Product ReviewsPanasonic DMR-E85H DVD Recorder

So useful

I have had the 80 and now the 85 the 85 is not as easy to use as the 80 and the finished disc headline is not as nice to look at, otherwise they are the same except for the hdd size. Both make a great dvd,. Playable in any DVD player.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: hzb74

Not working properly.

This product when working properly is great, however this item is not working as it should. It came with a remote control for a different machine (VHS-DVD) not the DMR-E85H which is an HDD-DVD. This remote cannot select HDD. Fortunately I had the correct remote from a previously owned DMR-E85 that I could use. In settings, the clock cannot be set, it is unresponsive.
When recording or attempting to copy content to the HDD, the unit just quits, goes into "PLEASE WAIT" mode, then after a few minutes goes to "SELF CHECK" and then back to standby, completely aborting the copying attempt.
This is the 3rd DMR-E85 I have owned so I'm very familiar and experienced with it's operation. I was completely satisfied with the previous machines while they were working. This one, not so much.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: electron1228

A Great DVD Recorder for the money!

This unit was purchased to be a video recorder for a home security system. It performs flawlessly in that department.... as I am able to record up to 120 hours of material. But before I hooked this unit up to the security cameras, I used it as a home dvd unit. Here is what I came up with:

I would have given an Excellent rating, but this DVD recorder is lacking in a couple of categories. Reason I say this, is because I own the other two DVD recorder models from Panasonic. While this unit has lots of Harrd Drive space to record many programs, it is very dependent on the TV Guide function to set up any type of record schedule. This can be quite clumsy and time consuming for those not adept at home electronics. The other two models don't have this time wasting feature, which may sway you decision. The other feature I feel is lacking is the menus you are able to program when you finalize a dvd. Not really a big deal, but one to think about when comparing toother dvd recorders.

Other than the TV Guide dependency for recording shows, this unit is flawless in every other function. It has a great picture and is very user friendly. It has tons of Hard Drive space -- enough to record a full season of a tv series -- and the price is right!

So, if you are in the market for a reasonably priced dvd recorder with copious amounts of hard drive space, than think about checking out the Panasonic DMR-E85H DVD Recorder.Read full review...

Review of Panansonic DMR-E85H 120GB recorder

This is the second Panasonic recorder I have purchesed on ebay. Both work great. the previous recorder had a smaller hard drive and this newer one goes in another room. The latest recorder for some reason does not have a "open tray" button on the remote - no big deal since you actually have to go to the recorder to put in the disc. I like the active TV guide feature on screen it has been useful since the cable box is not hooked up to this TV. Overall an excellent purchase and I highly recommend this product!Read full review...

Least Favorite Panasonic Model

You have to have the exact remote control for this recorder, a universal remote will not work on all functions. The TV Guide feature does not work with Dish Network. Without the TV Guide feature, you cannot input the title to a program prior to recording it. It has to be done after the program is recorded which is a pain.

I have had several models of Panasonic DVD Recorders and this one is my least favorite.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: psychomac

Disappointed, but able to repair.

The unit was not in good working order. The hard drive worked, but the DVD transport did not. When I tried to insert a DVD the transport made grinding sounds and would not open. Also, there was physical damage to the unit on the front left and right corners. The packaging was very good. So, the damage couldn't have happened by the carrier. Fortunately, I had another unit that had failed and I took the transport from the failed unit and installed it in this unit. Now it works, but only because I had a transport module to repair the unit. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: funkosaur

Editing with the Panasonic DMR-E85H

I have had two Panasonic DMR-E85H video recorders for over 4 years. I had problems with the first one until updating firmware. I never had any trouble with the second one. I save stuff from satellite TV, History Ch, RFD TV, Serius Radio. A one hour program is about 52 min. without the breaks, five will fit on a DVD.

I have recorded sat. radio for two or three days at a time. I edit out the songs that I don't like, insert chapter breaks at the beginning of each song, and dub 130 songs at a time to DVD. These will play 10 or 11 hours and sound as good as a CD. You get the name of the song, artist, etc. on the TV.

For editing home videos you need to make a list of segments you want to put together, Start recording to the HDD for up to 8 hrs. play all the parts in order from your camcorder, VCR, ETC, don't stop the Panasonic till you are done. If you have trouble playing a segment just do it again. When you are all done edit out the spaces between the good stuff leaving a few seconds of black if you can. I have used two E85H's to combine titles that got divided by mistake.

There are several ways to do most of the edit functions. I feed stray cats and other critters. I record them with inferred cameras all night. I play it back at 30X or 70X speed marking chapters at start and end of any action. Then I go to CHAPTER VIEW and erase the spaces in between. If you want you can DIVIDE TITLE at the chapter markers.

Have fun, DaleRead full review...

Panasonic DMR-E85H

Nice machine. Very easy to use once you get past all the stuff in the manual. Has been VERY dependable. Provides a great amount of storage before committing to delete your shows or burn to DVD. Even in the lowest qality recording mode, it is more than adequate. Perhaps the best feature is the TV Guide. Nothing more simple than choosing your favorite shows and telling it to do the rest! Just make sure you wait 1 full day plugged in and power off to download the Guide. That is about the only negative.Read full review...

Panasonic DMR-E85H DVD Recorder with Hard Drive

Great DVD Recorder - easy editing and copy functions.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: 208re-cell1

LOVE PANASONIC 500 LINES RESOLUTION

LOVE Panasonic,I have 3 DMR-EH50,9 YEARS no problems. All used from EBAY. And 5 years ago, 6 DMR-ES40,some were to be broken and not working and they worked. Of course I ran a disc cleaner first. Beware,2 that were said to be 100% working did not! Returns and EBAY backing you is a joke. 1 DMR-30V,1 DMR-35VS were both bought not working with tray opens and does not read DVD. Ran the disc cleaner(more than once)and they began to work. 4 years ago got, 2 EZ-27,2 EZ-47, 1 of each were to be broken with,tray won't open. GOT it open ran disc cleaner and no problems.

TRICKS, AT LEAST 4"(INCHES)ABOVE UNIT for HEAT and 1" below(1" x 2" wood).

problem solving. After holding the POWER button for 10(ten)seconds.
1. RESET PUSH channel up and down AT same time.
2. E-MAIL or CALLING Panasonic(BEST)with UNIT in front of you.
3. Tray won't open,PUSH stop and channel up AT same time.
4. DOWNLOAD and run firmware from Panasonics website(for your unit).

If you want a BIGGER HDD with HDMI OUTPUT go and pay for a NEW DELIVERY from CANADA.
My EH-67(2007) has UP-CONVERTING 1080P,320GB HDD,DVD-RAM REC,SD CARD SLOT but only has 2 s-video input and NO,NO RF INPUT. And definitely has 500 lines resolution output(LP) VS. PRE HDMI OUPUT models which due have the sliding scale of resolution. XP/SP 500 lines,LP 400,EP(6HR)300,EP(8HR)200.Read full review...