JVC HR-S5911 S-VHS VCR

Pros: High quality, good price
Cons: Awkward display and menu

This VCR has a better picture than any other I've ever owned. The price is very reasonable. I avoided the cheapest models because they are much lower in quality, as can be seen by their reviews. The VCR can clean up the picture in bad tapes using its "video calibration." There are a few bad points. The tape position is not indicated on the VCR screen. You have to press "display" on the remote and it shows up on the TV. It only stays on for five seconds, so you have to keep pressing "display." This may not be a problem for most people, but it is annoying for editing. Also, when rewinding or fast forwarding, there is quite a bit of lag between the time when you press stop and when the tape actually stops. This can cause the VCR to overshoot up to three minutes or so, depending on how fast the tape is going. Setting the clock is also awkward.