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Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS
Product Rating   
Features of the Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS include:
- Super Multi Format
- 4 in 1 HDD Combi Recorder
- Freeview Tuner
- 250GB Hard Disk Drive
- VHS Combi
Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS Consumer Reviews
(20 reviews)
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Reviewed by GP on 03/12/2011
I cannot understand many of the posts here. The recording/transfer menus may be a little longwinded, but they are easy to follow. I have had the machine for 4 years and transferred many tapes to DVD or to the HDD with no problem. Simples!
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Reviewed by Tony Williams on 27/10/2011
Purchased 24/2/2007 - £448 @ www.cheapelectricals.co.uk with multi-region installed. After reading the reviews here it seems I must have very low expectations as for the most part I have had little problem with this unit and find it excellent. I never used the manual much except for the first hour and then just had a play with it to work out what was what. As for copying do not bother with the manual buttons and drive selection, just select 'functions' on the remote, go to 'other' then 'advanced copy'. There you can select source, destination, speed, etc. then select go. The unit has a great 'function' menue that is simple to use. If you are writing programs from the HDD to the DVD, do the same but this time it will provide a table where you can simply insert any recorded programs by 'exploring' and 'selecting' anything on the HDD. It's the simplest system I have ever used. Here are some good points. 1. it has the best Electronic Programme guide I have ever seen! Just ensure you have enabled the program guide auto update in standby mode so you will need to keep the unit plugged in. If this is not done, it can take a while for the EPG to be fully loaded/updated. 2. The unit only has one tuner, so if recording a freeview channel you can not be watching another. However, you can play a recorded program from the HDD, or play VHS or DVD or even be watching CCTV via the front AV port to see who is knocking at the front door. 3. The 'partial delete' function works very well. I would normally transfer my VHS to HDD in 1 hour segements using the best XP mode. Then use the 'partial delete' feature to get rid of the rubbish like blank starts and ends and any unwanted material, then use high speed transfer mode to DVD which takes about 10 mins to write 1 hour of video from the HDD. The DVD's can be used on any other DVD player or simply write to a PC with windows explorer. 4. The unit has a very good freeview reciever. I have tried other TV's and freeview receivers but this unit was better than all of them. It is very rare for the picture break up or freeze, whereas it was common with the rest. Here are a few complications. 1. VHS to DVD copying does not work well with old tapes and you should use a specialist supplier if you want a good copy. VHS tapes more than a couple of years old have many potential problems like being stretched, drop outs, time mismatch and variability, etc. It is best to use your original VHS machine and record to the HDD via the front AV input, in my case I even had a video stabilizer in line. Do not expect this video unit to do a recovery job of a machine costing 10 times more. Most of my tapes did copy well first time using the internal VHS player, but the older tapes did end up with a line across or colour missing even with a stabilizer and external player. 2. Programmes on the HDD may only be fast copied in 10 mins to the DVD if they are no more than 1 hour long and recorded in XP mode. Otherwise it's in snail time. 3. While recording a freeview channel the EPG can not be used. 4. If trying to record a programme already started, it will not let you. On the EPG you need to select the next programme and when it asks to confirm just manually reduce the times shown to the previous programme. Easier done than described. It then starts recording straight away. 5. If there is any bad weather and lightning about, the picture may 'freeze' or 'jump'. I found this was on the recording so always in the same place on play back. And the bad. 1. You need to periodically format the HDD to maintain best operation.
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Reviewed by Jayne Knight on 14/09/2011
I have had this machine for over 3 years and have yet to use it for the reason I got it for in the first place, tranfering Video tapes to DVD disks. I have in the past repaired PCs so am not technologically challenged but the manuel for this machine is impossible to understand, the menus don't look the same so it is just not possible to get the b...... thing to work. As my tapes, most of these are of important family things are ageing rapidly I am now getting desparate. I spent a lot of money buying this thing and do not have the money to now send my tapes away to be copied professionally. Surely there is someone out there who can help, step by simple step would be brill. I would cerainly not recommend this machine to anyone and judging by the other comments here I am not on my own. OVER PRICED and BASICALLY USELESS!!!!!!!
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Reviewed by julia lester on 14/01/2011
We have just been told our machine (never easy to use in the first place) will cost us over £200 to repair - it thinks there is a DVD in the slot when there isn't. But we have only ever used the DVD player very rarely. So after 5 years this machine is going into the spare bedroom with all the other electronic junk. Going out tomorrow to buy a new one - and it wont be a Panasonic.
