What are /r/camcorders' favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

That should just be a normal 3.5mm AV cord, you could stick a headphone cord into it to make sure 3.5 is the correct size

Get these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4HRZGJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details and 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol and use it to clean the head drum, the erase and auto heads. Also all of the capstans and pinch rollers. See if there are screws on the door so you can remove the cover.

I believe this will work

Everything else here is accurate, but you linked the wrong dongle for this job. To duplicate a mono channel into fake stereo, one of these should be used, 1 Male connector to 2 Female connectors. These come in different formats, such as stationary metal plugs, but the cabled dongle is usually the cheapest. I just bought one from Walmart for this exact purpose the other day.

Yellow is your video signal, black is your audio signal. The black line can be plugged into to the white connector.

Red and white on an RCA cable is for stereo audio. White is the left channel, red is the right channel. If your camera just has one cable for audio then it probably only outputs in mono, rather than stereo so you just connect it to the white cable and don't have anything connected to the red cable. This means the video file you create will only have audio on the left channel though.

I believe you can use something like this to record the audio on both channels.

theres a camera listed here in the states rn for 250 usd that comes with one if you wanna see if the seller can ship to you. definitely seems worth it imo you could just sell the camera and keep the recorder since you already have an fx7 and actually come out with a little profit + a recorder lol. portable hd external recorders are all pretty pricey though even if you go the hdmi route instead with devices like this. theyre cheaper but a lot of times will blend deinterlace without an option not to and you wont get timecode or other information you would when recording on tape, thats why people usually go with the firewire recorders.

My Panasonic only has a yellow AV out. My rca cables feed into one input cable so there is nothing for my to switch out if that makes sense. https://www.amazon.com/Antoble-Composite-Stereo-Camcorder-Breakout/dp/B01E6Z75RA cable I’m using

I bought this off of Amazon for about $50: Memory Stick

I felt that I would just buy a 32gb micro sd card to use with the adapter

how would this happen out of no where?

Would the cleaning cassette work? is a cleaning cassette only good for one use?

> Sony TRV608

Id suggest a firewire card

I use this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DQ0KD2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought one of those adapters like the other guy said but they seem unreliable

I use WinDV software with this

Here's an example of footage exported with this setup from a sony TRV-103

Hey! sorry for late response. I use this adapter i found on amazon. Basically you plug that into your PC and your camera and then use an OBS (I use stream labs but any should be fine) and basically play the footage through and capture what’s on stream labs. I suck at explaining so here’s a helpful video tutorial if you need more help. let me know if you have other questions !

as always thank you so much...

I am going to buy this s video cable to connect my camcorder to the elgato capture device

basic 3 male RCA to 3.5mm cable

I already have windows 10 with OBS studio, windows 10 will work right? do I need to find drivers for it to see the camera? I can make a windows 7 or XP box if I need to...

Have you tried formatting the card, or tried other SD cards? There may be more information listed in the camcorder manual.

PS, is this the kind of camera you're using? https://www.amazon.com/Oauxy-Camcorder-Digital-Recorder-Handheld/dp/B093SMLD86

I said clean the heads and guides. I said nothing about effect.. The heads and guides would cause these effects. Since there is something causing the tape to not meet the tape to record the video/audio.

Get these and use 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol and gloves to clean and rotate the head drum. Then the guides. I belive there are erase and audio heads that need to be cleaned as well. Since VHS had multiple heads. Video8 used the drum.

Let it all dry or you can dry it by going over everything with a try swab and then let it air dry for max of 30 mins and then put a brand new tape in and see if its fixed.

When going over the drum. Do multiple passes. In both directions. Do not press had to where you have to use force to rotate it but light pressure. Enough to clean and where the drum rotates freely when you rotate it.

You might have to send THAT tape to get it professionally transferred. Since it might need to be taken apart, cleaned, and fed onto other reels. Then ran through a pro machine. Ive had tapes that did this. There might be moisture in the tape (If you cleaned the heads and then ran the tape) thats causing the tape to stick to the head drum and rollers/guides. You could also try and find a way to rewind and put a q-Tip or a foam cleaner which Ive suggested to many users to dry the moisture

Just buy a DVD drive. Like this that connects to USB. You can just drag and drop the footage from the disc to your laptops storage. https://www.amazon.co.jp/DVSM-PTV8U3-BK-External-Portable-Domestic-Manufacturer/dp/B07X41PNSM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3GBB2XQ0XGJVX&keywords=dvd%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%96usb&qid=1658313596&sprefix=dvd+drive+u%2Caps%2C1020&sr=8-3

If you keep buying capture devices you will get worse results and waste your time.

