This is one page, of the huge Best Buy guide... With the extra fine
products, that give you the best value - in almost every category...
And we include often some vital advice, any really fine alternatives
and explain especially why our recommendation is the best choice!
A word to the Companies - It is a great honour, to become a Best Buy in this guide... That mean normally, that your product is superior and give a higher value, than hundreds of your competitors and that's great promotion... You are also very welcome to send finer pictures, of the models we write about... Plus information (or a test sample) on products we should grade as Best Buy!

On this page... TV sets DVD Players DVD Recorders
(and the next step) Blu-Ray recorders... VHS stereo video
Video Cameras What to test, on a video camera!
On the other pages...
First page of the Best Buy guide.. Audio Digital
cameras GSM telephones Computer & Programs
Cars Boats Wrist watches Excellent Film's
The advanced HIFI school, that explain everything...
And in the "Great Technology" section...
The finest motor boats, for great weekends at sea...
The main menu... And the front page

Video equipment

You may click here to see exactly how we work... And please click here and email me... If you have NEWS about finer worldwide alternatives, any important information (type extra good or bad qualities) on the products I recommend and naturally, any finer pictures!

The amazing OLED display technology This new technology offer many great advantages, over today's TV and computer displays... And OLED will soon begin to replace LCD and TFT screens for notebooks, digital cameras, video cameras, every PDA and advanced mobile phones... But the really great news, is that OLED work also perfect for huge flat TV screens and they are expected to cost only like a old TV set, within a few years...
Click here to read the complete article, about the bright future with OLED displays!

The amazing SED display technology This new technology offer many great advantages, over today's large LCD and Plasma screens... SED or "Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display" has been developed by Toshiba and Canon since 1986 and is perfect for flat 36 to 60 inch HD screens... SED work simply like one separate CRT tube, behind every sub pixel - which mean 6.2 million elecron guns, for a HD screen... That combine the absolute precision of LCD and the wider colour space, ultra fast response time, very high contrast and brightness, of a fine conventional CRT tube set... SED will actually give a higher contrast of 50-100.000:1 even if that "only" is 1 to 2% of the 5 million times we can see in real life and a ten years old can see a billion to one... Plus a perfect 180 degrees view angle, both horisontical and vertical... They will also last for 30.000 hours, as the finest CRT tubes... And people who seen the demonstrations at 2006 CES with 42 inch prototypes and just 10.000:1 contrast, was deeply impressed and say with different words, that the extremely natural picture quality goes far beyond anything else... It use also 66% less power, compared with a plasma screen and 33% less than a LCD screen... As example can a 40 inch SED panel be 1cm thick, weigh less than 20 kg and consume around 60 watt... And they have finally develop fine methods to mass produce a HD screen, with over six million micro electron "guns" or "emitters" at a relatively low cost... Partly "using a micro fabrication process from semiconductor manufacturing" revealed mr Fukuma at Toshiba... But active OLED screens offer an even wider colour space, over 10 times higher contrast, can be dramatically smaller (as 1 inch with vga defenition) last up to twice as long and cost clearly less to mass produce...
Toshiba plan was to introduce the first 55 inch screen (with complete HDTV progressive defenition of 1920x1080 pixels and 100.000:1 contrast) late in 2006 according to Takeshi Nakagawa, at almost the same price as a full HDTV defenition LCD display... A 55 inch 1080 screen is big enough to show the finest details, at max 2.2 meters distance... The two companies had also prototype SED panels on show, in October 2004 at the Ceatec exhibition in Japan... They did initially plan to make around 3000 panels 2006 and then lower the price, when the real mass production begins 2007 and in 2010 should about 3 millions be made... But they did not expect that the dramatic price drop for LCD screens, would continue this long time... So they try first to make the production a bit cheaper, before they build the huge new plant in Taishi and they plan to finally begin mass production early 2008 with 75000 screens monthly... The SED technology is anyhow superior, for big screens and even if they end up costing 50% more than state of the art LCD screens (they hope on just 20% more) will they probably be worth that extra money... So within a few years, can you buy a 55 inch ultra sharp flat SED screen with 100.000:1 contrast, (which still is only 2% of the reality, so you will not go blind) almost OLED colours and less than 1 millisecond response (a few TFT has only 3ms delay 2006 but you can't see any improvement under 10ms anyhow) at the same 2005 price of a fine 36 inch tube set!
But 2006-10-10 did the Australian company Arasor and their US partner Novalux from Silicon Valley - announce that they have a new laser TV technology - that will be superior to especially LCD and plasma, because the cost will be half the price, the colour space will be dramatically better, it's half the weight and thickness (compared to plasma) and it use only a quarter of the electricity... They did actually display a working 50 inch prototype by Mitsubishi, at the event... Novalux chief executive Jean-Michel Pelaprat, did also declare that todays screens only show 30-35% of the colours you can see, but with a laser TV will you be able to see 90% of the visible colour space... He predict that laser TV soon will dominate the market for bigger than 40 inch screens... And their combination of a unique optoelectronic chip and a laser projection device, will be available by Christmas 2007 inside TV sets made by companies like Mitsubishi and Samsung... So the near future look bright!

Flat widescreen TV sets OBS: We have the PAL system in Sweden, with normally 540 shown lines (of max 576 effective) and the product I recommend may differ dramatically in the NTSC system, that only show you 450 lines (of max 480 effective) of defenition...

You should first consider two vital aspects, if you want to invest in a HD system... What is true HD and the right viewing distance??
We who live in Europe should exclusively buy 1080 "full HD" screens and forget 720 "HD ready" screens, because the difference between 576 standard definition (that show 540 on a flat screen) and 720 is only 33 percent... When 1080 give 100 percent more details and most 1080 screens, recalculate also a 540 or 720 picture so you actually get a 90-95% vision of the true 1080 sharpness...
But for people with NTSC is the difference between 480 (that show 450) and 720 impressive 60 percent and that is naturally a clear advantage... Even if 1080 give amazing 140 percent more, compared with 450 lines!
Then must you actually sit on half the distance OR get a twice as big screen... To be able to see the finest detail in a true HD picture, with twice as many lines, as 1080 in Europe... And at least sit "clearly closer" in USA with 720 lines...
You can do a very easy test, with your own eyes... Step first so close that you can see the separate pixels and move then slowly back, until you can't see them... And observe that you will see less of the finest detail - if you move back even more, just as you can't see the pixels any more... But this test does ONLY work with the native defenition, type to check the viewing distance for a 1080 signal on a 1080 pixel high screen!
Many people sit actually too far away, to be able to see the finest details, even in an "old" 576 or 480 standard definition picture... Some exact examples... If you have very good eye sight, can you see a 1mm object max 346 cm away... And that mean, that you should sit 1.5 to max 2.55 meters away, from a flat 32 inch widescreen set with a 576 lines PAL signal... Or a 64 inch wide set with 1080 lines... And 1.8 to max 3.1 meters, from a 32 inch flat widescreen with a 480 lines NTSC signal... Or a 51 inch with 720 lines... And if you want to place your flat widescreen 3 meters away... Do you actually need 31 inch for 480 defenition, 37.5" for 576, minimum 50" for 720 and 75" for 1080 to really see the finest details, with very good eye vision... The only fine alternative, is to move the screen closer and simply arrange your furniture in a different way, which also will save a lot of money... And remember that a flat screen will normally show you 540/450 lines from a 576/480 signal, because the rest of the signal is simply 6% extra "over scan" for curved old tubes...
And notice also that you can first reduce the size of an old tube with 2 inch (because they did measure the tube, not the picture) when you compare with a new flat screen.

The finest PAL alternative, is: The very slim Sharp Aquos LC-46X20 that is 46 inch, offer complete HD defenition (1920x1080p) a truly delicious design, very dark black and a magnificent real (not irritating dynamic) contrast range of 1900:1 in test, at amazingly low 13000sek (can be a temporary sale) or 15500sek... This screen work better with DVD and Standard Definition of ordinary quality, than most full HD screens and has advanced up scaling from 576 definition, so you get about 90% of max HD quality... And even if this screen don't have 100hz technique (which often produce other problems) does it handle movement very fine... So the owners are very satisfied, with every aspect of the picture quality... X20 handle also 24p films very nice and you can set the usually "blue tinted" colour balance, to a very natural picture... And 46 inch is big enough to show you the finest 1080 details at 1.84 meters distance... But if you place it further away, will you see less and less details...
Then is... Sharp Aquos LC-37X20 A splendid 37 inch Full HD alternative, at the clearly lower price at 9000sek And the perfect choice, if you not need 46 inch and just sit max 1.48 meters from the screen (to see the finest details) and that is possible, if you arrange your furniture slightly different... Yes, that is the model I personally want most...
Then got Sony KDL-46W4000 with 46 inch, many extremely positive review and it has also complete HD defenition (1920x1080) with average up scaling from standard 576p definition (so you get about 80% of max HD quality) and maybe slightly darker black than Sharp, at 18000sek... And even if this screen don't have 100hz technique (which often produce other problems) does it also handle movement very fine... And 46 inch is big enough to show you the finest 1080 details at 1.84 meters distance... But if you place it further away, will you see less and less details... And Sony don't use to handle Standard Definition of ordinary quality, exactly as good as Sharp...
Then is... Sony KDL-52W4000 A slightly bigger 52 inch version, which is big enough to place 2.08 meters away and still see the finest details, at only 22000sek...
A quick quality guide, for TV sets... Look especially for very deep black (maybe after some adjustments) when you compare screens, which is the main problem for LCD screens...Then should details be visible, both in deep shadows and very light part of the pictures... No more tiny disturbance around faces, than other screens you compare with, if they show the same material... Then should slow movements not be more fuzzy (unsharp - turn off any noice reduction) and it must be possible to set a natural (slightly orange) skin colour... Some models give also different "humming" sounds and a few show strange horizontal "lines" or "bands" in the picture!
When you compare TV sets, remember that you can adjust sharpness, contrast, noise reduction and sometimes even the colour tone... So compare first in several shops and adjust then the two three best models, before you select... The best way to compare, is if you bring a DVD film you are familiar with and another, that need a very good noise reduction... A fine digital comb filter, give sharper picture (with a old tube screen) from an analog source, type tuner and simple videos... Some steady 100hz technique in old TV sets, smear movements (make them softer) and give often extra effects, specially on older sets... And some new models, have other ways to give a clearer sharper picture, without smearing... Finally sound most modern TV speakers awful, so you should always connect the set to a hifi equipment or at least separate loudspeakers, that may be rather cheap and still give a GREAT improvement!
Hmm... I would personally love to buy ultra light and slim "video eye glasses" with two half inch high and one inch wide HD screens, at 6000sek... Then would the wide screens, give you the same huge impression of size, as a 120 inch flat screen... But they must then be able to convert ordinary video to sharp HD and also let you "see over and under" the slim frame, so you not feel half blind... I wrote this 24 dec 2004 and hopefully will this dream product come soon... The price should easy be possible, if this glasses was mass produced by Panasonic or any other big company!
And why does we NOT recommend any projector, that give a BIG home cinema view?! Because the "budget" alternatives, offer rather bad quality, with the low contrast and a rather unsharp picture, compared to a fine big TV that cost less than half... And the incredible expensive alternatives (with fine line doubling) offer anyhow lower quality, compared to a fine flat screen, that cost less than half... Then are they normally rather noisy, need a rather dark room and a special screen (to not give too low quality) and have a VERY expensive lamp, that only last some year!!

