Toshiba DR2 Vs Panasonic

[jackedup]

I currently have a Panasonic DVD recorder and really like it but would like to buy a new recorder with a DV input. I see the Toshiba DR2 offers the input and seems to have similar features to the Panasonic.

Much of what I will be using it for is to transfer VHS tapes and 8mm camcorder tapes but will also be using it for transfers from my digital camcorder.

Just curious if anyone here has both a Panasonic and Toshiba DVD recorder and could offer a comparison between the two. I have done some reading here and have read that at least one person really liked the results tranferring VHS to a Toshiba DR2 and said it cleaned up the video quite nicely.

I have alos seen mention of a black level problem on the Toshiba but no specific models mentioned so am not sure if this problem exists on all of their machines or just older ones.

Any advise/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[siratfus]

My experience with the Toshiba DR1 was a nightmare. Extremely disk picky. Even brandnames like TDK and Sony, and the problem is the machine won't tell you right away. It will let you burn for over an hour and then stop and say "ERROR DISC NEEDS CLEANING." Wasted many discs and time like this, so I gave it the boot.

But that was just me. Maybe I had a bad unit, I dunno.

[maldb]

Came across this while looking for something else, but decided to respond anyway.

I had the Panny 30 which went belly up several months ago - very frustrating experience as it would go into a "recovery" mode every once in awhile. Replaced it with the Toshiba unit and am amazed at how much better the quality is. I compared the NYPD Blue episodes I recorded on both machines and hands-down, the Toshiba is the better unit - it also has a much better menu generator and titling system.

That's my experience with them anyway...

[victoriabears]

Yes I have to say the Toshiba is the "nicest" out of the Panasonic/Sony/RJ tech/Daytek I have tried.

other are JVC(Qaulity susepct) and Pioneer which everyone seems to like.

[gshelley61]

One of these days I'll have to check out a new Toshiba. They used to have a bad black level problem - even worse than the older Panasonics. I hear they are decent units now, though.

[victoriabears]

yes the black level problem is one of those things I have never seen, great quality off cable recordings particularly.

[LCSHG]

jackedup

I you are going to transfer commercial VHS tape to DVD You should look at the LiteOn/ILO, With the Hack, and I believe the only ones, they can't be beat and they have a DV input.

[robguy]

To transfer my old VHS tapes to dvd, I'm buying the Panasonic DMR-ES30VS. About 299 at BestBuy. Here's the link to the specificatons:

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=...00000000005702

Sadly, it doesn't have a DV input terminal, though.

[lordsmurf]

Both JVC and Pioneer units, the two best units around, come with DV inputs.

Some of the lower Pioneers are no-DV, but some do.

[cmfslc]

I have both a Panasonic dms-es30vs and a Toshiba dr2. I like them both for different reasons...which I state in my review of the Panasonic at:

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=1047&Search=Search&list=1#comments

I haven't done any transfers with the Panasonic yet, but I have with the Toshiba. It did a nice job of cleaning up the tapes. Yesterday, I watched a TV program that I recorded on both machines in the SP mode, using the built-in tuners. The show on the Toshiba was definitely "smoother" looking. It seemed to take out some of the graininess. The Panny's recording had a bit blacker blacks (more depth). Both looked good, but to my eye, the Toshiba was more appealing. At some point, I'll do a tape-transfer comparison.

I've heard that you still get excellent resuts using the s-video input for dv transfer on the Panasonic. I've done both S-video and DV transfers on the Toshiba and frankly couldn't tell much difference except for the convenience factor of controlling both the camera and dvr with the remote.

[gshelley61]

Pioneer units with DV input:

DVR-210, DVR-310 (exactly the same unit)
DVR-320
DVR-510H (DVR-210/310 with a hard drive)
DVR-520H (DVR-320 with a hard dive)

There is also an Elite version of the 520 with a 160GB hard drive, and there will eventually be a 920H model that has a 250GB hard drive and a HDMI (digital video) output. It's already available in Europe.

[mumubunnylips]

I have a Panasonic DMR-E30 and a Toshiba RD2. The encoding quality of these two recorders is very similar to my eyes. The Panasonic has held up very well for the 2 or 3 years I've had it. No complaints, but I needed Firewire input without a hard drive as I prefer to do any editing/re-authoring on my computer.

The Toshiba's menus are a bit quirky to learn, but offers more options overall. Of particular note, it is possible to create a DVD without a menu, which for me is huge. I record a lot of "quick 'n dirty" discs containing just one video clip and simply want the video to begin playing as soon as the disc is inserted in a player - a feature called "first play".

My Panasonic forces me to create a very ugly menu which appears as first play. The newer Panasonics do have an option to select a video as first play, but the menu is still created and will appear after the first play has executed. Messy and unprofessional.

I have encountered problems with media compatibility. I was using ProGen discs and the Toshiba would hiccup on those every now and then - most often after recording the disc could not be finalized, which was a real waste of time. I switched to the more expensive Taiyo Yudens and the problem went away. So it costs me a few more cents, but I save a lot of time.

One last comment about the Toshiba - it takes an eternity to initialize a disc (like about 30 seconds +). By comparison, my new-ish Panasonic player is up and running within about 3-5 seconds even with most recordable discs - pretty amazing!