BVP4 Plus for 200$ worth it?

[HOTPROPHET]

Hi people, in the last week, I've been on the search for a BVP4 plus. The only guy I've found so far selling it is on ebay. The maximum auction ended for 15$ but the reserve was set, therefore the guy did not win the product. the seller will sell it to me for about 200$ I was under the impression that's how much it was worth brand new years ago. If i keep looking, am I expecting to pay the same price or should I be able to find one for quite a bit cheaper? In other words, is this guy ripping me off?

[filmboss80]

He's not really ripping you off, but the price is a little steep The question is: is it worth it to you? You can't buy it new anymore AFAIK, so a seller really has the power to name his own price. The device itself is okay in terms of enhancing analog footage, but if you look at the image in underscan, you will see that it cannot process the entire picture all the way from left to right. It always leaves a thin strip of unprocessed footage at one side or other--usually beyond the viewing frame in traditional TV sets, but certainly visible on computer monitors. Years back, I had do get Elite Video to replace several units to find one that minimized the problem. I certainly would not fork over $200 to have one these days, but that's just me.

[HOTBIATCH]

yeah so its a waste of money, dont spend useless money cause its just some home video that no one will see and your girlfriend is worth more so move in with her........GREAT ANSWER!!!

[filmboss80]

HOTPROPHET + HOTBIATCH = HOTCOUPLE? I do not want to get in the middle of a domestic argument. Look, I used the BVP4 Plus when I was forced to incorporated some home-video-quality shots with higher-end footage in some documetaries. The resolution-boost feature was helpful to some extent. But my situation involved projects that brought in enough revenue to justify buying that, and other, processors. For home use, you may be better off with a software solution, like using plug-in image enhancement filters in VirtualDub -- all for free.

[lordsmurf]

The BVP-4 Plus was originally about $700+. I paid $450 for mine some years ago. Yes, it's worth $200. It makes most other proc amps look like jokes.

TIP: Use s-video only, not composite.

Correction in the analog domain is preferable to software filters.

[robjv1]

I bought one about a year ago for $170 and sold it for $150-ish, so that's a pretty good deal for one in good condition. It has some unique features and a really WIDE hue/color spectrum that is nice for tapes that have color issues (namely most of mine recorded on a 1980 VHS camera/vcr). I sold it though and person ally for MOST tapes I prefer the quality of the SignVideo ProcAmp, but that runs quite a bit of money. The SignVideo proc amp doesn't process the image completely from top to bottom though (leaves a little bit on the bottom, but it's in the overscan just as the left to right of the BVP is) but I prefer it for whatever reason -- the one on the side is more distracting to me. I guess if you got them both then you'd be covered! :P

[filmboss80]

Lordsmurf jogged my memory. I suppose I DID pay around $400+ for mine. Still, if the use is only for "some home video that no one else will see," $200 may be difficult to justify...especially in the eyes of a demanding girlfriend.

[HOTPROPHET]

Ok, thanks for your reply guys. I simply wanted to verify whether he was taking me for a ride or not. I will also be using sotware "virtualDub" to do some nice corrections. And HOTBIATCH seems to have forgotten that I am not the one who will be paying for this, rather the family itself. She also is forgetting I am learning this now to have it done before my Big move in with her at the end of summer. And yes, more than just a couple people will be seeing these videos, that's for sure. I talked it over with others and they'll be splitting the cost for the machine.

thanks for all your help peeps. You've all been great!