Panasonic 2012 models

We all feel sorry for the USA too! Others get the good stuff we want. Apparently not enough of us though.

Panasonic USA is still selling warmed over 2008 models. Clue: the "8" in the model number indicates the model year. My DMR-EA18 is a 2008 model even though it was manufactured in 2009. My DMR-EZ28 is a 2008 model manufactured in 2008. That DVD recorder is now R.I.P., as are two of my 2007 DMR-EZ17 models and one of my 2007 DMR-EZ47 models.

whilst???

what an awesome british word!!!

We can purchase the EH-59 and EH-59 from "grey" market US dealers, they are basically PAL machines but also play and record analog NTSC(60 hz) material. I would guess the problem with many overseas Panasonics is they may not be compatible with our 60hz system. I would think(but am not positive) most/all?? Panasonics would work with 120v 60hz(our line voltage) but I would think the ability to fully support 60hz material would be the hardest part.
AFAIK no one at AVS has tried one of the Panasonic BD recorders, it would be a interesting experiment but costly if it would not work with our voltage and frequency. I have never seen a US grey market dealer selling one of the newer Panasonics so that may tell us something....

I looked into getting a UK Panasonic BR recorder at one time, but no one on line would sell me one and ship it to the US. There was something in their agreement with Panasonic. It made (and makes) no sense to me--a sale is a sale--but they were prohibited. The region thing was a concern also.

Go to Amazon OK and try to order one. They will likely not allow a US address, at least no one did when I tried, though I admit it was some time ago (2-3 years). I had a difficult time getting anyone in the UK to send me DVD -R DL media! Money is money, whey the embargo?

^^^

These type of international trade agreements are quite common. Take Wal-Mart for example, an American company with stores in Canada in just about every Canadian neighborhood. Yet Canadians can't legally order a Magnavox DVD/HDD recorder from Wal-Mart USA. Wal-Mart USA under agreement with Wal-Mart Canada will refuse to send a unit to Canada. It's not just Wal-Mart, but if Canadians purchase a Magnavox DVD/HDD recorder from any retailer from the US - Magnavox/Funai will not honor any warrantee work if the recorder is taken back to Canada - it's right in the fine print in the owner's manual. I guess these types of trade agreements are in place to protect local employees and local trade. What I don't know is if these agreements are made by the companies or by our governments.

The strange thing is that some stores like B&H have no such agreements and will gladly sell to Canadians. In fact I contacted B&H once, asking them if I purchase a unit and have it shipped to Canada, will they honor the warrantee if need be. At that time they told me that they will honor a 30-day exchange but any longer and I have to deal with the manufacture. Manufactures like Panasonic, Sony and JVC will not honor out of country warrantee work.

I guess the point behind DVD region coding was to prevent buyers from buying out of continent discs. The funny thing is the smaller non-blockbuster companies sell region-free DVDs. In fact in the past I have purchased off eBay from American dealers based in the USA - region free NTSC discs manufactured in South Korea and Argentina, discs not available in North America. These are not bootlegs; they are official non North American releases released in South Korea and Argentina.

Yes, I know, and understand, and I agree with you...but...


I can see this to protect local trade, like local stations not allowing us to get the national feed from the network to protect their local advertising dollars. What I don't understand is, WHOSE trade are they protecting by prohibiting me from gettng a BR recorder? No one is selling one here, so it would be infringing on NOBODY! If there were a product available here, I wouldn't need to get one from another market. Who is being protected here? All I can tell is, I am not allowed to purchase a product that is readily available elsewhere.

Can you tell I'm annoyed?

These agreements are made by the companies to avoid complains about warranties, returns, the common "it did not work" and other kind words from the costumers.

That's a bad sign. Many consumer electronic companies are talking about their upcoming 2013 models for various products by now. DVD recorders are really at the bottom of the priority list, or off the list altogether.

Not surprising...

Thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on that page!

I went to
Panasonic no results DVD players
Toshiba--Click on DVD players--at the bottom of that page-click on DVD Recorders
on that page click on show all
They still have the DR-430 and DR-570 listed.

I was to Best Buy yesterday, the ONLY DVDR they had was 1 lowly Toshiba, no EZ-28 or even the dreaded EZ-48v. DVDRs are basically a dead product in the mainstream They had a whole department of MP3/video players not to mention a large area for Smart phones. Oh and a dozen different BD players but only a couple cheap DVD players.

I think DVD players are just about as dead as DVD recorders. Lot of no-name chinese BD players for well under $100 now.

I'd bet that HDMI Input is a typo. Probably ment to be HDMI Output.
It didn't mention HDMI Out, and all the latest Panny's had an HDMI Out.
Keep us posted! I'd like one if it becomes available and could be used in USA.