| Panasonic DMR-EH50S DVD Recorder with 100 GB Hard Drive Recording | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 68 reviews)
Sales Rank: 34665
Category: CE
Publisher: Panasonic
Studio: Panasonic
Brand: Panasonic
Label: Panasonic
Media: Electronics
Autographed: 0
Memorabilia: 0
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 13.8 x 2.5 x 16.9
MPN: DMR-EH50S
Model: DMR-EH50S
UPC: 037988252626
EAN: 0037988252626
ASIN: B0007YFQCG
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| Features:
| • | Dual recording - View a DVD while recording on hard drive | | • | Sized for home-theater connectivity | | • | Progressive-scan play compatible | | • | Linear PCM audio and Dolby Digital audio record and play | | • | Can record DVD-RAM, DVD-R, +R and DVD-RW discs; and can play back DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-Audio, DVD-video, Video CD, Audio CD (CD-DA) and CD-R/RW MP3 or JPEG formatted discs |
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Product Description
Panasonic DMR-EH50 DVD Recorder offers all the benefits of the DVD-RAM format, like simultaneous recording and playback, random access, Chasing Playback, on-disc editing, and multi-format data compatibility that lets you record TV programs and still pictures. Now, with expanded multi-format recording and playback capability, the DMR-EH50 also lets you enjoy all your DVDs, no matter which format you choose. The DMR-EH50 also adds DVD-RW (video format) and DVD+R recording, and DVD+RW playback capability, for enhanced compatibility with personal computers and DVD players. An integrated 100GB Hard Drive allows up to 170 hours (approximately) of internal storage of your favorite videos for easy access. Want to store or see digital photos? There's also an SD SecureDigital memory card reader to read photos recorded on a compatible digital camera or camcorder. At only 2.5" high and 17" wide, you can easily add the DMR-HE50S to your collection of home-theater A/V components. Virtual Multi Encode System enables LP mode recording with the same 500 lines of horizontal resolution as that in the SP and XP modes Optical Digital Output for dts and Dolby Digital Decoders Smart Wheel user-friendly remote control to quickly find recorded programs and start playback faster than ever (200x quick search and fast-forward smooth search.) One-touch record capable Inputs/Outputs - Audio Video Input - LINE (pin jack) x 3 / S-Video Input - S connector x 3 / Audio Video Output - LINE (pin jack) x 2 / S-Video Output - S connector x 2 / Component Video Out / Optical Digital Audio Out (PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS) Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - 16-15/16 x 2-1/2 x 13-13/16 / Weight - 9.92 pounds Silver Finish
From the Manufacturer
Find and Record Your Favorite Programs Easily with TV Guide On Screen
 Your hectic schedule isn't always compatible with TV program schedules, so being able to quickly locate your favorite shows and record them for later viewing is important. The TV Guide On Screen? Electronic Program Guide lets you easily find your favorite programs and set up your DVD recorder to record them unattended. Explore program listings up to 8 days in advance, searching by genre or keyword to help narrow down your choices. Once you've found what you want in the listings, simply select the program and your DVD recorder will automatically begin recording at the preset time. Watch and Record At the Same Time
You sit down to watch this week's episode of your favorite show and realize that you never got around to watching your recording of last week's episode. Not a problem with Time Slip?, featuring simultaneous record and play. Select this week's episode in the program guide, start recording, and as it records you can watch your recording of last week's episode. What if you set up your DVD recorder to record a movie from 8:00 to 10:00 while you're out, but dinner was faster than you expected and you get home early? With our Chasing Playback feature, you don't have to wait for the program to finish recording in order to watch it. You can begin watching the portion of the program that has already been saved while the DVD recorder continues recording the remainder of the program. Avoid Accidentally Recording Over A Program
If you own a VCR, it's almost certain that at some point someone has accidentally recorded over a movie or show that you wanted to keep. One-Touch Record will save your favorite programs from the same fate by automatically scanning the disc for blank space before starting the recording process. No more worries that your favorite sitcom's season finale will be overwritten by a family member's Sunday fishing show. Browse Through Your Recordings Using Thumbnails
You and your family are sure to enjoy the convenience of your DVD recorder so much that you'll have a large library of recordings in no time. Keeping track of all those programs would be difficult if it weren't for our enhanced Direct Navigator, which displays thumbnails of every program on the disc as you browse, making it easy to identify the contents of each recording. Built-In 100GB2 Hard Disk Recorder
The massive capacity of the built-in hard disk means you'll have plenty of space to record shows for everyone in the house. Record lots of programming, figure out what you want to keep, then move it to DVD in minutes for long-term storage. Film-Like Image Quality
