PANASONIC AG2580 Pro VHS VCR
VCR's ain't what they used to be
The AG-3200 is really a JVC SR-V101US in disguise. It's an OK product, but why spend $296 when $279 gets you the same thing in a JVC?  Either way, this amount of cash doen't get you nearly what it did 10 years ago when Panasonic made its own first-class $200-$300 VCR's with much better performance than either this or the JVC. If you're limited to $300 or under, the SR-V101US is the same machine for a few bucks less.  Panasonic does make some nice pro gear, but at $3000 and higher.  Instead, spend a little more for the JVC HR-S9911U at $359 from Amazon/J&R. Or find a Mitsubishi in the $400 price range.  It's unfortunate that so many people own vast collections of VHS/SVHS but have to spend over a grand to get a first-class machine these days, or just let their VHS collections rot.  Not a good time for those of us who'd like a great playback machine to transfer those tapes to DVD without taking out a second mortgage. The AG-3200 has a clean picture, but nothing like the snap and sparkle of the old Panasonic or Sony premiums. True, analog video has its problems, but so far home-based DVD has a ways to go before it can catch up with what a VCR used to offer a few years ago.  Few consumers can spend $10,000 to set up a home DVD studio that's as good as a $400 VCR from the 1990's.