Sony DVW 790WSP. Perhaps the highest quality SD camcorder of all time. Broadcast grade DigiBeta.
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- We've always wanted to play with a broadcast quality camcorder. So we buy a junker from eBay. But is it any good? It's a Digital Betacam camcorder which once cost as much as a small house. Comments below, how much do you think we paid for it, and what's it actually worth (not that I'm selling it). Still require a tripod mount if someone has a spare one. Also see us messing about with getting a viewfinder:
• Another viewfinder for...
• A viewfinder for a Pro...
Audio and video transfers: www.video99.co.uk/
Please support us on Patreon / video99couk
or Paypal to colin@video99.co.uk
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Music “Let It Run” with permission, copyright Cristie/MacFarlane.
Sorry I do not offer an audio or video equipment repair service.
00:00 Introduction
01:57 Unbox and inspect
06:36 Power up with IDX JL-2PLUS
09:10 Load a tape
16:07 Pixels and gain
17:48 Lash up a monitor
19:33 Mess up colour temperature
20:36 Better shots
21:01 Look inside
25:58 Menus and hours meter
28:52 Conclusion - Věda a technologie
V-mount batteries are easy to obtain. That velcro thingy on the side looks to me like someone used it to attach a wireless mic reciever.
A real time warp! I used to use the 790 Digibeta back in the day, along with a Panasonic SDX-900 DvcPro 50 and both worked well. The 790 gave lower noise results when on the beach at 6 in the morning waiting to go live for GMTV!
These types of professional camcorders are all very similar in their layout and menus. You had to know your way round them in your sleep because you arrived on a gig and it was pick up whatever they were providing and start filming.
The layout of Sony cameras has remained more or less the same right up to the one I use currently, the PXW-X400. But, as someone else remarked about using a mobile phone, perhaps the picture quality now looks much better but you actually needed a bit of skill and creativity which is sadly lacking in today’s point and shoot era. Too much wobblevision about! With practice you could shoot rock stable pictures off the shoulder without a tripod.
If you really want to see how good the picture quality was, look out for a JVC or Sony broadcast grade 1 or 2 monitor with SDI input. I think you’d be shocked.
Enjoy your purchase!
I had an SPX800, the HPX2000 looking body with the camera sensor of the SDX900 but using P2...f13@2000 in NTSC!!!!!!!!
The more distinctive names(Mark Veysey and Bruce Sabin) in the camere operator IDs are both on IMDB, LinkedIn etc, from the UK and were working when the cameras were current. Both are still working in the industry.
Glad to see you had more luck picking up a random Digibeta camcorder in unknown condition than I had... mine was an earlier non-widescreen model. It must have been under water at some point, there was so much corrosion both inside and out. Needless to say it did not show any signs of life. After it also started to have mould on it in addition to all the corrosion I finally threw the whole thing away...
Here goes my favorite "special delivery" moment.
Lovely acquisition there, these were amazing cameras at the time. I recall seeing footage for the first time from cameras like this playing back on a BVM monitor and was blown away, even saturated blues in low light (normally a hard test for analogue video) were solid and free of noise, it pretty much looked high-definition! It is unfortunate that most modern displays handle and display SD video poorly - including youtube, it just will never come across how crisp, clear and sharp the pictures are, as they appeared on a proper broadcast CRT monitor hooked up with SDI or component. And those lenses used to cost thousands on their own - you were lucky to get that with it.
Yes, getting with the lens made all the difference. The other parts I need should be cheaper to source. Really want to get a viewfinder sorted.
In contrast to FUJINON, Canon does not have at least no cheap variant.
@@video99couk I used to work with these. What is the lens?
@@video99couk For a tripod mount you will need a VCT plate.
I was going to post a lot of comments on how to set up and use this digibeta camera, but see that I've been beaten to it. It's still the best SD camcorder out there and seems to be in good working order. Yes, you'll have to learn proper manual controls like how to manual iris, manual focus and manual white balance, but that's part of the craft of being a professional camera operator. None of this autofocus shite!