DVD Players Is the finest choice of private video today and DVD give you more than twice as high picture quality, compared to a good VHS video... And one reason, is that one DVD can hold as much information as 28 CD rom's... OBS: We have the PAL system (max 576 effective lines) in Sweden and some details may differ from the NTSC system, that only give you max 480 effective lines of resolution...
The best alternatives are: The budget wonder Pioneer DV-300 with a rather elegant ultra slim front (just 49.5mm high) in black or silver (not real aluminium) progressive scan in both PAL & NTSC, picture adjustments, fine 4 speed slow motion in both directions, component video out, S-video out and scart rgb out, at only 990sek... This fine machine give especially exceptional fine video and sound... And 300 offer the same functions and qualities as the "old" famous Pioneer DV-470 except no optical digital out... Play DVD, CD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and MP3,WMA,Divx,Xvid media... But the remote is not very elegant, the forward search is max 27x and the tiny display show max 8 big signs, type 12-103:08 when your are on chapter 12 and there is 103 minutes and 8 seconds left...
And for about 70% more can you buy Pioneer DV-696 that is almost the same machine - plus that it can play DVD audio and SACD with 5.1 out, has decoder (Dolby Digital and DTS) lipsync delay and optical digital out!
And IF you have a HUGE screen (with an old / bad scaler) that handle true HD signals and you really sit close enough to view the finest details, type a 60 inch 1080p screen at 2.4 meters distance and NOT just a 37 inch screen at 3 meter (which is too little and far away to see the finest detail even with the "old" 576 signal - see more info in the TV section above) then is the best alternatives: Probably the slimline Panasonic DVD-S53EG with a high definition DVD upconversion to 720p and 1080p via the HDMI connection... So you can get almost HD quality (with a HD screen) from old DVD films... It play also almost every DVD format (maybe only in the European model) including DVD-RAM discs... At incredible 100usd or 1290sek, in delicious black or silver... But the remote does look a bit cheap...
A fine scaler (up converter) in a DVD player, can give you a magnificent view very close to real HD films, if you have a HD screen - but the best is naturally to have that function in the screen (or just before) so you can enjoy any source, with a lot finer quality and not just DVD films... Sadly enough couldn't you find any screen, at a good price, with a fine scaler - even if Philips Pixelplus 2 function did come close and then is separate scalers VERY expensive... And now have the finest Full HD screens rather fine scalers, too... The second best, is to put a fine scaler in a receiver, even if you then have to connect everything through the receiver, but most receivers with scalers are also rather expensive!
Then does also the elegant Sony DVP-NS78H upconvert to 720p and 1080p via the HDMI connection... At 1220sek... But we have NOT seen any review yet...
Finally does also Pioneer DV-400V upconvert to 720p and 1080p via the HDMI connection... At 1380sek, in delicious black or silver... But it's reported that the converted picture "flutter" more than perfect...
Then give other Sony, Onkyo and Panasonic also very high quality... You should normally select a DVD model without decoder and save some money, if you anyhow have a modern home cinema receiver with Dolby Digital and DTS!

The Digital Dream Machine

Panasonic DMR-HS2 was the first DVD recorder with a Hard Disc (of 40GB) that also could record
on cheap DVD-R discs... Exactly the dream machine I was hoping someone would make!

DVD Recorder, with HDD This machines have both a big HDD and can record on the rather cheap DVD-R discs (who also are compatible with almost any DVD player) and that is the optimal combination... Because the main problem, was the incredible expensive erasable discs, that did cost 4-6 times more per hour (with fine DVD quality) compared with VHS tape... Even if they also cost amazingly little today!
So now can you first record everything for free and with ultimate quality, on the big HDD and then save only the finest scenes (or films) that you really want to collect, on rather cheap "gold" DVD-R discs (see below why you need these) that cost about 165sek for ten, with case... That's almost as cheap for each hour (with ok DVD quality) as a good VHS tape... So you can easy create excellent DVD discs - of ultra high quality - with "The finest house and gardens" or "Great cartoons" or "Funny stuff" or "Delicious xxx scenes 12" or "Sexy clothes" or "Music videos" or whatever you desire...
There is only one BIG annoying problem... Recordings on todays cheap DVD-R discs "fade / break down" and don't last forever, or even many years, before you get problem to read them... But there are a few very promising DVD-R choices, that cost just little more and you can find them, at the end of this chapter...
Kurt Gereckle, who is a physicist and storage expert at IBM in Germany, did warn early 2006 that data recordings on CD-R only last 2 to 5 years and the "high" number is the average for high quality discs, that you handle very careful... Type touch only the edges (avoid grease from fingertips or any "point" pressure) wipe from the centre hole, don't use any sticky labels and store them dark (never in direct sunlight) rather dry (10-60% humidity) not hot (under 50C) and standing, in a good case... Any change in temperature is also bad, so don't store them in a freezer... The number of times the disc is played, affect also longevity dramatically... And the disc must naturally be made on a accurate and compatible burner... This sad fact's are confirmed by many home burners, in different forums... Even if many burners actually have fine 10 years old CD-R recordings... But they was made at much lower speed and on rather expensive discs, with more stable dye (recording layer) that only allow low write speed and the factories use simple more sensitive "easy to write fast" dye today...
And the Dutch personal computer magazine - PC Active, was also discovering that 10% of the "fine brand" CD-R they burn 2001 show problems in August 2003 and then did many readers confirm this experience... And the National Archives at Kew, don't recommend CD-R for any archival storage...
Then is DVD-R/+R more sensitive and TDK claim "only" a lifespan of 70 years, instead of 100 years... Many home burner does also report that their DVD-R last much shorter than CD-R and some of ten tested recordings, begin to get faulty after just a few months (especially "noname" discs) or about 1 to 3 years (using "fine" brands) except with the best "gold" discs... Meaning that you should only use fine brand name DVD-R discs and anyhow copy them every year, to maybe be on the safe side... Or buy the best "gold" discs (see below) that might last 25 years or longer and test them every second year (after max 4 years) with a good program, so you can copy them before they begin to die... But a photographer who copied 600 of the extra safe Kodak gold "100 years" CD-R discs, recorded just 5 years ago, found that 2% don't work anymore... Then has rewritable "RW" discs, an even shorter lifespan (normally max 1 year) and if you wonder, are even the most reliable tapes only safe for 10 to 30 years, if you almost never use them...
It's rather simple to explain WHY this happen... The laser burn incredible tiny pits, in an organic dye (recording layer) and this process is not precise, if you compare with the exact production of DVD films... Higher speed make it even less exact and the result differ also slightly between different players... So if you look at the pits through a microscope, might you think it's a miracle that burning / reading actually work... But you get less errors and especially a better margin for future degradation (deterioration) if you burn at a lower speed and most compatibly problems, occur in the last 10% of the disc, which vibrate most... And different players has dramatically different "reading talents" including how they handle errors, so if you get major problems with a DVD-R might you anyhow be able to read it with some other DVD player... And the clear polycarbonate plastic does actually absorb both moisture and oxygen, so the organic dye and the reflective layer is NOT sealed... Then are the two most common type of organic dye "Cyanine" (normally green) and the clearly worse "Azo" (normally blue) not stable, which make it easy to write finer pits at higher speed and new recordings that look perfect - but then does normal humidity and room temperature, any sunlight and the reading laser, damage this sensitive dye... And that practically kill the disc, in a few months to about 3 years... Rewritable "RW" disc use a very instable "phase shifting" material, that is possible to "change back" and that is by nature even less stable... A science team in Glasgow did invent another DVD-R dye (2005) that is 50-200 times more reliable, but it's not in use yet... Then is it many other quality factors that can make a disc worse - mainly irregular / too thin / too thick dye, oxidating silver or aluminium (that happen fortunately with very few DVD films) not perfect centre hole, irregular edges and for CD-R an aging protective coating, on the label side... And Hard Disc Drives does crash with time, so they are only a safe alternative if you get at least two huge drives (a film need about 4gb) and write everything to both drives... But the rewritable MiniDisc for audio, use a unique stable recording layer, that you only can change with a combination of a hot laser spot and pulses from a focus magnetic beam, which make MD recordings extremely stable!
And we did then begin to search for the best discs, so we can report about them here... We can not recommend any "extra fine" brand name, because the brand name (on the cover) normally let other factories produce the discs and often in different countries... And there are also huge lifespan differences, between discs from the same brand name... But it might be smart to avoid any DVD disc that handle more than 8x write speed, because phthalocyanine (the most stable organic dye / recording layer) don't handle more than max 8x speed, which actually is the same speed as 24x for CD roms and they work safest at 4x speed... The most promising DVD-R choices, that seem to last much longer...We did first find that Delkin eFilm Gold DVD-R promise to last 100 year (under perfect conditions) but 10 disc's cost 25usd ... Then did we find other discs with both gold reflective layer and phthalocyanine dye, especially the famous MAM-A Archival Grade Gold by Mitsui (cost about 20usd for ten 0709) Emtec Gold, Kodak DVD-R Data Gold 300 years (30sek 1013 with jewel case) and Memorex Pro Gold Archival DVD, that also promise to last 100 years... There is strong rumours that MAM-A make every one of these discs and that make sense, because they own the patent on phthalocyanine... And some advanced long time tests by NIST (National Institutes of Standards and Testing, that is an US government) show especially that MAM-A seem to last over 25 years and possible much longer... But there are also several "insider" and "advanced user" who report, that MAM-A have big problems with the production OR lousy quality control, since 2006 and that it is impossible to make fine 8x speed DVD with phthalocyanin, so they should be burned at max 4x speed... So Maxell Broascast Quality DVD-R (also called Maxell Xtreme Protek) may actually be the best alternative, even if they only promise double lifespan (wich maybe mean 10 years) at 156sek or 16usd for 10 in case... Please contact me, if you have any better information about this "burning" matter!
Then was it another BIG problem... Some machines did not let you make a digital copy from a DVD-R to HDD and then back to a new disc... Today can you thankfully do that with most machines and the ones below is reported to let you do back up copies (of your own recordings, not any DVD films) but you should anyhow check that, before you buy and especially if you buy another model... This possibility to copy is also valuable if you want to move a "scene" to another disc, type if you begin to sort music videos in styles and want your old reggae videos on one disc, or separate "home improvement stuff" to Architecture, Gardening and Indoor decoration!
Then can the HDD naturally be in another machine (type a satellite tuner) and offer you the same possibilities, if that one have both in and out, but the connection will then be analog and loose some quality... Except if you anyhow use a separate digital tuner, with a HDD that record the digital signal - because it does not matter if the analogue transfer is before or after the HDD storage... Sometimes will you actually get higher quality, from a digital box with HDD and if you want maximum quality, can you also optimize colours (between a box with HDD and a DVD recorder) and even fix bad tone quality, with an equalizer!
Following machines can also record with variable bit rate, that you select... That give optimal quality, between the standard record time steps, type if you want to save a 130 minutes film... DVD films use "dynamic" variable bit rate, that especially use higher bit rate just when the film need room for more "picture information" and that's why they can be much longer (even in one layer) with perfect quality... This machines play also normal CD, DVD, CD-R plus CD-RW and the only annoying problem is that DVD-R discs goes bad in time, as I wrote about above...
OBS: We have the PAL system (max 576 effective lines) in Sweden and some details may differ from the NTSC system, that only give you max 480 effective lines of resolution...

