DISCLAIMER (kind of at least): First up: I'm absolutely new to old analog camcorders. I'm 18 and I'm doing photography as an hobby for quiet a while now. But I never had any analog technology so I wanted to experiment with it a bit. (I know that it's a bit hasty of me to just buy a camera. But I was prepared that not everything is going to function right off the bat, if even.) Btw english isn't my first language so if something doesn't make sense, this might be the explanation. '======================' WHAT I BOUGHT: I bought these cameras because they were cheap and untested. The MC30 came with nearly every accesory. (2x Battery Packs, Original Battery Charger/Power Adaptor, 2x VHS-C Cassettes (Panasonic NV-EC30 XG) and some cables) The included original batteries obviously don't work anymore. But I also have the original power adaptor and the required cable to power the camera(s) directly without any battery. One of the cassettes still was in its original packaging. The other one was already inserted into the camera. The MC10 came with the battery charger/power adaptor and 3x battery packs. (No cassettes!) All battery packs are probably defective. But that's besides the point. '======================' EXPLANATION MC30: Obviously I tested the cameras right away. The MC30 worked after some tries. Though when I looked in the viewfinder it only showed grey. The overlay was there (like the recording time and whatever) but it was grey all the time. That's the first problem that occured. After like 3 minutes the camera then suddenly turned off. I don't know why. I tried turning it back on but nothing happened (- even the power indicator on the power adaptor wasn't glowing anymore). After 10 minutes, I tried again and it turned back on but it still was only showing grey. I can't exactly recall what happened after that. But I remember that I wanted to eject the tape. When I tried that, nothing was happening. Then the camera turned off again on its own and when I restarted it, it only flashed some LEDs, the viewfinder was flashing for a short time and I could feel and hear that the rotating drum was rotating a bit. I had to dismantle the camera in order to remove the tape, which I did. I also noticed that the tape wasn't even wrapped around anything. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be but I assume it should not. After removing the tape and putting the camera back together, the camera still was "working" in the way like described before. (So flashing LEDs and Viewfinder + rotating drum but this time no tape inside.) '======================' EXPLANATION MC10: When I tested the MC10 right after it arrived, it "worked". Though no tape was inside, the camera itself turned on, the viewfinder did not. I then wanted to try and see if the camera is working when I insert a tape. So I did. The Eject-Button was working at that time. Also btw: I inserted the same VHS-C cassette which I removed from the MC30 before. But this resulted in the camera basically not working anymore. The power LED is flashing the same way on the MC30, but no rotating drum or flashing viewfinder this time. I tried to eject the tape right away, but pressing the button doesn't do anything anymore now. This meant, that I also had to dismantle the MC10 to remove the tape. And again I noticed that the tape wasn't really wrapped around. Is that right? After removing the tape and putting the camera back together, the camera is still doing the same thing as before: the power LED is flashing but nothing happens. '======================' LONG STORY SHORT: Both cameras worked at first but after trying around they don't work anymore. At least not in the way they're supposed to. I uploaded a unlisted video to youtube where you can see, what I described, but I'm not allowed to post links here... I'm sorry that this is so much text. But I think it's necessary to describe my problem in detail. Hopefully someone can at least explain to me why this happened so I can understand. Did I do something wrong? Every input is welcome. Thanks. ^^
It sounds like both of your analog camcorders are experiencing various issues, which may be due to their age and condition. It's hard to determine exactly what the problem is without examining the cameras in person, but some possible issues could include worn out internal components, damaged tape transport mechanisms, or corroded connectors.
One thing you can try is cleaning the connectors and contacts on both cameras and their accessories with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. This may help improve connectivity and address some issues related to power and signal transmission.
If cleaning the connectors doesn't work, you may need to take the cameras to a professional technician for repair or servicing. Keep in mind that finding replacement parts for older analog cameras can be difficult and costly, so repair may not be a viable option in some cases.
Overall, it's important to remember that these cameras are old and may not function as expected. If you're looking to experiment with analog technology, you may want to consider purchasing newer or better-maintained equipment to ensure a smoother experience.
52 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×