Good luck on getting a useable viewfinder for it as they are notorious for "going bad" and the tubes in them (they are CRT) going soft. Even our PMW-500s in work suffer from dodgy VFs at times. This can be solved with an OLED one, but they are about 4 grand! Yes, the bit of velcro was to hold a radio mic receiver as there was no room to mount one into the body (like the follow up SX camcorders). Also the reason you may have seen sticky (gaffer) tape would rounf the handle is more liekly because they have a habit of breaking at the screw holes and if you don't have a replacement then it's a quick fix.
V-Lock batteries are quite reasonable (£100 ish) but the chargers are quite expensive. If you wanted to mount a small monitor onto the camera you should have removed the bottom of the PAG light mount (at the lens end of the handle) and screwed a simple 1/4" knuckle joint into the hole and put it on that. You can also get "setup cards" to store custom settings - they go into the little flap on the side near the lens mount.
Looking forward to your continuing adventures in broadcast media! Oh and WSP in the model number stands for Wide Screen PAL (or so I was told).
Rodney.
Wow..amazing beautiful picture..so gentle and not harsh..those Sony engineers really are something.love to see more pro audio gear too..
Love your crazy obsession with this astonishing gear..
Cheers..Ty from s.oz
Lovely stuff. Very interesting. Thanks!
I'm using an old pmw 350 as a web cam, not top end but works well. Came with a view finder, lens 6 batteries and a charger.
I still have the same model with viewfinder, 2 lenses matte box, mains unit, batteries (probably knackered), baseplate, Pro CRT monitor, 7" LCD monitor, cards all accessories, cases, etc, etc. Cosmetically rough from filming in deserts and rainforests, etc. (SW London based)
Well done Colin on your first Digi Beta camera, often referred to as Dirty Beta in the industry, you can see why now! I've still got mine, it's part of my museum collection of broadcast gear now. The pictures were the best for broadcast TV as the compression was low, data rate high and recorded in 4:2:2 unlike DVCAM & DVCPro. Beta SX was more compressed as it's MPEG2 and but still 4:2:2. JVC's D9/DigitalS came close but was more compressed if I remember.....and had the usual JVC issues. Panasonic's DVCPro 50 was good, but Sony stuff still dominates. Digi Beta really was the pinnacle of SD broadcast. Viewfinders are available and interchangeable on several Sony models of SX/Digi cameras but best if they're 16:9/4:3 switchable. That is also a half decent Canon ENG lens with internal focus on a 2/3 inch B4 mount. I knew the chaps from TV2000, based in Bristol. They used to have the Sky News contract. There's a back end adapter for these that will provide an SDI output from camera and tape for high quality play back for your satellite truck! You can also get a 5" viewfinder for studio use.
Early to mid life DVCPRO machines suffered from terrible reliability problems. By the time DVCPRO actually worked, it was too late. I have a suite of DVCPRO machines here, some of which I've spent hours changing capacitors on. I also have a D9 deck too, but they didn't come with SDI as standard, only an optional extra, which was madness. I think my DigiBeta camcorder has the SDI card but I've not been able to enable it yet because the menu screen is hidden. I have a viewfinder on its way.
Can't wait for those high quality recordings! 👍
Mrs. Video99 is less keen on letting me out with this camcorder. But I will, once I get the viewfinder, microphone and battery solution.
@@video99couk I can imagine, my wife gave me the "facepalm", as the youngsters call it, when I took a DAB+ radio with me on our hiking trip to check the reception on various elevated spots.
If the detachable camera head counts, the highest quality SD setup would be a DXC50 camera head + DVW-250 portable recorder. The head can output higher than SD broadcast quality signal, which also beyond the DIGITAL BETACAM‘s capacity. This high resoltion might only benefit in-studio production, but it is sure worth trying. The image quality rocks if you attach the head direct to an analog BVM CRT monitor.
college were still using dxc50s into 2020, donated from itv iirc. pretty solid cameras, loved them
The DXC series is an industrial series of cameras. Sony's best top line SD series are BVP, DVW and BVW.
