Compare Prices : Panasonic DMR-EZ27

Review summary: Taking a look at the feature list, things start to look ominous for the competition. Headlined by an HDMI output with full 1080p upscaling (plus 1080i and 720p, of course), this is a deck designed with flatpanel TVs in mind

Pros: Performance, Expensive features, User-friendliness

Cons: No DiVX playback or slot

Verdict: Panasonic confirms its status as the king of recorders with a magnificent deck boasting unbeatable features

Review summary: As we transition from analog to digital television broadcasts, Panasonic releases a new DVD recorder with built-in digital tuner that will allow it to continue working past 2009 when analog broadcasts go off the air.

Verdict: I won't lie. I miss the lack of a hard drive on this video recorder. But apparently including both a hard drive and a digital tuner in a digital video recorder would inflate the price astronomically due to content protection issues. Panasonic isn't ...

Review summary: The EZ27 may lack a hard-drive, but with 1080p upscaling, a Freeview tuner and excellent picture quality, it's bargain recording at its best.

Pros: Great picture performance. Simple, logical menu system. Impressive DVD playback

Cons: No HD, but at £200 that's not much of a problem

Review summary: Just because the DVD/HDD recorder combi recorder has captured the nation's imagination, it doesn't mean that the humble DVD recorder has been consigned to the AV dustbin.

Pros: Excellent upscaling, High-quality recording

Cons: Very expensive

Verdict: This deck's recordings in the top quality modes are superb and playback is also excellent. It's a shame it's a bit pricey