The goal of any playback device should be accurate reproduction of the original content. In the case of DVDs, most of that content is film-based. Utilizing advanced progressive scan3 playback techniques and very accurate MPEG video decoders, this DVD recorder provides an image that faithfully represents the image you see at your favorite movie theater. About Progressive Scanning
Progressive scanning, otherwise known as 480P (p=progressive), creates a picture signal with double the scan lines of a conventional interlaced picture, 480I (I=interlaced), to create a noticeably sharper image. The 480P image offers higher picture resolution and eliminates virtually all motion artifacts. Even on large screens, the progressive scan lines are barely noticeable and picture flickering is greatly reduced, so you can enjoy extended viewing without eye fatigue. Our progressive scan DVD players can handle both progressive and conventional interlaced video. In order to take advantage of a progressive scan DVD player, your TV must be capable of accepting and displaying a progressive scan signal (480p). The Benefits of Progressive Vs. Interlaced Scanning
Standard DVD-Video players use interlaced scanning to produce a picture. Interlaced scanning combines two fields to generate a picture of 525 scan lines (480 of which are displayed). Your television projects an interlaced image by first scanning the 240 odd-numbered lines of one field (in 1/60th of a second), followed by the 240 even-numbered lines of the other field (in 1/60th of a second). So, it takes two fields to build one frame of video.
Our progressive scan DVD players have a progressive video processor, which enables all 525 lines (480 of which are displayed) to be scanned at the exact same time; two interlaced fields are combined into one progressive frame. A television with 480P component inputs can completely scan the entire image in 1/60th of a second. The result is a smoother and sharper picture with high resolution and minimal motion artifacts. Advantages of Progressive Conversion
Line doublers are used in other high-end home entertainment systems to provide progressive scanning. These may be stand-alone devices or incorporated into a digital TV. Impressive as they may be, our progressive scan DVD players' in-player progressive conversion has three big advantages over line doublers: - 1) High precision and stability
A DVD-Video disc mastered from a film holds all the data necessary to produce an accurate progressive image, whereas an external line doubler must take hints from the video source to determine the source material and frame allocation. - 2) All-digital conversion minimizes signal degradation
Since the signal from the DVD-Video disc is digital, progressive conversion can be performed digitally inside the player. Signal quality is protected until it leaves the player's analog output. In contrast, a stand-alone or in-TV doubler first receives information from the analog output of the source device then converts this analog signal back to digital for processing. Finally, it must translate the signal back to analog before outputting it. All this back-and-forth translation is much more likely to degrade the signal. - 3) Processing is optimized to DVD-Video's high image quality
Line doublers built into digital TV sets are designed to work with a variety of video sources, so their settings are not necessarily ideal for DVD-Video. The progressive conversion of our progressive scan DVD players is optimized for the high resolution and low noise of the DVD-Video format. This enables the unit to preserve DVD-Video picture quality for display on all screen sizes, from direct-view CRT to projectors.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 63 more reviews...
 Exactly what we wanted July 6, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
My wife and I wanted a DVR/DVD recorder so that we could record our 3yo daughter's programs as well as our own shows that were on when we weren't around. Pretty much what everyone else wants. This has proven to be exactly what we wanted and has worked flawlessly.
My only negative comment about this recorder is concerning the instructions. First let me state that this isn't a simple machine. It's more like using a computer program than a traditional VCR. In other words, it does have a definite learning curve and, if you had problems working a standard VCR, this might not be for you. I tend to be pretty good with this sort of thing, however, and I must admit that I did have quite a tough time getting it set up and working properly.
Back to the instructions, for such a complex machine you would think that Panasonic would make some attempt at making the instructions somewhat easy, or at least clear. They failed in both regards. I initially spent two frustrating hours trying to get it work with no luck at all. Just as I was about to give up I happened to notice the little "input" button on the remote. Seems you need to use the button to get the right input method in order to to get the system to work. Unfortunately the instructions failed to mention this fact. So, if you don't see the button, and put 2 and 2 together, you're out of luck. The instructions for most of the features are just as bad.
