Pan. EH-59, 69: Questions

The other difference is SD card.

B&H have them, also mayby JR's. Also Gandhi Appliances have them on their site and also ebay. they have been very helplful to be when i asked questions about the unit. Also there are a few other sites that them such as here

http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/dvdrecorders.html

and other site called 220volts something

If you are in america you just need to remember that the outputs are 0 IRE black level and not 7.5IRE

As was said, there are a lot of places that Google will come up with in a search. I have experience with World-Import, B&H and J&R and can recommend any of these. I have no experience with the other sites, and I have been warned about many disreputable vendors for these type of (gray market) items. I would really rcommend you stick with vendors that have a recommendation.

DVDs produced by a standard N. American line output device will be slightly light, and AFA can it be fixed.....yes with varying degrees of difficulty. If your source is a standard DVD or BD player(as mine is) it's very easy. Most all DVD players have a DARKER setting, LIGHTER is the default, changing it to DARKER will result in perfect black level DVDs. With other line output devices(STB, DVR, VHS player, etc.) it's not as easy. You'd have to somehow install a proc amp or other device between the line output and the international Panasonic's line input. Slightly lower the brightness(probably only a notch or two) and you'll be fine. I have a Vidicraft Proc Amp from my VHS days that works just fine, the only problem is it only has composite connections and I prefer to use S-video when available, of course for standard VHS composite is your only choice and it works just fine.
Just so you know the raised black level is "very" slight, in fact I'd guess the vast majority of people would never know it, I've never read a review with a complaint about black levels with using one of these internationals in N. America but it is a fact and I like to point it out. If you have a N. American Panasonic you do have a way to see how a international Panasonic will act. Go into the SETUP and set the black level output to LIGHTER(again the default is DARKER for N. America). If recordings don't bother you or you don't notice much of a difference the point is moot for you. If your bothered by it and you will not be only recording from a DVD player with a DARKER setting then you better plan on using a proc amp or similar device which lets you lower the black level(brightness).

Yes, the picture will be slightly lighter, which is usually not noticeable EXCEPT when something on the screen is really black. The blacks just turn out to be a little on the gray side. I have been told (can't remember who) that the bumbers quoted by jjeff above are still within spec (whatever that means exactly). My SIMA filtering device has a greater brightening effect than my EH59/69. I have also been told that since it is not outside of spec (again ?!?) that it can be completely compensated for by the brightness adjustment on your telvision.

I really don't notice it enough to make me unhapy about it.

The EH59/69
allows you to set the widescreen bit on your recordings
has a 44 character phrase save feature
will play any region PAL or NTSC disk
has title groups
will do refresh recording

no US warranty
no useable tuner in North America
does not record the closed captioning information embedded in the video stream
only has a 24 hour clock, no 12 hour AM/PM
only uses European date sequence
the use of record interval requires you to press a front panel button rather than the button on the remote control.

Totally agree with you and yes the amount of lightness is easily compensated for by your TVs brightness, probably only a few points negative should make your recordings like perfect.
Personally I found the black level crush issue on both Funai DVDRs(both with HDD) that I tried to be more objectionable than the raised black level of these internationals and unlike the crush issue which I couldn't really correct with TV adjustments to my satisfaction, the black level is quite easily compensated for.

The Sign Video/Studio 1 proc amps have s-video connections. I may have a dual one comming up for sale.

Yes EH 69 takes SD cards. I will read the manual to answer the other questions.

ok............. as per usual, there are a lot of conditions with pannys. PLEASE download the EH69 user manual (google 'panasonic EH 69 manual') then open the PDF and type in 'SD card' in the search in Adobe and then keep hitting ENTER button. ALL your answers willl be there!

The SD card is only for playing select things, I never use SD cards on my Panasonic, as cyclone82 said their are just too many limitations on their use.
"Personally" I prefer a DVDR without a SD reader, just one less device to have to scroll through when pushing the drive select button.