Re: DVD Recorders
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:06 am
Found a longer review of the Panasonic here
If you want as VCR replacement definately go for a major brand (not Philips - traditionally unreliable) with hard drive.
More choice of '-' than '+' blanks and '-' can be cheaper too.
Regarding '-' blanks bought a batch of 8x Sony and not had one duff. I currently use these to archive.
Surprisingly Tesco/Mr DVD been 100% good too but wouldn't use for archiving.
Had a few duff Ritek/Ridisc/Datawrite/Mitsubushi so now don't use for anything important. Never bought Bulkpaq but been given several that struggle to play so would never buy.
Gigatain been 100% good too - not common but in a certain well known electronic trade catalogue.
Been 100% happy with my Pioneer (non-hard drive) recorder bought 2nd user off eBay over a year ago.
Friend has a recent Panasonic with HDD and happy with that.
Older Pansaonics only recorded on -R and RAM - not RW.
To make best use of DVD space make sure you can set the recording rate in steps of say 10 minutes not just 1h, 2h etc.
For archiving only put about 2hr on each disc. At some point the resolution will reduce from 720 (or 704 on a Panasonic) x 576 to 320 x 576 and even less beyond 4hr. On my Pioneer the change is at 2h 30 min.
For VHS to DVD I do rough copy to a rewriteable DVD then use PC to tidy up, add chapters titles etc with TMPGENC DVD Author.