Panasonic ES10 Hi8 video copying problem

[TheMerovingian]

I have a Panasonic ES10, it copies from Sky live broadcast OK, and I can copy programs recorded on my Sky+ box with no problems.

I have a small number of Hi8 home movies that I want to copy to DVD for longevity reasons, I planned to copy to DVD-RAM initially and then edit the video on my PC before burning to DVD-R.

I tried copying to the ES10 using an S-Video lead from the camera and at first, everything went well. Then about 5min into the recording the colours on the screen seemed to invert, green fields appearing largely blue with pink sky, the colour distortion would continue until I stopped the tape. I found that if I pressed rewind briefly when the colour problem manifested I could then play through the previously affected area OK, but the colour change would occur again later into the recording.

I connected the camera to the ES10 via composite, this time the recording went much further before problems occurred, also the colour change was not permanent, it flicks on and off at about a two second interval.

Normally I would suspect the tape or the camera, but I can play back the tapes in the camera OK through my Akai VHS recorder, both by S-Video and composite. Also I have captured from the tapes using my PCTV Rave card and there was no colour problems.

Any ideas what may be causing this?

I have to say that the quality of the undistorted capture on DVD-RAM easily beats the quality of my PC captures, and of course, the ES10 route is much easier, so I am keen to sort this problem out.

[trhouse]

Have you tried feeding the camera -> Akai -> ES10? Might be worth a try.

[TheMerovingian]

I will have to check to see if the Akai has S-Video or RGB out on the scart, I guess it should seeing it has S-Video in.
Worth a try.