Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder

Pros: Build quality, performance, features, ease of use, price

Cons: No FireWire input

The Bottom Line: The Panasonic DMR-ES30VS is a very impressive DVD/VCR recorder. I like its high feature content, build quality, excellent performance...

Review: Do you want both DVD recorder and a VCR for less than $300? The Panasonic DMR-ES30VS is one of them. In addition to recording to

Pros: Solid feel, versatile performance, ergonomic (user friendly) design, great manual, easy setup/use, nice remote.

Cons: VHS recording/playback is fine, but only for basics; Better suited for dubbing than editing.

The Bottom Line: All machines at this price have strengths & limits. The DMR-ES30VS is well-made and user friendly. Its strength is dubbing, but it's an adequate VHS player, fine DVD player too.

Review: Below is my original review, in 3/05, after only a few weeks of testing and use. I'm much less enthusiastic a year and change later, having a better appreciation now for some of the reviews I've read of similar machines, which seem to deteriorate...

Pros: ease of use, convenience

Cons: none so far

The Bottom Line: It does what it is supposed to do with great ease.

Review: A couple months ago my wife said that I had to do something with the ton of VHS tapes sitting in the garage. Any time I get an opportunity to buy a new toy I jump on it, particularly since my VHS deck had died and my DVD player was not far behind...

Pros: Great Quality and Titling, Easy Menu and Navigation, Records and Finalizes cheaper discs.

Cons: No Zoom Feature

The Bottom Line: If you're searching for a DVD Recorder/VCR combo, then buy the Panasonic DMRES30V and your search will be over!

Review: I have had this unit for about 2 months now and I use it almost every day recording stuff off my DVR. This combo unit has serviced me better than I imagined for I have had other DVD recorders and they all performed well under expectations (and my...

Pros: Straightforward remote control, easy to read display, fast rewind, good quality

Cons: VHS side slow to react when button pushed, NOISY rewind!

Review: This is the second DVD recorder I tried and it is so perfect.

I first tried a JVC model. The manual wasn't very detailed for assisting with setup but it wasn't difficult to finally copy from VHS to DVD. Unfortunately, it started acting up...

Pros: Excellent dubbing quality.

Cons: No real problems

Review: Review updated by author, 09 Mar 07
I was archiving old VHS tapes and the tape transport problems were caused by the label of a VHS tape falling from the cassette into the VCR mechanism. Apologies to Panasonic, now I have no real cons for this...

Pros: Very easy to operate and very clear copies!

Cons: I really have no negatives.

Review: After purchasing the JVC DR-MV1s---and returning it back to BestBuy totaling disgusted---I exchanged it for this one!! I LOVE IT!! It is very simple to operate--and has great tech support. The VHS tapes onto DVD is actually a little better quality...

Pros: Picture recording quality, ability to use all recording mediums.

Cons: Manual is too confusing for simple first time users.

Review: Once I got the machine set up...only 17 pages, I tried to tackle the "one touch" transfer of VHS tapes to DVD disc.
The instructions are on page 57 and once you get the basic stuff setup it is a one touch operation. I burned a disc and took it...

Pros: Ease of use and great picture quality. Remote easy to use

Cons: Would like a rewind and Fast forward control on main unit . Silver finish

Review: Purchased this machine five weeks ago and since have burned 25 old tapes to DVD. This is the first time I have bought Panasonic and I am very impressed at the quality and especially how simple they have made it with one touch recording. The picture...

Pros: It really works, unlike the Samsung model.

Cons: Wish remote had an "e-ject dvd button" on it, but this is a minor "con."

Review: After picking up a Samsung at Bestbuy, I got it home, hooked it up, only to find it wouldn't work! It simply kept giving me an error message and would stop recording after about 15 seconds. I thought maybe it was because I was using "verbatim" blank...