New VCR

[Rob100]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a new VHS VCR (primarily PAL, but NTSC playback would be useful). I don't want to spend a fortune. Main use will be to record projects outputed via G400 Marvel. Will also be used as player for capture. Guess I'm looking to spend between £300 and £400 pounds.

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Rob.

[EvilDonnyboy]

Whoa. 400 pounds is a lot. Here in North America, you can get a good Sony consumer VCR for under $200US. You can get a hi-end consumer SVHS VCR for around $300 US.

Unless VCR's are outrageously expensive in the UK, or you're getting a pro- quality VCR, you'll have plenty of money to buy ur VCR.

[Dr Mordrid]

Britain has cornered the market for "creative taxation"

Dr. Mordrid


[This message has been edited by Dr Mordrid (edited 09 June 2001).]

[Rob100]

Yes, you can buy a VCR over here for much less than I'm saying, but I don't want a cheapo bottom end VCR. If I can get away with spending less then great, just looking for some recommendations...

Rob.

[Nethermancer]

I would recommend one of the JVC SVHS-ET range which start at about £200. Good editing facilities, loads of connectors and SKY Digibox channel switching. Also, there's a high end model in the range with digital TBC for about £350-400. Another bonus is the ability to record SVHS on standard tapes.

[This_Idiot]

I've got a JVC HR-J635 (PAL, non-svideo) which has jog/shuttle and a host of tricks, and performs very well. I've had it for about 2 1/2 years now, it cost me £250 in a New Year sale. But, like other JVC's, the transport mechanism isn't particularly robust, and this one has twice been back for repair. Touch wood it has stayed fixed after the second visit. But with a total repair bill of over £100 so far, I wish that I'd gone for one of the higher range consumer Panasonics (The editing decks started at around £600 when I bought the JVC).

Doc, it isn't just the taxation in the UK that drives the prices of just about everything up - it's also that the UK government(s) (no politics here, all parties are guilty) turn a blind eye to cartels and other co-operative price-fixing. If the public kicks up enough stink then the government of the day will initiate a commission or investigation which will cost the taxpayer several million, take 2 years, and then report that there is no evidence of price-fixing. Most people who live on the South Coast wait until the ferry companies are offering cheap day tickets, and then go over to France or Belgium to buy non-perishable groceries at half the UK price (stuff like washing powder, let alone tobacco and wine). A couple of years ago, I took my wife for a 4 day/3 night autumn break to Brittany. It cost me £140 in ferry fares and hotels for the 3 nights, plus we had to buy our own lunch and dinner (not expensive in France). I saved more than that £140 by bringing back 3 months supply of cigars at French prices and 6 cases of wine, and we also took the opportunity to stock up with our favourite brands of french food.

[Nethermancer]

My Panasonic SVHS VCR lasted 6 years due to robust manufacturing but needed head replacement after 3 at a cost of £250. All my other VCRs have lasted no more than 2 years (albeit with heavy use). It seems best nowadays to buy a VCR with an extended warranty (don't forget to haggle about the price of the warranty - many stores will halve the price to get a sale). Using a credit card that gives you an extra years warranty (like Barclaycard) is also worth using. If you play your cards right you can shop around for the best deal on the VCR, get a 5 year warranty for about 20% of the cost of the VCR and an extra year on top of that with your credit card. This is one case were an extended warranty is worthwhile (don't bother with TVs as they have no moving parts - unless you get a fantastic bargain on the warranty and you're buying an expensive TV).

[Greebe]

nethermancer, they ripped you a new a**hole!

I 've done hundreds of head replacements and never a once over $100 (USD) they normally avg ~$50 (course you have to get me todo it... the stores rip off the consumer)

[mynx]

Just remember that SVHS-ET cannot be played back on normal or SVHS vcr's. If you use this method you and your vcr dies you are trapped into buying a new one that will work with your recordings.
Many companies now offer extended replacement warrenties. It is no longer cost effective to repair vcr's. If it breaks they give you a new on and throww the old one away. Some brands aren't repaired, even under warrenty the give you a replacement.