Panasonic DMR-ES25S DVD Recorder

Pros: Easy menus, high recording quality, FR mode, recognizes all DVD formats, SD card slot, HDMI.
Cons: Very sluggish button response, sticky remote D-pad, unit freezes on playback menu system, poor ventilation.

I bought this ES-25S recorder about a month ago at the Clairemont store. The first one I picked up was unresponsive when playing DVD's...I verified this by taking my cheap APEX DVD player and the same disc worked fine in it! Also, recording was very ...

Pros: VERY flexible, reasonable cost.
Cons: No menu creation by user, lacks some info on display.

I began a search to find a DVD recorder which will enable me to capture video form a few different sources, and eventually I came across this model. I checked out different models and all have pros & cons, but this one seemed to be the one I needed. I ...

Pros: Multi-disk recording/playback, HDMI output and up-conversion, Firewire input, & flexible recording (FR)
Cons: No digital audio input, -1 input than the DMR-E50, does not play DVD mp3 disks

I "upgraded" to this unit because my previous Panny DMR-E50 crapped out. I wanted a recorder that had could play my previously recorded DVD-Ram disks, HDMI output and up-conversion, Firewire input, & flexible recording (FR). FR function is a must ...

Pros: Good recording quality; Compatible with most media; i.link connection; Reliable with reasonable price
Cons: Requires DVD-Ram media for editing; Doesn't store camcorder timecode; MUST first format blank media

REASON FOR BUYING Wanted to replace older Philips DVDR75 that I could no longer get discs for. Also needed an i.link port to copy from digital camcorder. Was a little leary after seeing the other review, but took a chance since some other reviews were ...

Pros: Firewire, SVHS,RCA plugs in front- fairly straightforward operation. DVDRAM: fills gap to HDD models
Cons: no chapter thumbnails within a single recording to help navigation

(rev 1/18/07)Recently bought an ES25; may update this review periodically. Researched many in this price range; bought this for firewire, HDMI upconvert & DVDRAM features. Using mostly to transfer SVHS & DV onto DVD format. Like anything, once you learn ...

Pros: Good picture when playing DVDs.
Cons: Too many issues to make it worth owning.

I tried this player out for over a week, and am going to return it. It plays DVDs all right for the most part (hangs sometimes), but it's the recording that was aggravating. It often becomes unresponsive when formatting DVDs, and it's always asking you ...

Pros: Good picture when playing DVDs.
Cons: Too many issues to make it worth owning.

I tried this player out for over a week, and am going to return it. It plays DVDs all right for the most part (hangs sometimes), but it's the recording that was aggravating. It often becomes unresponsive when formatting DVDs, and it's always asking you ...

Pros: Does everything I want it to do
Cons: Didn't have it 10 years ago

This is my 2nd DVD Burner (not counting computer type) which I've purchased within the last year. The first one was a no name and under $100 which promptly lead me to buying a "name" brand recorder. The Panasonic DMR-ES-25 does more than I thought it would do. Recorder is a breeze and I like seeing what I've scheduled to record and the unit indicating exactly what speed I need to record at to record multiple shows. I like initially saving favorite shows in the frequently used titles screen and I just click on the name and I don't have to retype it ever again. I hooked up my video camera and it started the recording when it was supposed to and it came out wonderfully. The SD card slot works fine, even though I haven't taken enough pictures to burn a disk yet. I have not had one problem other than my screwing up the time change and being one hour off on a whole week of programing. I paid $179 for this at Bi-Mart and may even go out and buy another one I'm so happy with it.

Pros: good when it worked.
Cons: waste of my money.

I purchased this DVD recorder from circuit city on 5/27/06 for $199, on 8/17/07 it stopped reading all discs. Perhaps I should have gotten the extended warranty. I remember when Panasonic used to make good products. Ahhh...the good old days. I won't be purchasing Panasonic products anymore.

Pros: I found it to be very dependable
Cons: Have to search/remember where t find finalizing DVD. Takes too long to finalize a DVD

I use it at home and when I take it with me to videotape Football or Soccer games, I record to the DVD and give the DVD to my son's coach. Never had a problem with it. Been working great.

Pros: Price, Ease of use, HDMI
Cons: Digital receiving not available.

Very good recorder. If you used VHS in the past this one is by far better. Setup to record is very easy. Does not allow you to choose a digital channel coming in on an analog cable. LCD TV's allow this (not true digital but better quality that Analog) The picture quality at its worst was VHS's best.

Pros: Looks nice. Seems well built.
Cons: Won't play back any recordable disc that it didn't format for itself.

The box and included literature indicate this machine will play and record all formats. I beg to differ. This unit works fine in its own little world. It may record on DVD+RW discs, and it may play its own discs back, but WATCH OUT! This unit will not play ANYTHING that IT didnt format for itself. In other words, all those hundreds of hours of VHS tape that you transferred to DVD on your PC, or on your old DVD recorder is now worthless to this machine. You put a disc in the tray, and all it says is "unformatted" and "would you like to format this disc?". If you do, you've lost everything that was on it. I just returned my DMR-ES25 to the store about ten mintues ago.
Unfortunately, this whole DVD recorder mess is a trade-off. Either you get a machine that's solidly built and may last awhile but doesn't play anything but its own discs, OR, you get a machine that will play anything you put in the tray, but it croaks after a year. Joy!

Pros: Easy to install, records well.
Cons: Other than breaking down so soon was a good machine.

Worked great, looked great but now after a little more than a year CPU has crashed. Won't play, won't record. Disappointing. I will think twice now before getting another Panasonic.