Panasonic PV-VS4821 4-Head S-VHS Hi-Fi  VCR
Great VCR
To all readers: Please don't let be fooled by all these negative reviews. This is a great product. Let me explain why.<br />I'll just get to the point: Why would you buy a S-VHS VCR in the first place? Because of the enhanced picture quality, the superiority of S-video over standard composite. And this is just what this product delivers. All recordings I have made so far in S-VHS mode (using a true S-VHS tape)look wonderful, maybe not exactly like DVD, but VERY close. The quality is way, way higher than you can get on any other \\"standard\\" VCR. Normal VHS recordings look very good too, and are of the best I've seen. This unit also lets you record in \\"S-VHS ET\\" mode, which is basically making a S-VHS recording in a standard VHS tape, which looks close to true S-VHS.<br />Playback quality is simply EXCELLENT. Both original tapes and recordings look awesome. Even some recordings that I made with my old Sharp VCR looked remarkably well when I played them on my new Panasonic, I was really impressed.<br />The only weakness I've found is that recordings made in SLP mode (VHS mode) are somewhat poor, not as sharp and beautiful like those made in SP mode. They look acceptable, in my opinion. S-VHS in SLP mode is better. LP mode is very good, both in VHS and S-VHS.<br />It also has its bells and whistles, like commercial and movie advance, lighted remote control, etc., which is all useless, in my opinion, but most people seem to like that kind of stuff.<br />I'm very satisfied with the picture quality of this VCR, which is what matters the most. Don't be fooled by perfectionists that complain about the remote, or the color(of the unit), or the lack of some useless feature. <BR>You want a perfect VCR? then go spend.... If you are just looking for a VCR that delivers great picture quality in both recording and playback, look no further. And at this price, you can't go wrong.