Recording via playback directly from canon mv500i............

i can find little or no help from the panasonic guide included with this unit,only their quick start sheet included is easy to follow for basic recording and transfering from vhs to dvd and vice-versa. i have upgraded to this unit after a sony vhs recorder/dvd combo. what i am wanting advice on is if i am able to record directly via the so called dv input socket onto dvd from my canon mv500i(or do i have to use the old red/yellow/white setup to records onto vhs tape and then record transfer to dvd afterwards)and what cables/cords etc are required. forgive me and keep your chuckles low as i am pretty much a techno dinosaur when it comes to this sort of thing

many thanks

zsu