Nice score, they used that body with different boards and cover panels to make Betacam SX and MPEG-IMX (Tape) cameras, I have an MSW-900 and it looks the same except for the side panels. I got a pair of the Sony V-mount lithium chargers in a government auction and bought a used IDX V-Mount battery (I also found a cheap V-mount bracket and fitted that to the back of my BVP-5/BVV-5 camcorder(I get some looks running around with that), and bought another mount and made a V-Mount pack for my BVH-500A.
Wow the quality is amazing! Would love to see a cleaning or restoration of this camcorder.
Re-arrange the model numbers to DVW-970, and you have the best SD camcorder ever made. An argument could be made for the MSW-970 as well. The 970 was available well into the age of HD.
Excellent Video!! great details!
I will come back to this camcorder at some point in the future when I have some of the accessories.
@@video99couk i will be attentive, thanks for your comments and for your dedication!
Your channel was already exciting, now it has become even more exciting after you have also thrown yourself over SD professional ENG broadcast cameras. I have some myself. Hence several viewfinders, but unfortunately do not have one you can use as it is for Betacam SP and in 4:3. But looking for one for 16:9
And I don't think the BetacamSP ones would even fit and work with the wrong aspect ratio (which would be better than nothing). Different connector I believe.
I've lost count of the amount of soup can's I've cut open to make brackets and mounts.
You got a hell of a bargain there. 👍
Thank you Colin a bargain cheers
Good score! I love old technology!
I've done a few SHORT videos on this too, I get it fully up and running. Love my DigiBeta camcorder.
I remember you asked me about final cut pro it does report dropped frames and some versions of imovie seem to as well. I had to find a defective mini dv tape to test I only have one all of my tapes are pretty good. Ive always had mac towers with 2 or more hdds inside since they have native fire wire as early as 1999.
Great cameras. SO DAMNED HEAVY. Oh my I can feel my back going already….
I wish I could one day get my hands on one of those professional camcorders that were used for TV!
Wow, the camcorder at last!😄
You are a very brave man to be purchasing items that are packed as poorly as this is. It seems to be the norm for people to pack things inadequately these days, regardless of how much a thing is worth.
The first thing I normally ask anyone is: have you got the original packaging and if they say no, ask them exactly how they're going to package the item up especially with job dials and protruding knobs which are the first things that get smashed when the thing is dropped or bumped.
I have two VHS decks that load like that. Wish they had confidence check!
Test out is a menu-controlled output selectable for R-Y,B-Y, Y, SDI, and composite out, if fitted with the decoder option.
FYI sticky plastics are no match for some IPA. I’d pop some in a bowl and then submerge the sticky plastic in it and give it a gentle rub - the plastic will fall right off. I’ve had to do this on one of my MIDI keyboards and it worked a treat to reveal the plastic underneath.
To be truthful, I think the video output on that machine is much more natural than today's so called 4k video I find it choppy , the video on that camera was very smooth, great video 😊
You need to do another video with this camera sometime id love to see some more footage from it! I have a Sony DSR-300A DV camera on the way for me to play around with and make some videos with.
That's very much on the cards. Both this and another broadcast camcorder are going to be featured in a few weeks where I take them to the "Yealmpton Show" on 31st July 2024. I will release both edited and raw footage from both of them.
That was fun to watch. 🥲
Heck those old gadgets are jampacked with electronics. Was cleaning the heads of mu NV88 yesterday. It looks crazy compared to most modern VCRs.
those cameras with the V-adapter usually took Anton Bauer LiPO 14.8 volt packs.
I've spent more time with that camera than I have with my wife. My first eng cam was dxc525 back in 1990 and bought the same newer models every 5000 hours for 30 years. Now my Sony pvw series can transmit cellular and the head end can live cast and pull recordered video from my memory cards in progress. Sonys new air cast system is insane. Nice camera sir good memories by the way tell me what parts are missing I guarantee I got to replacements then I can go out early ship your way can't leave a camera down consider it my donation to the Sony guild
12:38 Damn, you're so lucky! You've got a massive assload of luck!
I was very pleasantly surprised that it works so well. I will post some more footage from it later in the year.
The broadcaster I work for tossed out dozens of these models, some with the SX, SP, and IMX backs, in the late 2010s.
Cool ❤❤❤.
