Panasonic: E30 or E50?

[rmhartman]

These two models are about the same price. Just what are the differences in a) capabilities and b) quality?

-Richard M. Hartman

[Cyrax9]

A) Capabilites: As far as I can tell, no real differance, except some minor extra inputs and quality updates.

B) Quality: The "Black Level Bug" that plauged the E30 and the HS2 is gone on the E50 from what I've heard, the E50 is also a newer uyint which means Panasonic will support it longer than, say the discontinued E30. Video Quality is theoretically a bit sharper, but not alot, however if this is your first recorder, go with the E50, I'm trying to decide on buying the E80HS or just keeping my HS2, but the E50 is the successor to the E30, and has some nice improvem,ents, it also beats the HS2 in the "Black Level Bug" area, which caused washed-out video, on a side note, you can't copy from, sy a DVD-RAM to a DVD-R after you remove commercials and regain your Disc Space for a TV Show, which is why I went with the DMR-HS2 last year, however if you're ona BUdget the E50 is the better choice out of the two units you're looking at.

I should also note, that the E30's remote is an annoying "Brick" -- same goes for the HS2, apparently Panasonic was listenting to their consumers and fixed this on the E50, the remote looks a bit roe streamlined and less like part of a 1980's VCR package.