ID this VCR (Panasonic AG series)

[fmctm1sw]

While I was in Japan, I picked up a number of older (and newer) SVHS/Hi8 VCRs. What I am trying to do is equate this one with the "American version" if there is one. Please take a look at it and see if you think it matches up with anything you recognize. I believe the manufacture date was 1988.

[edDV]

It looks similar to my 1989ish NEC but mine has controls located differently. Same pots and buttons.

The Pro on mine was an excellent comb filter decoder and 3 level digital noise reduction for very good recording.

The cons were firmware bugs that required reboots (unplug) and empirical button push sequences to get around the bugs.

I bought mine in the USA (~$1000 then) but at that time models were usually released to the Japan market about a year before Euro-USA release so bugs could be noted and corrected while on home turf. That was the secret to "Japanese reliability".

The National (Matshshita - Panasonic) AG series is the non-consumer "pro" line targeted to business customers through separate sales channels.

[fmctm1sw]

NEC? Was that the model?

[edDV]

Different model, different LED display and button layout, similar button and door design.

I'd have to dig it out of the garage to find the model number.

[studeer]

Hi there.
For the sake of full thread coverage,
that panny AG-3700 has as base model the panny NV-FS1, also sold (in Europe) by Blaupunkt as RTV-910 (+possibly other european brands like SABA, Nordmende, Metz, etc.)
And yes, Panasonic NV-FS1 was Panasonic's first S-VHS model; btw, mine still works.

Cheers.