Replacing my trusty HS2

[Confucius]

I'm considering the following machines:

Panasonic DMR-EX77EB-K

Sony RDRHXD870

Both machines appear to have features essential for me, but I can't find any information on the following, which may clinch the deal:

Flexible record: A mode I used all the time on my HS2 when transferring from HDD to DVD to fill the disc with whatever length of program I found appropriate, automatically adjusting the bit-rate to fit. I prefer this to picking a given program length.

Insertion of manual chapter points (is this disc format dependent?)

Ability to transfer programs on DVD-R back to the HDD (I have a few DVDs that I have recorded which I would like to re-edit, add thumbnail menus to or simply re-record for back-up purposes)

Picture resolution remaining at maximum for as long a recording as possible*, commensurate with acceptable picture quality - difficult to quantify I know!

*: I believe on the HS2 resolution dropped when attempting to record over ~2 1/4 hours onto disc.

I'm edging towards the Panasonic for its ability to record onto DVD-RAM and because I am familiar with the operating 'logic' of their machines, based purely on experience with the HS2. The answers to the questions posed could tip the balance Sony's way.

At first look they both seem pretty well matched on the feature front; are there any other features or operating foibles that I should consider when choosing between these two machines? Are there any other machines that are a better bet than these two, on features build quality or picture, for a similar (~£280) price

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by Confucius

I'm considering the following machines:

Panasonic DMR-EX77EB-K

Sony RDRHXD870

Both machines appear to have features essential for me, but I can't find any information on the following, which may clinch the deal:

Flexible record: A mode I used all the time on my HS2 when transferring from HDD to DVD to fill the disc with whatever length of program I found appropriate, automatically adjusting the bit-rate to fit. I prefer this to picking a given program length.

The EX77 certainly has this. I don't know for the Sony but I would be surprised if it did not have a similar system.

Originally Posted by Confucius

Insertion of manual chapter points (is this disc format dependent?)

Chaptering depends on disc format and copying method. [Panasonic]

You can chapter at any time and any place on recording on the Hard disk and DVD-RAM
If you high speed copy, [ which is pure digital cloning] then all chapters thumbnails etc. go with the copy ... as it is identical.
If you real time copy, the material is re-encoded and all chapters are lost.
When you come to finalise those copies, chapters are auto-added at 5 to 8 minute intervals depending on disc type.

Originally Posted by Confucius

Ability to transfer programs on DVD-R back to the HDD (I have a few DVDs that I have recorded which I would like to re-edit, add thumbnail menus to or simply re-record for back-up purposes)

Yes you can do this ... but it has to be done in real time with DVD-R. [ With RAMs you can always bounce back and forth at high speed ]

Originally Posted by Confucius

Picture resolution remaining at maximum for as long a recording as possible*, commensurate with acceptable picture quality - difficult to quantify I know!

Originally Posted by Confucius

*: I believe on the HS2 resolution dropped when attempting to record over ~2 1/4 hours onto disc.

FR is a continuously variable mode... so it will drop all the time when past a nominal 2 hour point... It doesn't suddenly drop to a lower mode.
It is optimal.

Originally Posted by Confucius

I'm edging towards the Panasonic for its ability to record onto DVD-RAM and because I am familiar with the operating 'logic' of their machines, based purely on experience with the HS2. The answers to the questions posed could tip the balance Sony's way.

At first look they both seem pretty well matched on the feature front; are there any other features or operating foibles that I should consider when choosing between these two machines? Are there any other machines that are a better bet than these two, on features build quality or picture, for a similar (~£280) price

I don't know the Sony in great detail so cannot really comment except in a general sense ... being familiar with the machines on this forum... Both seem able machines .. neither having a 'Killer app' which would take it above the other... so it may come down to some small quirk which you prefer.

[fitshace]

Originally Posted by Gavtech

.. neither having a 'Killer app' which would take it above the other... so it may come down to some small quirk which you prefer.

The Sonys play DIVX and have "Series Link". If these 2 features don't matter to you then it will probably come down to "looks" and "price".

Best of luck deciding, it took me 2 months of research and in the end I went for the "Sony" because of the "divx".... oh yes and SWMBO said it looked "nicer".