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Reviewed by Tony Colavecchia on 11/11/2009
I was excited at getting this machine but agree with all the comments that the instruction manual may as well be written in chinese. On the plus side the panasonic dealer at Lincoln was fantastic & I made many calls for help & advice.I can now do all the necessary formatting from vhs to dvd & hdd to dvd& finalise. This took me months of reading & re reading & lots of frustration. I agree this machine was very overpriced. It was described as simplicty itself. Well that has to be a joke.I would not recommend anyone to buy this product.Im still learning!!!!!!!!I rate this as JUST acceptable!!!
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Reviewed by john smith on 01/02/2009
for the ones trying to record press function menu button then go to others press ok you can record from vhs to dvd or hdd to vhs or dvd it has a list of copying functions press the arrow buttons across or up and down
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Reviewed by W. HUNT bRIXHAM dEVON on 28/01/2009
I Have now had this machine for two years and wish that I had shopped around for an alternative that had, more basic functions,was cheaper, and easier to operate via an understandable instruction manual. I consider that it is very overpriced and has serious limitations as to it's use as described in other reviews. I am by far not the most intelligent person in the world, but one would need to be to fully undestand all 79 pages of the instruction manual. I find it an absolute nightmare, it may as well be written in coded chinese, Are panasonic trying to prove how sophisticated and clever this equipment is?. I am very disappointed that you cannot record one programme on HDD whilst watching another and further uphold all the negative reviews made by other people unfortunate enough to have burdened themselves with this machine. By ploughing through the manual as best I could, it would appear that Panasonic are try to show how clever & sophisticated the machine is. Although people buy it for there own particular requirements,I can't imagine the vast majority of it's supposed capability being of much use to the vast majority of owners. In short, its technology for technology's sake, it's to complicated to operate due mainly to it's incomprehensible manual, it's expensive & it lacks basic usable functions.
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Reviewed by Helen on 06/07/2008
Firstly, I wish I had found this site befre I bought this machine!! Having got it Friday and have just tried to set it up I wanna cry!!! I fumbled about trying to copy a VHS tape to the HDD and now have to wait three hours for this it to stop as far as I can see, as I cannot intervene and stop it. The manual is so hard to understand - can anyone let me know (as if I was a five year old wanting to record from tapes to HDD then HDD to DVD) how to do this step by step?? Many thanks Helen
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Reviewed by C Foster on 26/05/2008
I have to agree with other posters who find the instruction manual incomrehensible. I have managed to copy from VHS to disc and from HDD to disc (although it was almost entirely by fluke after lots of fiddling and I can't do it a second time) but can't make the finalisation of discs function at all. I just can't understand the manual and can't get the 'window' illustrated in the manual to display - window is supposed to offer choice between "record and finalise" and "record only". If I ever get it to display I might hang on to this machine but discs only playable on one machine are not what I wanted so it is within a centimetre of being taken to the dump. Would never buy Panasonic again.
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Reviewed by Steve D on 27/02/2008
First this is a rated 2 (just) at the price of £450, pay any more any it's not worth it. Drawbacks: Forget copying copyright VHS to DVD, it won't do it and it's the only reason I bought mine - Doh! For HDD recording you have to tune to the channel you are watching. So I've got a 'cheap' SAGA Freeview/HDD for this... Recording in EP to the HDD leads to phasing of movement on playback - rubbish. PLUS Once you get into it easy to use Less clutter. Would I have bought it knowing what I know now? NO
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Reviewed by Richard Cox on 27/02/2008
The machine may or may not be a 'good' buy but the instruction book certainly is not! I'm not entirely stupid but have come to the conclusion that it was written by someone educated far beyond his/her capabilities to grasp common (good) sense and convey instructions to others. Consequently I find it unusable. For me it was a waste of money and a sharp reminder never to buy Panasonic again.
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Reviewed by BOB on 03/02/2008
Purchased this machine at Christmas and find it so much easier to record programmes to the hard drive instead of the old tape set up.Have found however that on playback I have experienced picture jump and a very unusual drift of eyeballs on screen characters.Overall I rate this all singing and dancing machine as a great success and so it should be for the price.
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Reviewed by s j w on 11/01/2008
5 5 5 5 5
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Reviewed by Miriam Scott on 02/09/2007
I am hugely upset having bought this machine from QVC as todays special value starting price I believe was over £800 and I paid £656.07p. I have not used it yet - I am 66yrs old and even the instruction booklet terrifys me - you may say "shes old and technophobic" but having read the reviews and looked at the prices I cannot see how the price as a TSP can be justified bought on the 3/10/2006. I have also bought a sterio HI FI system and another DVD recorder also Panasonic and I am going to having to get an electrician to help me set up these equipment as from the instruction booklet DVD Recorder DMR-EX95VEBS 4 in 1, using this let alone the set up I feel will be almost impossible - yes how sad am I.
