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Panasonic DMR-EZ47V - DVD Recorder/VHS Combi Review

Author	Danny Phillips
Published	10th Jan 2008
Manufacturer	Panasonic
Price	£179.04 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£205.90 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price

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Panasonic DMR-EZ47V - DVD Recorder/VHS Combi

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There are four DVD recording modes: XP, SP, LP and EP, offering 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours' maximum recording time, respectively, on a single-sided DVD (or double that for double-layer discs), which help you trade off picture quality for recording time. There's also a fifth mode, Flexible Recording (FR), which makes your desired programme fit exactly into the space remaining on a disc - a valuable tool that stops you worrying about running out of capacity or wasting disc space. For VHS recording, there are SP, LP and EP modes.

As for editing, the most useful function is partial delete, which allows you to cut out unwanted parts of a recording such as commercial breaks. But those looking for something more advanced should check out playlist editing, an effective (and surprisingly user-friendly) way of rearranging favourite chapters into a desired sequence. The recorder plays these chapters from the original recordings, so virtually no extra capacity is used and it doesn't affect the originals in any way.

If necessary, you can copy these edited playlists (or entire recordings) to VHS. But you're more likely to use the VHS to DVD copying facility, which is an effortless process thanks to the deck's straightforward user interface.

The same can be said for every aspect of the recorder's functionality. We've always been big fans of Panasonic's user interface as it makes everything so clear and easy to follow onscreen - even potentially complicated tasks like creating a playlist can be worked out without consulting the manual. Finding what you want is also easy, as the central menu system groups all the key functions into one handy list.

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Thankfully this user-friendliness carries over into the presentation of Freeview displays, which will be a reassuring sight for newcomers to digital TV. The EPG uses the landscape ‘timeline' design familiar to Sky users (which can be switched to a portrait shape if you wish) with friendly pastel colours and excellent use of the coloured keys on the remote. Talking of which, the superb zapper is laden with large, clearly labelled buttons, helpfully separated into different sections.

In action the deck is simply magnificent. On a basic level, the speed with which it changes channels and calls up digital text is staggeringly quick, making for a slick and hassle-free user-experience. And as a straight Freeview receiver it's a class act, offering rich and vibrant picture quality with a low amount of MPEG noise (depending on the quality of the broadcast of course) while the robust, sensitive tuner ensures stable reception at all times, even with a poor signal.

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Anthony said on 1st December 2008

I've got one of these,and it's genuinely a good performer;the upscaling of everything to 1080p on hi-def tv's through the HDMI route and the unit set at 1080 is a revelation in itself, everything looks quite excellent whether prerecorded VHS or DVD software or indeed anything that's recorded on it's VHS deck whether from freeview broadcasts or external sources like camcorders. Phono AV,RGB or S-Video SCART and 4-pin S-Video and RGB component connections also reveal good things so you shouldn't be disappointed whichever connection route you take for your TV. VHS SP performance is generally excellent;nice colours with little bleed or nasties,and just a little slight grain to spoil things,go to VHS LP and performance takes a slight dive;grain increases and colour noise increases with an odd black streak or two on bright highlights,in other words not terribly bad but is watchable and bearable, and at the third EP speed;black streaks become more evident on bright highlights, and colours go more coarse and dot/grain/fuzz increases further, OK if you need to tape lots of programmes but for general viewing you may not like it. DVD recording performance is quite good;XP gives it's best asset with quality that's close to the original if just 1hr duration,going to SP is reasonably good and is suitable for most things,taking a step to LP is watchable if a little soft for some then slipping down to EP things become so poor but is still watchable. HiFi VHS Stereo reveals a good quality beefy crystal clear sonic performance whether it's self recorded stuff on your own tapes or prerecorded material tapes that's well worth feeding to a HiFi system or home-cinema setup, even at the slower speeds it doesn't deteriorate and stays good. DVD's sonic performance with Dolby Digital and DTS DVD's is faultless and is better than many cheaper DVD/VCR combo units and self recorded material in Dolby Digital stereo from internal Freeview broadcasts and external sources is similarly good ven at the lower speeds. Timer setting is as easy as pie from the Freeview programme guide and simple to do and you can tape up to 9 events,on the units own timer you can record 16 events! There are S-Video/composite AV phono inputs on the front for analogue camcorders and a DV in socket under a flap for miniDV/DVD camcorders ensuring absolute top quality from your camcorder recordings. A good thing on this deck included is that you can record in S-Video or RGB quality on DVD through AV2 Scart meaning top quality recordings from an external Freeview/Sky or Virgin Cable box when you go this route. The dual route dubbing route from VHS to DVD and viceversa is an excellent flexible feature that reveals good results whatever you choose. VHS to DVD is the best looking clean and well presented while the other way round is just slightly poorer with slight bleed and grain evident. With an easy to follow dubbing procedure this is faultless. All in all a great performer on all fronts that's well worth considering. Well done panasonic! 5/5

I've got one of these,and it's genuinely a good performer;the upscaling of everything to 1080p on hi-def tv's through the HDMI route and the unit set at 1080 is a re... more

Mike Creed said on 15th October 2009

Can I ask if anyone knows why this earlier model Panasonic DMR-EZ47V has a much higher score and rating than the (presumably) later model Panasonic DMR-EZ48V which is also more exp... more

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