I also used BetaMovie in the past. I think the battery life was long. 😊
Japanese analog TVs use the NTSC system, but what happens when you use an NTSC video camera on a PAL TV? 🤔
Wow! I have a Sony Dsr-250
The glass for those cameras usually costs more than the camera and the VTR backs combine!
Beautyfully simetrical M type lacing path.
Isn't it ironic that Sony adopted M-lacing in about the same time, when when Panasonic went from M-lacing to U-lacing?
@@ConsumerDV I've always found the M lacing to be a more straightforward solution.
It's interesting the color correction filter wheel doesn't feature a more standard 5600 K position.
As a mad collector of these cameras I find the quality outstanding if you zoom in at a church roof you can see a lot of interesting detail normally missed . One thing have you taken the lens of and checked for the filter delaminating a common problem with Sony cams .
Not yet, I wasn't sure how to take it off. So some info on that would be helpful.
@@video99couk the ring closest to the body rotates anti clockwise to release some have a rubber retainer that you pull off some early cams had a button to push first. But get your son to support the lens if the ring is stuck as it can fall abruptly, been there hope your filters still good I’ve found it 50/50 with the cams I have bought we must work out a fix for these filters as these cams are fun. Have you seen the sky camera man training advert for sky rugby it’s on CZcams.
have the camera facing you and look for the ring on the camera body behind the lens with a metal pin at the 4 o clock point, push this towards 12 o clock and the lens mount is unlocked, be careful to hold the lens with your other hand as it will topple off otherwise!@@video99couk
Batteries gives from many on Ebay. That was Batteries for All Professional Camcorders such as from Sony, Panasonic, Canon....A Adapter to bring this Camera on a Stativ, gives also on Ebay for 100 $....
This uses V-Mount batteries cameras like this would also commonly have at least in the US have a V-Mount to Anton Bauer Gold Mount adapter in part because before Betacam Gold Mount was a standard of sorts in broadcast.
V-Mount was created by Sony and countries that typically didn't have equipment that was Gold Mount use Vmount these days.
I have a broken viewfinder that did not power on when I tested it if you need one cheap to repair. It's monochrome which is common. I'm %99 sure it will work with this.
It's a Sony DXF-701 Electronic Viewfinder
27:05: Interestingly, the names 'Bruce Sabin' and 'Mark Veysey' both bring up matches on IMDb for cinematographers/ camera operators!
I looked up the names too but there were multiple matches for some of them so they were a bit inconclusive. I managed to find a little on the 2000 Television company, they traded from 10 Etloe Rd, Bristol BS6 7PB, apparently closing around last 2022.
@@video99couk It does make you wonder how many household names may have potentially looked down that wonderful lens at some point in time! Oh, if only it could talk ..perhaps there's an option for it in the menus! xD
open the iris and change the filter wheel to indoor 3200
I was going to buy this exact listing lol, at least I know where its ended up. ill have to look for another one now though. im fairly sure you would have paid like around 100 quid (probbably less as it says it went to an offer) as that was the original listing from the bath cats and dogs home page (idk why they were selling one lol). I was going to use it for some random ideas I had for some productions but ill be stuck with this old HDV sony camera (despite having higher res, it looks way worse than the video from this due to how good the quality on the 790wsp is) which is the graniest thing in the world and cannot produce quality video lol.
OK, so you've correctly worked out where it came from and correctly assumed that it went for less than £100. Very good! So what do you think it cost me including post?
The 2000 Television Company was based in Bristol, not that far from Bath. I'm guessing it was donated to them when that business closed recently, as far as I can tell.
including post umm possibly around 6 quid for postage, and _maybe_ about £92 for the camera itself so about *_£98_* or somewhere thereabouts. @video99couk that would make sense for how it got there.
@video99couk this listing almost started out a production company that a group of students were really excited and passionate about, but no.
How much was it? I can't waitttt!
And a nice picture it makes when you think about it is SD.
How did you get the camera to stand firmly on the camera tripod without an adapter?
It only needed a tripod adaptor ring from quarter inch to 3 8ths or something like that. Not very good with wind-up measurements.
