Page 1 of Advice re DVD recorder

All the searches I have made to find the most appropriate DVD recorder to meet my needs have only confused me - nothing new there - . :/
I would like a DVD recorder which would allow me to record from TV, Sky (not Sky+), copy from a Sony camcorder and allow me to transfer all my video tapes to DVD.
I honestly don`t understand all the abbreviations and the technical stuff and would be grateful for any advice from someone who can translate into "idiot speak" for me.
I can spend up to £200
Thanks in advance

Any DVD recorder will allow you to do all of the above.
However,in my opinion,for under £200 the Panasonic E55 is the best.

For day-to-day TV/SKY recording you would use the RAM discs which allow all sorts of recording options that other formats can`t/don`t offer.However these RAM discs can only be viewed on RAM compatible players,so you couldn`t lend them out to a friend for example (unless he has a RAM compatible player of course ! )

For video camera and VHS back-up recording you would use `one-use-only` -R discs which can be bought for under 50p a pop,and can be viewed on the vast majority of DVD players.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 5th January 2005, 16:48

*starts stopwatch countdown to someone recommending a -RW player*

Quote:
*starts stopwatch countdown to someone recommending a -RW player*

:D

EH ?

It`s an age-old debate on here raffles.
Whether -RW is `better` than RAM.
If lending out discs is important to you,then it probably is.
If lending out is not a priority then RAM is the ticket.

Thank you for that - told you I was easily confused !!!

No problem raffles.
I`ve owned the excellent Panasonic machines ( E50 and E55 ) for a couple of years now.
Both solid reliable machines.
I`ve never missed having -RW once.
The combination of RAM and -R is perfectly fine.

Having said that,in an ideal world,I suppose every machine would have every format but you don`t get that for under £200,that`s for sure !

just my tuppence worth....
how do you intend connecting the camcorder to the DVD recorder?

if it`s via iLink (firewire) then the panny machine won`t help you.

Ste.

...hey, who nicked me hat and JD??

This item was edited on Wednesday, 5th January 2005, 19:18

JVC drm10 can record in -R, RAM & -RW.
This is okay for transfering recordings on to DVD.
It does not have RGB .But you can record NTL/SKY via the scart sockets in "composite" mode.
The extra benefit of this machine, is the "-RW" recording format for playing back on non-panasonic (non-RAM) machines. -RW is the rewritable format for using again & again.
I got the JVC. I would have got the Panasonic e55, but the lack of -RW put me off the Panasonic.
The JVC has has firewire (which is not availble on the Panasonic , I believe).
The JVC also has S-VHS inputs (for camcoders without the firewire ports.)