Panasonic DMR-ES25S Help!

[foghorn26]

I have been looking to buy a DVD recorder for a while and I am leaning on the Panasonic DMR-ES25S. I have been reading reviews on a few websites and I was wondering if anyone could give me some imput on some of the issuses that were mentioned.

1. No component inputs:
Is there any DVD Recorder with component inputs?

2. Only records 16:9 format on DVD-RAM this means that to play back a widescreen image recorded to DVD+/-R/RW, you must use the 'stretch' or 'full' feature of your TV:
Are there any DVD Recorder that does it the correct way or is this standard on all DVD Recorders?

If anyone had advice on a better DVD Recorder I would really like your advice. Here are some of the features that are a must, Multi Format(DVD+and - R recording and DL), HDMI upconversion, able to play homebrew DVD's from the computer.

Thanks in advance.

[BCdave]

The LG LRH-790 (available in Canada at Future Shop for $550Can = $495US) has all of your "must" features, plus a 250GB HDD, but no component video inputs.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10072968&catid=

The only recorder that I've seen that has component inputs is the Polaroid DRM-2001G, which has an 80GB HDD, and is only $220US at Walmart, but has no upconversion feature or DL recording.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=305350

Both the LG & the Polaroid use an LSI encoding chip for exceptional video quality. I'm currently trying to decide between the Polaroid and the LG LRH-780 (80GB HDD and no upconversion, but regularly on sale for about $340Can), and it's a difficult choice.

[foghorn26]

The LG LRH-790 (available in Canada at Future Shop for $550Can = $495US) has all of your "must" features, plus a 250GB HDD, but no component video inputs.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10072968&catid=

The only recorder that I've seen that has component inputs is the Polaroid DRM-2001G, which has an 80GB HDD, and is only $220US at Walmart, but has no upconversion feature or DL recording.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=305350

Both the LG & the Polaroid use an LSI encoding chip for exceptional video quality. I'm currently trying to decide between the Polaroid and the LG LRH-780 (80GB HDD and no upconversion, but regularly on sale for about $340Can), and it's a difficult choice.

Thanks for the info, How does the LG LRH 790 compare to LG DR1F9H? I dont need a hard drive on the one I am buying.

[BCdave]

The LG DR1F9H has all of your "must" features (but no HDD), and includes the most recent LSI encoding chip DMN-8603.
http://www.lsilogic.com/news/product_news/2006_07_25a.html

It's on sale at Bestbuy right now, for a little over $200 US, but the sale ends today.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7726758&type=product&productCategoryId=p...=1141762726820

The DR1F9H is very new, so there's not much user info on any flaws - but I have a two year old LGR435 (no HDD), and I love it. Thanks to the LSI chip (earlier generation than the DMN-8603) the video quality is literally better than the input for VHS conversion, and at least as good as the original TV broadcast up to 4 hour mode, for recording from the built-in tuner.
Hope this helps.

[MeekloBraca]

Hey BCdave, how is the LG when it comes to VHS Conversion. IM looking for a machine that has some good encoding quality and keep the artifacting to a minimum?

[BCdave]

Hi, M.B. Haven't you got the Panasonic unit which has the LSI chip ?? I believe that the LSI encoding makes all the difference, which eliminates Toshiba, Pioneer, Sony and most of the Panasonics for me.

I haven't tried the newer LG units, although I expect to purchase either the LRH-780 (Future Shop keeps putting them on sale for about $340 on web-only specials), or a next gen LG model with HDD, whenever it gets to Canada. However, as I mention above, I really love my two year old LGR435. I bought the last one available at FS in Nanaimo, an open box unit, and I couldn't believe the quality of the VHS conversions - noticeably better than the original VHS/SVHS tapes.
The tuner is also excellent. I record quite a few baseball games on the 4 hour mode, and the quality is as good as the original broadcast. I do wish it had a FR mode; maybe the next gen models will.

I've never seen ANY pixilation on recordings from the LGR435 - However, I just have a 32" Sony HD-ready CRT, so if you're watching on a big screen, your mileage may vary.

For some reason, there's very little user info on any of these LG models, possibly because the LRH-780 & -790 only seem to be available in Canada, and because the DR1F9H was just recently released in the U.S., so I guess a buyer should be cautious. I don't know if you could order the DR1F9H from Best Buy USA, and return it to Best Buy Canada if necessary.
If you do try any of these units, please keep us advised as to your opinion of them, M.B.

Dave

[MeekloBraca]

I tried the ES25 which as far as I can tell DOES NOT have an LSI chip in it. On the box reads DIGA or whatever it is and nothing on the net suggests it has LSI.

[BCdave]

Sorry, I think I was recalling a comment by Lordsmurf that he thought the ES25 had the LSI chip. According to gshelley, the ES20 & ES40v are the only two Panasonic models with the LSI chip:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=699340

[MeekloBraca]

Great thank you!