My camera!
you mention at one point that it could use a battery that can also be used as a powerbank for 40 odd pounds and id love to know the battery youre talking about :D
So would I, it was something I found on CZcams but I've misplaced the link. I'll update it here if I find it and also if I wasn't mistaken about what it supports.
i have this camcorder was my first digi beta for SD you can make good video recordings today
Once your shoulder has got used to the weight, how about trying a BVP 7 with a BVV 5 recorder attached.
Unfortunately, the brochure for DigitalBetacam devices does not say which 2-inch viewfinder was originally included. The groove in the cassette can only be used as a lock when loaded in this direction. Battery see below.
@@Matt_Quinn-CaledonianTV My mistake, the holder has contacts at the bottom of the V. I usually get at least a lecture on what the difference is, because it is usually written whether the camera fits SONY or Anton Bauer batteries.
I believe the honor of greatest SD camcorder belongs to the 970 digital betacam
Perhaps. But they are very closely related.
Hello, extremely interesting video. Allow me to advise you because I use professional cameras on a daily basis. ND Filters are used for the light intensity at which you shoot (meaning inside 1, outside from 2 to 4 depending on the brightness of the sun) at the location, you have to do the white balance every time you change the location. The easiest way is to do it on white paper, with full zoom on the paper, the white balance switch is under the lens, move it up and wait until the camera does the balance automatically. It is important that the balance position above the menu switch is set to the A or B position. It is best to set the aperture to automatic when balancing.
I was lucky in my „category“ twice by now
One of the latest S-VHS-C camcorders in mint condition by JVC for 16.- € in a wrong EBay category, and in the „wired“ category some NTCS VHS sports tapes - with a fully working JVC multi standard VHS (inclusive SECAM) for 20.- €
I was the only bidder
power it up with the 4-pin XLR.
Wipe it with Isopropanol to get rid of the tackiness
Put some hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel and wipe down large areas and do the same with q-tips for all the nooks and crannies and it should look almost new in about half an hour of scrubbing every inch of the camera (and be disinfected as well). PS It doesn’t dry itself so wipe off any excess with dry paper towels or q-tips. I used it before on plastic similar to the camera and it looked great after.
the picture from it looks really good, apart from the fact it's interlaced, that's the main tell it's not something modern
iirc the early years of new Doctor Who were shot on cameras like this, and they look pretty good when upprezzed to high definition
In the BBC we still shoot most stuff interlaced in HD (1080i50) it's only 4K UHD that is natively progressive.
@@craigavonvideoReally? This is ironic, considering that EBU strongly recommended using 1080p50 for HD production (or 1080p25 for cinematic production) more than twenty years ago. Many European countries broadcast in 1080p50 since 2016. Does anyone (BBC, Sky) broadcast 1080p50 in the U.K.?
@@TinLeadHammer I'm not aware of anyone broadcasting 1080p50. Standard frame rates are 1080i50, 1080p25 and 720p50 (720p60 in the USA). News, sport, studio shows and most documentaries are shot interlaced, and drama and some "higher end" docs are shot progressive.
@@craigavonvideo as I understand it 1080i gives significantly lower bandwidth than 1080p. these cameras would be very usable today then!
@@craigavonvideoEleven-year old EBU's "A status report on 1080p/50 and 4k" reads, "broadcasters may wish to choose a future proof format". "1080p/50 is a useful intermediate format to replace current HDTV formats in production. Broadcasters planning to invest in the near future in mainstream HDTV production equipment should carefully assess 1080p/50 as a viable option." 4K was less important back then.
I've read that some European broadcasters, in particular, ARD, were experimenting with 1080p50 since 2016. MDR-Fernsehen page entitled "Häufige Fragen zu DVB-T2 HD" and dated January 2021 reads, translated by Google Translate: "All available public broadcasting programs can be received in full HD via DVB-T2-HD. This broadcast format is also known as 1080p/50. This means that 1920 x 1080 pixels are sent in full-frame mode at 50 full frames per second." So, they use DVB-T2-HD as a synonym to 1080p50, interesting.
