Customer Reviews
Not worth the trouble 
2008-06-22
Do not buy this product. It works for about two weeks and then has problems from viewing a dvd/vhs to recording a program. You can send it in for service, but the service at Panasonic is slow. We have owned this unit for 4 months, it has been in service 3 times and we have physically had it in-between for 6 weeks, all this other time Panasonic has had it at their repair center and can't seem to fix it. I suggest buying SONY, not panasonic.
Great Product 
2008-06-20
So far it does everything I bought it for.
Cons:
Slow response time on remote.
The unit has frozen a couple times. I just unplug it and wait a minute and then plug it back in and it works fine after that.
Panasonic DMR-EZ47V 
2008-06-16
RECEIVED Panasonic DVD/VCR DMR-EZ47V asap.
*Installed it and test drive for functionality - no problem.
*excellent machine for that price.
Works well to transfer VHS to DVD 
2008-05-06
Not sure whether this is the same model or not, but this is the product it brought me to when I linked from my invoice.
I purchased the "Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK Up-Converting 1080p DVD-Recorder/VCR Combo with Built In Tuner" in October 2007. At that time, it was about $250 and Amazon was the retailer. I didn't start using it for tape transfer until some time in March 2008.
I did not buy it for the HD tuner, so I can't speak to that. However, it has worked really well so far in transferring VHS tapes to DVD and also directly recording to DVD from cable. I use the rewritable DVDs for "time shifting" TV programs. I use the +R DVDs for permanent collections. Finalization process works well and the DVDs recorded on the Panasonic have worked on Toshiba and SONY DVD players.
The only problem I've had is that sometimes it doesn't properly divide between programs/episodes when transferring from VHS. A few times it taped entirely through a 6-hour tape without dividing it into the 6 hour-long episodes. Other times, it failed on the divide and I had to restart it when I discovered it. For much of what I've done so far, I have actually monitored it and watched the programs as they were transfering. It was fun seeing the programs again and it allowed me to monitor the start and finish of each episode to ensure a smooth transition during the divide. I did a manual finalization at the end (instead of auto finalization), so I could edit the episode and disk names.
I just hope it lasts long enough for me to transfer my very large VHS collection to DVD. Cross my fingers and hope I haven't jinxed it.
Awsome! Husband loves it. 2008-05-04
If you are looking for a good gift this will work. This player is awsome. It takes about a day to figure out but when you do its worth it. Keeps him occupied and happy which makes me happy. Thanks Panasonic for makeing such a quality product.
dvd recorder review. 2008-05-04
The DMR-EZ47V features an integrated DVB Digital Tuner (SD) for viewing enjoyment. The integrated tuner allows for Digital broadcasting reception without the use of an external tuner incorporated into a set-top box. High quality digital television enjoyment has never been easier with a Panasonic DVD-Recorder. The hybrid digital tuner offered in the DMR-EZ47V also supports analog broadcasts for broadcasters not yet offering digital broadcasting.The DMR-EZ47V also supports 7 day Electronic Program Guide where transmitted by each broadcaster, 7 day EPG makes recording a breeze, simply select the program you wish to record by name rather than remembering days, dates and times.een TV. DIGA has the kind of network connectivity you need to enjoy it all. You can load a large amount of AV data from cameras and other components into a DIGA recorder, and enjoy easy playback, editing or storage. You don't even need to use your PC.What do you want to do in the HDTV age? Superb image quality, easy operation and outstanding network connectivity. DIGA has everything you need to enjoy the HDTV age. With DIGA, the possibilities are endless.
Good But Frustrating to use 2008-05-03
Overall, after 4 months of ownership, I regret buying the Panasonic DMR-EZ475V. While the quality of the recordings is VERY good, the machine is frustrating to operate. The response time is very SLOW when you press any of the commands. My biggest frustration is getting it to record at all. The instruction manual is laid out in a step by step format, but some of the steps are missing! Simple explanations are missing too. This leads to wasted time and effort due to the trial and error it takes to get the machine to function properly.
I know Panasonic laid off many of their copywriters-BIG MISTAKE! I chose the Panasonic DMR-EZ475V for it's newer features. This player supports a wide variety of discs; has the ability to record to DVD +/- R Dual Layer DVD-RAM and DVD pictures can display at 480i/p, 720p, 1080i/p. Once you get used to it, it is a good recorder with some nice features. Panasonic needs to pay more attention to writing the manual though.