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

The guides, pinch rollers, and the head could all be dirty.

I keep reading comments of you checking with your dad... why not check and clean the system yourself? Im not saying your dad may or may not know what hes doing or anything of that sort of if your dad is taking it someone that claims to know what they are doing but doing it yourself it always better.

Cleaning tapes do little to nothing. The only thing you need to do is to find a way to remove the deck door, use the swabs I linked above and clean Everything. Multiple passes. Put a fan in front of the deck without the door on and let it dry. Ive learned to go for 2 more passed with dry swabs to dry everything down and remove anything left over.

The only time Ive had issues with my decks eating tapes is when I put a tape in it right after cleaning.... As I spoke about above. The tape clings to the heads and everything and start slapping since the gets stuck on the head drum and doesnt advanced and spools on up inside the deck.

Short answer, get this one.

Long answer: When I have same problem what I do is:

1. I search for the manual in pdf (See page 8)
2. then I find the proper part number of the missing accessory and then
3. I search equivalent on Amazon.

On this case this is the AC/DC adapter VSK0695

this one is cheap and does a good job. My favorite is still the Dazzle line of capture devices. I recommend using OBS as the capture software.

This is the one I have Ive used it on mac and PC. Its shows as a "camera" in QuickTime and it works similar in Windows.

The device I use is for Windows only, so I can’t help you out with that recommendation, but you can get this device that allows you to capture directly to a flash drive or sd card without the use of a computer.

I think it could have an issue with the heads.

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

Hey op, to get composite out of that camcorder, you'll need a 3.5mm av to composite.

Something like this "3.5mm to 3 RCA Audio Video Cable" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0957DDZK9/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_6F9W1DPWYASS91NK78F0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I would do some looking around to see for like price, but this will give you composite video and audio. Do note, svideo has better quality over the composite out, but its not super important.

Would anyone know how to fix this?

If possible without using a VCR/DVD player since I need to edit these videos on the road.
Im using this cable to digitalize the VHS :https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B081KWWZXC/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o00\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use Quicktime player on my Mac for the program

The audio works fine when I play it on the camcorder it's only when I digitalize it that there is noise issues.

Late to the party, but I would like to try this thing :

​

https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/ClearClick-Convertisseur-num%C3%A9rique-2-0-g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ration/dp/B07V9JNRZY/ref=pd_ybh_a_sccl_2/143-0536469-1559812?pd_rd_w=T48pL&pf_rd_p=403f97f2-0084-4c97-8fbd-db1ba12eb185&pf_rd_r=8Z3MWSJ5VKGMFH1N9PSP&pd_rd_r=795c936b-508c-4c07-b73f-dd527a8b7ae5&pd_rd_wg=sv5RB&pd_rd_i=B07V9JNRZY&psc=1

​

With a USB battery pack. I dont own a camcorder so i can't test it.

Idea was to velcro the clearclick and the battery back on the camcorder and to make wires just the proper size

Are you sure the tape it actually loading? A belt could have melted and caused it to become inoperable. Look around on the camera for screws on the opposite side of where the deck it. If you find any remove the cover and see if you can see/find belt or lack of them.

Also, Try cleaning the heads and see if that helps.

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

I think it could have an issue with the heads.

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

Here's the manual

The manual will tell you EVERYTHING you NEED to know.

Most to all Sony camcorders have 37 mm filter/lens threads. So this lens is what you're looking for

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

Get these to clean the heads and tape deck. 91% isopropyl alcohol and gloves.

Use the gloves to rotate the heads without getting grease or fingerprints while you rotate to clean the heads. Clean all the rollers, guides, and so on. To ensure the tape is going through a nice clean deck. Then let it dry with the door open for a hour or longer. Having a small fan or air flow into the deck will make sure everything gets dry.

Never clean a deck and run a tape through it. Itll just eat tapes because the deck is still wet and the tape will catch, slap, and the heads will roll the tape around itself...Ive had tapes eaten that way...

To capture video from the firewire socket on a mini dv camcorder using a windows 10 or 11 laptop. you MUST have a "thunderbolt enabled USB-C". Only if this requirement is met, can to what I did.

