The Panasonic DMP-BD 35 is a Blu-ray player with an SD-card reader and BD-Live support. Roaming the market since August 2008, the device currently sells from 200 GBP.

• Great 24p movie picture.
• BD-Live support.
• Outstanding DVD playback.
• SD-card reader for photos and videos.
• Decodes digital, 7.1-channel, HD audio.

• No analog multichannel output.
• Film mode for DVDs must always be set manually.

At the time of the DMP-BD 35's introduction (summer 2008), no other player offered so many functions. The first device to top this was actually Panasonic's successor-model, the BD 60, which can, for example, also access YouTube videos. Still, for just 200 GBP, this is an excellently equipped Blu-ray player that also plays back DVDs perfectly. The DMP-BD 35 comes highly recommended, and not just for entry-level users!

The SD-card reader sits under a flap on the front right of the unit.

The BD 35's Ethernet interface allows BD-Live access, but since this is a slightly older player, the buyer must live without access to internet services such as YouTube. There is at least an SD-card reader, which the player can use to display high-definition photos and videos.

JPEG photos show up as exemplary thumbnail previews, and there's a versatile slideshow function. Even photos with more than eleven megapixels will still display (down-scaled), although not with the same sharpness as photos in Full HD format.

Those that prefer to burn CDs containing MP3 files, photos, or DivX videos, can play these back easily on the Panasonic. This also applies to HD videos in AVCHD format, archived on a DVD-R disc, for example.

In comparison with its Panasonic sibling the BD 55, the BD 35 lacks an analog multichannel output. It can - on request - relay high-definition, 7.1-channel sound as fully decoded, 7.1-channel PCM audio - this is important for owners of older receivers.

Blu-ray and DVD playback:
Blu-ray playback via HDMI produces excellent 24p pictures, and the user can choose between four preset picture modes using the remote control's "Display" button. For DVD playback there's a progressive setting with three modes - "Auto", "Video", and "Film". We strongly recommend choosing the "Film" mode, since only this option guarantees stable film-mode detection for movies.

But there's a catch: Whenever you switch the unit off or open the disc drawer, the player forgets the "Film" setting. The player then switches back into the less-than-ideal "Auto" mode - without the user knowing! Those aware of this problem are at least able to rectify it manually each time.

Proven Panasonic quality: The intuitive remote control gives convenient operation.

Picture-control settings:
On the other hand, we loved the seven picture-control settings, which elevate the player out of the entry-level class. This is effective even for BD-Live material, although not for photos. The remote control looks a little bulky but is comfortable to hold and shows no noteworthy weaknesses.

HDTV:
The Panasonic displays 1080p movies without flicker - for both 60 and 24 frames per second. The luminance levels are correct, and our measurements detected only minimal deviations in color decoding. Picture controls and noise filters add excellent opportunities for manipulating the output - for example, to correct the grainy and slightly over-sharpened picture of "The Patriot". De-interlacing of 1080/60i-format HD material is outstanding: One typical stumbling block - a test disc showing cars moving quickly across the screen - displays perfectly; the license plates suffer neither ghosting nor comb-effects.

DVD:
Those that know to switch on the "Film" mode each time (after opening the disc drawer) will be really happy with the Panasonic's DVD-payback quality: DVDs such as the British Superbit-edition of "Gladiator" (which has no progressive flag) display vividly and with sensational depth - as long as you slightly increase the picture sharpness.

All the rear panel lacks is an analog, multichannel audio-output.

Analog audio from the stereo cinch output sounds precise and noise-free, but multichannel audio will only output digitally - as a bitstream or as PCM. Both varieties sound vivid and dynamic via HDMI.