Panasonic DMR-EZ47V 2008-04-17
Bought this product after returning a Toshiba unit. The VHS section of the Toshiba broke after 5 tapes were copied. I have been using the Panasonic since early April 2008. Have copied many movies from the satelite system with no problem. Transferred many VHS tapes to DVD and again no problem. The only thing that I don't like is you must use DVD-RAM to copy still pictures from a SD card to DVD. I would suggest this unit to anyone that wants a VHS DVD unit in one box and plans to transfer VHS tapes to DVD.
Great features, but unstable and unreliable 
2008-04-14
When I bought this unit in May 2007, it was my first DVD recorder and came loaded with all the features I wanted: VHS-to-DVD dubbing, a built-in tuner, 1080p upconversion, MP3 playback, "Flexible Recording" to DVDs, and lots more. I spent some time reading through the manual before using it, and while some features weren't very intuitive (the common task of finalizing a DVD-R after recording requires navigation through at least four menus!), on the whole it was easy to use. DVD picture quality at XP or SP mode is very good, but recording more than two hours on a disc produces heavily pixilated images. I am especially disappointed in the quality of DVDs that I dub from VHS tapes. The built-in VHS player has difficulty tracking many of the tapes I put in, even when tracking manually and using tapes that played fine on other VCRs. For the rare VHS that tracks well, the DVD copy often looks much worse, even when recording in XP or SP mode. Even more irritating, when dubbing to DVD, the DVD doesn't start recording until 10-20 seconds after the VHS starts playing. This has meant lots of clipped beginnings on my DVD copies. Why can't the DVD start recording immediately?
Unfortunately, the unit has also been alarmingly unstable. I've had the same problems as other reviewers with the machine freezing up--often after finalizing a disc, but occasionally during regular playback or menu navigation as well. When the machine freezes, nothing but unplugging it and then reconnecting will revive it: all controls stop working (even the power button). On several occasions, I've used the timer feature to schedule a recording. Usually, it works fine and scheduling is quite easy, but there have been times where the unit powers on at the specified time but does not begin recording--it turns itself on, then freezes! This has happened on roughly 10% of scheduled recordings. It's very disappointing to come home from a night out, expecting to watch a recorded TV program before bed only to find that the machine locked-up and with a still-blank DVD inside.
For some reason I don't understand, the built-in clock is also terribly unreliable. It loses 1-2 minutes a week. It's very frustrating to have to reset the clock once or twice a week to be able to use the timer feature to schedule recordings (something I do often).
The flexible recording feature is nice. When scheduling a timed recording, the "FR" feature adjusts the recording quality automatically to fill the entire disc with the highest-possible audio and video quality; if you want to record a program that is 3 hours long, but don't want to use the relatively poor-quality 4-hour LP mode, FR adjusts the encoding rate so that the 3 hours comfortably fills the entire disc at a quality level somewhere between the SP (2-hour) and LP (4-hour) modes. Unfortunately, FR mode is only available when using the timer. If would be much more useful if the user could specify a time for FR when dubbing from VHS tapes. I have some VHS tapes that run 2 hours and 5 minutes. If I record in the DVD's 2-hour mode, I'll lose the last five minutes of the tape. My only other option is to sacrifice the picture quality to the DVD's lousy 4-hour mode or split the program onto two DVDs. Ideally, I could specify 2 hours and 5 minutes for the DVD's "FR" mode myself and transfer the entire tape to one DVD in the best quality possible.
Several days ago, after only eleven months of service, my DMR-EZ47V finally bit the big one and locked up for good. No amount of plugging or unplugging it seems to be able to revive it. I turn it on and it says "HELLO " for 5-10 minutes, then starts flashing "No Read" (even though there's a perfectly good DVD inside--and it won't let me eject it!). Fortunately, I'm still covered by the 1-year warranty, so I'm taking it back and will look for something else. I have a box of 100-200 DVDs I made with this thing over the past year, and many of them turned out decently. Still, for what it cost, I expected this recorder to be more reliable and durable.
Very good 2008-04-11
I had purchased a dvd vcr combo without a tuner I returned it. I was used to being able to record from the
cable directly. I do not have a cable box. This DMZ EZ 47v
by panasonic was refurbished so I was very worried but the price was very tempting. with all the features and half the price. opening the box and it was in new condition. Every funtion is working . It is as advetised! I have been recording directly to dvd from the cable input while watching other shows on the TV . the instructions are a little confusing . a bit of a learning curve. Mostly because it has so many features and funtions. I plan to record some of my VHS tapes to dvd
since at this point all of my old VCRS are dead.
This is a very good deal. Very happy with price and product!!
