Panasonic NV-HS830 VCR
 

I am about to purchase a Panasonic NV-HS830 VCR? Is this one appropriate for converting my vhs to digital files/DVD's? I haven't seen this particular one in your lists

I see them mentioned on several forums as decent, above-average machines with good s-video output. They aren't high end, meaning they have no dnr or line-level tbc, the latter of which you'll need for correcting line timing sync errors and some other defects that are inherent with tape playback into digital devices. If your tapes are retail, you'll need an additional frame-level tbc to defeat copy protection.

Thank you for your reply. It seems that I have to search again. This was a good offer . Only used once by the owner. And there is one more thing i'd like to ask. What about Sony vcrs? I read in many sites that Sony vcrs are top devices. Is there a good S-VHS Sony that I could search for on ebay? I would apprecciate your advice to this

Sonys are not good for VHS - none of Sonys VHS decks had TBC
also the higher end Sonys are wicked cuckoo-clocks and difficult to repair

JVC and Panasonic are best for VHS/S-VHS
Sony are the best bet for 8mm/Hi8 and of course Betamax

Only used once ? ? Ummm, I'd be rather suspicious of that line, even if it's possibly true (remotely possible, anyway).
:hmm:

I doubt that this was one of those many sites. Maybe they were talking about SONY's from the very early 1990's, which was the last time SONY made a competitive VHS machine. Even then, they weren't famous for durability.

I'll second that. By 1996, even a cheap Emerson could outplay and outlast any SONY VHS, including SONY's $1000 mislabeled "pro" series. There are still good Panasonics around from the 1996 era (the PV-S4670 SVHS series were good performers, and were non-tbs forerunners of the later AG-1980 (which still goes professionally refurbished for ~$365 and up and has a comparable UK model). Then there were the high-end JVC's, from 7600's up to 9800's. The 9900 series had plenty of lemons. Unfortunately JVC isn't a good choice for 6-hour VHS tapes. Panasonic non-pro VCR's started going downhill after 1996 (along with every other brand) except for their AG series. Starting about 2000, Panasonic started re-using the numbering from their earlier and successful PV-4560 and PV-4670 series (but the newer, all-junk Pannies had numbers with an extra "V" in the middle, as in PV_V4500, PV-V4600). You still see 4600's around now and then -- I bought a nice PV-S4672 SVHS with Dynamorphous metal heads just a little over a year ago on eBay. Not cheap (but not 385 clams, either!), bought from a seller that specializes in a/v electronics and guarantees 30-day returns

Watever you get. watch out for sellers who offer no return at all, and who also sell stuff like dishware sets and used trailer hitches. Chances are, they're not electronics dealers, they're junk collectors.

thank you all for the useful tips. greetings from greece