The best value DVD recorder with HDD is: The elegant Sony RDR-HXD870 with 160GB hard disc drive, extra fine conversion of standard TV and DVD signals to 720p/1080i/1080p HD resolution, delicious discreet design (just 77mm high) even the sound quality on fine music is excellent, very silent fan, miniDV cam input, Digital Tuner and many extremely happy owners, at only 3600sek...
Toshiba did actually release the first DVD-RAM machine with HDD in year 2000 and we did report about it first in Europe... But that one could not record on DVD-R discs!

DVD Recorder, without HDD Is not a good idea and plain DVD machines may never replace VHS as a time machine, because the short recording time and less stable disc... The rewritable DVD-RW or DVD-RAM discs, that you can use again, give only 2 hours recording, with ok DVD quality... And rewritable DVD discs, are also very instable and begin to make problems after only some years, if you are lucky and never play them, so you can't save anything fine on them... As you can read more about, in the section above... Then cost rather safe "archival grade gold" DVD-R disc (that should be safe for over 25 years) under 17 sek, if you buy ten... But then must you always know in advance, what you want to save... Or first record to a HDD drive... And if you want to copy a DVD film - must first rent the original film, then have a fine separate DVD player and get both machines without any copy protection, so it will normally be cheaper to buy a film direct!
So my old advise was to wait on a recorder with 20-40 gigabyte hard drive (plus tuner and timer) that finally can save on relatively cheap compatible DVD-R disc's and you could find that dream machine above, after two years waiting... The absolute best would be if it also has analog and digital loop (out from the hard drive and in to the DVD-R) so you can adjust colours and stuff before you record... Or that it has a fine colour adjustment function, so you will be able to edit your own DV films and correct strange broadcastings... Plus an extra sound input and mixing, so you can mix the original sound with background music!
OBS: We have the PAL system (max 576 effective lines) in Sweden and some details may differ from the NTSC system, that only give you max 480 effective lines of resolution...
You can anyhow buy a DVD recorder and the Panasonic DMR-ES15 is the finest alternative, at ultra low 1890sek and record both on DVD-RAM disc's (that you can record over and over again, but only last some years) and the cheaper DVD-R that you can't erase - but are compatible with most machines and should be safe for over 25 years if you buy MAM-A discs... This fine model give in addition higher quality on long time recordings than any other recorders, has DVcam input and every quality of EH55 above except it has no Hard Disc Drive or SD card reading...
Yes, to make it even more complicated are there 3 separate DVD recordable formats... The first was the unstable DVD-RW that handle 1000 new recordings and is supported by Pioneer and in a way by Sony, that has compatible machines of the third format... They was then followed by DVD-RAM that handle 100.000 new recordings and has a handy caddy, that protecting the disc from dirt and that's good, but it make it impossible to play them in any ordinary DVD player... Some DVD-RAM recorders, can also use DVD-R disc's for one time recordings... Hitachi, Panasonic, Toshiba and Samsung, stand behind this system... Then came Sony and Philips with DVD+RW and some machines from Sony are compatible with DVD-RW puiii... But everything will change dramatically, with the future Blue-ray Disc system, below!!

Blu-ray Disc is the next video system, for a greater future... The amazing Blu-ray Disc, is the new more advanced standard, that will replace the three DVD rewritable formats DVD-RW (Pioneer) DVD-RAM (Panasonic) and DVD+RW (Philips) and we have reported here since 020224 about Blu-Ray!
The first Blu-Ray disc recorder is this machine... Sony BDZ-S77 that was released in Japan on April 10, 2003 priced at 2.700 usd (2004-1109) and it comes also with a built-in broadcast digital tuner... It have the same high-tech design as the last prototype, record in any quality up to HDTV (about 2 hour with over 1000 lines resolution, 6 hour in DVD quality) with Variable bit-rate MPEG encoding (copyright protection with one generation copy protection) and can play both Blu-ray disc, DVD films, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, and CD-RW... And the first 23GB RW disc (BF-23G) will cost 30 usd or 3.500 yen, 25 and 27GB disc will come later.
And Sony had also officially announced that they will use Blu-ray Disc technology in PlayStation 3 which will be introduced in Japan March 31, 2005
The second DVD recorder, was Panasonic DMR-E700BD in Japan... This fine machine record also dual layer discs, cost the same as Sony and play Blu-ray disc, DVD films, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CD, CD-R, and CD-RW...
Then did Sony also present a complete camera system at NAB 2003 based on the Blu-ray technology and with 24 frame and 30P capabilities... But this first version is only for professional use, record as DVCAM video or MPEG IMX and is very expensive (from 20,000 usd) compared to consumers video cameras... But it show anyhow the clear possibility of an extremely fine consumer camera, offering HD quality, no tape problem and ultra fast disc access... And rumours say that Hitachi is developing one!
The Blu-ray standard was invented by Sony, Matsushita (with the trademark Panasonic and main owner of JVC) Philips, Samsung, LG, Thomson, Hitachi, Pioneer, Sharp, Dell, TDK, HP, Mitsubish, Thomson, Dell and Apple Computer... And Sony, Philips, Hitachi, Pioneer, Matsushita, Sharp, Pioneer Electronics and JVC was showing prototypes at the Createc 2002 October exhibition... Seven of the eight major movie studios have (2006) announced titles for Blu-ray including - Warner, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate... Then are the system also supported by Onkyo, TEAC, Canon, FujiFilm, HP, Kenwood, KonicaMinolta, Memorex, nVidia, Ricoh, Sigma, Texas Instruments and many other companies... They did also begin licensing the format 2004 to other companies...
Toshiba Corp, the DVD Forum leader and DVD format inventor, want another system called HD-DVD but they has much less support and that system has three big disadvantages... They store "only" 15gb in one layer, use more limited sound tech and don't support 1080p... But they are at least cheaper!
The Blu-ray name, point out that the new technology is based on a fine line (405nm) blue-violet laser... Today's red laser have 650nm wavelength... The new 12cm disc will store up to 27 gigabytes of information, on one side and one layer... That is 5.74 times more, than the DVD system... And record over 2 hours of high definition 1080p digital video on one layer, 4-6 hour in DVD quality and more than 13 hours of fine VHS quality... Or 13 hours prerecorded films (in DVD quality) on one layer... Matsushita, Hitachi and TDK have also demonstrated a 50gb double layer disc, that will be included in the Blu-ray standard... And Blu-ray adopts also a new error correction system, which is both more robust and efficient than the DVD system.
Today's 12cm DVD disc can "only" store 4.7gb data, on one side and one layer... Or max 15.9gb on two sides and double layers... And record max 1 hours of DVD quality (without professional adoptive bit rate processing, that continuously adjust the bit rate to just avoid artifacts) and max 3 hours, of fine VHS quality... Or 133 minutes of prerecorded films (in DVD quality) on one layer...
Blu-ray discs need another laser... So the Blu-ray discs will never be able to play in today's DVD players... But it is possible to make new players, with two lasers, that can play both formats, even if that feature not is included in the standard... The Blu-Ray group was discussing if the disc can be naked or must have a protective caddy, but it was finally decided that they will use the "scratch proof" technology from TDK or similar for naked discs... Some BD-R (but not all) will also use a nonorganic recording layer, that should be much more reliable than todays DVD-R unstable organic layers... And Blu-ray / DVD / CD compatible optical pickups was 2004 developed by Philips, Sony, Samsung and LG
Then can the Blu-ray standard, transfer data up to four times faster (40mbps) than current DVD formats (of 10mbps) and that make high definition live recordings possible... And the Blu-ray standard support three video codecs... First the global standard MPEG-2 Transport Stream compression technology, plus the more effective MPEG-4 AVC (part of the MPEG-4 standard also known as H.264) and SMPTE VC-1 (a standard based on Microsoft's Windows Media Video technology) that every player must handle... Plus six audio codecs, that every player must handle... Each disc will also have a unique id, that will make copy protection possible.
The driving force behind the Blu-ray standard, was the need to record high-definition TV broadcastings, which is new in USA and have been in Japan for over ten years, now enjoying 2.3 million Japanese homes.
But we have strangely NOT heard anything about using Blu-ray for consumer video cameras, except that a 8cm big disc (storing more than 9GB) is included in the standard...

Stereo Video OBS: We have the PAL system (max 576 effective lines) in Sweden and some details may differ from the NTSC system, that only give you max 480 effective lines of resolution...
The best alternatives are: Panasonic's VHS that give you clearly better sharpness, from rather expensive 1660 sek... Then has Panasonic and Jvc also some machines with TBC (stabilize the picture) and Super VHS ET that can use ordinary videotapes, but you can't play these recordings on any other videos... Sony's DVC 1000 master video (with big DV tapes) give naturally an even better picture, but that big brute did cost 33tsek and Panasonic nvdv2000 was that good for 18tsek...

Digital Video Cameras

Click any picture, to see the BIG ones and 3 more!

The excellent "old" Panasonic MX8 in golden light...

Click here to see how to test and select a video camera...

