Customer Reviews
DVD drive failed after 1-1/2 years 
2008-08-29
This served my needs for dubbing VHS to DVD, but the infamous U61 error (call your service center) appeared after only 22 months of usage. The unit will no longer play DVDs. So after paying approximately $280 for the unit, I basically paid $12/month before it died. Worth it? You be the judge.
Other minuses: The "spin up" time to go from stop to record is really, really slow. The controls "feel" sluggish because there is a delay in most functions. I'm an experienced A/V owner and found the controls for creating/marking chapters on DVDs nearly impossible to figure out. The manual is so cryptic and poorly organized, and you'd never be able to figure out how to use the on-screen controls by the intuitive "hunt and peck" method.
On the positive side: The recording quality is good, even at low quality settings, with many options of quality level to record with, depending on how much storage space is left on a recordable DVD.
I gave it 2 stars, but wouldn't recommend it based on the DVD drive failure.
Good but frustrating 
2008-06-02
Seems like a good unit. Works as advertised. But some features are very frustrating. Command response is SLOW. Press a button and wait and wait for something to happen. The controls are complicated. Be prepared to refer to the manual A LOT. And the manual reads like the instructions for a IRS 1040 form.
Absolutely FANTASTIC! 
2008-02-14
I needed to save dozens of home made VHS tapes dating back to 1983! EACH ONE played perfectly in this deck. I transferred each to an included DVD RAM dis WITHOUT TROUBLE OF ANY KIND! The internal menu settings I routed through my computer monitor (I did not own a TV) and the simple remote control provided WORKED FLAWLESSLY! I then transferred the MPG files created by the DVD side of the deck to my computer and checked them! Perfect transfer, no artifacts of any kind!
I then "formatted" the disc for the next transfer, in essence, erasing the info and setting it up for new data. When I used NERO on my computer, this process took 70 minutes! In the Panasonic, using the format feature, it took 4 minutes. I have since transferred thrity VHS tapes to my hard drive, using the one DVD RAM included in the box. It took days! But each "movie" played fine and even loaded into my Sony Vegas editing software without a hitch! Even older tapes, ones I had shot using old tube VHS cameras (back in 1983) came out looking good (or at least as good as the 25 year old video tape could afford to look!)
If you're going to transfer video to disc (or computer files for storage) I highly recommend this Panasonic unit. I was going to sell it after wards, but have kept it becuase it also allows DV cameras using Firewire to transfer in real time from the camera to the DVD RAM disc! Even at $10 a disc, these discs are great! I have "used" mine on 30 plus transfers without a hiccup!
This is worth every dime! Again, I highly recommend it!
DVR/VHS combo saves old tapes in newer format 
2007-12-21
This combo works pretty much as advertised to copy VHS tapes onto DVD's of various formats. It isn't completely intuitive to operate, so, horror of horrors, you actually need to read the directions to operate it. The directions assume a level of competence I don't possess, so I'm still trying to figure out how to split titles and edit, but that will come with some experiementing.
Totally frustrating 2007-12-19
If you want to use this to record or play VHS tapes, DON'T!! Read all the other reviews about the problems people have when tapes get jammed. Panasonic should be ashamed.
Great machine! 2007-11-25
The Panasonic DMR-ES45 gives you the ability to enjoy older and newer media formats without taking up precious space in your home entertainment setup. You've probably got plenty of great stuff on VHS tapes, from your favorite films to home recordings. Instead of taking up room with a VCR and a DVD player, you need a single unit that plays both. That's where the DMR-ES45 comes in. Taking what worked well in previous models and improving them, it also includes new features that make everyday DVD recording simpler than ever. The HDAVI-Control allows you to control multiple components without the mess of wires and remotes that you'd normally face. While enjoying your favorite VHS movies and recording to tape, you can also record&play back DVD-Audio&Video, CD audio, CD-DA and MP3/JPEG discs. You can even load up an SD card and preview your digital photos and video on a larger screen. The simple HDMI connection lets you manage your home theater connections without facing a jumble of wires. The DMR-ES15K offers you the easy operationand versatility you need to complete your home entertainment center. VCR Refresh Dubbing with advanced DNR DV Auto recording and playlist creation Transfers content from a DV camcorder or SD card in just one step Simultaneous playback and recording (for DVD) Chasing playback tool allows you to watch the start of a program while you're still recording it (for DVD) Uses single-layer DVD-R and DVD-RAM (recording up to 4.7 GB) Auto DVD-R Finalizing Records using MEPG-2 compression, for up to 8 hours of video on one disc VBR recording for optimized bitrate depending on type&length of recording Time base corrector for stable, natural images Front A/V input Built-in SD card slot HDMI Inputs - 2 S-Video, 2 Component, 2 SCART, 2 line in 1 line out, 1 Optical, 1 Component, 1 S-Video, 1 Composite Recording formats - DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW Dolby
Clunky user interface, DVD drive failed after 4 months and 12 discs 2007-11-23
It would be easy enough to forgive Panasonic for the poorly thought out and implemented user interface if the unit had continued functioning for years and years, like my other Panasonic devices. I have an 11 year old TV, a 7 year old DVD player and among my audio gear, a 20 year old CD player and a 25 year old boombox. Over the years I've had very good luck with my Panasonic and Technics electronics.
