Rating: 
Summary: Easy!
Review: I bought this unit with the intent of copying my VHS collection and using this recorder in place of my VCR. After reading reviews from various sources, I bought this model over the next closest - Philips. (By the way, what's up with few brands providing black cabinetry?) This unit is very easy to use. To get the most out of the unit READ THE MANUAL! One of the best features is the flexible record, allowing optimum recording for those more-than-2 hour-programs. This feature provides the highest quality recording available for the time that you desire to record. Unlike the VCR, where you'd have to record on the LP (or SLP) mode if a program is more than 2 hours, this option will give you the best picture it can in the disc-space provided. To my eye, programs of 2:20 look no worse than if it was recorded on SP. Of course, some of my prerecorded VHS tapes are copyrighted (but not all) and can't be recorded - this was expected. There is some concern regarding DVD-R playback on other machines. (Don't forget to FINALIZE. This is all covered in the manual.) IF you have problems, try various brands of media. My JVC player had no problem with Verbatim, Memorex or TDK. However, only the TDK would playback on my Toshiba player. I loaned all three brands to a friend and all 3 played on his Philips and Panasonic players. My only complaints are:
- Can't record on DVD-RW.
- No (audio) digital input (no brands I could find had it) I had considred buying a PC-based DVD recorder, but based on the complaints of various friends who have PC-based DVD recorders, I made the better choice by buying this product - MUCH easier. Now my friends are considering buying a DMR-E50.
Rating:
Summary: Great Buy
Review: I brought this from Amazon a month ago and it works just as easy as a VHS recorder. All you need is a blank disk and tell it when to record and it will record with it's built in timer. I have been using several brands of DVD-R disk and only have problems with the cheap ones(i.e. no name brands). The problems only happen rarely. For example, the recording will stop and go to recovery mode. But don't worry if goes to recovery mode, previous recordings are not destroy. However, you can't record anymore to that disk. The recorder also uses DVD-RAM disk and this is my most favorite type of disk. It treats a DVD-RAM disk like a hard drive. There is no recovery mode or hiccups that I have seen happen to a DVD-RAM disk yet. ...
Rating:
Summary: Not Simple But Darn Good.
Review: I have been watching the market for a DVD recorder for a couple of years. I'am really glad that I waited for this model (DMR-50). You will not have a problem with this unit if you will read and re-read as necessary the owners manuel. The other thing is DO NOT USE CHEAP DISCS. I've been using Ritek 1X DVD-R blanks and have not had that first problem with recording or playback on anything that is DVD-R compatable. The picture quality is good if not great at all recording speeds. The Sound is the same and agree with all the other reviewers. I wish we could record in surround sound , but I guess they are saving that for a later model. I Play back through a surround system that takes the sterio signal and makes it 4 channel and it is close to the surround effect. All and all I'am impressed with this unit and recomend it highly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it helps you to decide if this is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Guys, you'll need to read the manual....
Review: I pride myself on being able to figure things out with the user manuals. Not with puppy...Simple operations become a frantic search in the manual on how to do these things. I haven't had any problems with discs compatiblities. I bought a Sima SCC2 digital color corrector to compliment this unit. With this I'm able to back up my videos and DVD's. The quality on the XP mode is incredible, can't tell between broadcast and the dvd copy.
Rating:
Summary: A Second Shot
Review: I purchased a E50 about two months ago and couldn't have been happier with it! It did everything it promised...recorded, played back...I could even play my discs back on other (even relatively older) DVD players. Then, it all started to change. I had been using Maxell discs, and in a pack of five, usually the recorder would turn one into a coaster. Then the ratio got higher until finally it wouldn't record at all. I started troubleshooting, tried different disc brands and even used the *supplied* Panasonic DVD-RAM disc, but no dice. It just wouldn't record anymore.
I took the unit back and it was replaced...and...so far so good. It's been about a month now with the new unit, and every disc I've recorded has come out working. Just for giggles I bought some cheapie CompUSA discs...even they work! TMC has been showing classic Oscar winners all month, and vintage Charlie Chaplin...which I now have on DVD thanks to this recorder!
I also enjoy having the front end inputs with S-video & RCA. Great for hooking up my MiniDV Camcorder to caputure vacation videos to DVD...so now we can share them with friends without having to hook our cam up to their TVs.