Click here to see why, in a new window...

Click here to email me...

You can click here to read a lot more about this sad fact, in a new window...

A few more vital facts... Cheaper DV cams, have often only 330 to 400 visible lines sharpness and if you buy one of them, can you NEVER see 195 to 125 lines of the finest details, compared with the best... Some of the budget models have also other limitations, as black & white viewfinder and they need often a lot more light...
The biggest difference is normally how they handle soft indoor light and the best models (normally with 1 CCD) need 20 to 100 lux for a fine picture quality with clear sharp red and almost no noise, in the shadows... Even if most cameras specify a much lower minimum lux value, that give a useless result... A normal living room at night, with generous 120 watt roof lights, deep shadows and some 25 watt side lights, give you around 22 lux in the areas with light... Or around 88 lux in the area with light, from a 40 watt wide spotlight, at 150cm distance... Stronger lights, give first harder shadows (or less shadows, with soft diffused lights) and then an ugly sterile light... So only the best of the best, give you fine result, in soft indoor light... Then is average city street lighting at night, only 11 lux!

The best low budget miniDV camera, is...
Is absolutely the Panasonic NV-GS80 That especially has Optical Image Stabilization, a bright (f1.8) 32x optical zoom and offer the excellent qualities older and dramatically more expensive Panasonic miniDV cameras use to have, except more noise at low light, at incredible 2690sek... It's also more compact (only 763cm3 or 78x72x136mm) and has a 2.7 wide screen... It won clearly over Canon MD110, Sony DCR-HC27, Sony DCR-HC37 and JVC GR-D725 in one review and was celebrated for its high quality video in several other... But you should use firewire and NOT the usb connection, that give lower quality...
Why not?? We could not find any other budget video camera, that not have some major problem and we must recommend you to buy a fine Digital Still Camera - which cost less and normally give you a clearly finer result, if you don't like the alternatives above...Canon MVX40 (came 2006 in Europe) Optura 50 (in USA) could as example be a great alternative with Optical Image Stabilizer and many other qualities... But the engine noise is higher than average... And the otherwise nice Panasonic NV-GS37 is noisy in low light (according to several reviews) just as GS27 that in addition show colour bleeding... And Panasonic Electronic Image Stabilizers are NOT good and show often tiny jumps (about 3 ugly jumps within 20 seconds) from 5x zoom or more!!

The finest SD (standard definition) MiniDV camera is...
Panasonic NV-GS500 (in Europe) PV-GS500 (in USA) that is slightly better than the legendary GS400 below... Mainly because it give higher and cleaner sharpness than GS400 with finer (and very low) noise... It handle also 60lux soft indoor light very good, with just little colour bleed and even 30lux give a fine (and naturally dark) colours picture... Then has it a excellent 12x zoom (F1.6 to 2.8) with Optical Image Stabilizer and a great 2.7 inch screen (123k pixels and good in sunlight) flip up colour viewfinder (123k pixels, with a rubber eye cup) a more compact body (front 66cm2 max 1017cm3 or 91x73x153mm) than GS400 and excellent sound quality (with levels control) 3CCD, smart easy joystick menu navigation, excellent battery life (over 2 hours with the tiny battery) and you can put a huge battery at the back, many optional manual controls (even for gain, type ISO boost) and a manual focus ring, true widescreen (with max resolution) top loading tape mechanism and has maybe (??) an auto lens cover... At only 8600sek or 660usd... And if that is too much, can you look at GS300 below or ultra cheap GS80 above... But the viewfinder is rather small, it has no auto lens cover, take useless "4MP" still pictures (interpolated from 1MP and not as sharp as GS300) and it has no analog inputs, no headphone out or analog to digital conversion / pass through... And GS400 below do offer analog to digital conversion and headphone put, plus zebra pattern (warn about overexposure) the option to use the focus ring as a zoom ring, colour bars, 3.5 inch screen and picture adjust - but also slightly lower video quality!
Then is the much cheaper Panasonic NV-GS300 (in Europe) PV-GS300 (in USA) a great alternative... This magnificent miniDV camera, is a new version of GS250 that was the little brother of the famous GS400 with clearly finer video quality (according to a deep test of the NTSC version, the result for PAL should be even better) through even higher sharpness and less colour bleeding... Plus excellent auto white balance and it handle down to 60lux soft indoor light very good, even if GS500 is clearly better... You can also add 18db gain, with very little extra noise... It has a Leica Dicomar 10x zoom (F1.8 wide 2.8 tele, as 46-460mm) with Optical Image Stabilizer, 2.7 inch side screen (123k pixels, widescreen) colour viewfinder (113k pixels) a compact body (front 56cm2 max 750cm3 or 73x76x135mm) 3CCD, smart easy joystick menu navigation, auto lens cover, great battery life (almost 2 hours, with the included li-ion battery) and you can put a huge battery at the back, many optional manual controls (even for gain, type ISO boost) both DV in & out, mic in, take sharp 3.1MP still pictures (with help of the Optical Image Stabilizer) to SD cards, has a flash, top loading tape mechanism, 1.7 quick start, up to 1/8000 shutter and a separate charger... At 7050sek (but it seem to sold out completely) or silly low 467usd... But you can not flip up the tiny viewfinder, it has partly an oval design in silver and light grey (that I don't love) the still pictures are very pale (can become perfect with a Photo Edit program) the widescreen mode give slightly less sharpness than the best, no headphone out (if you don't like to use the stereo cable and a standard adapter) no S-video in and no analog to digital conversion / pass through... And you should normally avoid the "NightShot" feature, which give blurred movements!
And Panasonic NV-GS280 as I wrote about above, offer exactly the same qualities as GS300 except no DV in...
Then is Panasonic NV-GS400 (in Europe) PV-GS400 (in USA) from 2004 still an excellent alternative - with a Leica Dicomar 12x zoom (F1.6-2.8 as44.5-534mm) with Optical Image Stabilizer, 3.5 inch side screen (200t pixels, good in sunlight) 3CCD (3x690t used for video) save fine 4MP pictures on SD/MMC cards, rather compact midsize body (front 65cm2 max 1153cm3 or 81x80x178mm) that look like a shorter "MX500" in light gold... The reviews love the menu system, celebrate the video quality (with amazing sharpness and very fine colours, even at only 60 lux indoors) and grade also the sound, as very good... You get even ok quality down to just 30 lux, which better than the famous Sony DCR-TRV950 and you can use the focus ring for zooming and other manual settings... And it has only 1.7sec start up, real 16:9 format, zebra pattern for exposure control, colour viewfinder (123k pixels) the tape is top loaded, you charge the battery separate, it has a powered accessory shoe, fast USB 2.0 and every possible settings, as manual sound levels and bass adjust, at only 1160usd if you can find it... But the wide angle is not very wide, it has not true max resolution widescreen and it need slightly more light than the best 1 CCD cameras...

The finest handy HD (high definition) video cameras, are...
STOP - You should first consider very carefully, if you ever will need a HD video camera... Because you will first need a HUGE screen, typically 65 inch on max 2.6 meters distance, just to be able to view the finest details and really take advantage of the camera... If you don't want to sit VERY close, as max 1.5 meter from a 37 inch screen... You can click here to read a lot more about this facts, in a new window... Then is editing HD video clearly more expensive, if you first have to buy the right equipment... And you will especially need a HD disc recorder, to view your films and not just kill your sensitive miniDV tapes... Yes, miniDV tapes last only for one recording and 6-9 playbacks (before you begin to get some dropouts) as you can read about above... And the right HD equipment, cost from 3 (if you already have a very advanced computer and HUGE full HD screen) to 6 times more than just the camera!
But you can naturally invest in a HD camera for the future, speculating in much lower prices and maybe even buy one to make films... And then was Sony HDR-HC3 a very interesting HD camera, at a rather low price... It handle also 60lux soft indoor light extremely good, has a very fine 2.7 inch side screen (210k pixels, widescreen) Carl Zeiss 10x zoom with auto lens cover, rather compact body (front 64cm2 max 890cm3 or 82x78x139mm) delicious design, a fine slow motion function (max 3 second) and very good battery life... At 9490sek or 1150usd... But it cost more than Panasonic GS500 above and is worse in many ways, if you don't need to record in "almost" HD quality... This camera has especially less manual settings, that sometimes are important for an excellent picture and GS500 give also clearly finer video at 15lux... There is a tiny scroll wheel, but if you prefer to navigate the menu with help of the more easy touch screen, will you make the screen dirty and the almost "hidden" viewfinder is exceptionally difficult to use... This camera use only an Electronic Image Stabilizer, that not is as good as the Optical IS in GS500 and there is no ordinary microphone input jack, even if you can use some Sony mics in the flash shoe... And the "HD" recordings are only full HD at the 1080 height, but just 1440 pixels (and not 1920 for true widescreen) at the width... Then are the picture over sharped (if you not set softer sharpness) with halos and pixel steps in curved lines... And the much more expensive Sony HDR-HC1 take naturally care of some of this problems, but it has also EIS and the 2.7 inch side screen has "only" 123k pixels...

