players for UK, ntsc or multi-region

[mbernard]

Hello

I live in the UK. There are a few movies that I very much want to see, that are available only on NTSC VHS. I don't have a VHS player, only a DVD recorder/player (multi-region) with HD. Right now I'm not thinking about converting VHS tapes, just watching them.

To do that I would need to buy a VHS player capable of playing NTSC tapes in the UK. As I see it, I basically have 2 choices:

1. Buy a NTSC VHS player in the States

2. Buy a multi-region VHS player here.

Both of these options raise questions.

-- Re question 1, if I buy a VHS player in the States, can I just attach it to my home cinema apparatus here in the UK and play American commercial VHS tapes? Or is there a problem, such as 50-60Hz issues, or any other?

-- Re question 2, I've looked online for multi-region VHS players currently available in the UK, but I keep finding discontinued models. Are there any such players currently available in the UK (for a top price of £200-300)?

I only want to play a few NTSC movies, and only in my home cinema system, not my computer. (If I could also find a way to record them to HD, and then to DVD, that would be great, but they're probably copy-protected.) The main thing is to see them at all!

Thanks

Mary

[hech54]

Most VHS players in the UK(purchased in the last 5 years) can play NTSC tapes in a way that your television will understand them. You'll most certainly be able to "watch" them but it is doubtful you will ever be able to transfer them to anything else from where you are now.
Although you can watch them...recording or capturing them to another "medium" is very very difficult.

[victoriabears]

Also most multi system vcr's, or at least be warned, do not output true ntsc for future capture. You would need a voltage converter for any North American purchased vcr, some capture cards and the Philips 3570 DVD recprder will capture that PAL 60 which Euro VCR's output when playing a ntsc vhs. That introduces the need for a piece of kit that would remove the copy protection to enable you to get it to dvd though.

Some , aside , information:-

The Panasonic combos e46/47/48 bought in the UK, I once had can be switched in the menu from pal to ntsc, but if the vhs is copy protected this can be an issue.

If you want to send me the films you seek by PM, lets see if they can be found for you in your native format. IS really the solution.