What DVD format?

[MalcolmY]

My ancient VHS video cassette recorder has finally died on me and I have a number of sentimental value tapes and old films that I don't want to lose completely. I know that you can't buy new VHS VCRs (of anything like a reputable make) so I'm looking at a Panasonic VHS / DVD combi recorder that will allow me to not only carry on recording things off the telly but also to transfer my old VHS tapes to DVD.
However, I am confused by all the different DVD formats. I understand the difference between write once and rewriteable but that's about all. What are the relative merits of the + and - formats?
I also have a stand alone DVD player which I use to view DVDs and CDs of photographs downloaded from my digital camera. I intend relegating this DVD player to my study so the new machine would be my main CD / DVD viewer but I would also like to be able to use the two machines interchangeably. What are the pitfalls?

[ACtheTROLL]

bit of a chestnut debate ... first in ... must be right !!

DVD+r is the "standard" video recorder format.

(It's not ... but in my experience it's the most popular)
dvd-r was a follow on from the CD-r format ... hitachi, sony and some others came up with the +r format which was optimised to work better with their machines.

so while it's not truly a standard ... most of the older recorders insist on +r for recording

now many will accept either any +or- format
so (again in my experience) + will give better compatibility across all machines

[ACtheTROLL]

btw

why do you want a reputable maker's machine .... VCR is dead (but not gone) combination machines are always the sum of their parts ... and so are twice as likely to become unuseable.

I'd get a cheerfully cheap one ... do the business to DVD ... and then forget the VCR inconvenience.

a new DVD recorder costs a few �s - use the money you save towards your next DVD recorder + HDD - that's worth investing in

[VHG]

>What are the pitfalls?

You need to find out if your older DVD player plays both plus and minus formats, and if not, which one it supports.

If it only support plus (or minus) then you need to make sure you only use the same format disks on your NEW DVD recorder, so you can play the DVDs in your old DVD player.

I have always recorded my DVDs on minus disks, and never had a problem (not saying it is the best, but it works for me).

Finally, have to agree with ACtheTROLL, buy a DVD recorder (or other device) with a hard disk in it and record to that and ditch video tapes.

I have a Sky+ box with a hard disk in it and it is a breeze to use. No rewinding tapes, no wrecked tapes, press one button to record and it knows when to start and stop recording.

Also note VHS tapes are not digital, whereas hard disks and DVDs are digital.

With VHS you go from digital TV, to analogue tape, then back to digital for the final DVD so wil lose quality.

If you record to hard disk you are going from digital TV, to digital hard disk, to digital DVDs. Much better solution.

[Buenchico]

Hmm:
"I know that you can't buy new VHS VCRs (of anything like a reputable make)
LG is just as good as Panasonic and produces its VCRs in collaboration with Philips:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servl et/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001501&l angId=-1&searchTerms=5337503&Submit=GO+%3E

A quick glance in the Argos catalogue for combined DVD recorders/VCRs suggests that many of them don't recognise DVD+R, with DVD-R being the 'standard' for these machines. If your DVD player recognises that format it might be the best to use.

Incidentally, for many of us who scour charity shops for bargains, VHS is very definitely alive and well!

Chris