Some great older SD (standard definition) MiniDV cameras...
And the finest handy DV cam was: The amazing Panasonic NV-MX8 (in Europe) but this model did end production (with no similar replacement) winter 2003 and is very hard to find now... This masterpiece offer both excellent video and picture quality, with 515 visible video lines (at 30% contrast and not at 0% contrast, as in fact sheets) perfect auto exposure (that don't get too bright sometimes) and superior handling of soft indoor lighting (with strong detailed colours and no hint of noise) even with only 66 lux from a 40 watt wide spotlight, 150cm away and no roof lights... Click here for my first exceptional test pics and many more examples...
In USA is Panasonic PV-DV852 the same camera, with 2.5" side screen and in Japan is NV-MX1000 the same, with 3.5" lcd... Then has MX8 a fine optical stabilizer (which also work for photos) and the pictures get extra sharp (740 visible lines) and extremely noise free, even if they "only" are 1280 pixel wide... That is 10% sharper, than the wider Sony trv30/pc115/pc120 pics... And you get a very elegant design, many manual options (focus, white balance, shutter, iris and gain) and 10x optical Leica Dicomar zoom (F1.8 as 41-409mm on a 35mm camera) at 16200 sek 2003 (in the last shops that had it) or incredible 958 usd for PV-DV852... Then are the ergonomics very fine with a very stable grip, even if the zoom control is little too slow or sensitive (but Sony's is clearly worse) and you must select more things in the menu... The automatic functions are also excellent, with fast accurate focusing and amazing natural exposure, with lovely colours... And you get clean open audio recordings, without any hint of engine or zoom noise and you can select wind filter... But you must turn up the bass (while editing) to get it perfect... Then has MX8 a high class 3" screen (with 200t pixel) that give perfect colours, in almost any angle and a good 113t viewfinder... The 52cm2 front area is very discreet and the camera is only 1068cm3 big (66x87x186mm, plus the tiny mode selector and viewfinder hood, or max 1247cm3) weight 640-720g, take big to huge li-ion battery, has a separate multi voltage battery charger, every video and sound connection (even analog to digital pass through) progressive photo shutter system, 1/8000 high speed shutter for video, web movie mode, pop-up flash (that you never need) for stills and it take both SD and MMC memory cards... You get 120 photos (see more on the sample page) on a optional 32mb MMC card and 30% less on SD cards... Off to filming take 5.2sec and the rec delay is 1.7sec... It can even take (and film) ultra macros of only 32 mm wide objects (that is superior to most digital cameras, Minolta Dimage 7 cover as example 55mm and other up to 12 cm) and it have a metal tripod socket... But the filter tread is plastic, you should remove the battery between use (as with Sony) because the camera is never completely off (that's plain silly and I refuse to obey) and the still pix need (as with the best digital cameras) some adjustment, to be perfect... Mainly because the camera save the pix with extra safe contrast, so the white never get over exposed...
This camera give you also five big advantages over most "standing" vertical models - you can turn up the viewfinder, the screen is clearly bigger, you get a more natural grip, the fine mic is at the front (at the target) and the front is only half as high, making the camera more discreet when you film... And remember that 3.75 times zoom with this camera, give the same number of pixels (on the object) as a 2mpix camera with 3x zoom, 7.5 zoom equal a 2mpix with 6x zoom, 4.8 as a 3mpix with 3x and 5.4 zoom give even more pixels (on the motive) than a 4mpix camera with 3x zoom... So if you zoom in 6 times (or more) to fit a boat in the frame, will you actually get a sharper pix, than if you crop the 3x zoom pix from a 4mpix camera!! Panasonic have made many other very elegant and very compact models, at low prices... But Panasonic Electronic Image Stabilizers are NOT good and show often tiny jumps (about 3 ugly jumps within 20 seconds) from 5x zoom or more!!

And Panasonic MX5000 (in Japan) MX500 (in Europe) and PV-DV952 (in USA) from 2003 did seem to be even better than MX350 (see below) and MX8 with "clearly finer image" in tests than Sony TRV950, PDX10, Canon GL-2, XL-1s and JVC Streamcorder 300Y even if it need 3 times more light than MX8 (just as TRV950) and you can't film with high quality in soft indoor light, without extra lightning... But one reviewer write that MX500 give stunning quality, even in very low light condition... It offer otherwise 3CCD (3x640t used for video) that might give better colour separation (but often not max sharpness and this one give 510 ok lines at 30% contrast) mega Optical Image Stabilizer, Leica Dicomar lens (10x zoom, as 43-430mm, F1.6, 43mm filter) fast and accurate autofocus, exceptional good sound quality (even if your record music) advanced image noise reduction, midsize body of max 1330cm3 (front 68cm2 or 197x90.6x74.5mm) 3MP still pictures (2048 x 1496 but just little sharper than MX8 pix in test, with 825 ok lines) to SD or MMC cards, 3.5" side screen (200tpixels) viewfinder with 180tpixels, the mic is directed forward (with zoom, "smart" wind cut and very quiet engine noise) it has also true high quality 16x9 widescreen mode, night shots in colour, zebra pattern exposure warning, top loading of the tape, extra rec button for creative shot angles, sound level adjustment (when you pause) colour setting, colour bars, can take huge batteries and have every connection, including fast USB 2 and Bluetooth... From only 1450 usd (for PV-DV952) or 15300 sek 2004 (for MX500B) with 16mb SD card, li-ion batt and separate charger... Off to filming take only 3.5 sec... You find also more info on the older Panasonic versions, below...
Why not?? We don't recommend any "standing" vertical model, because they have some big disadvantages... They are more expensive and NOT clearly smaller, than very compact "square" models with 2.5 inch screen... You can't normally turn up the viewfinder or just put on a really BIG battery, they have max 2.5 inch screens and bigger IS much better, you get normally a rather strange grip (even if it can be stable) the mic on top are not directed on the target and the front is twice as high, making the camera less discreet when you film... And many tiny DV cameras have tiny engines, that has problems with the "slow running" Sony miniDV tapes!

What to TEST on a video camera and vital functions!

Almost no products, is more complex than DV cams and even some basic functions and qualities, are strangely enough very different between DV cams... But I can still not find any good site, with complete reviews (tests) of video cameras... And the only magazine with almost complete tests, is the excellent Swedish "Ljud & Bild" magazine... So you might really help me, if you know a great test site OR if you have one of the best DV cams and can test following qualities, for me...
Simply copy this text and put () after every separate aspect (quality) before you grade with 0 for not 1 lousy 2 not ok 3 acceptable 4 fine and 5 excellent 6 ultimate pro quality...
And begin your test report with a short summary, of the main qualities, as this guess... Canon MVX200 - Sharpness (4) Colour (4) Low light (4) Ergonomics (5) Automatics (4) Sound (4) Functions (3) Click then here to email me... Yes, the amazing Panasonic MX8 got to my big surprise and great pleasure - Sharpness (5) Colour (5) Low light (5) Ergonomics (5) Automatics (5) Sound (5) Functions (4)
The check list... Mainly the sharpness with stabilizer, which may be from only 330 to 525 visible lines at 30% contrast (and not 0% contrast, when everything is a grey blur) but that, can you only see in the finest magazines... Around 330 get 1, 390 lines 2, 440 lines 3, 480 lines 4, 510 lines 5 and 1080 HD get 8
The colours should be very accurate and natural, after correct setting and clear (with details and absolutely not messy) for a 5 grade... Grade the automatic white balance below...
The possibility to film in normal soft indoor light, of 20-80 lux... For a 4 grade, must you get fine low noise shadows and clear sharp red in areas with light, with only 120 watt (type 2-3 light bulbs) in the roof and a 40 watt wide spotlight at 150cm distance, which give you 88 lux and nice deep shadows... And for a 5 grade, fine quality in areas with light, without the extra spotlight and that give you 44 lux of very soft light...
Even the basic ergonomics, which always should be perfect on any video camera, use to be very different... The vital for 5 grade quality is: Grip (should be good, very stable and fit your hand, with a not too hard recorder button, that has "click" feeling) Viewfinder (sharp, in colour and so you can see the whole picture, with glasses) View angle (the best is both a big screen and a viewfinder, you can turn up directly) Nose room (should not fight with big batteries, when you use the viewfinder) Quick on (some cameras are strangely complicated to activate) Quick review (to check what you just recorded) Zoom feel (should works very smoothly and also in medium speed) Quick exposure adjust (of the light in the recording, which often is hidden deep inside a menu) separate charging (so you don't have to charge the batteries, in the camera and of international travel type) End find (both when you film and play) plus a front mic, that simply is directed in the same direction you are filming... Yes, then is more buttons better, so you don't have to dive deep into a menu system, for the basic functions!!
The automatic should work fast and exact, in six ways... This ways are, with 5 grade quality: * Auto focus (from 1 to 15 meter in 0.5 sec, never "seeking" and get visible unsharp, perfect panning if you turn 180 grade in 5 sec and fine focus in normal soft indoor light) * White balance (fine in any normal light, only change from slight red to slight yellow skin tone, same colour in viewer and screen) * Exposure (never too bright or dark) * Contrast (black black, details in both dark shadows and in very light parts, white white and not a grey look, on everything) * Stabilizer (no tiny vibrations even at 10x zoom) * And stable sound volume, with great distance to noise...
You can't even turn slowly around and keep a sharp picture, with some cameras... But it might only be unsharp, on the cameras screen... A few "seek" often focus and many "seek - change" from slight purple to slight green skin colours!!
The sound quality, is finally the biggest difference... You should (for a 4 grade) get a clear sound, with some bass and fine treble, even if you record music from a fine loudspeaker... And not more than very soft engine noise (even with zooming) if you film low speaking, at 2 meters distance... Plus normally very little "wind" noise, outdoors...
Vital functionality, you need for a 5 grade: A 3.5 inch side screen, 3 inch is 4 and 2.5 inch a 3 grade... The camera should handle big batteries, of the lithium type and be able to work at least one hour (that's 4 grade) with screen and a rather small battery... DV out is vital, for fine computer editing... Analog video and sound out, is also vital for simple editing... Digital zoom reduce the sharpness and give shaky films, so it should be possible to turn off ... And you should be able to attach a wide angle adapter lens, if you like to film buildings or party's!
Finally have we some additional functionality, you note separately as extra qualities... A megapixel photo function (with memory card and usb connection) is very nice to have and 1280 pixel wide (of high quality, type 660 visible lines) give you rather fine 10x15cm photos, after little optimizing... Optical stabilizer is then a GREAT plus, because it work also for stills... Over 160t pixels side screen... Over 140t pixels viewfinder... Analog and DV input (video and sound) is very good for editing, but you may simply rent another camera with that function... Stereo mic in and headphone out, is also good and a must if the sound quality is below 4 grade... Sound level adjustment... Both 16 and 12 bit sound, for dubbing on a separate stereo track... Zebra pattern, as over exposure warning... True high quality 16:1 widescreen... And time code is very practical, if you like to edit your films... It's also practical if you can load the tape, when the camera is on a tripod, if you use tripods... Easy adjust of the depth of field, type make the background soft, is very nice... Just as crystal clear still and slow motion... And more than 10x optical zoom, is naturally a great extra... Finally is analog input great (best with S-video, but you may rent a camera with that function) if you have old analog material, you want to make digital, to make the video clearly more stable and then possible to copy, without any quality loss... Then have we many more smaller functions and qualities, but this is enough to test... Yes, video cameras are extremely complex!!

The incredible HITACHI DVD-RAM video camera!

Click here to explore...

And click here for links to the finest reviews, of digital cameras!

180 excellent Film's - to enjoy and collect

This recommendations, are naturally very subjective and some of my grades will even change... But I am very selective (or demanding) and my friends use to love the films I like!
A few vital words about my selection... If you want to collect films, must they naturally be great to view several times... So my special grades, show how many times a film should be very interesting to view, the next 10 years... So 20 mean two times, every year (!) and 05 every second year... But you may naturally view a film less often, after 2-8 years and continue to enjoy them for 20-60 years... This does also mean that many great films, that are very easy to remember OR have rather few great scenes, get a rather low "view again grade" and some magnificent films, are only great to view once!
And I always try to explain, why I like the film - as exact as possible - without revealing the story... Then do I really enjoy films with many interesting scenes, so I like a few films that some people hate, type the modern crazy comedy "Who's that girl" and also films that is extra good, within a special theme... Like the sea thriller "Calm sea" the great fairy tale "Prinsess Bride" and "Caligula" about the insane Roman emperor...
But I don't like boring drama films, action without extra interesting scenes (as Lethal Weapon) silly comedies or too strange stuff... Yes, the story must feel a bit realistic!

