Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player by Panasonic
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List Price: Our Price: $74.99 You Save: $224.96 (75%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Home Theater See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player
Digital camera Review: DO NOY PAY 899.99 from Action Packaged, Inc.
Summary: 5 Stars
Are you kidding me. You can find this player all over for much less. I have seen it for 289.00
These guys are ripping people off. Period
Digital camera Review: DVD upscaling inconsistent
Summary: 3 Stars
Coupled to a Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 50" 1080p plasma, this player does a fine job with blu-ray discs. I am delighted with, for example, Planet Earth or Wall-E in blu-ray.
However, if you have an extensive DVD collection and are used to viewing them on DVD-resolution EDTV, such as the 42" Panasonic TH-42PW4 plasma that I have owned for five years, be prepared to be disappointed.
This player does a very inconsistent job of upscaling DVDs to 1080p. It depends heavily on the DVD and probably on the quality of DVD encoding. DVDs of animated movies such as The Incredibles, Cars, and Wall-E upconvert outstandingly and are even improved by the process. Lord of the Rings is impressive as well. However, some scenes in some of the Harry Potter movies look uniformly TERRIBLE and nearly so does Back to the Future I, with very noticeable and harsh blocking artifacts. The third Indiana Jones movie looks quite good, but the first does not. Plus, to achieve passable results on these problem DVDs, you must choose picture setting = User, and adjust contrast to -4, sharpness to -4, 3D NR to +4, and Integrated NR to +3. On a consumer player you shouldn't have to do this to get passable results.
In testing the BD35's DVD ability I played the identical DVD in the BD35, hooked up to the HDTV, and an older DVD player hooked up to the EDTV via component video, with the playback synchronized. In the cases mentioned above, the picture looked uniformly better on the EDTV. A pleasant and somewhat creamy texture on the EDTV looked edgy and unpleasant upconverted to the HDTV.
As a result, I will be looking for another DVD player, probably one of the ones made by OPPO. I was hoping to avoid this with a matched Panasonic player & HDTV, but alas not. Apparently upconverting is not a universally well-solved problem.
The remote control has some silly deficiencies. Amazingly, there is no "DVD menu" button; when you press the "Top Menu" button you get "This is operation is currently disabled". You have to press the "S" (sub-menu) button and then select "Menu". There is no subtitle button. To adjust the subtitles, soundtrack, picture, and audio, you press the "Display" button (what!?).
Finally, the player can play MP3s from a CD and allow you to navigate within folders -- that's fine, and expected. But plug in an SD card containing MP3s -- such as that which I use with my Creative Zen player -- and the BD35 dumbly tells you that there are no pictures. What about the MP3s?! It's plain silly that a capable MP3 player can't play from its SD card slot. I hope Panasonic fixes that in a future software upgrade.
Summary: if you play nothing but blu-rays, you'll be fine. If you have a significant DVD investment, be forewarned that this player may not do justice to your collection.
Digital camera Review: Discountined -- What Am I'm Missing Here
Summary: 4 Stars
This unit was raved about by professional product reviewers in late 2008 (CNET.com and Home Theater Magazine). It had a MSRP of $299, the 55K model was, I think $399, with additional analog audio inputs.
The 35K model was replaced by the 60K model which has the VieraCast web feature, yet the 35K is selling for over $300 !! What's going on !!
The 60K model was reviewed by CNET.com, and it received 3 out of 5 stars because it has less features than other (more expensive) players and "only" Very Good SD DVD (identical to 35K SD performance) -- the new 60K continues to be a solid Blu-Ray player with VG SD video - - however, it has been surpassed according to CNET.com by the Samsung BRP-2500 which has solid Blu-Ray playback and even better SD DVD performance.
The 60K is available through Amazon for about $250 (free shipping), while Costco has the 605K (w/ HDMI cable) for $256 (after $50 coupon & tax). The Samsung 2500 (better than Pan 35K) is $300 and is beginning to be replaced by a newer model.
Why is the 35K being currently reviewed when the 60K is available ??
Why is the 35K being offered at more than $250 ??
Digital camera Review: Disgrace!
Summary: 1 Stars
Who the hell in their right mind is going to allow themselves to be raped by these unscrupulous vendors and pay 2 or 3 or even 4 times the manufacturer's price? If anyone buys this Blu Ray at these insane prices they need to be slapped silly. Why dont you just bend over and let these guys give it to you up the arse. They can kiss my arse and keep their Blu ray. I'm waiting until the new Panny models come out. Anyone know when the hell they are arriving. Thank you.Digital camera Review: Doesn't work out of the box and poor service
Summary: 1 Stars
Out of the box, this unit refused to play any disk (Blu-ray, DVD, or CD). The Atari 64 style user interface worked just fine--if you like antiquated user interfaces.
The service from TechNG was horrible. I returned it and waited almost two weeks for a new unit. After badgering the vendor via email, I was told I didn't send back the el cheapo HDMI cable (I had). Several days of emails ensue wherein I eventually offer to send them the cable out of the replacement unit's box if they would just send me a new, working unit. All to no avail. Eventually (just before I contest the credit charge charge), I get a credit for the original purchase. I've lost over a month and the shipping charges to send the unit back.
I'm going to buy a Sony BDP-S550 from a different online vendor and not through Amazon. I've had excellent luck with Sony and poor luck with Amazon's vendors.