Samsung SV-5000 S-VHS VCR
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- VCR Type: S-VHS
- Number of Video Heads: 4
- General Features: On Screen Menu Quasi SVHS Playback Auto Tracking Jog Dial
- Audio: Stereo
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Got SECAM?
Pros
feature rich, price
Cons
a little bit complicated to use, problem with macrovision
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This is a great way to watch the videos you purchased abroad...be aware that all your friends will want you to convert stuff for them!
I bought this VCR so we could watch tapes purchased in Europe and Russia. After shopping around quite a bit, I finally decided this was the best "bang for your buck" and would up purchasing it at B&H Photo in New York for about $375.
The main problem I wanted to solve in purchasing this particular VCR was that I needed a VCR that would do more than just play PAL and SECAM tapes--I needed one that would actually do the conversion so that my NTSC Television would be able to play them. Its an important distinction because there are plenty of VCRs out there that will play PAL/SECAM, but you must have a monitor capable of showing those formats. This VCR actually does the conversions for you.
In fact, it doesn't just convert one-way. You can, for instance, play an NTSC tape out to a PAL or SECAM monitor or a SECAM tape out to PAL or NTSC...it also supports multple power voltage, types of input/output cables--it really IS a "World" VCR.
There are also lots of great features that add class to this VCR. The list is long and I discover more of the features all the time. For instance, the remote control glows in the dark to make it easier to find. Or, when you're taping something off the air, it will notice you are running out of tape and slow down to a lower format to try to fit in what you wanted to tape. Or if you go to do a timer recording and the tape in the VCR is write-protected, when you turn the power off it will eject the tape to warn you. It also has mostly "useless" features like the ability to put artistic effects on whatever you are watching (either live on the air or off a tape) or to pause video that is live on the air.
The only complaint I have is kind of a big one: the one I got seems to have a lot of trouble with Macrovision. In other words, if I rent a video at Blockbuster, it will keep getting lighter and then darker in 30 second cycles. Very annoying to the point of not being watchable. My other cheapo VCR has no problem playing the same tapes.
The main problem I wanted to solve in purchasing this particular VCR was that I needed a VCR that would do more than just play PAL and SECAM tapes--I needed one that would actually do the conversion so that my NTSC Television would be able to play them. Its an important distinction because there are plenty of VCRs out there that will play PAL/SECAM, but you must have a monitor capable of showing those formats. This VCR actually does the conversions for you.
In fact, it doesn't just convert one-way. You can, for instance, play an NTSC tape out to a PAL or SECAM monitor or a SECAM tape out to PAL or NTSC...it also supports multple power voltage, types of input/output cables--it really IS a "World" VCR.
There are also lots of great features that add class to this VCR. The list is long and I discover more of the features all the time. For instance, the remote control glows in the dark to make it easier to find. Or, when you're taping something off the air, it will notice you are running out of tape and slow down to a lower format to try to fit in what you wanted to tape. Or if you go to do a timer recording and the tape in the VCR is write-protected, when you turn the power off it will eject the tape to warn you. It also has mostly "useless" features like the ability to put artistic effects on whatever you are watching (either live on the air or off a tape) or to pause video that is live on the air.
The only complaint I have is kind of a big one: the one I got seems to have a lot of trouble with Macrovision. In other words, if I rent a video at Blockbuster, it will keep getting lighter and then darker in 30 second cycles. Very annoying to the point of not being watchable. My other cheapo VCR has no problem playing the same tapes.