The review film's format DVD LaserDisc VHS only seen! * 6 top DVD quality, 5 top Laser Disc (fine DVD) 4 top rent tape (ok DVD) 3 top copy (bad DVD, ok rent) 2 ok copy 1 bad copy * Stereo sound, Ztereo, Mono * DolbySurround DolbyDigital * Sides * Ntsc, Pal system * Wide screen, VeryWide!

20 The great Race (comedy adventure action 1965, 160-150min) Amazing, magnificent and extremely funny adventure... About a great car race around the world, set in 1908 with famous stars as Tony Curtis and lovely music by Henry Mancini... Features the largest pie fight ever, several great fencing scenes and possible the biggest saloon fight... The magnificent castle scenes, was shot in real European castles, but the Arctic scenes, was actually shot in a blazing hot California... The film is loosely based on the real race and Leslie's white car, look partly like the "Thomas Flyer" that won the real race... (5sdd1nvw 160min)
15 Raiders of the lost ark (adventure action comedy 1981, 116-115min) The greatest adventure action film ever made, with everything and little more! (6sdd1pvw 111min/play 116min/film)
14 Léon / The Professional (action romance 1994, 136-110min) French drama, about a lonesome professional killer and a very young curious girl... With many truly memorable scenes, intense action and great music... A real masterpiece by Luc Besson, with Reno and 12 years old Natalie Portman... The director thought first she was too young, but she did then convince / seduce him with a brilliant performance (6sdd1nw 133min Integral Version)
13 Story of "O" / Histoire d'O (erotic drama 1975, 105-97min) The most elegant film I ever seen, based on the famous book by Dominique Aury and directed by Just Jaeckin... The fascinating and deeply sensual story, describe how a young woman become a slavegirl, by pure lust and intense inner desire... With dreamy music by Pierre Bachelet, but lousy sound quality... The latest short version, have only some "slow parts" removed and this is the finest erotic film ever made... (5sdd1pw 93min/play 97min/film)
12 Indiana Jones, the last crusade (action adventure 1989, 127-126min) Non stop action and great adventure, on splendid and exotic locations... With Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and directed by Spielberg (6sdd1pvw 127min)
11 Highlander (adventure action 1986, 116) Magnificent, intriguing and amazing adventure, with mythical sword fighters and a wealth of unforgettable scenes... Story by Gregory Widen, Directed by Russell Mulcahy (4s1pw 111min/play 115min/film)
10 Pretty Baby (drama erotica 1978, 109-106min mono) Fascinating romantic story, set in 1917 New Orleans and directed by Louis Malle, with Brooke Shields as a child prostitute and lovely film work... (5mdd1nw 109min)
10 The Great Gatsby (romantic drama 1974, 146-144min) A magnificent movie about elegance, romance, deep love, mystery and death... With Robert Redford (5sdd1pw 138min/play 144min/film)(4m3n 146min)
10 Princess bride (adventure comedy 1987, 98min) A very amusing "hero save princess" story, with a lot of extraordinary scenes... A great fairy tale for everyone... (6sdd1pw 94min/play 98min/film)
10 Gladiator (historic action adventure 2000, 171-155min) Epic masterpiece about a general, that become a gladiator and want revenge... Directed by Ridley Scott (6sdd1pvw 164min/play 171min/film)
10 Kelly's Heroes (war comedy adventure 1970, 144min) A gang of American soldiers, decide to grab a Nazi gold treasure, far behind enemy lines... Excellent made and almost too funny! (5sdd1pvw 138min/play 144min/film)
10 Stargate (sci-fi adventure 1994, 129-121min) A gate to another planet, with an ancient Egypt civilization... Brilliant made by Roland Emmerich and the finest science fiction film, ever made (5sdd1pw 124min/play 129min/film)
09 Secretary (erotic drama 2002, 112-104min) Brilliant story about a "gray" girl, who become mr Gray's secretary and discover her inner submissive desires... Extremely well made, with many great scenes and interesting twists (6sdd1pw 107min/play 112min/film)
09 Hitcher (thriller drama 1986, 99-97min) The most frightening thriller, ever made and with Rutger Hauer... The next one "Dead Calm" is the same basic story, at sea... (4sdd1pw 95min/play 99min/film)
09 Dead Calm (thriller drama 1989, 96-95min) The second most frightening thriller, ever... And "Hitcher" just above - is the same basic story, in a empty landscape... (5sdd1pw but noisy 91min/play 95min/film)
09 Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the ring (adventure, fable, fantasy 208-185min) Amazing adventure, with magnificent settings, truly magic special effects and great music... And it's extremely well made, in every detail... But the main story line, is very simple - Frodo get the ring, is hunted and must destroy it's dark power - even if this only is the first part of the trilogy... (6sdd1pvw 178min/play 185min/film)
08 Gwendoline / The perils of Gwendoline (adventure comedy erotic 1984, 106-87min) A spectacular and fascinating "Indiana Jones" style adventure, with many sexy and comedy scenes... Loosely based on a bondage comic and directed by Just Jaeckin (6sdd1vwp 100min/play 104min/film)
08 Who's that girl (wild comedy 1987, 94-92min) Madonna is like a wild cat and you can enjoy tons of great funny scenes... But some people really HATE this film! (5sdd1p 89min/play 93min/film)
08 Time bandits (adventure comedy 1981, 116min) A boy and a gang of dwarfs, make an amazing journey in time.... With some of the most fantastic scenes in film history... The finest film from the Monty Pyton gang, written and directed by Terry Gilliam (6sdd1pw)
08 The Rock (mega action 1996, 136min) One of the most intense and "well made" action films ever, with many great scenes and Sean Connery... (6sdd2pvw 131min/play 136min/film)
08 Titanic (historic adventure 1997, 197-194min) Elegant epic masterpiece, of the ultimate tragedy... With a cute love story and many great scenes (6sdd1pvw 189min/play 197min/film)
08 Pirates (adventure comedy 1986, 118-107min) Another incredible pirate film, with truly great scenes and delicious Charlotte Lewis, who you can enjoy at right... By Roman Polanski (4s1p 108min/play 112min/film)
08 Battle Royale / Batoru rowaiaru (drama action 2000, 119-114min uncut 127-122min soft) Unique drama where a school class in Japan get a steel collar and the order "kill your friends or die" when the collar explode... The story is actually very advanced, with many very "fine" and some really horrifying scenes... And the kids are very different inside, as everyone is - so their actions and reactions, cover the entire spectrum from true innocence to an insane killing frenzy... But the filming is partly rather bad and the blood does not look dark red, as in real life... (5sdd1pw 113 & 122min/play 119 & 127min/film)
08 Blade Runner (sci-fi drama action 1982, 117-116min) One of the greatest science fiction films ever made, with a wealth of delicate scenes and amazing scenery, but the dark film need a high quality viewing equipment to reveal it's fine details (6sdd1nw 116min)
08 Air America (comedy adventure war 1990, 113-107min) A very amusing masterpiece, based on a real story, with magnificent flight scenes and Mel Gibson (6sdd1pw 108min/play 112min/film)
08 Monty Pyton's The Meaning Of Life (comedy adventure 1983, 115-107min) A series of great scenes, that try to illustrate the meaning of life (6sdd1pw 103min/play 107min/film)
08 Octopussy - 007 (action adventure 1983, 131min) The most exotic and elegant James Bond adventure (5sdd1pvw 126min/play 131min/film)
08 The World Is Not Enough - 007 (action adventure 1999, 128min) Many great action scenes, amazingly well made, with delicious Denise Richards and a rather interesting story (6sdd1pvw 123min/play 128min/film)
08 Rambo, First Blood II (war action 1985, 96-94min) Fascinating "one man army" film, with a fine story and incredible action scenes... (5sdd1pvw 92min/play 96min/film)
08 Das Boot (war 1981, 293-225min) Magnificent and deeply fascinating German submarine drama, set at 1942 and with many great scenes (5sdd1pw 282min/play 293min/film)(5sdd1pw 216min/play 225min/film)
08 Peter Pan (animated adventure, fairy tale 1953, 77-73min, mono) A wonderful magical movie and a truly classic masterpiece, by Disney (6d1p 74min/play 77min/film)
08 The hunting party (western drama 1971, 111-106min) The most effective anti violence film I ever seen... With Oliver Reed, Gene Hackman and more stars (5mdd1nw 111min)
08 Red Sun / Soleil rouge (western 1971, 112-103min, mono) East meet wild West, when a Japanese sword get stolen... A thrilling, cool and amusing western with Bronson, Alain Delon and Toshirô Mifune (4m1p 112min/film)
07 The Mummy (adventure 1999, 124min) Magnificent adventure in 1930 Egypt, with many exceptional scenes, but a slightly too "clean" hero... (5sdd1pvw)
07 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (adventure 1991, 155-143min) Great film with a wealth wonderful scenes, even if I don't love Costner... (6sdd1pw 149min/play 155min/film)
07 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone (adventure 2001, 153min) Incredibly well made masterpiece, with many great and amazing scenes... Even the actors is perfect, for the parts... (6sdd1pvw 147min/play 153min/film)
06 Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (comedy adventure 1965, 138min) Fantastic comedy set around 1910 about a big airplane race over the English channel, with many great scenes (5sdd1nvw 137min)
06 Emmanuelle 2 - The anti virgin / The joys of a woman (soft-erotica adventure 1975, 94-83min) Lovely filmed and delicious scenes, but maybe little soft and slow... Directed by Francis Giacobetti in the original style by Just Jaeckin, with romantic music by Francis Lai... But I prefer a more closer faithful love life (4sd1nvw 92min, region world)
06 Amadeus (music drama 1984, 180-153min) Great scenes from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life and dead... Directed by Milos Forman (6sdd1pvw 173min/play 180min/film)
06 Blues Brothers (action music ultra-comedy 1980, 148-127min) They give "cool" a deeper meaning, with a lot of epic scenes and many legendary musicians... Even the great music and the two magnificent car chase's are exceptional!! (5sdd1pw 142min/play 148min/film)
05 1941 (crazy comedy 1979, 146-118min) The crazy night a Japanese submarine attacked California, with John Belushi as Wild Bill Kelso... This amazing comedy is actually based on real events (with the Japanese submarine, the zoot riot and more) that did occur 1942 to 1943 and include many wonderful scenes, directed by Steven Spielberg... But many Americans consider this movie unpatriotic and HATE it! (5sdd1nvw 146min)
