Panasonic DMR-EZ48V review

Although you can still buy standalone VCRs, most of the larger manufacturers prefer to combine them with a DVD recorder – as Panasonic has done here with the release of the DMR-EZ48V.

Most people will probably fancy the EZ48V as a space-saving idea, but the added bonus of having a VCR and DVD recorder in one box is that you can copy tapes onto disc quickly and conveniently, bringing your analogue archives right into the digital age.

The machine is a chunky beast, but that's a necessary evil given the thickness of tapes and the drives needed to play them. Stylishly, Panasonic has diverted attention from its girth with a smart black or silver finish and a flap to conceal the front sockets and buttons.

Features

As per the rest of Panasonic's recorder range, the EZ48V can record onto any type of blank DVD, including dual layer DVD-R and +R. Fitted inside the unit is a Freeview tuner that enables you to watch terrestrial digital TV and record it to either media.

The inclusion of a single tuner is restrictive, but expected – more surprising is the lack of Freeview+, which denies you the convenience of series and split recording, as per Panasonic's DVD/HDD range. The lack of a hard disk makes the absence of Freeview+ a little less galling, but it should have been included.

The EZ48V does at least offer Guide Link, which automatically adjusts timer recordings to account for changes to the schedule. The seven-day EPG makes it easy to look for programmes and set the timer, as it is laid out in a neat, logical grid that shows seven channels at a time (although you can switch to a single channel programme list) and instructions are listed at the bottom.

Rear connections are comprehensive and on the front you'll find DV, S-video, composite and stereo audio inputs only. Playback can only be done from DVD or CD and the EZ48V's format support is limited to MP3 and JPEG.

You get four recording modes – XP, SP, LP and EP – which offer between one and eight hours of recording time on a single-layer DVD. The Flexible Recording mode will enable you to fit something into an exact space on a disc.

VHS recording offers SP, LP and EP recording speeds, while S-VHS Quasi playback (SQPB) plays S-VHS tapes in VHS quality, and the VHS Index Search System (VISS) adds index points to recordings to help you find what you're looking for.

Rounding up the feature list is video upscaling to 720p, 1080i and 1080p (for Freeview and VHS pictures as well as DVD) and a range of non-linear editing tools for DVDRAM and DVD-RW discs.

User interface

As ever, Panasonic's operating system is exemplary. Simply but effectively designed, the main Functions menu lists all of the options clearly, while the Setup menu covers a straightforward and uncluttered range of tweaks.

There are dedicated buttons on the remote for switching between the DVD and VHS drives or selecting the various inputs, and the unit is fast at flicking though Freeview channels. Onscreen programme information, called up via the Status button or by entering the EPG, is sadly limited to now/ next information.

Using the deck to back up VHS tapes is blissfully simple, as a dedicated menu guides you through each step of the process.