The DMR-ES35V dvd/VHS recorder is just ok. It needs a few more features that are found on cheaper older models. A zoom function would be cool, also being able to eject the dvd or vhs from the remote would be handy. The instructions as usual from Panasonic are very poor. The manual seems to have been written by someone that has a poor understanding of technology. The instructions are not precise and spaced all over the manual. The simple instructions on how to record from the vhs to dvd was hard to find, and it kept referencing other pages for tips on how to do it.

The machine works as advertised. I used Verbaitim dvd-r disks and Verbatim +r dual layer disks. Both worked fine. The reason I selected this recorder was for the ability to record on DL disks, and I was not disapointed.

The remote control is poorly layed out. Also the lack of a cover on the front of the player to cover the optinal inputs was poorly thought out. But at least the port for the firewire was... Read more

This combo unit has a good DVD player/recorder and a good quality VCR. It is only 2-head but the quality is good -- much better than Samsung's 4-head VCR. If you want to transfer VHS to DVD and want a combo unit to do this, then this is probably your best bet (or the 45VS if you want upconversion to HD).

That said, this unit has several flaws. First, you really cannot edit your DVD titles before you finalize them -- even when using -RW discs. Granted, you can do this with RAM discs, but I wanted a DVD that would work on other players. Second, you cannot pause or easily stop recordings (unless a RAM disc), so editing out commercials (for example) is very difficult. Third, the remote is rather confusing and mine did not work very well. Sometimes I had to shake it to get it to work. Poor quality. Finally, I've heard that Panasonics can have trouble plaing discs burned on other recorders or computers. I have not tested this, but I've heard that the newer models still... Read more

I purchased this item 5-20-06. I wish I would have never have bought it. I also read another review about this dvd recorder and they had the same promblem I had. It did not work. This other person who bought this item bought 2 and returned both of them with the same problem. I bought it also and had the same problem also. Here is the problem. I hooked it all up and it worked great for about 5 minutes. Then I could not even get the remote control to work at all. It would not do anything. So I read the instuctions again for 2 hours to be sure I was not doing something a wrong. It still locked up. The Dvd recorder would not do anything at all. I thought the other person that wrote that bad review maybe did not read the instructions . He was correct with his bad review. He had to return both of his defective dvd recorders. I should have listened to what he said. I think Panasonic should pull this product off of the shelves to get the problem fixed. Seems kind of strange that 3 of these... Read more