Page 1 of Good, cheap video recorder required for transferring tapes to DVD

I`ve convinced myself that I need to buy a DVD Recorder and have decided on the Panasonic E55 (I think). Primarily, I would like this so that I can back up all of my PAL and NTSC video tapes. However, I`m not impressed by the picture quality of my current video recorder which is a JVC SVHS machine so could someone please recommend a reasonably priced video recorder which has very good picture quality? I don`t want to spend a lot of money as it will only be used for the transfer process. I guess that the right connections for the Panny must also be a consideration.

Thanks!

I few other considerations you will need to note, is that it is not always possible to backup a video-dvd due to protection factors depends on the tape also I dont think that buying a different vcr will improve the quality any more, in my experiance its the quality of the tape rather than the machine. Also the time factor in doing this.

A WISE MAN ONCE SAID

Thanks for your reply. Most, if not all, of the video tapes are home recordings not pre-recorded. Regarding the VCR, my current JVC isn`t a patch on my previous models - including some Panasonic models. I may have to start looking for a cheap Panny VCR but would appreciate any recommendations.

Older Sonys are the bees knees.

The maximum resolution you will get from standard VHS is about 240 lines. DVD is twice as good but the maximum resolution of the recording can be no higher than that of the source so don`t be disappointed. A refurbished Panasonic video with NiCAM stereo should be about £30 (the 620 models are good) a mono model about £25 max and the video resolution is about as good as you can get.

PS JVC are usually pretty good (they invented VHS) so have you cleaned your heads?

Thanks for the reply! My JVC isn`t that old and the picture quality has never been brilliant so I don`t think it`s the heads. However, I have another question... if I use the JVC VCR to record from, would I get improved picture quality using the SVHS connections even though the tapes haven`t been recorded in SVHS?

If your JVC is an SVHS machine, no wonder the picture`s crap off a standard VHS! The SVHS heads require a much higher grade of tape to standard machines, and are much less forgiving with recordings made on other machines. I had an SVHS machine and had to scrap it after the heads clogged. You`re much better off with a good 6-head standard VHS recorder to play back from.

J Mark Oates

The Panasonic VCRs were always regarded as the best you will get. Sometimes other makes had a one off good one but the Pannasonics were the overall best. I`ve not long sold my JVC SVHS VCR but I kept back my `normal` Panny for my transfers & the transfers are really good. I go from my Panasonic NV HD 625 to my Panasonic E55 DVD Recorder.

Yes the Panasonics are consistently the best though Sony made some good machines too after they turned traitor on Betamax. I transfered my VHS recording of Smileys People to dvd through an E50 and that worked well though I see the BBC have at last issued an official dvd version. Interested to see how much better this is since the House of Cards dvd wasn`t great quality compared to the VHS versions.