If so I bought an "APPLE Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter"

Then i bought an "Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter"

i then bought firewire 800 to 400 cable https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0028NRE4W/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

putting that together make the computer see the camcorder.

I'm using adobe premiere pro to capture the MiniDV tapes.

The old windows movie maker 6 (for windows7), CyberLink PowerDirector 11 and the latest version (i think its 22) can capture the MiniDV tapes but didn't appear to have scene detection.

I needed a feature called scene detection where a new file is made at every scene, This will allow me to enhance the exposure, colour and normalize the sound across the clips. i am using windows 11

Get a pack of these and open the cassette deck and get some rubber gloves and some 91+ isopropyl alcohol and clean the deck and rotate the head and clean it off.

It might be either dirty or the date might be a dud. I always clean the cassette decks to any tape based electronic before I use it. Mainly because I know they have never been properly cleaned (Using cleaning tapes is dumb and pointless. They do work but not as good as cleaning manually. I see them as last resorts. Like not being able to do it manually)

The manual says it’s a 25mm filter size, so most lenses are gonna need a step up ring to fit. This is the best thing I found on Amazon, but you might be able to do some kind of cheaper setup if you can find rings Opteka OPT-SC37FE Platinum Series 0.3X HD Ultra Fisheye Lens for 25mm, 30mm, 30.5mm & 37mm Digital Video Camcorders https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VMQ2PS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_830PK5FH40C63SBYG2YK

https://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Platinum-Low-Profile-Fisheye-Camcorders/dp/B0045W4XJI/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3J6WY5WPQNNDD&keywords=37mm+fisheye&qid=1647185865&sprefix=37mm+fisheye%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-3

this one should be okay you can’t go wrong with opteka

I’ve seen in an old thread that this cable is good but it does seem a bit expensive.

To capture video from the firewire socket on a mini dv camcorder using a windows laptop. you MUST have thunderbolt enabled USB-C. Only if this requirement is met, can to what I did.

If so I bought an "APPLE Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter"

then i bought an "Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 Adapter"

i then bought https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0028NRE4W/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

putting that together make the computer see the camcorder.

I'm using adobe premiere pro to capture the miniDV tapes.

The old windows movie maker 6 (for windows7), CyberLink PowerDirector 11 and the latest version (i think its 22) can capture the MiniDV tapes but didn't appear to have scene detection.

I needed a feature called scene detection where a new file is made at every scene, This will allow me to enhance the exposure, colour and normalize the sound across the clips. i am using windows 11

I do hope this helps someone.

I still have the original camcorder to replay the tapes and used this device I bought on amazon to save it on to a SD card. Really easy to use!

ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V9JNRZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_HZ4HRPPDWWDFKNXDSX3Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Gotta remember. 1GB was LARGE back then. You were considered lucky if you could afford anything larger than 512MB. Most camcorders can only support 1GB as the max.

Heres the card I bought for my camcorders. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0842YS4CP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Firewire is not usb. You'll need this or an equivalent card for expansion slot if you have a laptop, or a pc with integrated Firewire port like macbooks of ten to fifteen years ago, or a thunderbolt-firewire adapter, but beware, on new mac you also need a thunderbolt 2-thunderbolt 3 adapter connected to the thunderbolt-firewire adapter (I know, this is crazy).

Here, this is what youll need

Lens

30mm to 37mm Step up ring

The Lens is 37mm so youll need the step up ring to use it.

HandBrake can read and convert MOD files. Download the app, import the MOD clip, under Preset select Production > Production Max. Then click Add to Queue, repeat as necessary. Once you have all your MOD clips imported, click Start.