The website dvb-t2hd[dot]de reads, "Since March 29, 2017, almost 40 programs have been available in selected metropolitan areas, mostly in high resolution in HD (1080p50)."
Not a single crappy surface mount can capacitor! At least from the views I saw.
I ended up buying another one of these, the original DVW-700. It threads up and unthreads but eats the tape. It's because the capstan motor does not turn during unthreading. I know that the capstan is supposed to drive a belt going to the take up and supply reels and it rotates during eject. The belt is there but I can't get it to drive the take up reel. I managed to get the unit go into record mode and the capstan does rotate, but during unthreading it doesn't move at all. Does this mean it's an electrical or mechanical issue?
It's very hard to diagnose but the problem sounds electrical. You really need to work through the service manual to be sure.
In the 707/709/790 family the 790 is the best! 2/3-inch 3CCD 520K each. 4:3 and 16:9 capability. Adjustable gamma, soft focus, skin-tone correction. But it does not seem to be able to shoot 25p. Whaaaaat? Hmm. Regarding cassettes, one of the selling points of the original Betacam was the possibility to use cheap and ubiquitous consumer Betamax cassettes, so these were EXACTLY THE SAME Betamax cassettes. The L500 cassette was good for 20 minutes of Betacam recording, at least in the NTSC land. Starting from Betacam SP the tape has changed from ferric oxide to metal. I wonder can SP/Digibeta tape be used in Beta ED machine, and vice versa? Regarding pricing of pro camcorders, five or so years ago, JVC ProHD could be bought very cheaply, but I figured I did not need a huge shoulder-mount camcorder.
I'm told that yes, ED-Beta machines work perfectly with BetacamSP tapes. Alas in PAL lands, no ED-Beta were ever sold.
@@Matt_Quinn-CaledonianTV HD spec is both interlaced and progressive. If not for Sony and other Japanese companies who lobbied for using the interlaced equipment they already had available for their MUSE format, and not for inability of American companies to produce video equipment domestically, interlaced would not be included in HTDV spec. In any case, interlaced transmission format is just a transport, you can send progscan picture within it using pulldown. Progscan picture can be transmitted using interlaced transport, this is how movies are shown on TV. 25p, 24p and to a lesser extent 30p are not silly "pseudo-film effect", but true film-like image rates that come with characteristic for movies motion signature.
I cannot find the detailed shooting rates for the 790 neither in the brochure nor in the user manual. There is a mention of Frame mode, which "increases the vertical resolution but is only suitable for shooting still pictures" - I don't think it is the 25p mode. The 2005 DVW-970 can shoot 29.97p and also 23.98p with an optional daughterboard, the DVW-970P can shoot 25p. Now this would be a holy grail camera.
The original Betacam used regular Betamax cassettes. This was a selling point for five years, until the SP was introduced, whether this was not very long is for anyone to decide. Back then the period for equipment replacement was, if I am not mistaken, exactly five years. So it was good for a whole generation of video equipment.
@@Matt_Quinn-CaledonianTV "Progressive Scan only solved the second problem; you got the full spatial resolution back - but were still throwing away half the temporal resolution" - no, you are not getting full spatial resolution BACK, you are getting full spatial resolution, period. Native interlaced video only offers half of the spatial resolution... well, about 0.7 of it because only half the lines are shown any given time. With 25p you get full vertical resolution and film-like motion signature.
"PsF - progressive segmented frame. It's fairly lame, but then all these novelties are as far as I'm concerned." - It is not a novelty, and it is not lame. Your point of view is an evidence that work experience does not necessarily translate into a better understanding and appreciation of, um, novelties :)
"the inferior temporal resolution of 25p isn't of much interest either. Even in 2005 when it was introduced, the 970 wouldn't have been of any real interest to me as a working professional cameraman" - clearly, you do not shoot anything mildly cinematic. Search, for example, for "Space Race" by the BBC here on CZcams, it has been shot with the Panasonic SDX 900 in DVCPRO50. At the time this was a more economical solution than HD and also provided the 'gritty' look appropriate to the time period. As the review in an industry magazine reads, "shot in widescreen 25-fps progressive mode, the series deliver rich, filmic feel, which compares favourably with high definition."