Bottom line, once you figure this out it works great. Be prepared to spend some time getting to know how to use it though. And, if you're the type of person who is technologically challenged, and find working the microwave to be a major task, you may want to stay away
Minor hiccups May 23, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read the reviews here but decided to buy the unit anyway. The proprietor of a Dallas, TX high-end A-V store had researched recorders and decided this was the one he wanted to sell. I had come to trust him over the years for audiophile purchases. Despite the problems noted in reviews, the only problem I had was that I had inadvertently "locked" the open/close mechanism somehow during setup, and lost a lot of time trying to find the subject in the manual. I called Customer Support, experienced no delay whatsoever in getting live assistance, and had the problem fixed in 5 seconds. That was the time one has to press both the stop and power buttons down to get it unlocked. She verified that this is not covered in the manual. Thus far I've only used the OnScreen TV Guide feature for HDD recording, and the playback of commercially recorded DVDs. The Guide has worked flawlessly. Glad I bought this unit.
Great DVR & DVD Recorder April 18, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
We have recorded many series of shows onto DVD's as well as movies, editing the commercials out. This takes a little patience placing chapters before and after the commercials, but let me know if you find a better approach. The lowest quality recording setting is not very useful since the picture gets choppy, but the mid setting is plenty for regular shows. The 1-minute commercial skip could use a 30-second feature, but what can you do. Also, the remove seems to be missing a channel-recall button, something I find a must-have so that cable box remote hangs around. I called my cable company about the channel listings coming through the line, and they said they have the ability (time warner) to open up the channel guide to someone by listing them as having personal equipment. Haven't tested that theory, but I've also gotten different stories from clearly less informed individuals at the cable company, so maybe you could just call daily until they give you the guide info.
The channel guide is interesting to set up, but you do it once and you're done. After the first time it gets easier anyway, you just can't be afraid of trying the setup! I loved that I could put our most-watched channels at the top of the list and put the others elsewhere. Playback resumes on recordings and DVD's whereever you left off when you used the stop button, and chapters are one-click to create when you want to come back to something later.
Multiple tuners would be great in this unit but that seems hard to find at a reasonable price in the current market. We regularly play back other recordings and DVD's while recording something on TV, and watch it later commercial-free. You just can't go wrong getting this DVR!
Don't forget to set the recording mode to allow fast-copy, or you'll be upset when you try to record something to DVD. Dubbing times are minimal if you have this turned on during recording, and I did not notice an impact to the available recording time.
 Just doesn't work like it should April 8, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
The quality of recording is great but their are TWO BIG PROBLEMS: ONE: The manual is the worst I have ever read, inexcusable in today's environment. TWO: The system is incredibly difficult to setup in order to receive TV Guide and each time you don't setup properly you have to start all over again - come on Panasonic - you guys are smart enough to develop a better system! Unless you are a gadget freak and have a lot of time on your hands to talk with Tech service save your money and get another simpler unit.
 Not worth the price March 28, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This was the first DVR recorder my fiance and I had purchased. We wanted something besides Tivo and decided to go with this. We bought it in October 2005 and at first it seemed great. We were a little wary of the bad reviews, but everything was working fine and we loved it. But then around January it started acting up.
The TV Guide listings weren't updating as frequently and so we switched to manually scheduling shows to record. That worked fine for a while, but then it wouldn't record a lot of the scheduled shows unless the DVR was turned on...we think it was downloading the TV Guide listings during the times it wouldn't record. Turning off the TV Guide solved that problem. And then a few weeks after that, it began recording the PBS station instead of the stations it was scheduled for - if it was scheduled to record channel 6, the display showed it was recording that channel, but it was actually recording PBS. It became so frequent that whenever I had a show scheduled, I had to check it and make sure it was recording the correct channel...very inconvenient for a machine we paid a lot money for to be more convenient than a VCR. We knew that the DVR looks to PBS for the clock settings, so we changed the clock setting to "manual" instead of "automatic" and now the PBS problem has been solved.
Panasonic customer service was absolutely no help. When I would call, I'd be on hold for so long that I would just give up. I tried their website and tried several times to fill out their customer service form, but it never worked - I'd hit the "send" button and nothing would send. I managed to get a direct email address for their customer service, but I would just get an automated response telling me to use the online form. Frustrating!
Dubbing things to DVD is very easy and nice, but considering everything else I think this product still needs more improvement to be worth the price. It's annoying and inconvenient having to schedule everything manually and then go back and label all the shows manually.
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