Thank you for responding. I getting ready to get off my computer; so, if you respond I may not get back to you until tomorrow. Following is link to the one I bought that fit, but didn’t work.

https://www.amazon.com/Electop-Pin-Male-RCA-Composite/dp/B0140MTVPS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=331R2QE67I1JT&keywords=4+pin+svideo+cable&qid=1643839520&sprefix=4+pin+svideo+cable%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-3

The lens says 72mm so search for a 72mm fisheye lens. Zeadio Video Action Stabilizing Handle Grip Handheld Stabilizer with Hot-Shoe Mount for Canon Nikon Sony Panasonic Pentax Olympus DSLR Camera Camcorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LKK99QA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_E4PCV8PCW41G6FAJEHS6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 this would be a good handle

Get this adapter ring so you can use 37mm lenses, filters, and so on. https://www.amazon.com/Ring-Compatible-Accessory-Step-Up/dp/B08FY5FS64/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3S4TNHVWNVKNH&keywords=30.5mm+to+37mm+filter&qid=1643603176&s=electronics&sprefix=30.5mm+to+37mm+filte%2Celectronics%2C211&sr=1-4

It takes the odd size 30.5 to 37mm

VIDBOX Video Conversion for PC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IP6N5MA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_Z6FKCY5VP42DPHQDBH0D I use this, it works perfectly and is easy to use. But have to check the inputs it has

firewire to usb never will work. if you buy one you're getting scammed

if you can't use firewire, you prbably have to use some kind of usb rca capture like this https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Female-Capture-Composite-Adapter/dp/B09N6MYB6V/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=av+to+usb&qid=1643565377&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE4S1dJNk5KVkZEQzImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzMjQ2NTQyODRMMTdJOU1WWVoyJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNjk0MzMzM0VLTEtXTFI4WjZIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

​

and then use pinnacle studio or some software to recognize it. beware, using firewire is the only way to get a direct copy, so it'll lose some quality if you use the RCA usb method

good plan, you probably can just use amazon or ebay for the cord. this should work: https://www.amazon.com/CA-570-Replacement-Adapter-Charger-ZR70MCDC10/dp/B07BK2GJ8C/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=canon+elura+70+cable&qid=1643569239&sprefix=canon+nelura+70%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Platinum-Low-Profile-Fisheye-Camcorders/dp/B0045W4XJI

This gets recommended a lot, sub $40 and with decent build quality. If you ever decide .2x is too wide you can find used 37mm screw on adapters in all different kinds of magnification for super cheap on eBay. I love my .45x wide

I think I might have found a alternative to what your trying to do. https://www.amazon.com/DIGITNOW-Digital-Converter-Capture-Camcorder/dp/B07JVQVR3Q/ref=sr_1_9?crid=OHDLERGTRS8A&keywords=mini+dv+transfer+to+sd&qid=1642974136&sprefix=mini+dv+transfer+to+sd%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-9

If you have a MiniDV camcorder or even a Video8, Hi8, or whatever you can hook it up and record directly to this thing. Since most to all camcorders will send the video from the AV to a TV, VCR or whatever and this can capture/record it onto a MicroSD card.

Might be worth a try?

Would something like this work? https://www.amazon.ca/Talentcell-Rechargeable-6000mAh-Battery-Portable/dp/B00MF70BPU/ref=asc_df_B00MF70BPU/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292900119303&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6160828394168119731&hvpone=&hvptwo...

Theyd have to have Firewire since they are digital. Look at the canon website and get the manual.

For the handle Ive seen handles that you screw onto the tripod mount and it looks from the bottom to the top. Like this one

I found a decently priced Canon 1080p 60fps and 4K30 https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/point-and-shoot-digital-cameras/long-zoom-cameras/powershot-sx740-hs

Amazon link

One of these types from Amazon. It’s pretty cheap but it worked (and still works) great for capturing from my Panasonic mini dv camera.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X42H9VZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ZJGQMV2E7X2JBZ71RGVT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Okay so I would use this thunderbolt adapter to the dv firewire

Any Firewire 400/iLink cable with 4 pins on one end and 6 pins on the other should be good. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Builders-Firewire-IEEE1394-November/dp/B002PRE1XI/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=FireWire+400&qid=1639955256&sr=8-6

You may be able to couple this with a Firewire 400 to 800 adapter in order for this setup to work.

dang that sucks. I had originally gotten one like the pic and it was horrible to use...I shelled out 85 for this one and dont regret it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4HRZGJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Get these and 90%+ isopropyl and some gloves. Clean the heads multiple times. I had to do mine like 10 times until I stopped having issues. My camera was my families old MiniDV which had been sitting with a tape in it for YEARS 18+ or so.

So clean everything. Use the gloves to not get oils from your finger on the heads when rotating it. Also, after each cleaning. Let it drive for 10 mins and then test.

This is a copy and paste of one of my other comments.

Try cleaning the heads and see if that helps. Also, check your connection as well as settings within premiere. Ive heard of people having weird issues with capturing with premiere and DV.