"I don't know, but can't really see how it would appeal to the 'digital cinema' crowd either; who really needed HD for large-screen projection." - You don't necessarily need to project cinematic productions, you can watch them at home. On the other hand, if Hi8 can be blown up ("Genghis Blues") and DV can be filmed at 24p and blown up ("Iraq In Fragments"), why not DigiBeta?
"Great - but not great... Well worth preserving for history's sake (and it's important to do so) but pretty much obsolete for nearly 20 years." - Obsolete, but fun. Regarding cinematic quality of progscan DigiBeta, search for "H-Man - Shohomuga" here on CZcams, uploaded by Reely Interesting. Can you tell with a straight face it does not look cinematic? It has been zoomed in to remove black mattes on the top and the bottom, and it still looks acceptably sharp. Another point regarding obsolescence is that CCD has global shutter. So, until global shutter becomes the norm on [C]MOS sensors, CCD-based cameras will deliver more film-like motion than [C]MOS-based cameras.
@@Matt_Quinn-CaledonianTV "Complete nonsense" - what exactly is complete nonsense? I am sure you know that George Lucas shot _Episode II_ in 2002 on Sony HDW F900, the world's first 24P HD camcorder, which received a Primetime Emmy Engineering Award in 2004. This is, basically, an EFP camcorder with three 2/3-inch CCDs. Not to mention, that presently pretty much ALL movies are shot digitally. How's that for a novelty.
@@Matt_Quinn-CaledonianTV "Everything you wrote in that last response; you really do not know what you're talking about." - C'mon, you can do better than that. If you cannot point to specific errors I made, how can I improve?
"Having been a broadcast professional for over 40 years (and counting) I know exactly what specific tools are for and what they are and are not capable of." - I could not care less about your work experience, just tell me what I've got wrong or forever hold your peace.
After reading your diatribe, may I ask where is your portfolio? Not that I really look forward to see quality Caledonian TV, but really. On your channel you say that it is a replacement for a hacked one, which happened a year ago. I assume that a professional like you has a portfolio, which can be easily uploaded and shared with anyone interested in your services. Likewise, your website consists of a single page and looks like it has not been updated since it was created probably sometime in the late 1990s.
I just got a DVW-790WS for free, as soon as you turn it on I hear something spinning up (probably the drum motor) and it flashes the warning light with a slack error. Any idea what could be the issue?
You may be hearing the cooling fan. There's a deck component which is known for breaking in these, but I don't have any detail on that.
@@video99couk It doesn't sound like a fan, I think it's the drum motor. It stops as soon as the light starts flashing. I got into the diagnostic menu and the slack data shows "6112" and "6100" which I assume are error codes. De-chipering the manual right now. Do you think it might be thinking there's a tape inside?
@@video99couk I sent you an email with more info.
So you have a lot to learn since you can access menus of the camera. Anyway, I have a spare used viewfinder to give it to you. The problem is I live in Portugal. If you are expecting to travel to Portugal then I'll give it to you by hand. Otherwise the only way is to send it to you. I don't know if it's too expensive. Maybe you might not need to pay taxes if I declare not working condition. Anyway, let me know if you're interested.
I would happily pay the post from Portugal. Declaring it as worth a low amount (say £10) is entirely legal as it's a used gift, then it won't get stuck in customs (Brexit benefits?). Could you email me on colin@video99.co.uk
Thanks so much for your help.
@@video99couk , thank you for the email. I'll reply to you for details.
Why didn't you deinterlace the footage... I suggest using QTGMC deinterlacer. Still great video, nevertheless.
That did become a bit obvious on CZcams. Good thing there wasn't too much movement.
where do you acquire such items?
This one was an eBay find, I struck lucky because they often sell for much more. But it was untested.
HI GOT A CAM like this you get alot of looks big time some one called the cops out on me once for having a big can
they kind fond it funny a bit once they know it was me
hi to all a cam that is working may cost you about £500-£1000 if you can find one someone offered me one some time ago they are just to heavy to move
a round i have a hard case for one
the heavy decks put me of this is a tripod cam only far to heavy use alot
digibeta had 17 heads!