Until now. I had this unit 4 months. I used it to convert 3 short VHS tapes to DVD, and had just started recording the evening news to DVD-RAM.
I have young children and never can catch the news when it's on. And I do not yet have a TiVo. In total I had made 12 recordings when the DVD drive died. In the middle of recording it ejected the disc and indicated that it needed to reboot. I rebooted it, and then again and eventually unplugged it. After 24 hrs I powered it up again but it would no longer read any disc.
Luckily it was still under warranty and went back to Panasonic for repair.
I realize that most of the DVD drive assemblies made today are of poor quality but I had much high expectations for Panasonic. For half the price of this unit I could have purchased an El Cheapo unit and wouldn't have been surprised or disappointed if it would have failed in the first year.
I realize that Panasonic has a replacement for this unit which now has an ATSC tuner, which would be great to have. If I ever get this unit back from Panasonic I will probably sell it on Amazon Marketplace as a refurbished unit (because it will be) and get a newer OPPO with an ATSC tuner.
DON'T BUY PANASONIC! 
2007-07-28
Save your money, time and peace of mind!
I bought a Panasonic DVD/VCR recorder combo in the spring of '06. It worked "ok" for about 6 months. I then started noticing little "glitches". Nothing major, but off-putting just the same. While tech support at Panasonic were all very polite on the numerous times I called, they obviously had no clue as to correcting ANY of the problems my machine had (Uhhhhh, try a different brand of DVD. Or try unplugging the unit...)
It finally got to the point where the unit needed repairs, no more putting it off. This required taking a day off work, to drive across town to then drop of the unit and wait at least two weeks before a tech could even look at it. All this work I'm having to do because I bought a Panasonic product. After collecting my recorder from the repair shop, six weeks later, it still didn't work.
Panasonic, at this time said return it, we'll send you a replacement. HOOORAY!!! Great company, right? WRONG!!!! The replacement crapped out in less than two months!!!
Am told by Panasonic Management that the only option I have is to, again, have it serviced. WHAT???? The first unit wasn't serviced right, and now you want me to go through trouble of getting the new one serviced? (Shawn in management said this was my only option.) I said, I don't want it serviced, Panasonic is NOT a good product...I want to be compensated. Again, the only option I have is to have it serviced.
What is so insulting about this is that:
1) Products, in my opinion, are junk.
2) They took my money.
3? The expect me to spend time and effort (in addition to my money) to
chase rainbows to get products "repaired".
If you want to waste time and money, run around your block 5 times and throw handfuls of money down the sewage drain as you go by...
Panasonic DVD Recorder/VHS Combo 2007-06-20
This is a really cool piece of equipment! Huge learning curve, but what a powerful tool! I record TV shows and edit the commercials out, then record them. Used the VHS feature to capture old shows to DVD. Has to be done in real time, but you can watch shows on the HDD at the same time. Recording from playlists puts everything into one huge chapter on the menu screen, so I recommend that you add episodes manually to record. During set up, use the manual feature for the unit to learn your channels...TV Guide, seach feature and recording set up are awesome! Be prepared to spend alot of time with the guide, but eventually you'll be able to use most functions in your sleep!
Poor editing features, not user friendly 2007-05-30
I was sold on all the advertised features but did not realize until after I purchased a unit that you can not edit RW discs. You can do no more than delete the entire recording. There is no VR recording mode for re-writable discs which means you can not edit out commercials. A waste of money for me. All the features in the world are useless if you can't edit what you record.
