Panasonic E80 vs Pioneer 510hs

[K_cin_az]

Hello all,

I am finally able to purchase a DVD-R standalone. I have read through a lot of this forum and have not come away with a clear idea of what model is better. The price difference is irrelevant because I would have to purchase a DVD-RAM drive for my pc anyways. From their they seem to have the same features and qualities. Is their anyone who has used both machines who could help me out in anyway. My main use for it will be to 1) convert VHS to DVD
2) record sporting events on harddrive and transferring them to DVD

Any help?

[donpedro]

You can check my list in my signature. Maybe you will get better idea.

[donpedro]

Tell you the truth... On the paper I like Pioneer better.

[louthewiz]

ai have the e80 and I am very happy with it the picture quality is better that the pioneer by a long shot by what I have seen. And another thing that the panasonic CAN edit from the hard drive and burn to dvd-r ,the pionerr can NOT edit out commercials shorten segments etc....

[donpedro]

OK... I was waiting for something like this louthewiz Here is my response.

Based on experoence from my friend (not my) picture quality on Pioneer is better than Panasonic

Now let me explain why I think that Pioneer is better (based on manual)

1. Pioneer writes on -RW and not RAM. For me it means no additional investment to buy new DVD-ROM

2. Not important to me but Pioneer can play Picture CD and WMA.

3. Pioneer has DV IN and OUT (e80 does not have it at all)

4. Pioneer can easy create/delete/turn off chapter points or switch between 10 and 15 min auto. Panasonic... now let's say can't (it can but only in specific situation -> DVD R Compatible mode and highspeed dub)

5. You are right... Pioneer is missing "Shorten Segment" function that I very like on Panasonic. But it has "Divide" and "Combine" function with which you should be able to do same with more pain.

6. Pioneer has something called "Copy List" which is very similiar to Panasonic's "Play List". Difference is that Copy List can be dub in highspeed.

7. Pioneer can highspeed to RW 2x and to R 4x. Panasonic only 1x

8. Pioneer can dub from R to HDD. Panasonic can't.

9. Pioneer can make DVD Disc Backup (copy DVD to HD and back to DVD)

10. Pioneer have nice feature. Disc History. It will store information about last 30 discs so you know how much space you have left on them.

11. Pioneer can be scheduled from another device. So if you have Cable box, you can set timer on cable box and you don't have to repeat same on recorder.

Now let's see what Pioneer can't do ?

[the phantom]

OK... I was waiting for something like this louthewiz Here is my response.

Now let's see what Pioneer can't do ?

i'm with louthewiz, it just cannot match the picture quality of the panasonic. for me that is most important of the "features", imho.

[Barnabas]

One MAJOR drawback to the Panasonic is that you can't update the firmware.

[donpedro]

OK... I was waiting for something like this louthewiz Here is my response.

Now let's see what Pioneer can't do ?

i'm with louthewiz, it just cannot match the picture quality of the panasonic. for me that is most important of the "features", imho.

Did you personaly compared Panasonic E80 vs Pioneer 510hs ? Same source, same quality settings ? I didn't so I am not going to argue here. My friend had them both and he thinks that Pioneer is much better.

[handyguy]

There is also a Pioneer 310s for about $334.00 after $50 rebate available soon:
http://www.onecall.com/PID_20340.htm?BestPricePopup=1&BCPID=119

[macleod]

I have the E30 and have been very impressed with the picture quality. Does anyone know if picture quality has changed between the E30 and the e80 because, like I said, the E30 does a GREAT job of taking home video and putting it on dvd.

Should the statement read, pioneer has better picture quality in modes other than 1 and 2 hour mode (XP or SP for panny owners) . Basically trying to figure out what exactly makes the pioneer's picture quality superior over the panny?

Also on additional investment for dvdram. www.newegg.com has dvdrom/ram drives for $20-$30 free shipping. a 5 pack of dvdram is around $20 at Fry's.

[donpedro]

Should the statement read, pioneer has better picture quality in modes other than 1 and 2 hour mode (XP or SP for panny owners) . Basically trying to figure out what exactly makes the pioneer's picture quality superior over the panny?

I guess "superior" is too strong word :P and I didn't saw it my self. I am just tired of posts where people say that this and that looks bad but this is greatest when they have experience only with one unit.

BTW: I can try to make some test if you can help with this one (I have only one week for that)
How to compare DVD Recorders ?

[macleod]

I dont know what kind of help I would be. I am a dial up loser and it would take forever for me to upload an example worth looking at.

I have been doing home video backups to dvd for myself, family, customers and they have all been very impressed with the results. On my toshiba 32" TV, I have played the dvd and the tape at the same time and swiched the input between vhs and dvd and the results are great.