Look into getting a different program to capture, maybe. Find a trial software and see if that helps or not.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4HRZGJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Get these and 90%+ isopropal and some gloves. Clean the heads multiple times. I had to do mine like 10 times until I stopped having issues. My camera was my families old MiniDV which had been sitting with a tape in it for YEARS 18+ or so.

So clean everything. Use the gloves to not get oils from your finger on the heads when rotating it. Also, after each cleaning. Let it drive for 10 mins and then test.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4HRZGJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Get these and 90%+ isopropal and some gloves. Clean the heads multiple times. I had to do mine like 10 times until I stopped having issues. My camera was my families old MiniDV which had been sitting with a tape in it for YEARS 18+ or so.

So clean everything. Use the gloves to not get oils from your finger on the heads when rotating it. Also, after each cleaning. Let it drive for 10 mins and then test.

Thanks man! I use minidv cassettes and this cable https://www.amazon.co.uk/MagiDeal-Video-Capture-Adapter-Computer/dp/B07467QM3V/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1531256932&sr=8-1&keywords=Easy+Cap&linkCode=sl1&tag=adeel567-21&linkId=3ef24019a5d53fc49bfb15811c3e7615 . I mean it works great for me. I've heard for some people it doesn't work correctly, but idk, for me it works perfectly. On top of that I use OBS, to capture everything and that's it. The fisheye is opteka platinum series 0.2X. If you have any more questions, lmk.

Getting these “frame skips” that looks like its lagging or something instead of being smooth 30fps. These are my OBS settings that I used to transfer the video, and this is the capture card I used. The image on my camcorder looks pretty smooth, but when transferred through OBS it looks pretty choppy when theres camera movement especially on the panning across the trees at 0:23.
Any ideas? Is it the cheap video capture card? My CPU percentage was also super high when recording on OBS also, not sure if that could be the case as to why.
Video:
OBS settings: https://imgur.com/a/Jr6zQ6s
Capture card: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087TDN2FL/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o02\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Get these to clean your mech and heads.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4HRZGJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Get 90+ isopropyl alcohol as well. The highest the better. Make sure you wear gloves so you dont lean any finger prints or grease on the heads when rotating it.

If you have any blank tapes (assuming you have your old family camera) use them. Dont use a tape with stuff on them in case something happens.

When I was reviving my old Panasonic MiniDV camera I had issues with it eating a tape until I cleaned it. If you can get the door open. Get these to help you clean the mech to make sure clean, easy, tape movement.

I had to clean my cassette mech 5+ times until I didnt have any issues and then 2 more times of the heads to get a clear, clean, and smooth image. Since it is digital.

A polarizing UV filter may help, also there is a new 55mm hood on Amazon.

Also a direct adapterless 55mm hood is available.

Try and clean the heads. Take the side cover off (the cover on the VHS door) and get some gloves (rubber or nitrile) and these and 91% isopropyl alcohol and use them to clean the play/record head drum, audio head, and all of capstans and the pinch roller.

To me, it looks like its either filthy or misaligned. I cant help with realigning it but someone else might. Try cleaning everything

Use this as a video guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCz59TCy8E This is on a Video8 system, but VHS-C and MiniDV and all cassette based systems are the same. Read/record drum, audio head, and erase head. As well as the rollers/pinch rollers/tape guides.

The link provided is the cable you’ll need. Any software and drivers should be on Sony’s site in the support section, although to point again check for a flap on the tape side of the camera towards the lense for the video outs as mentioned in the manual I sourced. https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-IFRI-Stecker-Mini-B-Stecker-Schwarz/dp/B00NH13S44/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=usb+mini&qid=1633163955&sr=8-3

I’m the meantime, these cables should get video out to a tv or capture device.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CERRXIAN-3-5mm-Right-Angle-Camcorder-White/dp/B072VPW588/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=trrs+male+to+rca&qid=1633142656&qsid=261-5429456-8208953&sr=8-9&sres=B08YRWTDDC%2CB07MD3BHVY%2CB0837LYM9T%2CB07Y...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/rhinocables®-Metre-S-Video-Video-Super-Gold/dp/B00EQ1NQ3M/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=s+video+cable&qid=1633142794&qsid=261-5429456-8208953&sr=8-3&sres=B00EQ1NQ3M%2CB01N75NHJE%2CB07M8RLFSY%2CB003KM...

