Is the Panasonic AG-6810 VCR good for transferring tapes?

[chulek]

Hi, i´m thinking of buying a Panasonic AG-6810s. Do you guys know it? Is it good? Old? It is supposed to be a professional PAL B model, but i´m having a hard time finding information on it.

It´s not SVHS, and it does not have an internal TBC, but i´m saving to buy an external.

Thanks!

[volksjager]

thats old broadcast deck - avoid it
get a TBC equiped S-VHS deck - you wont regret it.

you really should have both a VCR TBC and an external TBC

[chulek]

And what about the Panasonic AG-4700? It´s is supposed to be SVHS with TBC, right?

[chulek]

And would this cables be suitable and good for it?:
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-THX-V1...ywords=s-video

[juhok]

TBC is an umbrella term for many different signal operations. Internal and external TBCs do different things. There's a TBC FAQ about this in this very forum, I suggest you read it.

AG-4700 in a working condition is one of the best PAL SVHS TBC decks.

Any cable is ok as long as it doesn't suck.

[admin]

Q: Is the Panasonic AG-6810 VCR good for transferring tapes?
A: No.

Q: And what about the Panasonic AG-4700?
A: Should be. But I'll defer to juhok on this, since he appears to have better first-hand working knowledge.

Easy enough.

[juhok]

NV-HS1000 and AG-4700 are almost identical. I'd guess that it's more difficult to find AG-4700 in a good condition (even if you compensate for the rarity of it compared to HS-1000) because it's used more in a "pfosessional" setting than anything else.

[chulek]

Thanks juhok, it's good to read that the VCR I'm after is good piece of equipment. I will definitely make an effort to buy one.

[chulek]

juhok, I have also found a Panasonic FS 200 in good condition. Would it be better than the Panasonic AG 4700?

[juhok]

I need to clarify that at the moment I do not own AG4700, but I have many HS1000s and FS200s. From what I've discussed with people, read from the internet resources and seen from videos and pictures and service manuals, AG4700 is almost identical electronically and mechanically to HS1000. Some sources say they are 1:1 identical meaning that AG4700 is HS1000 without a tuner. Other sources disagree (for example according to service manual certain sub models do use different and cheaper upper drum than HS1000 lineup).

That said, in my opinion for most VHS and SVHS material HS1000 is the better choice. Thus it follows that AG4700 in my book is better choice than FS200 if you need only one deck. But FS200 by no means is "bad". HS1000 is more picky with worn and bad tapes and will magnify the errors compared to FS200. I don't think it would an exaggeration to say that HS1000 will amplify the quality of the tape - if the quality is good it will look amazing and if the quality is bad it will look worse than with some other decks. HS1000 heads will pick up fine detail that isn't there with FS200 or most JVC I've used, but it will also pick up and show scratches and dirt on the tape that many other decks will not.

It's difficult to quantify my experiences with these decks in a meaningful way with a few paragraphs. I hope this helps.

[lordsmurf]

@juhok: I'd have to concur with everything you just wrote.

My basis is from extrapolating data based on NTSC models of similar family, as well as ample qualitative feedback. (Not random blogs, forum posts, etc -- but opinions from people I'd consider well-versed, and in some cases outright peers.)

chulek is now selecting from a quality menu, and honestly any of those choices sounds fine.

[Jarvis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhok

That said, in my opinion for most VHS and SVHS material HS1000 is the better choice. Thus it follows that AG4700 in my book is better choice than FS200 if you need only one deck. But FS200 by no means is "bad". HS1000 is more picky with worn and bad tapes and will magnify the errors compared to FS200. I don't think it would an exaggeration to say that HS1000 will amplify the quality of the tape - if the quality is good it will look amazing and if the quality is bad it will look worse than with some other decks. HS1000 heads will pick up fine detail that isn't there with FS200 or most JVC I've used, but it will also pick up and show scratches and dirt on the tape that many other decks will not.

I don't own a HS1000 myself or an AG4700 for that matter, but the way you've described it exposing the quality of the tapes is the same as my NV-FS200 units. Just to a smaller extent I suppose. Some good tapes I've played on those units do look really great, particularly commercial releases, while many of my worn home video tapes show everything you don't want to see. It's a shame then that the NV-FS200's filtering abilities are quite poor, compared to JVCs which are amazing at masking degradation. Of course there is also less clarity, but I prefer a more filtered, softer image on a noisy source than exposing all its flaws along with any extra detail there is (if there even is any).

I can't imagine having just one deck really. A JVC and Panasonic combo seems like a sure bet to cover everything, one without the other just doesn't cut it from my experience.

[chulek]

juhok: thank you so much for your advice! It helps A LOT.

lordsmurf: if I'm selecting from a quality menu, it's only because of your great advice, and guides, and forum posts. I would be completely lost if you and other members didn't take the job to help us novices.

Jarvis: I appreciate your advice on having both a JVC and a Panasonic. But unfortunately budget allows only one right now, and I read Panasonic is generally better for VHS-C.

Thank you all!

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chulek

and I read Panasonic is generally better for VHS-C.

I cannot stress this enough.

Putting a VHS-C or S-VHS-C tape inside a JVC S-VHS VCR is like offering a sacrifice to the videotape gods.
The JVC transport just doesn't work very well on the compacts. And that's ironic, since JVC was a common brand of VHS-C camera.

Mmmmmmm..... goooood taaaaape... nom nom nom...