The non geeks tell me that it is better than the original. My opinion, however, is that the dvd WILL look different than the VHS tape. You are digitizing an analog picture so there will be some things that will be given up. 1st, pans. You know, uncle bob that has to look all over the damn place with the camera . Pans (just like on DVD's) don't look just like the original. Harse lines get a little jagginess to them. Sometimes, some definition is lost.

I have done no research on other recorders, but I have experimented on the panny's settings (user defined). The default settins are OK, but depending on what you are going to capture, people should mess around with the user settings to get the optimal picture quality.

[donpedro]

Now we should create post "Tweaking Recorders"

[K_cin_az]

Well I dont think I gained a clearer picture on which one I am going to buy. Very tough decision as to me this is a lot of money. I wish the panasonic allowed you to custom create chapter points.

Is it possible when you are going to load the video into your computer and create custom DVDS to erase and create your own chapter points. These are important to me because I plan on making music video dvds and I would like to be able to hit skip and have it just go to the next video.

From what I have gathered the pioneer and panasonic are very similiar in quality. I am leaning towards the panny e80 just because it is so much more popular. But I like all the extra features I get with the pioneer. hmmmm hmmm hmmmm.

[donpedro]

Write here reasons why you would by Panasonic and why Pioneer.

BTW: You can create custom chapter points with Panasonic. It's not easy and only in certain situations but you can.

[eranakis]

[quote="donpedro"]OK... I was waiting for something like this louthewiz Here is my response.

Based on experoence from my friend (not my) picture quality on Pioneer is better than Panasonic



on 8(. Pioneer can dub from R to HDD. Panasonic can't).What happen with macrovision?

[donpedro]

Pioneer can dub from R to HDD. Panasonic can't).What happen with macrovision?

Off course you can not copy DVD or any material with copy protection. :P It is good when you need to make additional copy of your previously burned DVD or you would like to use it for re-editing.

[spiderman2k1]

This is one problem I have with the Pioneer 510

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=343208

Ok, seems that if you delete chapters you do create a slight pause in the video and audio. This is kind of dissapointing. Plus I wasn't able to combine chapters for some reason. There is an option in the setup menu called seamless playback and this got rid of the video pause, but the audio still cuts out for a second on chapter changes. It would be nice if someone knew whether the firewire could be hooked up to a PC. Then you could edit much more easily on there with the right software. Maybe I'll pick up a firewire cable tonight and check it out.

[donpedro]

Some comments....

I heared... (not my experience) that you can send signal to FireWire OUT to PC only when playing DVD (not from HDD). Not sure... please confirm.

BTW: What do you mean by " Plus I wasn't able to combine chapters for some reason." ?

[quasar1963]

I believe this is the way it is with all recorders editing features though .. as far as pauses where chapter marks are upon playback on other machines. Panasonic has the same result (when using shorten or divide). This is true at least for dvd-r's made in video mode (the compatible kind)

[spiderman2k1]

"quasar1963" On the Pioneer 510 you edit the commercial out you have to put the file's back to gether like TMPG on the PC or MPEG2VCR but on the Panasonic you just the show with out the commercial and when you burn it just skip's the commercial's.

[quasar1963]

Ah, that is a big difference then ..
Pioneer "hides" the commercials when paying back but doesn't actually eliminate them whereas the Panasonic does I guess?

[donpedro]

Ah, that is a big difference then ..
Pioneer "hides" the commercials when paying back but doesn't actually eliminate them whereas the Panasonic does I guess?

I believe you are right.

[PhilipL]

Withdrawn

[kzod]

Don't buy either of these players. I have the pioneer and I love it, but the new panny's due in a month or so (designation e-85, e-105) will have built in tv guides for more useful Tivo functionality.

The 510 does a decent job of archiving, automatically records show with the proper name (you don't need to tell it for 99% of broadcasts). Of course, if it can do that it shows that it's ready to do more, they just didn't give it the user interface.

I am most impressed by how accurate the times of most shows are. Compared to old VCR's where you would record several minutes of crap before and after the auto clock sets nails the shows almost perfectly on most major networks. Only Comedy central is a li'l slow, and the shows don't start on time.

[prev]

I have owned the Pioneer previously and now the Panasonic. Two things. The Panasonic is firmware upgradable. They just don't state it in the manual and also THE big decider - the Panasonic has RGB in. The Pioneer does not. I've recorded the same show on both machines and the quality is VERY different. The Panasonic via RGB wins hands-down.
Hope this helps

[donpedro]

the Panasonic has RGB in

You are talking about EU version, right ?