Cool Yule rating: 4.5 stars $229.99
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Description: The Sony MC5 Multi-function DVD Recorder is an all-in-one unit designed to transfer virtually all forms of home recording devices onto blank DVD discs. After transfer, these discs are capable of being played in a DVD player. Photos can also be transferred to DVD to create backups and slideshows.
The real appeal of the recorder is that it can be used in the absence of a PC. Sony incorporates almost every way to transfer video/photos to DVD imaginable, including component inputs, USB and memory card slots.
Setup is simple enough, and being able to view your videos while they’re recording is a great feature. This also lets you create chapters, and add other effects to the DVD. The first time I tried recording an old lacrosse game from an old Sony Handycam to DVD, I couldn’t get it to play through my player. After spending five minutes consulting the instruction manual, I was able to fix the problem by performing a necessary final step, “Finalize Disc”. From then on, it was smooth sailing. While the photo features are a nice bonus, using a computer with a DVD burner with the appropriate software would work just as well. Worth noting: Sony has incorporated software to prevent you from making copies of proprietary discs, so you can’t borrow the latest DVD movie release from the video store and make a personal copy for yourself.
The Sony Multi-function DVD Recorder is highly recommended for anyone with old home video or recorded VHS tapes lying around the house. In many cases, home videos can only be played through the camera that originally took the video. Sony offers a great way around this by bypassing the old camera altogether. If you have lots of VHS tapes lying around that you want to convert to DVD, the Sony Multi-Function DVD Recorder is the product you’ve been waiting for.
