Panasonic DMR-ES20K DVD Recorder
Solid DVD recorder
This is my second DVD recorder in the past month - the first was a Samsung DVD-R120 which I tried and found to have issues digitizing my Hi-8 home movies (results were jittery and blocky at times - even in XP mode).  I returned that to Amazon and ordered this DMR-ES20S instead, because I had read elsewhere that Panasonic's DIGA chip does a good job capturing video at high quality.  And I found that this is indeed the case.  My DVD-Rs look just as good as the original Hi-8 videotapes.  No better, no worse - but that's all I was looking for.   <br /> <br />The unit is otherwise solidly made and easy to setup/navigate.  A DVD-RAM disc is included - nice touch. <br /> <br />While the Samsung may have been cheaper (by a good forty bucks), it doesn't matter if it degrades the original source.  This Panasonic is worth it, even if a little more expensive.