Product Description The Panasonic DMR-EZ28K DVD recorder is capable of receiving both digital and analog broadcasts. Even when digital signals drop out because of interference with direct signal access, which makes the picture either disappear or become filled with block noise, the Digital Tuner still produces a beautiful picture. Just slip the SD card into the slot or use the cable to connect the camera to the USB terminal, and you're ready to enjoy a spectacular big-screen slideshow with family and friends. You can even listen to music recorded onto a USB device while viewing your photos. Connect your Panasonic DVD recorder to a flat-panel HDTV via an HDMI cable and the TV channel setting information is automatically downloaded to the recorder. Once the Auto Preset Download is complete, the DVD recorder will keep whichever TV channel you're watching as its receiving channel. This means you can record the program you're watching by just pressing the Record button on the VIERA remote. With VIERALink, you don't have to worry about setting the recorder to the right channel every time you want to record something. Frequently used buttons, such as Power and Open/Close, are located at the top of the main unit (this makes them easier to see when the unit is placed in a rack, where you need to look down when operating it). 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i / 1080p only with ujpconversion through HDMI Output Image File Format - FAT12, FAT16 (SD Memory Card) FAT32 (SDHC Memory Card) SD Image File Format - JPEG conforming DCF Image File Number of Pixels - 34 x 34 to 6,144 x 4096 Inputs and Outputs - 2x LINE (pin jack) Analog Audio (2 Ch) Input, 2x Line (pin jack) Video In, DV Input Terminal, 2x S Connector S-Video In, Built-in SD Card Slot, 1x LINE (pin jack) 2ch Audio Out, Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR), and 1x S Connector S-Video Outputs Dimensions - Height 2-3/8 x Width 16-15/16 x Depth 9-13/16 Weight - 6.16 pounds
Good picture, not user friendlyNovember 24, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The digital tuner is very good, although the machine displays "NO DISK" when you watch TV, rather than the station #...?. The DVD player picture is very good, and the sound outputs are good. But the disc tray loader and all software portions seem achingly slow. Channel changing takes two seconds (sorry, but that's an eternity!) and the deck will sometimes freeze for a few seconds when you go from DVD player to TV and back. The player also takes a minute or two to start up every time, locking up and displaying "...OOOOOOOOO..." signs or "HELLO...." It can be very frustrating changing DVDs trying to get the tray to open. There is no open on the remote. In general, this stage of home AV technology is miserable for users like me with front projectors and over-the-air antenna TV. All I want is a digital tuner and a DVD player in one, I don't need the recorder, so I may have to just get two machines. This one is a dog.
Problems solved, very reliable.November 17, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The DMR-EZ28K is my second DVD recorder from Panasonic. My other DVD recorder is a DMR-E55 that my wife and I have used on a daily basis for over four years without experiencing any problems. We bought this second recorder to use with the television set in our bedroom. When I read some of the reviews on the DMR-EZ28K I was concerned about the freezing problem. I read reviews about other recorders and they all seemed to suffer from some type of problem, so I decided to go with the Panasonic since I was familiar with how to use it and I had no problems with our other Panasonic recorder. Well, the first week after I purchased the DMR-EZ28K I began to experience the freezing problem when using RAM discs. I had no problems with any other types of discs. The problem was so bad that I considered returning the machine. But before returning it I decided to try reformatting the RAM discs using the new DVD recorder. After I reformatted the RAM discs using the new recorder I have not had any problems with it freezing for the last five months, so I expect that I found the solution for the freezing, at least for the recorder that I purchased. The machine is faster and the menu is easier to work with than my older model DMR-E55 recorder. We use both machines on a daily basis to record and play lots of DVDs. We always check any discs that we rent for grease or dirt, and we are very careful when handling discs to make sure they are not covered with any grease or dirt. I believe that may be one reason why we have had such great performance and reliability from these two recorders. I highly recommend this recorder and I am looking forward to several more years of problem free usage from this machine.
