Panasonic AG-456 SVHS Camcorder Epic Episode

[@BetacamSP2]

The camera was in vtr mode, without pressing the buttons it is idle, the tape is loaded when the camera is switched to "cam" mode by closing the vtr button shutter

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Ahhhh yes. I forgot to slide the button cover back over the VTR buttons. Whoops! Thanks pointing that out. I appreciate the intel.

[@Capturing-Memories]

Your channel is getting more interesting Dave, keep up the good work.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey CM! I think the extended format is working and we will continue in that direction. As always, thanks for watching.

[@detectivedreams]

Love the way this channel is leading to. It has some kind of same energy as my childhood memories watching 90s TV like Beakman's World (but with less eyefish and dutch angles). Also, i would suggest you to recover a love and wonderful thing from the first episodes which were these "editor notes" that constantly contradict Dave's performance. They were sooo hilarious. Thanks for all the love you and the lab rats are putting on this channel.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Ricardo, I’m so glad you enjoy our channel. So much effort goes into making these episodes, yet we have a very small crew so we try to trim where we can in order save time. The editors notes item was one of those trims we made. That being said, maybe we’ll bring back “the editor’s notes” in a limited capacity. Thanks for watching!

[@TheGamingEffect100]

How does this channel have less than 1,000 subscribers? Great information on the camera packed with funny segments. I can’t wait for every new video to see whats going to happen this time

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Sean, I will admit, I’m not very good with the whole social media aspect of promoting my channel. That being said we now have someone who on it which will hopefully help others find my channel. Thanks for watching!

[@theleeoverstreet]

I half expected Elvira to show up on set. 😆 Ridiculously high quality video for a small channel. 👍 It's like the best cable access show I've ever seen.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thank you! Thank you! We’re happy to be compared to the best of cable access!

[@theleeoverstreet]

@@davesretrovideolab2709 Keep at it! Instant subscribe.

[@chrisw443]

Omg, I finally found someone who loves video production tech as much as me. FINALLY.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Chris, That’s my other hobby is video production. I totally get into the details. Lighting, props, etc. Thanks for watching.

[@garbagebanditdayz819]

Your channel deserves wayyyy more views. These cameras are so fascinating. I really love the professional shoulder mounted cameras. I myself own a Sony DSR-250. I dream of owning a DSR-300. Things are built like tanks

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Garbagebandit, I would like to thank you for checking out our channel. We enjoy producing these videos just as much as you enjoy watching them. We have both a DSR300 and DSR500 standing by, along with dozens of other cameras, ready to go for future episodes. Stay tuned!

[@jawsek]

hi, i just want to say i seriously appreciate the effort you put into this. it was genuinely fun to watch and you have also provided extremely helpful advice in the comments. i wish youtube had more content creators like you! thank you

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Jawsek, So much effort goes into each and every DRVL episode, therefore I would like to thank you for your kind words. The positive feedback keeps us going. We have some really fun, but informative shows coming up whihc I know our retro tech friends will enjoy. Thanks again for watching.

[@przemassLU]

Man your retro gear videos are the best in the world, everyone else making similar videos is far behind you. I wish you millions of viewers.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

"Best in the world"? Wow, that is quite a compliment. Again, thank you for watching, and we would appreciate it if you shared our videos with fellow retro tech friends.

[@giovanniyanez5379]

Just got mine for $45, didn't come with anything though, hopefully when I find all the accessories, the camera will be fine! I'm so glad I found your channel with all this info and fun segments! Thank you all!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Giovanni, We’re delighted you enjoy our channel. We have just as much fun producing the content as you do watching it. The ‘456 is a very capable S-VHS platform. I was astonished to see the image quality when I first fired up mine. It’s better than I thought it was going to be. It’s a little on the plasticky side, but that means less weight, right?? Lol. I hope enjoy your ‘456. - Dave

[@guyrhodes]

I lusted after this camera in junior high (1995-1996). I had just gotten into video and it was all over the pages of Videomaker Magazine. I remember coming up with this elaborate pitch to my father as to why he should help me purchase it. Of course, he said no. Looking back, that was probably the right answer, as the quality of the Digital 8 camcorder I did end up receiving just three years later pretty much blew this out of the water. Still, I kinda want one from eBay just because...