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Reviewed by Roger Suffolk on 30/07/2007
DO NOT BUY THIS AT ANY PRICE. I have this unit & it's so bad i am appalled. The pathetic limitations are unbelievable in a machine of this supposed sophistication. 'archive all your tapes' the ad says.........forget it..not with this pile of junk you won't. You can't leave it to transfer a whole tape as the autotrack is appalling & at the next program on the tape the tracking goes off & you have an unviewable transfer -- so you have to watch over it to track in each new program!!! Think you can transfer a tape overnight? Forget it! The last straw was today when it stopped tape to HD transfer AGAIN because it failed to autotrack a vhs tape & interpreted the bad tracking as COPYRIGHT!!! what's going on here then? can't it distinguish between a copyright tape & a home recorded 20 year old tape from the BBC???????????? Why won't this piece of junk track it in when my other vcr will? I'm amazed & disgusted that PANASONIC produce such poorly thought out units. This also won't let you record onto dvd & hdd at once. Why? you say - the ad says it's got 2 tuners? Yes, but one is assigned to the VCR!!!!!!!! In 2007??????? Oh, i forgot, i could record to vhs tape...........you must be joking.....in 2007????? i bought this thing to get rid of my tapes - not make more. The VCR is so poor, it takes ages to stop in FF mode so you end up miles past where you want to be & today it's started to chew perfect Scotch tapes which play in my other VCR! Oh, the VCR display (which you're not likely to need for much) is glaring, undimmable & always visible but the other one which is vital & gives you all the info on DVD, HDD recoding, editing etc, etc, is dull orange & even in brightest setting is unreadable on any bright day. If you are dubbing a DVD you can record to HDD but not the other way round!! You can't add or edit a timer setting if it's in timer record mode. The one touch record function is pathetic.......30, 60, 90, 120, 180 & 240 minutes or nothing. What's wrong with 10 or 30 mins every press??? The remote is a mess, one set of buttons need switching to VCR, HDD, or DVD so you can't control more than the one section at a time which means you can't transfer anything manually......no thought gone into this then?! I could rant for ages but I need to watch the tracking............ PANASONIC must employ morons for designers. BE WARNED, DON'T THINK ABOUT BUYING THIS UNIT AT ANY PRICE!
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Reviewed by Mr Magoo on 25/06/2007
Excellent recorder
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Reviewed by M. Coward on 27/05/2007
A good product bundling various recording formats together thus reducing the amount of clutter under the telly (and number of remotes needed). I've been using mine for a month and have found my way around the menu system although the mother-in-law is still baffled! Disapointed it doesn't have a dual-channel digital receiver. We don't have a digital TV so once we start recording we can't view any digital channel other than the one being recorded. The only way around this is to have a digital TV or a set-top box which in my opinion kind of defeats the object really. Also some very cheap set-top boxes have a better programme guide with the current channel visible in a window in the top corner of the menu so you can see whats on other channels without missing the one you're watching. The SD card funtionality sounded really good but am disappointed after trying it. With mobile phone cameras rivalling proper cameras and the ability to put mini-SD in the Nokia N75 I was looking forward to seamless photo viewing via TV. Not so. The Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS can not read the folders on the card. Tried formatting the card on phone/PC and DVD recorder but either way the folder system can not be read by the Panasonic DVD recorder. The only work around I've found is to copy the photos to the root directory. Not ideal for storing/archiving. Didn't Panasonic invent SD memory??? Frustrated that I am unable to create DVD back-ups of my original VHS films. The machine will not copy them. Can understand it when trying to copy DVD to HDD. Its great to be able to record to a massive 250GB HDD, no scrabbling around looking for a tape/disc then trying to find out if there is anything on it you don't want to record over. Recording to HDD it puts the programme in the available space. Stuff you want to keep can be archived onto DVD when you get time. Don't have a problem creating chapter-points and removing adverts etc. I have a DV camera and that interfaces very well with the Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS. Its good that our analogue Phillips TV can be controlled using the Panasonic DMR-EX95VEBS handset (limited: standby, channel, volume) Overall I am pleased with my purchase although I payed less than £450 for it. There is nothing like it on the market. Wish list of improvements: dual (or even tri) channel digital TV [watch while rec on HDD and/or DVD/VHS) Better SD card folder compatibility No copyright protection on VHS
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Reviewed by W. TAIT on 31/01/2007
Bought machine at end of October.Recorded on 3 DVDs & 2 DVD Ram discs.Then dvd part of machine decided to stop working.Panasonic customer service u/s.Now awaiting machines return from repairer,been away 4 weeks so far.Instruction manual not very easy to understand takes a while to grasp menu system. Have I been unlucky in obtaining a "Friday" machine.Would not buy Panasonic again.