CLEAN IT!!! 🤣
It's much cleaner now, but ideally could use some outer panels replacing. Also now has good viewfinder, microphone and battery.
How much did you pay for it?
£71 including post.
Poor baby. Never seen a much gaffers tape on one. Needs a 2 hour internal and external clean. Even a new dock head can't be that much nowadays. Make a list of what u need I guarantee u I got it. NTSC remember.....I got decades of replacement parts and new stuff. I just looked on eBay right now you can get a not working same unit with the perfectly good looking working head and you can even get a replacement viewfinder off a for parts one you can turn into a museum quality piece LOL what again get me a list of what you need for your charge just return the shipping after you get all the stuff
Could really use a Sony VCT-14 Quick Release Base Plate or similar, if you have one. That wouldn't cost much to post, either. Then I could safely mount it on a tripod with the centre of gravity set right. Rest of it is working, I now have a good microphone, viewfinder and battery. If you have a scrap one with good side panels, that could improve the cosmetics.
@@video99couk i may have just what you need let me look tomorrow in the studio
You are as bad as I am with beta. I have a BMC110, the first betamovie, a GCS1 betamovie pro and a DNW7 Betacam. Wouldn't be caught dead using them in public though. Too many eyes on it and nosy bylaw officers eager to write tickets for filming without a permit. Can go in with my small 4K handycam get better footage and nobody bats an eye.
Here in the UK you can't get a ticket for filming anywhere (with just a few very small exceptions). I'll be using this at a classic car show and farming event next year. There is something special about filming with a professional lens and a 2/3" CCD.
Yes I'm a Beta nut. Recently fixed two Sony NTSC SuperBeta machines to add to my collection.
@@video99couk I can put pro lenses on my cameras. I have several large cameras. Have 2 betamovie cameras a big professional jvc 3ccd, a professional 3ccd jvc dv camera and the betacam sx. The betacam does look the best of the SD cameras but my FDR AX100 blows the others away even in the lowest quality mode, and in 1080p60 or 2160 no comparison. The ax100 has pretty good lens and a 1" sensor so I get nice shallow DOF
Well it does record very well indeed :-D
apart from the lack of battery and view finder, its excellent 😀
Maybe a mix of warm water and washing up liquid on a rag, it might remove some of the sticky goo.
I hate the horrible coating on laptops, it just goes sticky and a pig to remove :-(
White spirit/turps is great for getting sticky stuff off. You could make a nice handle grip by wrapping self amalgamating tape around the handle.
I have some bicycle handlebar tape to put on it, which I've been recommended by several people who used these things. I now also have the mic cover and just got in a battery too, so almost ready to roll with it.
@@video99coukGlad you're sorted for the handle. Can you just let me know if you want those digibeta tapes? Sent you a few emails but no response.
Lineage = LIN-ee-ejj.
you can also mount an external monitor, it is not the iconic look but is readily available. The sound quality is great , I have a 4K Panasonic UX 180 and the sound quality is garbage , equivalent to a cheap cassette. Enjoy , and have fun !
and for the handle there are is this fabric tape used for the bicycle grips , it can really improve the feel and the looks of your handle
@@rodrigobelinchon2982 You also have problems with the sound on the Panasonic. I have a Panasonic AG UX-90, which is a slightly worse version of the 180 and the sound is awful. I also use XLR inputs, but still it has worst pre-amps ever, I searched all the forums and stuff, but no one complains, so I thought the problem was me...
SD? Lol forget it!
Duh open the iris on the lens
Yes I did that eventually!
I guess you paid more for the postage than the camcorder 🤣
I have a similar full size VHS Panasonic, complete in case with original purchase receipt for 1,850! It cost me a fiver😁
Less talk more footage
I will be shooting a piece with this during the summer and will make it available both on CZcams and as raw high bitrate video.
Don’t use sticky tape… use bicycle handlebar tape, it will feel much nicer.
I will make that upgrade later.
Ever heard of deinterlacing...?
It looked fine in my video editing software, but not so much on CZcams. For my next video on this camcorder, I will be de-interlaced.
my iphone takes better quality video than that monstrosity.