Rating: 
Summary: Buy only Panasonic dvd's
Review: I bought this unit based on other reviews I had read regarding compatibility. So far the only disc this thing will read is the one that was shipped with the unit. Even though TDK, Maxell and Sony discs were tried with the correct region and designations, the unit will not read them. Frustrating to say the least and no way to format or no help in the manual if this occurs. Maybe I am missing something here, but it appears they want you to only purchase their products.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy!
Review: I bought this unit with the intent of copying my VHS collection and using this recorder in place of my VCR. After reading reviews from various sources, I bought this model over the next closest - Philips. (By the way, what's up with few brands providing black cabinetry?) This unit is very easy to use. To get the most out of the unit READ THE MANUAL! One of the best features is the flexible record, allowing optimum recording for those more-than-2 hour-programs. This feature provides the highest quality recording available for the time that you desire to record. Unlike the VCR, where you'd have to record on the LP (or SLP) mode if a program is more than 2 hours, this option will give you the best picture it can in the disc-space provided. To my eye, programs of 2:20 look no worse than if it was recorded on SP. Of course, some of my prerecorded VHS tapes are copyrighted (but not all) and can't be recorded - this was expected. There is some concern regarding DVD-R playback on other machines. (Don't forget to FINALIZE. This is all covered in the manual.) IF you have problems, try various brands of media. My JVC player had no problem with Verbatim, Memorex or TDK. However, only the TDK would playback on my Toshiba player. I loaned all three brands to a friend and all 3 played on his Philips and Panasonic players. My only complaints are:
- Can't record on DVD-RW.
- No (audio) digital input (no brands I could find had it) I had considred buying a PC-based DVD recorder, but based on the complaints of various friends who have PC-based DVD recorders, I made the better choice by buying this product - MUCH easier. Now my friends are considering buying a DMR-E50.
Rating:
Summary: Great Buy
Review: I brought this from Amazon a month ago and it works just as easy as a VHS recorder. All you need is a blank disk and tell it when to record and it will record with it's built in timer. I have been using several brands of DVD-R disk and only have problems with the cheap ones(i.e. no name brands). The problems only happen rarely. For example, the recording will stop and go to recovery mode. But don't worry if goes to recovery mode, previous recordings are not destroy. However, you can't record anymore to that disk. The recorder also uses DVD-RAM disk and this is my most favorite type of disk. It treats a DVD-RAM disk like a hard drive. There is no recovery mode or hiccups that I have seen happen to a DVD-RAM disk yet. ...
Rating:
Summary: WORTHLESS!!!
Review: I had my unit for several months and I finally took a hammer to it. It is a shame that our government can't protect the consumer from being exploited by companies like Panasonic that make crap like this DVD recorder. It often would "hang-up" and impossible to get the discs in or out -- the little door simple would not open. I have spent up to 30 minutes tryng to get it to record on a disc and ended in failure. I have recorded on several occasions long movies only to have the unit crash near the end and have to re-record my program (another 3 hours). It is the most frustrating piece of electronics I have ever owned. It is a rip-off !
Rating:
Summary: Not Simple But Darn Good.
Review: I have been watching the market for a DVD recorder for a couple of years. I'am really glad that I waited for this model (DMR-50). You will not have a problem with this unit if you will read and re-read as necessary the owners manuel. The other thing is DO NOT USE CHEAP DISCS. I've been using Ritek 1X DVD-R blanks and have not had that first problem with recording or playback on anything that is DVD-R compatable. The picture quality is good if not great at all recording speeds. The Sound is the same and agree with all the other reviewers. I wish we could record in surround sound , but I guess they are saving that for a later model. I Play back through a surround system that takes the sterio signal and makes it 4 channel and it is close to the surround effect. All and all I'am impressed with this unit and recomend it highly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it helps you to decide if this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Worthless
Review: I have owned this recorder for several months and found it to be the most frustrating piece of electronics I own (including my computers). I finally took a hammer to the unit and it felt so good! I have on several occasions tried to record long movies and have this unit "crash" near the very end (forcing me to re-record the movie and spending another 3 hours). I have often spent much time getting this unit to record to a disc -- restarting the recording process after a crash -- perhaps as much as one out of four recrodings. Often I cannot get the unit to open and give access to discs that have crashed. (The on/off button has no over-ride, like a computer, to reset memory.) I have been using Memorix blank DVD's and would suspect that they are of fairly good quality -- yet I probably lose 10 to 20 out of a 100. I must wonder if the hard drive isn't just too wimpy to be a good recorder. The manual says that it may be necessary to clean the lens for the laser. I ordered a panasonic lens cleaner for over $30 (they sell the same type of device at Wal-Mart for $9) and cleaning the lens has no effect on performance. I will not be buying any more Panasonic products for some time to come. This is a rip-off. Mike in Buchanan, MI
Rating: 
Summary: Guys, you'll need to read the manual....