05 Elvira Madigan (romance 1967, 91-90min) A slightly dreamy and extremely beautiful film, that almost is too lovely for life... Based on a real event, about true impossible love, with an amazingly lovely girl, as the tightrope dancer... Set around 1890 and possible the most romantic film, ever made... This masterpiece is clearly more exquisite made, than most of the movies today and don't look old in any way, even if it was made an incredible long time ago... And a piece of Mozart's music, was actually renamed because of this film... But the man was also a worm who left his wife and kids, some scenes are slightly slow and the story is little too easy to remember, to get a higher "see again" grade... (5s1pw 87min/play 91min/film)
05 Up the creek (action comedy 1984, 95min) Hilarious teenage comedy, with the babe "Heather Merriweather" a few sexy scenes and a great thrilling river race... Incredibly not on DVD yet and maybe never... More info!
05 Interview with a vampire (drama 1994, 123min) The most "well made" movie I ever seen and it get very interesting, even if I normally hate vampire films... With lovely music and fabulous scenery (6sdd1pw 118min/play 123min/film)
05 Sliver (thriller drama 1993, 107-106min) Deeply intriguing story, with a richness of details and Sharon Stone in a very erotic role... I love the cute restaurant scene... (6sdd1pw 103min/play 107min/film)
05 The spy who loved me - 007 (action adventure 1977, 129-125min) The most magnificent Bond story, with many great scenes... (5sdd1pvw 120min/play 125min/film)
05 Never say never again - 007 (action adventure 1983, 138-121min) Sean Connery did actually return once as James Bond and it became a truly great film... With the babes Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera (5sdd1pvw 132min/play 138min/film)
05 The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit (animated comedy adventure 2001, 72min) Three long "short films" with many amazing scenes and great fun... (6sdd1p)
05 Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the WereRabbit (animated comedy adventure 2005, 81min) A hilarious vegetable horror films, featuring rabbit hunting and weird machinery... (6sdd1pw 81min/play 84min/film)
05 Yellowbeard (pirate comedy adventure 1983, 99-96min) A magnificent and completely crazy Monty Python film, about a wild pirate and his treasure... (5sd1nw 96min)
05 Purple Rain (music drama 1984, 111min) Thrilling music and interesting drama, with Prince (5sdd1pw 107min/play 111min/film)
05 Total recall (sci-fi action thriller 1990, 113min) Brilliant three dimensional story and many exceptional scenes... With Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone, but are partly sloppy made... (6sdd1pw 108min/play 113min/film)
05 Under Siege (action war 1992, 103-102min) Terrorists take control of a US Navy battleship, where our hero is a cook... With many exquisite action scenes, a thrilling soundtrack and the sexy babe Erika Eleniak (6sdd1pw 98min/play 102min/film)
05 The Road Runner Vs. Wile E. Coyote (cartoon 94m) Fourteen great scenes (4m2n)
05 Rising Sun (action crime drama 1993, 129-125min) Murder mystery... With many fine scenes, Sean Connery at his best and a rather interesting side story, about Japanese domination in USA (5sdd1pw 124min/play 129min/film)
05 Gone in 60 seconds - the original (car action 1974, 98min) Thrilling, intense and extreme car action, with one magnificent car chase that is over 40 minutes, by Halicki... Warning for the alternative version "Deadline Auto Theft" that replace vital parts of this film, with a silly Sheriff plot and the next film "The Junkman" is partly interesting, but the car chases are much less spectacular... (5sdd1pw 93min/play 97min/film)
05 Gone in 60 seconds - the remake (car action 2000, 124-117min) Thrilling, intense and deep car action, but the original was even better... (5sdd1pvw 119min/play 124min/film)
05 Young Sherlock Holmes - Pyramid of fear (adventure 1985, 108min) Amazingly well made, with many fine scenes... (5sdd1pw)
05 Pale Rider (western 1985, 115min) A slightly strange, but very interesting western, with and by Clint Eastwood... Would love to kiss Megan's generous lips! (5sdd1pvw 111min/play 115min/film)
05 Jurassic Park (adventure 1993, 127min) The ultimate monster film... But except the inventive old man behind the project, is all the other 5 main roles played by actors I don't like, of different reasons and that's strange... (6sdd1pw 121min/play 126min/film)
05 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (sci-fi adventure 1983, 138-126min) Many great scenes, in a magnificent adventure... A rumour say, that a different ending was shot (but never used) where Leia and Han Solo get married! (5sdd1pw 133min/play 138min/film)
05 Valmont (romantic drama comedy 1989, 137-136min) Brilliant and very amusing, except the slightly pale "hero" in 1788 France... Directed by Milos Forman (3sdd1pvw some strange faces 132min/play 137min/film)
05 Terminator 3 (sci-fi action 2003) The last and magnificent final episode, with a amazing car chase and many excellent scenes... But the basic story is very sad, for the future of mankind... (6sdd1pvw 109min)
05 Terminator (sci-fi action 1984, 108-102min) A cyborg from the future, want to kill Sarah... Thrilling scenes! (5sdd1pw 102min/play 106min/film)
05 Terminator 2 (sci-fi action 1991, 154-137min) The story continues, with a twist and even more amazing scenes! (5sdd1pvw 147min/play 153min/film)
05 Caligula (historic adventure erotica 1979, 156-103min) The spectacular drama, about the most insane and perverse Roman emperor... Yes, many scenes are truly impressive, the acting is great and the story is historical correct... But the "very explicit" sex scenes are actually boring, the film work is sometimes rather bad and the sound is lousy... (4sdd1nw 156min)
05 Lara Croft Tomb Rider (action adventure 2001, 100min) The first film... That is extremely well made, with a great mix of a modern female "Indiana Jones" style adventure and "James Bond" action... But it's actually no sexy parts and the very fast pace film, get better the second viewing... Trivia: Angelina Jolie did almost every stunt in the movie and the training robot is named Simon, after the director... The Illuminati was (or is) a real secret society, with origin in the 1700s or earlier and some serious experts say it still exists... (6sdd1pw 96min/play 100min/film)
05 High Road to China (adventure 1983, 106-105min) Set 1920 with airplanes, a nice story and many fine scenes (4mdd1p mono)
05 Golden Eye - 007 (action adventure 1995) Many great action scenes, very well made in classic Bond style and with a rather interesting story (6sdd1pvw 124min/play 129min/film)
05 Casanova (comedy adventure erotica 1987, 122min) With many lovely scenes, many lovely ladies and Richard Chamberlain, in his possible greatest performance... Fabulous story and very well made, except some simply filmed parts... Was directed by Simon Langton, exclusively for TV and it's sad that I can't find any DVD release (2s) Beware of the silly 2005 version with Tennant, that is relatively lousy!
05 Hot Moves (sexy teen comedy 1985, 85min stereo) Very sexy teen girls, with and without bikinis, do very sexy stuff... (1m 80min) Sadly not on DVD and may never be... More info!
04 Mad Max, Beyond Thunderdome (sci-fi adventure 1985, 107-106min) Mel Gibson is a hero, in a future wasteland with a barbaric town... Many great scenes (5sdd1pvw 102min/play 106min/film)
04 The Rocketeer (adventure action 1991, 109-108min) Amazing story about a flying innovation, set at 1938 and excellent made, in the "Indiana Jones" style... (6sdd1pvw 104min/play 108min/film)
04 Star Wars I - The Phantom Menace (sci-fi 1999, 135-133min) Great adventure, with magnificent scenery and thrilling race scenes... It grow also slightly better each time and even the silly Jar Jar Binks, get less annoying! (5sdd1pvw 130min/play 135min/film)
04 The First Great Train Robbery (crime thriller comedy 1979, 110min) A very interesting story with Sean Connery, set 1855 in Victorian England and inspired of a real event (slightly noisy 5sdd1pw 105min/play 109min/film)
04 Indiana Jones, Temple of Doom (adventure comedy 1984, 118-112min) Spectacular beginning and many interesting scenes, but also a few irritating details... (6sdd1pvw 114min/play 118min/film)
04 History of the World: Part 1 (comedy adventure 1981, 92-90min) By Mel Brooks, with a lot of exceptional scenes, that are very funny or sexy... Especially the King's ladies... But it's partly sloppy made and 69% of the jokes, are not really funny... (5sdd1pvw 88min/play 92min/film)
04 Mad Max 2 - The road warrior (action sci-fi 1981, 96-91min) Epic wild action, in a future desert land... (5sd1pw 87min/play 91min/film)
04 Tomb Rider - The cradle of life (action adventure 2003, 117min) The second film with a great mix of a female "James Bond" action and a modern "Indiana Jones" adventure, very well filmed... And the only way to stop an attacking shark, without any weapons, is actually to hit it's nose... But it's actually no sexy parts... Trivia: One of Angelina Jolie's stunt doubles was a man and the film was banned in China! (6sdd1pw 113min/play 117min/film)
04 Kill Bill, volume 1 (action drama 2003) Interesting "revenge" film, with several incredible furious fighting scenes... (6sdd1pvw 106min/play 110min/film)
04 Kill Bill, volume 2 (action drama 2003) Not as great as the first part, but the rest of the story... (6sdd1pvw 131min/play 136min/film)
04 Lawrence of Arabia (drama war 1962, 227-187min) Epic masterpiece, about an exceptional man that become a legend (5sdd2pvw 218min/play 227min/film)
04 The Lover / L'Amant (drama romance soft-erotica 1991, 115-103min) A lovely young French girl take a older Asian lover, in this slow passionate story, with great moods and the young babe Jane March (5sdd1pw 111min/play 115min/film)
04 The Duellists (adventure drama 1977, 101-95min) Great story, about two Napoleons officers that become long time enemies... Lovely filmed and directed by director Ridley Scott (gladiator, blade runner) and naturally with master duelling (5sdd1pw 96min/play 100min/film)
04 Pirates of the Caribbean (adventure comedy 2002, 143-142min) Crazy pirate movie, with many splendid scenes... Just slightly too crazy... (6sdd1pw 137min/play 142min/film)
04 xXx (action 2002, 132-124min) Extremely intense action adventure... (6sdd1pvw)
04 In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (crime action 1988, 95-92min) Made for television... But show closerly a true and very interesting crime story - that is both intense, brutal and thrilling (4s1n 95min)
