Replace or repair?

16 Feb 2007 9:20 PM

EEC

Here's an age old question that I would like to throw out --

When do you fix and when do you replace a camcorder?

I have an 7 1/2 year old Sony DCR-TRV9 which has worked really well
over the years. I'm getting C32-33 errors which I think is a
transport error. Sony wants a flat $311. 00 to repair. I can get an
inexpensive DV camcorder for about the same price new. OTOH, I really
like having a 1/3 inch CCD, manual focus, analog inputs/outputs,
headphone and mic jacks.

If I replace with the same features (especially the 1/3 inch CCD) it
would likely cost $700+. I could also buy a HiDef camcorder, but I
don't have that kind of money to do either.

So do I buy low end and wait for HD to come down or do I repair and
hope the repair hold me a few more years?

Thanks in advance...

16 Feb 2007 10:07 PM

PTravel

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"EEC" <ech***@unex1.ucla.edu> wrote in message
news:qg7ct2p7a1kamsqidagkf8q3rkc2it93g8@4ax.com...
> Here's an age old question that I would like to throw out --
>
> When do you fix and when do you replace a camcorder?
>
> I have an 7 1/2 year old Sony DCR-TRV9 which has worked really well
> over the years. I'm getting C32-33 errors which I think is a
> transport error. Sony wants a flat $311. 00 to repair. I can get an
> inexpensive DV camcorder for about the same price new. OTOH, I really
> like having a 1/3 inch CCD, manual focus, analog inputs/outputs,
> headphone and mic jacks.
>
> If I replace with the same features (especially the 1/3 inch CCD) it
> would likely cost $700+. I could also buy a HiDef camcorder, but I
> don't have that kind of money to do either.
>
> So do I buy low end and wait for HD to come down or do I repair and
> hope the repair hold me a few more years?
>
> Thanks in advance...

The TRV9 was a pretty nice little camera whose performance will not be
matched by anything under $300. I'd have it repaired, but that's me.

17 Feb 2007 6:00 PM

David Ruether

Show quote Hide quote

"EEC" <ech***@unex1.ucla.edu> wrote in message news:qg7ct2p7a1kamsqidagkf8q3rkc2it93g8@4ax.com...
> Here's an age old question that I would like to throw out --
>
> When do you fix and when do you replace a camcorder?
>
> I have an 7 1/2 year old Sony DCR-TRV9 which has worked really well
> over the years. I'm getting C32-33 errors which I think is a
> transport error. Sony wants a flat $311. 00 to repair. I can get an
> inexpensive DV camcorder for about the same price new. OTOH, I really
> like having a 1/3 inch CCD, manual focus, analog inputs/outputs,
> headphone and mic jacks.
>
> If I replace with the same features (especially the 1/3 inch CCD) it
> would likely cost $700+. I could also buy a HiDef camcorder, but I
> don't have that kind of money to do either.
>
> So do I buy low end and wait for HD to come down or do I repair and
> hope the repair hold me a few more years?
>
> Thanks in advance...

I compare the TRV9 camcorder with others at --
www.donferrario.com/ruether/camcorder-comparison.htm
(note new URL). It's mic sound is noisy and the picture is not
very outstanding even with the large chip size (though the new
tiny-chip camcorders don't have very good picture quality either).
Its one claim to fame (if you have an early version) is its ability
to shoot excellent B&W infrared in daylight, a function that
was disabled in later TRV9s and subsequent models. If yours
can do that, you can FireWire the TRV9 to another camera
used as a deck, or have it repaired. You could also look for
a good used replacement (the PC100 and PC9 are favorites
of mine among older small camcorders - see --
www.donferrario.com/ruether/camcorder--comparison.htm,
and the TRV30 can provide fine image quality [see above
URL, and I have both a TRV30 and TRV9 [IR enabled] for
sale at -- www.donferrario.com/ruether/fs-camcorders.htm).

--
David Ruether
d_ruet***@hotmail.com
(now www.donferrario.com/ruether)