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Reviewed by L. Lomax on 05/10/2006
My rating is purely on ease of use. Having come out of the era of programming VHS, and having turned to a cheap Digifusion HD 80Gb recorder, over two years ago, all of which were my job to programme and use, we decided to go mad and buy this all-in=one, to allow for dumping some DVD stuff (Dr. Who etc) to Disc and allow for copying the VHS of my daughter from age 0 to now onto DVD and hard drive as bacj yo, I should say I'm married to an electronics engineer and over the years (28) have had the latest gadgets on the market - it was inevitable .... I am not a dithery technophobe "who can't operate a video". However, I do like clear instructions and this manual (not) has definitely spoilt things for me. Why on earth should I have to experiment? Did nobody test out the manual on real people before they inflicted it on us? The functions of the kit is evident, to be able to record on various media and copy to those media. I have just spent an hour this morning trying to work out how to put something (or half an hour of a demonstration that was in it) from hard drive to DVD. I managed to format the disc (RW) but was told could not copy at speed (no clue why). It wasn't clear (no prompts on screen) that I had done anything wrong. The pictures in the screen graphics are not clear. I've grown to hate the back button and I dislike the fact that so far if a programme has just started, I ca nnot just record it from the programme list in the normal way (press OK, OK). And these are only a few of my gripes and don't get me started on dividing into scenes ... Contrast this to the very cheap digifusion box bought from Argos. TWIN freeview tuners which are seamless. If something is recording, you can programme in somethig else or watch another channel. It has 14-day epg The buttons are simple. based on red, green yellow and blue button. You press to get the epg up, press red to see all the programmes for the channel the cursor is on or cursor to the one you want> press green (at this point you can use arrow keey to add a few minutes to the programme if you want), then press green again. Job done. After recording it asks if you want to generate scenes for that programme, and divides them into 5 or ten minute chunks. If you pause, the minute you are on comes up and you can stop knowing that the time related scenes will help you exactly find your place again. You can also easily delete scenes. And it was a quarter the price of the Panasonic. And it gives you on-screen prompts. I am composing an email to Panasonic UK (whose site menus and drop down lists are every bit as bad as their manual - they lump HDD with DVD recorders - when they list them) I don't rate this recorder, well not very much, and if anyone is tempted at all to buy it, make sure you ask if you can try it first and have a long look at the operating instructions - there is nothing very much one-touch or easy about this thing.
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Reviewed by Iain MacKnife on 18/08/2006
Why are there barely any freeview recording devices of any description out there? Well, here is a DVD, VHS, HDD250Gig recording device all in 1 with Freeview, and easy to use at first glance. And it takes SD cards too! RRP is high (£600+), but I acquired mine from a consumer outlet with 12 month warranty for £299.99!!! Honestly, after watching this market for over 12 months, and using a pc for recording DVB for longer, suffering Windows vagaries, then frustration at Linux updates unravelling all my hard work carefully setting up recording and transcoding software, I couldn't understand why it was taking the home entertainment market so long to properly take up the baton. About time, and at £299.99 a great price for all these features but At £600+..?? - Not really!! Come on guys, stop squeezing the consumer! DVD plays dual layer, but only records directly onto single layer. However the manual suggests that you can record to hard disk and copy from there to dual layer. I haven't tested this yet. Also uses RAM disks (2x4.7gig supplied with unit!) to 9.4 Gig which can be recorded to direct. Gripes: Manual is a bit hard to follow as it is based around the menu structure. That makes it a logical description of featues more than a friendly howto. Therefore time has to be spent experimenting and finding if for example you can split out parts of recordings on HDD into separate titles..When an update was taking place overnight once wasn't sure if things were freezing up or not. Not sure if it plays mp4 - nothing in manualabout DivX, THOUGH SOME REVIEWS SAY IT PLAYS THEM. Definitely doesn't convert to DivX or XviD (which is royalty free equivalent of DivX) for compact storage with high quality. No zoom control. Doesn't have USB connection. All said though, not a bad piece of kit, and probably ranking well amongst its peers. If I knew everyone could have 1 for £300, I would have given it 5/5!! As it is, the industry is still holding back too much and charging too high for me to rave about any of them - then what happens when BluRay comes out (soon) and obsoletes current DVD standards.
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