The propaganda
While hybrid recorders with the flexibility of recording using discs or an integrated hard drive are the most popular digital recorders, there's still a market for dedicated disc recorders. You can use them to archive copies from an existing PVR and then easily transport them or share them with friends.
Panasonic's DMR-EZ27 is one of the few DVD recorders that features integrated video upscaling all the way up to the highest 1080p HD format. This means that with a compatible display you can enhance the image quality of standard DVDs, recordings and even off-air TV broadcasts to close to high-definition quality.
There's a single integrated Freeview tuner that claims to support stable signals even in low reception areas - but there's no CI card support for receiving limited subscription channels or any of the memory card facilities offered by other models in the Panasonic range.
Connectivity includes an all-important HDMI output, which supports video scaling, accompanied by component connections, two RGB enabled Scarts and an easy access DV input for camcorders.
You can record using practically all DVD formats including dual layer discs, which basically double the recording time, and DVD-RAM discs that offer more flexible editing and time shift features such as chasing play and simultaneous playing and recording.
As usual, there's a choice of four recording modes that sacrifice image quality for recording time length. The highest mode (XP) allows you 1hr of recordings on a standard disc rising to 8hrs using the lowest quality (EP) mode. And there's also a flexible mode (FR) that selects the best quality according to the remaining disc space.
Panasonic's experience with digital recorders affords a full range of easy to use features using an intuitive menu system and intelligently arranged remote that lets you to easily make recordings and edit your copies.
The good
While DVD recorders with 1080p upscaling are rare, the ability to upscale broadcast images is even more exceptional. Considering you'll probably spend more time watching TV programmes than recording them, it's a valuable feature - especially if you haven't subscribed to HDTV services yet.
While the picture quality of the upscaled TV broadcasts doesn't compare to true HD, it's certainly better than the constrained images from a typical digital tuner. There's noticeably more detail, colours carry more vitality while digital artifacts are less disruptive and movement is more cohesive.
This provides an excellent master copy for recordings and subsequent copies are virtually indistinguishable to the original, especially using the highest quality XP and SP modes. Recorded footage is clean and stable with no colour bleaching or exaggerated picture noise. Panasonic also doesn't reduce the horizontal resolution using the lower XP mode so even longer copies are reasonable - although using the lowest quality EP mode does introduce instability, soft detail and stuttered movement.
And upscaled DVD performance is equally impressive with dense black levels supporting fine detail and realistic contrast, naturally balanced colours and clean movement - except for the occasional slow camera pan.
The bad
A cost of £250 is still relatively expensive for a DVD recorder, especially when you can buy a hybrid model for less. And the uninspiring design and average build quality of the straight-laced design could be better.
And, although picture quality is ultimately impressive for a DVD recorder, there are similarly priced dedicated players that offer even better performance. But if you want a single deck for both duties then this is still one of the best on the market.
Geek sheet
Disc compatibility DVD, DVD-R, DVD-R (DL), DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R (DL), DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, CD, CD-A, CD-R/RW, VCD, WMA, MP3, JPEG, DiVX
Video scaling 720p/1080i/1080p
Progressive scan Yes
Recording modes 4 (plus FR mode)
Max recording time 8hrs
Video connections HDMI, component, 2x RGB Scart, S-Video, compoosite
Audio connections stereo, optical digital
Dimensions 430x59x330mm
Weight 3.2kg
Overview
Pansonic's DMR-EZ27 DVD recorder features impressive 1080p upscaling abilities that can be can be used to enhance your existing DVD collection and watch improved quality recordings and broadcast images. It's not true HD but it comes close and is a safest and most affordable way of exploring high-definition while the HD format war resolves itself.
