Telefunken Platinum Telf50 DVD/VCR Recorder ComboAfter rummaging around in the dungeon in order to find 10 mini VHS camera video tapes of our wedding and reception taken in 2001, I elected to transfer the video from this virtually obsolete medium to DVD.  Risking being in the dog house forever if I botched the job, I unpacked the unit provided by www.oo.com.au and started to connect it to a TV.

This is a 6 Head PAL/NTSC with playback HI FI & Hi speed rewind product.

We shall produce the specs a bit later into the article, but right now let’s list some general observations made as we did the deed. I was surprised to find that I needed to provide my own video and mono and stereo connecting sound cables.  The only cable provided was an antiquated RF one. Anyway I ended up finding an S-Video cable and used that plus the two audio so I could get a good picture and reasonable sound.

But right there the “old bit” stops as there was nothing antiquated about anything else in the machine.  A small price to pay I guess, for such a good unit.

Copy either DVD to VHS, (but I don’t know why you would do that) or copy VHS to DVD it does it with one button press (Yay!).  It is exceptionally user-friendly in its simplicity and performs the difficult functions automatically.  The product seems to be good quality right from the remote down and performed flawlessly.

Several features impressed me.  As well as the simple “one touch copy”, the recorder combo rewinds the VCR at high speed then slows down as it approaches the end of the tape.  You can also set the machine recording then leave it and the machine senses that the VHS cassette has come to the end of any recorded video on it (not necessarily the end of the tape) and pauses any further burning of the DVD – Amazing!  But that’s only if you haven’t been paying attention as it also displays how much time its read of the VHS cassette and how much time is left for burning on the DVD at the quality settings you set it to default at.

The machine produced an excellent copy, so flushed with success I decided to instigate a few changes and was pleased to discover the unit also boasted clever, yet simple editing features.

I have only listed the features below as you can easily obtain the complete and numerous specifications on the VCR and DVD by visiting www.oo.com.au.

• DVD playback
• VCR playback
• Record TV broadcast
• Recording between VCR and DVD
• Recording from DV/Camcorder/external inputs
• Timer recording
• Dolby Digital
• DTS Digital Out
• 6-Head HiFi stereo VCR
• MP3 Disc
• Progressive scan
• One touch copy VCR to DVD, DVD to VCR
• Plays: DVD, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW, VCD, Audio CD, MP3 CD, CD-R, CD-RW, JPEG, Discs
• Records to: DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW, Discs or VHS Cassette
• DV in: record from video camera
• Up to 8 hours recording on a single DVD
• Multiple languages
• Remote Control

Conclusion

I really did not sample all that it could do as I did not have a camcorder handy but all of the features that I did try worked as expected, with good documentation and at a high quality level. At the purchase price of $270 Aud that the Telefunken Platinum Telf50 DVD/VCR Recorder Combo is advertised for from www.oo.com.au, I believe it represents good value.