I recommend this lens from Opteka, I have it and it works great. Lil pricey but you wont have to buy one again. Opteka 37mm Fisheye

Lol I forgot how many times he says “liquified” I fixed the same issue on my Sears model and used these rubber bands for the vertical belt;

https://www.amazon.com/Hicarer-Rubber-Elastic-Wedding-Hairstyle/dp/B0791BYJWG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=small+black+rubber+bands&qid=1630064217&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTlBSUUhJSTlVU0lTJmV...

i whould preffer cheap camcorders from ebay/amazon its under 100$ heres a link

https://www.amazon.com/Camcorder-Vlogging-Recorder-Camcorders-Batteries/dp/B07Z3BKFQW/ref=psdc\_172421\_t2\_B00RBG5J02?t

Here

No lol, it’s just a normal FireWire cable with a small end. This cable. DV is a video container format, not a cable type.

I had good luck with Debut Video Capture Software and the 2nd cable I bought off Amazon to transfer from Sony Handycam to my Win10 PC. RCA to USB Video Capture Cable

The EZ Grabber software that came with it, didn't work, so I used Debut and after carefully editing the settings, was able to capture fine.

I just received it from an ebay order. I am unsure of how to tell if it needs cleaning. it’s a bit hard to reach in any case, if you have any advice for that.

i bought this off of amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJKSJZ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_fcGeGbBT21ZW8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I just saw this, welcome back. Maybe you already figured it out but you need an SD card reader like this that you can stick the card into and then you stick the reader into your MacBook. It’s pretty simple, I’d suggest looking up a ton of videos on cameras and stuff too since it seems like you’re completely unfamiliar with any of this. Still dunno why that teacher made you buy a $1000 camera.

Nice! I was also doing some more research and wanted to ask a follow up if that's ok;

Do you think that it would work if i plugged the camcorder-out cables into an RCA to HDMI converter (my yellow and white input into this device), then I could use the HDMI-out from this appliance and a standard capture card type device to be able to capture it straight into my laptop?

oops idky I thought you had one. I havent seen any separated from their camera for sale. If the battery you have holds a charge a battery charger like this might be your best bet with such short notice.

iSaddle RCA to 2.5mm AV-in Cable, Car Rear View Camera to GPS 2.5mm AV-in Adapter Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IUE9VWG/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_i_vJdYFbWBVH5MR

you should be able to use this then just use regular rca for the rest

I've had good luck using this elgato device to copy VHS tapes to my computer: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Video-Capture-Digitize-iPad/dp/B0029U2YSA/

Someone else might have a better (or cheaper) suggestion, but this is the only thing I trust for my captures.

Look for either a Sony AC-V15, 25, or 30 (ac adapter and battery charger) which fits your wall outlet, and here is a battery.

Hey OP, you just need a new battery. Here's a battery that I use on some of my camcorders. I get around 3 hours of constant recording, but 5 for standard operations.

eBay is usually the place to go for that kind of thing. Unfortunately, I cannot find round VCR belts on eBay anymore, for whatever reason (used to be able to buy them in this massive bags that contained a variety of sizes). You can get a pack of square belts from Amazon, which may provide an awkward fit, but it might still work. Since I haven't bought this pack specifically, I cannot vouch for the quality of their construction, nor their ability to fit to a gear they may not be meant for.

https://www.amazon.com/GoldenTrading-Cassette-Machine-Recorder-Maintenance/dp/B01CZSU6K8/ref=lp_172550_1_6?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1571595620&sr=1-6

Alternatively, if you want the long way around, you can try to get the belt out of the camera (as long as it hasn't melted, which happens a lot), measure it's diameter, and buy a single belt of that specific length from eBay.

Well, you can, but not exactly. Since you can't just load a Hi8 into your laptop's Hi8 drive, you'll have to use a capture device to record the contents of the Hi8 tape to a file on your computer. You'll need something like this (https://www.amazon.com/AVerMedia-Definition-Composite-Cyberlink-C039/dp/B00603S1OS/). Make sure you capture in interlaced if possible so you can put it though HandBrake to deinterlace it.

Does your PC have a USB port?

something like this would work:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgato-Video-Capture-Digitise-white/dp/B00293CDG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517245781&sr=8-1&keywords=elgato+analogue