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

I expected worse from the 456, but I was surprised when I saw the image. It wasn’t broadcast quality but it was nicer than I expected. What I didn’t like was the plasticky build quality.

[@ScottJWaldron]

Saw your booth at VCF Midwest. Great job on the video!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks Scott!

[@matthewbuick373]

Eat your heart out every camera reviewer...who just reviewed the camera! :D On a serious note, that really is impressive video quality for analogue, IMO. Thatmaritimegirl has a review of the same model with similarly impressive video quality. In the context of 4K, there really isn't a huge difference between this and MiniDV. Love, love, LOVE this channel, BTW!

[@asapfilms2519]

Hey Dave great video, I would like to make a short film with a 80s Vibe. But film festivals take only HD or higher resolution submissions. Can you help me decide what kind of Older VHS or SVHS or Betmax camera should I use?

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey ASAP Films, There are two approaches to making your short film: 1. Shoot it in HD or 4K and use one of several NLE plugins which can make your video look like old school cool VHS footage. I used this approach when filming the "BENGAY with camcorder shoulder relief formula" commercial spoof which you can find in my channel video lineup. It was shot in 4K and the video was given a VHS look. I even downgraded the audio to match the video. 2. The other option is to record you footage with an old school VHS camcorder (which you mentioned) and upconvert the SD video to HD for delivery to KZbin, etc. This approach can be fun, but also fraught with many problems. For one thing, you will be using a camcorder which will be @ 30 years old so it might be mechanically temperamental when it comes to functionality so you may want to have a backup camcorder on standby. Also, these camcorders can sometimes get hungry and eat tapes. This happened to me during a 48 hour film contest so you may not want to record to tape but to an outboard video recorder (That's a whole other rabbit hole I don't have time to dive into just quite yet.). Lastly, if I had to choose a camera I would go with a Panasonic CCD camcorder from the nineties. They are reliable, plentiful and produce a good image. Most vintage consumer grade CCDs have very little dynamic range, if any, when it comes to exposure so be prepared to re-learn how to light your sets. These old school CCDs love lots of light and the shadowy areas almost fall into a black abyss. Prior to filming your movie, I would highly recommend grabbing your light meter and test your camcorder's overall range of exposure and write down how many foot-candles are required to properly expose an actor's face and how much light is needed to adequately bring out the details in the shadowy areas (dark areas) of your set. It doesn't mean you have to blast everything with light, but rather just how much is needed for good exposure. What I'm getting at is to know the limitations of your 90s camcorder and you can squeeze some really interesting imagery out of an old CCD. Speaking of exposure, try to get a camera which offers a manual iris along with auto iris. You would be surprised just how many cameras had only auto everything and that can sometimes work against you. That's just a primer. Good luck!

[@asapfilms2519]

@@davesretrovideolab2709 thank you so much 😊

[@henrywhitehouse1922]

I was lucky enough to find mine for 50$ on Facebook marketplace! I love your videos and watching them has really inspired my recent love of old cameras.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Henry, I’m so glad you’re enjoying my videos. They’re definitely geared towards a niche audience who enjoys these old memory makers just as much as I do. :)

[@CycloneCordVHS]

I’m impressed with seeing this camera on your channel Dave!! I have one and used it to make home videos😂😂…it’s sitting in my bedroom as a prop until I get a new battery for it bc the old ones died….this can always be used with a wall outlet however I never detect any opportunities for the time being

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Go have fun with the camera, right!?! That’s why we buy these old relics. To bring them back to life and create new memories or fun projects with them. :)

[@pwolkowicki]

A request from a subscriber - could You make a comparison of a CCD to a 3CCD camera?

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Consider it done. I have a newly repaired JVC DV300 (Thanks Dr. Smart) which I can put up against the single chip camcorders.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

We lucked out and had either 4 or 5 of these at the old US Immigration and Naturalization Service in the early 1990s. They were bought before I joined the Service and somebody in Procurement made a good choice - but no second batteries nor tripods. I could order very decent Cartoni tripods and shipping cases but batteries may not have been n the GSA Schedule. Fun to use. We shot on S-VHS for projects (had S-VHS industrial edit decks but no edit controllers):but generally shot VHS for one off events and handed the tapes to in-house “clients”. We taught US Border Patrol training staff how to film themselves or speakers on location. The “train the trainers” videos were either awful or pretty good. The trainers were not scared off by the camera size and most realized that the on-board mics had limitations. I have very fond memories of this camcorder!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

The '456 is an all-around good camera with great image quality. It's a bit on the biggish side but easy enough to use. Probably why your co-workers weren't scared off by the camera. I like the fact that you had no edit controllers for your edit decks. I've so been there done that. Thanks for watching.

