb Hard Drive DVD Recorder - With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver
Panasonic DMR-EX77 - 160gb Hard Drive DVD Recorder - With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver
Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + ShareGreat picture, poor manual and userability
(2 out of 5) by S. Basford on Dec 21, 2008 (UK)Overall, I'm happy with this as a VHS video replacement and freeview box. However, recording from hard disk to DVD is a real art, one I've not managed to master yet. There are so many conditions as to what you can and can't do when wishing to record in high speed mode (otherwise you burn in a very slow real time mode), I've found it frustrating.
Other annoying features:-
1. Pause live tv is possible, but not as easily as some other products
2. If a program has already started, you can't simply record to the end automatically (you have to set a manual time)
3. The 'press for each 30 minutes of recording time button' only works on the unit, not the remote - most bizzare!
All said, if you're not too fussed about recording DVDs then its a good unit - its just a shame the software guys who designed it didn't think about it a little more.
Other annoying features:-
1. Pause live tv is possible, but not as easily as some other products
2. If a program has already started, you can't simply record to the end automatically (you have to set a manual time)
3. The 'press for each 30 minutes of recording time button' only works on the unit, not the remote - most bizzare!
All said, if you're not too fussed about recording DVDs then its a good unit - its just a shame the software guys who designed it didn't think about it a little more.
freeview - would recommend
(4 out of 5) by Dillyblue on Feb 26, 2008 (york)Spent ages deciding which DVD recorder player to buy as wanted one which would record freeview while I was also watching freeview.
Would definitely recommend this, to record and view another freeview station at the same time you will need a separate digital set top box. Took me a while to work out how to do this as doesnt explain in the manual, but by pressing AV in the TV part of the handset it switches from the DVD freeview to the separate set top box so when recording from the DVD recorder you need to watch through the separate set top box. Also wasnt sure whether to get one with hard drive but am glad I did as don't have to bother with DVDs. Have option to record from hard drive onto DVD if you wish though - and if you can work out which type of DVD to buy!
Really clear screen shows what you have recorded. Can set programmes to record easily by going into TV guide and clicking on the programme you want.
A big advantage is that while a programme is recording you can watch it from the start - even while its still recording. So if you have to miss the first part of a programme you can press record then just press play when you are ready to watch, even if its not finished recording the programme.
Have had same problem as last reviewer and havent worked out how to set timer on recorder. Tried what it suggested in manual but didnt work. Anybody else had any luck?
Would definitely recommend this, to record and view another freeview station at the same time you will need a separate digital set top box. Took me a while to work out how to do this as doesnt explain in the manual, but by pressing AV in the TV part of the handset it switches from the DVD freeview to the separate set top box so when recording from the DVD recorder you need to watch through the separate set top box. Also wasnt sure whether to get one with hard drive but am glad I did as don't have to bother with DVDs. Have option to record from hard drive onto DVD if you wish though - and if you can work out which type of DVD to buy!
Really clear screen shows what you have recorded. Can set programmes to record easily by going into TV guide and clicking on the programme you want.
A big advantage is that while a programme is recording you can watch it from the start - even while its still recording. So if you have to miss the first part of a programme you can press record then just press play when you are ready to watch, even if its not finished recording the programme.
Have had same problem as last reviewer and havent worked out how to set timer on recorder. Tried what it suggested in manual but didnt work. Anybody else had any luck?
Best thing I've bought for ages
(5 out of 5) by D. Ellis on Feb 13, 2008 (Yorkshire)Virtually silent operation, easy to set up and use, this machine has made recording a pleasure. If you are watching something you can set it recording while you watch and then pause it if you are interrupted - brilliant.
SD compatable
(4 out of 5) by K. Jenkin on Jan 12, 2008I have a Pentax optio S7 camera with a Kingston 512 SD card formatted in the camera but when I insert the SD card into my Panasonic recorder DMR-EX77EB it says unsupport and on tv screen it say incompatible.The SD card works ok in the camera.Anyone had any problems like this.