Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DMR-EZ28EB-S - Multi Format DVD Recorder With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver

This DVD recorder is a basic model without a hard drive (but including a Freeview tuner) and a sequel to the award winning DMR-EZ27. It is an ideal accompaniment to another device such as a Sky Plus box etc. which has a hard drive built in. It is slim and compact and copes with the full range of DVD formats including DVD RAM. The upscaling function is effective (although you will need to buy an HDMI lead to use it) and in my view the "deep colour" electronics and Viera link work very well indeed. The remote is well set out and particularly useful if you already have a Panasonic TV. The only downside being that I'd like to have seen a built in SD card slot which is sadly absent. Overall though, a high quality product both in construction and output, again, evidencing the adage - "you get what you pay for".

A first-class product for what we want to achieve. We use it for `time-shifting' programs to watch either if they are on at the same time (watch one whilst recording the other -yes the unit can play and record at the same time!)) or watch a program at a more convenient time. Another use is, of course to view rented DVDs. For the former I use DVD-RAM, as it is very flexible in use (see later). LP mode gives fine quality. A slight annoyance (I checked with Panasonic, and it's not a fault) is that say you are watching a program you have pre-recorded. You are watching at, say, 21.00 whilst a program is scheduled to record at 21.30, then when the 21.30 `kicks in', the playback you are watching stops whilst the unit sets up the record, and when it's settled, you have to re-start your playback and `fast forward' to where it stopped.
I use the DVD-RAM format as I can directly read it on my PC and with some excellent software (TMPGEnc DVD Author 3) can make DVDs and do chaptering from stuff sourced from TV. Thus I haven't been interested in the editing/chaptering that the unit can apparently do. I also use DVD-RW in the unit to record radio programs and then my PC turns them into MP3 to play in the car or in bed!

The unit worked `out of the box' and immediately set itself up, which was a pleasant surprise. The remote control is comprehensive and took me a little getting used to, but fine when you have.

(The -S at the end of the type number means Silver finish by the way!)

This recorder follows in the tradition of the best selling Panasonic DMR-E55EB/EBL. It is a no nonsense easy to use recorder and is very good in Playback Mode. If you have an HDMI link to an High Definition Television it is at its best in Record and Playback mode, but equally it produces good results with the scart connections. It will record and play both the 4.7GB -RAM and the twin sided 9.4 GB Ram as well as DVD disc in various formats.
There is no hard disc on this player But on the 4.7single sided GB-RAM it will record up to 8 hours on EP whilst on the twin sided 9.4 GB RAM it will play 8 hours on each side in EP MODE. AMAZON do not sell the 9.4 GB
twin sided RAM but these are still available from at least one specialist store.

All in all an excellent easy to use recorder which performs well above its price tag.

Product up to Panasonic's usual high standards and all that's been said about the set up and picture quality and recording procedure are accurate. However have deducted one star for a slow response when opening the tray and the fact that you cannot do this from the remote. The guide is a bit baffling and dense and you could spend a lot of time ploughing your way through it.