Excellent DVD RecorderNovember 3, 2008 7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I got the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K for two main purposes: to watch standard DVDs, and to record Digital Over-the-air broadcasts. As would be expected, the EZ28 does a fine job of playing DVDs, so I won't say any more about that.
As a recorder for OTA broadcasts, 3 things seem to matter: How good is the ATSC tuner? How reliable/easy are recordings? What is the quality of the recordings?
As far as the tuner goes, I couldn't be more pleased. The EZ28 easily has the best tuner of any device I own. I have a 5 year old Panasonic Plasma TV, a 4 year old Sony HD DVR, a 2 year old Viewsonic LCD TV, and a 1 year old Panasonic EZ17 DVD recorder. Only the EZ28 can reliably lock the one fairly low power, distant station that I get off the *back* side of my antenna. The EZ28 also reliably locks a very low power "oldies" station from the correct direction that none of the other devices will lock. Clearly, the EZ28 has a superior tuner, even compared to last year's EZ17. (I use the EZ17 DVD recorder as a digital-to-analog converter for an old TV and the EZ28 would be even better, although if I only needed SD output, I'd probably look at the cheaper EZ18.)
On to recording ease and reliablity. The EZ28 is programmed VCR style. The menus are completely adequate, though a few things could have been improved to reduce the number of button presses. All in all, nothing to complain about. So far, recordings have been 100% reliable; I haven't missed anything I've programmed. I have used single use 16X DVD-R disks (completely reliable and convenient), single use 16X DVD+R disks (require 30 seconds of formating before use), and multi-use DVD-RAM disks. I found multi-use DVD+R/W disks to be unreliable in the older EZ17, so I haven't tried them in the EZ28. The RAM disks are more expensive, but do allow "DVR like" functionality: chasing playback, watch one while recording another, etc. I did encounter a one lockup, which was easily cured with a front panel reset button. For the record, I've has a few lockups with the EZ17 as well, but so far the EZ28 is better.
I've viewed disks I've recorded on both the Panasonic Plasma, the Viewsonic LCD, and an old fashioned analog TV. One and two hour recordings are superb, and even 4 hour recordings easily beat VHS tape recordings. I prefer the "up scaled" out put to the SD output, not because I see any real improvement in detail on my plasma TV, but because the color and contrast seem better, though this may simply a difference in the way my TV processes a 1080i input versus a 480p input.
I've also used the EZ28 to record some of my old HI8 home videos to DVD, using the front panel S-Video input, and the results are as good as the original tapes (though that doesn't say too much). I've copied a few things from my HD DVR to DVD via the back side SD S-Video input, and the results are once again, quite good.
One of my favorite features is the Flexible Recording length. This is particularly nice when my HI8 tapes are 2 hours and 2 minutes long, or when I'm recording a 2.5 or 3 hour segment from my DVR. If I used the 2 hour record setting, I'd miss some of the material. If I went to 4 hours, I'd waste quite a bit of disk space and the quality would be reduced. With the Flexible Recording, the disk is filled with exactly the amount I specify, giving the best available record quality.
Summary: I highly recommend this DVD recorder, particularly if you want to make recordings of Digital OTA TV.
Electronics Expo has great customer serviceOctober 21, 2008 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
After receiving the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder, it did not function as I expected. I contacted Bruno at Electronics Expo and he exceeded my expectations by sending a return shipping label for the return of my Panasonic DMR-EZ28K 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder. I would recommend bying from Electronics Expo. They had the best price and the best customer service. I would not recommend the Panasonic DMR-EX28K.
Multple problemsOctober 20, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought this unit new in May 2008. Had it 3 months and started to have many problems. Unit froze up several times, Scheduled recordings didn't start several times. Took it back in to Best Buy and they sent it to Panasonic for repair. They had it over one month. When I got it back it still had the same problems with no explanation. I took it back in to Best Buy the next day and off it went to Panasonic again. Another wasted month. Not impressed with this Panasonic DVD recorder. Best Buy won't exchange it after 30 days.
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