Panasonic DMR-EZ28K DVD Recorder with 1080p Upconversion (2004 Model)

I purchased this unit to replace 2 other Panasonic recorders(DMR E55) that I currently own because of the digital conversion of the airwaves that has taken place. I record shows off of the cable during the week to watch on the weekends when I have time to watch them and use DVD-RAM discs exclusively for the task. I like the ability to record and erase many many times on the RAM disc and not have any video quality suffer for it. As other reviewers have said that changing channels on the recorder when you use it as a digital tuner is slow, I can confirm that it is slow to change channels if you change channels one at a time using the channel up/down control, but if you know the channel number you can punch that number right in and it will go directly to that number quickly. The biggest change that I can see comparing this unit with the older panasonic units that I have is that the commercial skip function is about twice as fast and there is almost no delay after you press the button to go forward 1 minute at a time. The open/close button has been moved and is now able to be used when the disc tray is open. This is my 4th Panasonic DVD recorder that I have purchased over the last 3 years and have had no issues at all with this product. The main thing is to keep your disc clean of finger prints and dust and you should have no problems. I can definitely reccomend this product to anyone who likes value and reliability in a product.

I too am extremely please with its idiot proof software. I have been extremely ill for over 20 years. To relief the medical procedures, I had managed to record over 10,000 vcr tapes, and transfer and edited all motion pictures on to dvd disc. I been transgerring movies onto disc's 4 major motions pictures and possibly 20 documentaries per disc. I have completed over 3000 disc's. I have honestly have to say I worned, stressed, the units out. a total of 4 dmr-e55 and 6 dmr ez28k. i actually bougth extended insurance thru the company i do business with AMAZON, and the others were given as christmas, birthdays, special holidays gifts. I ulitilized my panasonic dvd recorders more than 90% of the people out there. and my last unit dmr ez28k I actually sent to texas for over heating problems and rattling noises. I have be told that I'm not covered because I didn't purchased the extended insurances thru panasonic. But rather thru Amazon and the shipper being Tiger Direct. com. Both of these companies i have been financially safe with and I have overs years and years will always purchased needed items from. Yes everyone say go to ebay and bid, done that and got investigators and pay-pal had back me up and close my accounts. As in life there are bad people doing bad things to other and jeaporiding their way of life and their familyies. Panasonic software is really good, and honestly its IDIOT PROOF. For myself, in iv therapy constantly, and the drugs can make you feel like space out idiot. Thats a discreption of myself, no offense to anyone else.So my world revolves around my panasonic dmr ez28k recorder. the varities of recording and editing and especially flex recording feature being able to puase while recording off satellite, or off the dvr, You really can't tell the difference of hd tv or cable or satellite, etc. the finalization and played back somethimes comes out better than the t.v.. and honestly you have to looked really hard to and upon comparision the the purchased movies disc's . Its really sad that Panasonic is no longer producting dvd recorders. They shut down their manufacturing center in Jamaica. I like viewing my movies over and over again. I can't afford the price of the movies, and I hate to wait sometimes or years to see a movie that brought happiness or strong emotions out of me. I can bearly afford food much less the cost of excellent produced movies. Bffut sometimes i will go with out medicine just fix my dmr ez28 k dvd recorder. Its too bad that Panasonic thinks this is a fad, At least for me going out is not an option, I'm IMMUNE COMPARIMISED.

PANASONIC is probably one of the best recorders, editor, upgraded picture quality recorders on the market but as good as it is it has that many 'not so good' features. Hence the LOVE, HATE RELATIONSHIP with this unit. This will be my fifth Panasonic DVD recorder and possibly the last since this unit has been discontinued and after searching Panasonic's web sight it looks like they've discontinued making 'recorders' altogether, at least in the USA. Since this unit has been discontinued and can not be found in 'New' condition anymore, I've opted to purchase this unit as Refurbished for actually about $150.00 Less then a new one. I won't go much more into the Love it, Hate it details since it is so limited that I'm not trying to 'sell' anyone on it. I wish that Panasonic would make have made this unit in an upgraded model to remove the 'bugs' that it has (read more on other reviews for this product) the most negative issue is 'locking up' which one has to 'pull the plug' to reset it and in time about a year or so the device starts to degrade rapidly by not 'reading' the discs, etc. As for the Company I purchase this unit from (which was not from Amazon it's self) was shipped withing the dedicated date and time and the unit came in 'AS NEW' condition as possible. I would purchase from them again. They had two reconditioned Panasonic DMR-EZ28K DVD RECORDERS in stock and by the time I ordered this one the second one was sold, so I feel fortunate that I found this one and it works very well (so far). DAG

I bought this model based on other reviews, mostly for the similar Panasonic DVD recorder that did not have a TV tuner built in. That model was sold out everywhere, so I got this one for a bit more, and have no info regarding the television tuner portion. I have had four other set top DVD recorders, and they all were at least in the ballpark picture quality wise, for 1 hour recordings. This machine has a fabulous picture, even on 2 hr. and 4 hr. speed settings. It also has the ability to record a flex interval, meaning a 2:15 movie for example will be dedicated to the best possible disc capacity. My other machines require you to run at 4 hr. speed with poor results. The on screen setup and menu are OK, not best in class, but no real complaints. Playback of regular DVD's is also fine. Panasonic is the best I've seen.