what's the best Hi8 camera out of these 3 models ?

7 Aug 2006 12:10 AM

nv55

Sony CCD-V5000
Sony EVW-300
Sony VX3

my dad just bought a VX3 for less than $300 with shipping.

I'm thinking of getting one for myself. overall, what is the best
camera, all things concidered, including repair, availability of parts,
quality, etc etc ?

from what I've gathered, VX3 is the most recent, is the lowest end,
but was concidered highend for a consumer camera, as it is classified
as "prosumer". the other two are older, but highend professional or
semi-pro, and also cost more when introduced.

the VX3 sold for about $3500 when new, and it lacks PCM audio, while
the CCD-V5000 has PCM. not sure about the EVW-300.

audio is not the main concern though, picture quality is. I believe
these are all 3-CCD, and definitally Hi8 cameras, but beyond that, I
know almost nothing.

thanks for the input

7 Aug 2006 1:46 AM

mmaker@my-deja.com

Big problem with Hi8 in my experience is that if you don't use them for
a few months the heads clog up and you get crap all over the picture.
So be careful if buying used... all three of my Hi8s seem to have the
same problem.

Mark

7 Aug 2006 2:01 AM

nv55

mma***@my-deja.com wrote:

> Big problem with Hi8 in my experience is that if you don't use them for
> a few months the heads clog up and you get crap all over the picture.
> So be careful if buying used... all three of my Hi8s seem to have the
> same problem.
>
> Mark

hmmm, have you ever tried a cleaning cassette ?
I haven't had that problem with the VX3....YET
thanks for the info/warning though.

7 Aug 2006 2:06 AM

nv55

nv55 wrote:

> mma***@my-deja.com wrote:
> > Big problem with Hi8 in my experience is that if you don't use them for
> > a few months the heads clog up and you get crap all over the picture.
> > So be careful if buying used... all three of my Hi8s seem to have the
> > same problem.
> >
> > Mark
>
>
> hmmm, have you ever tried a cleaning cassette ?
> I haven't had that problem with the VX3....YET
> thanks for the info/warning though.

oh I forgot something, with the Hi8 VX3 camcorder we have, the
viewfinder's b&w LCD screen has a dead pixel (a black dot in the center
of the screen) but it does not effect the recorded image. do any of
your cameras have a dead pixel problem? Sony no longer services the
VX3......

10 Aug 2006 9:22 PM

Tzortzakakis Dimitrios

Show quote Hide quote

? "nv55" <nvidian***@mail.com> ?????? ??? ??????
news:1154916393.618873.240910@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> nv55 wrote:
> > mma***@my-deja.com wrote:
> > > Big problem with Hi8 in my experience is that if you don't use them
for
> > > a few months the heads clog up and you get crap all over the picture.
> > > So be careful if buying used... all three of my Hi8s seem to have the
> > > same problem.
> > >
> > > Mark
> >
> >
> > hmmm, have you ever tried a cleaning cassette ?
> > I haven't had that problem with the VX3....YET
> > thanks for the info/warning though.
>
> oh I forgot something, with the Hi8 VX3 camcorder we have, the
> viewfinder's b&w LCD screen has a dead pixel (a black dot in the center
> of the screen) but it does not effect the recorded image. do any of
> your cameras have a dead pixel problem? Sony no longer services the
> VX3......

I think that traditionally the viewfinder is a miniature CRT, so it can't
have a dead pixel.Why not get a good mini DV camera, though, as another
poster mentions?Even if you stick to Sony and buy new, you can get one for
340 euros (DCR-HC17E).(I strongly recommend you buy new;with used
electronics you never know).

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering,freelance electrician
542nd mechanized infantry batallion
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr

7 Aug 2006 2:36 AM

mmaker@my-deja.com

nv55 wrote:

> hmmm, have you ever tried a cleaning cassette ?

Yes. Makes no difference, though wet cleaning might.

Mark

7 Aug 2006 11:37 AM

mv

In message <1154909401.337713.120***@n13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, nv55
<nvidian***@mail.com> writes
Show quoteHide quote

>Sony CCD-V5000
>Sony EVW-300
>Sony VX3
>
>
>
>my dad just bought a VX3 for less than $300 with shipping.
>
>I'm thinking of getting one for myself. overall, what is the best
>camera, all things concidered, including repair, availability of parts,
> quality, etc etc ?
>
>from what I've gathered, VX3 is the most recent, is the lowest end,
>but was concidered highend for a consumer camera, as it is classified
>as "prosumer". the other two are older, but highend professional or
>semi-pro, and also cost more when introduced.
>
>the VX3 sold for about $3500 when new, and it lacks PCM audio, while
>the CCD-V5000 has PCM. not sure about the EVW-300.
>
>audio is not the main concern though, picture quality is. I believe
>these are all 3-CCD, and definitally Hi8 cameras, but beyond that, I
>know almost nothing.
>
>thanks for the input
>

We used Hi8 for UK TV projects until the VX1000 DV came out in 1997.

The VX3 was not at the top of our list and I remember being a bit
disappointed. Apart from the excellent full pro Hi8 equipment made by
Sony, the ultimate being the DXC 637 3x 2/3" CCD's with a dockable Hi8
VCR the pro-sumer compact range was a very mixed bunch. After DV all Hi8
types were significantly downgraded to cheap consumer level but the
earlier ones were often quite good.

But as far as the lower end goes the single 2/3rd" CCD V5000 and the
improved V6000 were better than the VX3 in both picture and audio. One
of the best compact Hi8's was the Sony 805 palmcorder. But at the end of
the day why bother when there are far superior DV cameras available for
not a lot more, especially second hand?

--
John Lubran