Panasonic DMR-ES15 DVD recorder

Posted by T3 Online on Fri 26 Oct 2007

A great all-round DVD recorder that won't break the bank.

The big news with Panasonic's latest DVD recorder is that it can record to all DVD recordable discs. Unlike previous Panasonic models, which could only use the DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM formats, this records to DVD+R/RW discs too.

You also have access to some PVR-style features when recording to RAM discs, such as "chasing playback" - the ability to watch the start of a show while the end is still recording. That's a particularly neat little extra.

The picture quality using the standard one- and two-hour modes is almost identical to the original broadcast, but better yet, you'll find that even the eight-hours-per-disc EP mode is eminently watchable.

At �200, the only semi-serious criticism you can make of this is that the menus are initially a bit tricky to navigate - but that's only because there are so many options on offer.

The fact is that Panasonic has come up with yet another cracking DVD recorder that offers tons of features and great recording quality for a price that you would be foolish to ignore. When are its rivals going to start offering real competition?