Review: I pride myself on being able to figure things out with the user manuals. Not with puppy...Simple operations become a frantic search in the manual on how to do these things. I haven't had any problems with discs compatiblities. I bought a Sima SCC2 digital color corrector to compliment this unit. With this I'm able to back up my videos and DVD's. The quality on the XP mode is incredible, can't tell between broadcast and the dvd copy.
Rating:
Summary: A Second Shot
Review: I purchased a E50 about two months ago and couldn't have been happier with it! It did everything it promised...recorded, played back...I could even play my discs back on other (even relatively older) DVD players. Then, it all started to change. I had been using Maxell discs, and in a pack of five, usually the recorder would turn one into a coaster. Then the ratio got higher until finally it wouldn't record at all. I started troubleshooting, tried different disc brands and even used the *supplied* Panasonic DVD-RAM disc, but no dice. It just wouldn't record anymore.
I took the unit back and it was replaced...and...so far so good. It's been about a month now with the new unit, and every disc I've recorded has come out working. Just for giggles I bought some cheapie CompUSA discs...even they work! TMC has been showing classic Oscar winners all month, and vintage Charlie Chaplin...which I now have on DVD thanks to this recorder!
I also enjoy having the front end inputs with S-video & RCA. Great for hooking up my MiniDV Camcorder to caputure vacation videos to DVD...so now we can share them with friends without having to hook our cam up to their TVs.
From reading the reviews here, there seems to be a problem in the manufacturing of these units, because when they work, they work wonderfully. I guess it's Russian Roulette as to whether you get a working model, or a paperweight. *** out of ***** Because of the Forrest Gump rule on these recorders..."You never know what your gonna' get."
Rating:
Summary: Have had unit for almost a year, recorded 400 dvd's
Review: I purchased my panasonic dvd recorder in February of 2003. For the most part the system has worked extremely well. You do need to test and make sure the "finalized" dvd-r discs will be read by the dvd player you wish to play them on. As far as discs, the quality and experience has varied. I have had mediocre results with Imation, Memorex. I have had excellent results from Verbatim. Most of my recordings have been on the DVD-R, but I also record on DVD-RAM, edit and copy onto the DVD-R discs(because they are less expensive). The only issue I have had, if you begin to record, and stop recording quickly (15-30 seconds), the disc sometimes becomes unusable. An easy solution to this problem is it let the recorder continue recording for a minute or two, then stop the recording and the erase it. All in all, this unit has exceeded my expectations. It has allowed me to copy many programs and films to dvd. One other recommendation, I also purchased the Panasonic DVD player (Less than $100) that had a rebate ($30) that will play DVD-R and DVD-Ram. So anything I record can be played on the player and watched, or (are you ready) can be played on the player and recorded on the recorder, for mixing dvd's or editing and then copying the dvd-ram recording to the less expensive dvd-r discs. And, I have sucessfully been able to keep my dvd-r cost down to about $1.50 each, and the dvd-r to just above $4.00 each.
Rating: 
Summary: Timer Recording - only analogue channels
Review: I purchased this machine mostly to timer record digital channels for later playback. The E50 Tuner only goes to 61 channels for Timer Recording whereas most digital cable channels or satellite are 200, 300 or higher. You cannot setup your Timer Recording to record different channels at different times if the channels are above channel 61. Very strange for a supposedly digital device.
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