04 An American Tail (animated adventure 1986, 81-77min) Magnificent fable, with a lot of lovely scenes... Fievel was also the name of Steven Spielberg's grandfather (6ssd1pw 81min/film)
04 RoboCop (sci-fi action 1987, 103-78min) A deadly wounded cop, become a powerful cyborg... (4sdd1pw 99min/play 103min/film)
04 Live and let die - 007 (action adventure 1973, 122-120min) Bond fight a drug lord, at exotic locations, with many stunts... Bit it feels little sloppy made... (5mdd1pw 116min/play 120min/film)
04 Finding Nemo (cartoon comedy adventure 2003, 100min) Many great scenes, in a fascinating setting... Even if the coral reef in the beginning, was too colourful... (6sdd1pw 96min/play 100min/film)
04 Falling Down (drama thriller 1993, 113min) A man get very frustrated, react on life and take violent revenge - or just defend his rights, with epic scenes (6sdd1pw 108min/play 113min/film)
04 Bullshot (action comedy adventure 1983, 85min) Extraordinary adventure, with the ultimate hero Captain Bullshot Crummond, set about 1915-25 and with many great scenes... Was on DVD but are sold out and may never be on DVD again... More info!
04 The Hidden (horror action sci-fi 1987, 98-96min) A parasite alien turn people to maniac killers... Very thrilling, with amazing scenes (5sdd1nw 98min)
04 Speed (action thriller 1994, 116min) A bomb man, set up a bus that can't slow down, but I hate the silly unrealistic jump scene! (5sdd1pvw 111min/play 116min/film)
04 Returner (action sci-fi 2002, 117min) Interesting mix of Terminator and Matrix from Japan, with a fine story and the babe was only 14 years old.. Definitely not a remake, as Hollywood love to do (6sdd1pw 111min/play 116min/film)
04 Streets of fire (music action 1974, 94-93min) Wild music and action, like wild west in the city night (5d1p 90min/play 94min/film)
03 A Nightmare On Elm Street (horror 1984, 91min) Freddy come and kill you, in your dreams... A famous horror masterpiece (5sdd1pw 87min/play 91min/film)
03 Escape from New York (sci-fi action adventure 1981, 99-98min) The President crashes into Manhattan, that now is a giant "prison" and our hero is sent in to rescue him... Was extremely interesting when it was made, but is now little slow and simple... (5sdd1pvw 94min/play 98min/film)
03 Die Hard (action 1988, 132-131min) Bruce Willis in an extremely intense "cat & mouse" fight, with ultra violent criminals, destroying a very luxurious business tower... But avoid the too short German TV and video version... (5sdd1pvw 127min/play 132min/film)
03 Star wars: Episode IV (sci-fi adventure 1977, 125-112min) The epic masterpiece, that many say is the best one... (5sdd1pw 120min/play 125min/film)
03 The emerald forest (nature adventure 1985, 114-110min) Amazing film, based on a true story, with extraordinary scenes and nude nymphs from Amazons jungle (5sdd1nvw 114m)
03 Overboard (comedy 1987, 112-100min) A mean rich bitch fall overboard and loose her memory, which our hero really take advantage of... Great fun! (5sdd1pw 108min/play 112min/film)
03 9 1/2 weeks (erotica drama 1986, 117-102min) Soft but thrilling sadomasochistic adventure, with lovely scenes... But partly slow (5sdd1pw 112min/play 116min/film)
03 I jomfruens tegn / In the Sign of the Virgin / I jungfruns tecken (erotic comedy 1973, mono) Lovely film, with a lot of young cute girls and hilarious scenes, in an idyllic village... Danish, by Con Amore film (5mdd1pw 88min/play 92min/film)
03 Emmanuelle (soft erotica 1974, 105-98min) Lovely scenery and a few delicious scenes, but very soft... Directed by Just Jaeckin (4sd1pvw 94min/play 98min/film)
03 The Blue Lagoon (1980, 104min) The romantic masterpiece, with lovely Brooke Shields - about two kids, who got stranded on a tropical island and grow up there... This film got actually a lot better, in high DVD quality (6sdd1pw 100min/play 104min/film) Yes, the DVD is in stereo, even if the cover show the mono symbol!
03 Private resort (sexy teen comedy 1985, 82min) Two friends visit a dream resort, with Jonny Depp, many sexy babes and many silly funny scenes... (5sdd1nw)
03 Conan the destroyer (adventure action fantasy 1984, 103-101min) A real fantasy adventure, with many great scenes and a wild Grace Jones... (4s1p 97min/play 101min/film)
03 Bugsy Malone (music comedy 1976, 93min) A typical Mafia musical, very elegant filmed, where kids play all parts... Many great scenes, but some DVD versions are in mono! (5sdd1pw)
03 Stunt man (drama action comedy 1980, 135-110min) Smart story within a story, with famous stunt scenes and Peter O'Toole (5sdd-dts1pw 130min/play 135min/film)
03 Rambo III (war action 1988, 102min) Rambo fight the Russian army in Afghanistan... Rather incredible, but well made and with great scenes! (6sdd1pvw 97min/play 101min/film)
03 Avenging Force (action 1986, 104-99min) A group of "important" men, with extreme political ambitions, have a private hunting club and they hunt people... They try also to kill a friend, to our hero and kidnap finally his cute little sister... And that lead to some intense, thrilling and interesting man hunting, at the beginning and end... But the story is partly silly (4sdd1p 99min/play 103min/film)
03 Show down in Little Tokyo (action 1991, 79min) Many great action scenes, when Dolph Lundgren fight a Yakuza drug lord (5sdd1pw)
03 Wicked Lady (adventure drama soft-erotica 1983, 98-95min) An evil lady in 1800 England, with some great scenes and lovely scenery, even if I don't like Faye Dunaway (on a "rotten" LaserDisc) Sadly not on DVD yet and maybe never... More info!
03 Goldfinger - 007 (action adventure 1964, 105min) The finest "classic" Bond (5m1pw)
03 Salo - The 120 days of Sodom (drama 1975, 117min) Based on Marquis De Sade's book and made to illustrate the fascistic nature of evil... It is mainly a story about the corruption of absolute power, in a society with twisted moral... With the most extreme scenes in film history, like shit eating, many ways of torture and a lot more... By Pier Paolo Pasolini (3sdd1pw 112min/play 117min/film)
03 They call me Trinity (western comedy 1971, 109-105min) Cool western comedy, with incredible fighting scenes (2-3mdd1n, region world, 109min)
03 TROY (historical drama 2004, 163min) A great and interesting adventure of war, but without the deep passion of Gladiator. (5sdd1pvw 156min/play 163min/film)
03 Beverly Hills Cop II (crime action 1987, 107-100min) Eddie Murphy come back to stop a crime wave, with fine action scenes (5sdd1pw 99min/play 103min/film)
03 Blue velvet (drama mystery soft-s/m-erotica 1986, 121-120min) A young man in an ordinary town, get curious on a young lady, with very dark desires... (3sdd1pvw 115min/play 120min/film)
03 AtlAntis - The lost empire (Disney animated adventure 2001, 92min) Magnificent story, very well animated and with many splendid scenes... But the "thrilling" roller-coaster pace, with many "explosions" of even more intense action, was often irritating... And some parts was so incredible or oversized, it got slightly silly... Otherwise would it be one of the greatest animated films, ever! (6sdd1p)
03 Die Hard 2 (action 1990, 128-124min) Hired soldiers take control over an airport... Great action scenes (5sdd1pvw 123min/play 128min/film)
03 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon / Wo hu cang long (drama 2000, 120-119min) A very romantic sword fighting film (6sdd1pw 115min/play 120min/film)
03 Last Samurai (historical drama 2003, 154min) Spendid, with some interesting scenes and lovely filmed... (6sdd1pvw 148min/play 154min/film)
03 ROME (historical tv series 2006, 600min) A fascinating and extremely well made series, that show ancient Rome more accurate than ever and I love the final scene... But most of the actors are slightly boring, even if some of the females look very good and there is many soft sex scenes... Then has it not the deep passion or lovely film style of Gladiator... And over half the series concentrate on the life of two rather ordinary fictive soldiers, instead of the more interesting legendary characters... (6sdd5+1pw about 600min/play)
03 Memoirs of a Geisha (historical drama 2005, 145min) A fascinating film of delicate beauty and romance, with a slightly sad story (6sdd1pvw 139min/play 145min/film)
03 Napoleon Bonaparte (historical mini series 2002, 375min) A deep insight in Napoleon's life as general, Emperor and lover... With two extremely delicious ladies, as his greatest mistresses... A splendid film, about a rather boring man... (5sdd2pw 360min/play 375min/film)
03 Cleopatra (historical mini series 1999, 180min) A magnificent film about Cleopatra's time as queen of Egypt, with many beautiful scenes and a true beauty playing Cleopatra... The film has especially excellent costume and settings, except a few models that look incredible cheap, even if it was made for television... The events in the film are also more historically accurate than usual, even if some details are wrong... They forgot especially to mention that she got 3 children with Marcus Antonius, who actually committed suicide when she message him that she died... And the film would get a clearly higher grade, if they did show the last hours sad and boring events, in fifteen minutes and more of the interesting events, before that... (5sdd1p 173min/play 180min/film)
03 20.000 leagues under the sea (adventure 1954, 127-118min) Walt Disney's mighty, magnificent and memorable under sea adventure, with the evil genius captain Nemo! (5sdd1pvw 122min/play 127min/film)
03 Die Another Day - 007 (action adventure 2002, 132min) Many great scenes, but a rather crazy and mainly unbelievable story... (6sdd1pvw 127min/play 132min/film)
03 Barb Wire (action adventure erotica 1996, 109-94min) Pamela Anderson play a mercenary and the wild sexy mistress, of a rock bar... And the cute story is partly very inspired by the classic movie Casablanca (6sdd1pw 95min/play 99min/film)
03 Dangerous Liaisons (romantic drama 1988, 120min) Lust, seduction and revenge... With John Malkovich and the same story as "Valmont" above... (5sdd2pw 115min/play 120min/film)
03 Wild Wild West (adventure western sci-fi comedy 1999, 107min) Very strange story, with many fantastic scenes... And extremely well made... (5sdd1pw 102min/play 106min/film)
03 The Three Musketeers (adventure 1973, 107-105min, mono) The greatest version, with many fine scenes... Directed by Richard Lester (5mdd1pw 103min/play 107min/film)
03 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (adventure fable comedy 1988, 127-126min) Amazing and quite impossible story, with many incredible scenes... (6sdd1pw 121min/play 126min/film)
03 King Kong (adventure 2005, 180min) Jacksons version of