From reading the reviews here, there seems to be a problem in the manufacturing of these units, because when they work, they work wonderfully. I guess it's Russian Roulette as to whether you get a working model, or a paperweight. *** out of ***** Because of the Forrest Gump rule on these recorders..."You never know what your gonna' get."
Rating:
Summary: Have had unit for almost a year, recorded 400 dvd's
Review: I purchased my panasonic dvd recorder in February of 2003. For the most part the system has worked extremely well. You do need to test and make sure the "finalized" dvd-r discs will be read by the dvd player you wish to play them on. As far as discs, the quality and experience has varied. I have had mediocre results with Imation, Memorex. I have had excellent results from Verbatim. Most of my recordings have been on the DVD-R, but I also record on DVD-RAM, edit and copy onto the DVD-R discs(because they are less expensive). The only issue I have had, if you begin to record, and stop recording quickly (15-30 seconds), the disc sometimes becomes unusable. An easy solution to this problem is it let the recorder continue recording for a minute or two, then stop the recording and the erase it. All in all, this unit has exceeded my expectations. It has allowed me to copy many programs and films to dvd. One other recommendation, I also purchased the Panasonic DVD player (Less than $100) that had a rebate ($30) that will play DVD-R and DVD-Ram. So anything I record can be played on the player and watched, or (are you ready) can be played on the player and recorded on the recorder, for mixing dvd's or editing and then copying the dvd-ram recording to the less expensive dvd-r discs. And, I have sucessfully been able to keep my dvd-r cost down to about $1.50 each, and the dvd-r to just above $4.00 each.
Rating: 
Summary: Timer Recording - only analogue channels
Review: I purchased this machine mostly to timer record digital channels for later playback. The E50 Tuner only goes to 61 channels for Timer Recording whereas most digital cable channels or satellite are 200, 300 or higher. You cannot setup your Timer Recording to record different channels at different times if the channels are above channel 61. Very strange for a supposedly digital device.
Rating: 
Summary: NEVER again
Review: I purchased this unit from Circuit City in Feb of 2004.
38 days after purchase it quit working. (I live 60 miles away)
Circuit city will not take it back after 30 days PERIOD.
SO, took me OVER two months to get it shipped and returned back to me due to the fact that Panasonic gave me the WRONG shipping address and it went to Texas before getting to PA.
Anyway, Now it is back to not recording and not ejecting discs AGAIN.
first time it said it couldn't read discs. now, it won't open or close. "CLOSE" stays on the display.
Panasonic's customer support leaves a lot to be desired!
I have no problems with circuit city except for they COULD have been more helpful with WHERE to ship this to. All they gave me was the typical 800 munber that is listed ont he web. THey also COULD have shipped it back since it was BARLY out of warranty. Or at LEAST swapped the unit out. Overall, I bet this unit hasn't been used more than 10 times in 6 months and will probaly be back in the shop for another TWO months!
Never again Panasonic! NEVER again!
Rating:
Summary: Works Great for many months...
Review: I've had my unit for 1.5 years now. Bought it when it first came out and I must tell you, the Time Slip is great when you must record a show and will miss the first half only. (especially a football game that I don't know the score) It acts like tivo and still keeps recording while allowing me to watch from the beginning. It has the ability to record on a Ram disk which allows you to erase and rerecord. Picture looks great at SP mode (2 hr mode) If you copy a show that's just slightly longer than 2hrs you can set the recording for flexible record and it will give you the best recording possible at the fastest speed. Other recorders can't do this and must be set at 4hr mode. This feature is great when copying DVD's etc. NOTE!! One time I went to record a tv show and I was getting errors like crazy. The DVD door would not open, I thought I broke the machine. It turns out that I had a bad fingerprint on the READ side of the DVD and the I cleaned it with a tissue and it worked MINT!! Watch out for those dirty DVD's.....Great product!!! You will never record with a VCR again!
DK
Rating:
Summary: The BEST DVD Recorder period!
Review: I've had this player since April 2003 and recorded over
100 movies on it. It has recorded and played back flawlessly.
I'm not sure what there is to complain about this machine.
It's in my opinion the BEST DVD recorder on the market.
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