HISTORY OF THIS HI8 HANDYCAM
My professional and private background is all about electronics, audio and 'The Arts' but NOT really video, film or photography!
Over the years, I seem to have gathered together a bunch of strange camera's (some are odd looking) and it is now time for someone else to PERHAPS make use of this camera for immediate use (*** See below***) OR servicing/spare parts.
I am not a domestic video or photography enthusiast so this Hi8 Handycam is offered as-is (described and tested as best I can with my limited resources)
Actually I have a number of camera's and accessories I am sorting out and testing (if I am able to) ... look for more camera's HERE on my website.
I offer the description below as best I can but this Handycam MAY have a fault(s) or the lens system could be dirty (I am not a "lens expert" nor optically knowledgeable enough to evaluate the optics completely)
I am not even sure anyone is interested in old video camera's although the other Hi8 camera's I had all seem to find new owners very quickly.
But I am very 'big' on sustainability and if this fits into someone's museum of antiquated video equipment or even as a spare parts 'farm' for other SONY Hi8 Handycam's this would please me greatly.
I have just one other SONY handcam (older model) and an "ancient" PANASONIC analog VHS-C camera to checkout, write-up and advertise and then I move onto the tons of film equipment and media that I have here sitting in boxes ...
PLEASE read the description completely and decide if this Handycam may be of interest to you.
There are no returns or refunds offered, this equipment is second hand and offered 'as-is"
SONY VIDEO CAMERA - Handycam
Technology: Digital electronics using Hi8 tape for storage
Model: CCD-TRV66E
Made in Japan
Release to the domestic market around the 1990's (Yes, it is 'stone age' in the world of video technology)
I found it quite easy to locate user manuals online for this model, so if you should need one then a search on TRV66E using Google should produce a variety of choices for downloading.
Comes with the hand strap
NO carry case
NO main battery is supplied, missing in action or "thrown out" some time ago (User manual says it uses a InfoLithium NP-F330 Li-ION)
NO AC power adapter/charging unit is supplied - like the battery, I cannot find one. Although I had a lot of charging units but most of these have all found new owners. According to the user manual, the AC power adapter provides 8.4V @ 1.5A)
NO memory backup battery is supplied (a commonly available CR2025 button battery) - the old battery was "dead" and thus removed, waiting for a replacement.
Hi8 tape IS supplied (recorded with unknown material - good for testing)
DIMENSIONS:
110mm wide x 250mm front to back and 100mm high
Weight: 900g (without battery)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
CLEAN
NO camera body physical damage at all, but there are some "normal usage" marks, scratches but nothing serious. The hand strap is a little worn but I have "cleaned it up" and applied leather polish, which bought it "back to life"
NO issues noticed with the 'user controls', all switches are undamaged and work. The locking systems such as that used for the front lens and "Standby-Lock" controls work fine.
All ports for microphone, DC etc all look to be clean and undamaged
Battery contacts (one on each side of the battery compartment and two Gold fingers on the lower edge) all look to be in very good condition.
Fold-out LCD screen has no scratches or cracks, looks to be in very good condition (no dead spots visible)
The viewfinder eyepiece swivels up and down freely and locks into place, as it should.
The lens cover is mechanically activated when the camera is switched to "CAMERA MODE" and the camera has always been stored with the lens closed.
Inside the viewfinder is clean.
I took a very close look "inside" the front lens and I cannot see signs of the dreaded "bacterial mould" - none at all. Just nice clean/clear glass outside and in. If you take a look at the "close up of the front lens" photograph, that was taken with a flash activated and you can see right inside the lens, there is NO mould!
TESTING:
Ok, so it's a great looking piece of "old kit" but does it work Russ?
I try my best but the lack of the correct battery or AC adapter is a big drawback! I cannot test the DC input because a special recessed propriety socket is used - I have no cables/plug that will fit this.
Next, I thought about applying 7.2V directly to the Li-ION battery contacts and that "sort of" worked ....
In VTR mode, with a DC source of 7.2V applied to the battery terminals, the camera comes alive! It awakens! I mean the top transport control strip lights up Orange AND the LCD screen backlight comes on.
ALAS! After around 2 seconds, the tape transport display goes "off" and the LCD screen tells me to "USE ONLY INFOLITHIUM BATTERY!" and then after another couple of seconds, the LCD also shuts down. So the camera is able to detect that I am not using a "real" InfoLithium battery and has decided to shut itself down. I really would have liked to have had this handycam up and running for testing, I am curious about such an old video camera, even though it is a SONY which have been in the professional video production game for many many years - just about any broadcast studio will have SONY equipment everywhere! I double checked the applied voltage and it is spot on 7.2V BUT those two Gold contacts have not been used - I suspect they are the key to tricking the camera into operating (probably the battery temperature sensing terminals)
But all is not lost ... even though the camera "ON time" was very short, I DID manage to tell it to eject the Hi8 tape inside, which it did nice and smoothly and without any funny noises - nice! I returned the tape to the loaded position and that is how the camera will be supplied, with the tape already loaded.
I tried to play a tape but the whole transport system seems to refuse to operate due to this "non InfoLithium" battery issue. I also switched the SONY TRV66E to "CAMERA MODE" and it just will not "fire up" at all - I instantly get that battery message.
In summary, although my "testing" is pretty crude, it is better than nothing .... just! It does come alive and does eject, load a tape fine and the LCD comes alive (backlight can be easily seen) but to REALLY check this I would need either a DC adapter (with the special plug) OR a fully charged InfoLithium battery - such a shame!
This SONY Hi8 TRV66E Handycam is only partially tested - it is offered completely "AS-IS"
Since checking out this handycam I have now sealed it in a plastic package, to maintain the current condition and safely protect it from dust/dirt and airborne contaminants.