[@glitterwave80s]

Thanks so much for this! Looking to get one to record some music videos 🙌🏻

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Old school music videos are totally awesome!

[@DouglasEdwardAnderson]

I just bought a AG-455 S-VHS camcorder. What's the best way to get the footage from the camcorder to my computer? Also, great video!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Doug, I’m glad you liked the video. There are so many way to record the video into your computer. It all boils down to quality. For starters you can buy an Elgato USB capture device from Amazon. It’s @ $90 and it makes the process very easy. It’s not necessarily the highest quality approach to this process, but it’s a starting point.

[@DouglasEdwardAnderson]

Thank you! I have ordered the Elgato. I'll share my footage with ya whenever I get done with my first project.@@davesretrovideolab2709

[@KeyFilmation]

Okay this was pure gold. Best episode yet!!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Ha! Thanks Mason. Producing this episode was a heavy lift. I’m not totally sure we will have another musical number anytime soon. :)

[@martymcfly8007]

You guys are so cool, your videos deserve more views.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks Marty. We’ll get there. Thanks for watching.

[@BorisLikesBonds]

I picked up an AG-455P over Christmas as a present for my son. It must be "one down" from the AG-456. Would you happen to know the differences between the two models?

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Boris, I believe the ‘456 has vitc timecode and the 455 doesn’t. There may be one other option the 456 has. I’ll check.

[@CycloneCordVHS]

@@davesretrovideolab2709 another difference is that the AG456 has a manual zooming lever while the AG455 only offers power zoom

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

@@CycloneCordVHS thanks for the additional intel. :)

[@JamilThePimpLol]

What would be the major difference between an AG-456 and an AG-460? To my understanding the AG-460 came out before the AG-456 and it has 2 CCD Instead of the 1 that the AG-456 has, but I don’t know how much that changes the quality.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

One CCD helps handle the video's luminance signal, while the other tackles the chrominance. By separating them, you get less noise in the video's colors. I think that's correct??

[@KylesDigitalLab]

Hi Dave

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Kyle, I want to thank you for helping us out this weekend at VCFMW. What a weekend right!?!? So much packed into just 72 hours. You’re now a DRVL lab rat remote tech. Thanks again and we hope to see you next year at VCFMW. That’s if they will have us back next year. Lolol

[@connorboswell]

do you have a link for the battery please 🙏🙏🙏

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

I’m traveling right now, but when I return I can supply a link. Here’s another way to get the battery info. Go online and search for the camcorder’s manual. In the manual there will most likely be the model number for the battery. Write down or copy the battery number then go to Amazon.com and search for the battery model number. A comparable battery will appear in your Amazon search results. The supplier for the replacement battery will indicate the name of the old battery model number it replaces. I hope this helps.

[@cjh0751]

I love your channel Dave.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks CJ!

[@awfulburrito576]

Is there much difference from the 195, I got one and it looks near identical

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

I believe the 195 is standard VHS and the 456 is S-VHS.

[@awfulburrito576]

OK, thanks

[@maxmustardman298]

Yeah thats bound to happen with old gear like this. Except for Marie, she is timeless as ever😁

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Yeah, you can definitely say Marie is “timeless”. She adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the show. :)

[@bobbiojoseph5547]

Best one yet..Loved it!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey bobbio, I’m glad you “loved” this episode. Thanks for watching!

[@tjmoore9968]

I bought this camera about a year ago. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to charge the battery or locate a set of compatible av cables that hook into the power supply 😢 if anyone has any information that will help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

In the rear of the camera there are several AV terminals; RCA, S-Video etc, which should allow you to route audio and video out of the camera and bypass the power supply. Charging the battery is done via the power supply. There is a slot in the power supply which will accept the battery. New batteries are available on either eBay or Amazon.

[@hifiandrew]

The razzle dazzle is hilarious ... entertaining video

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Ha! Finally someone who appreciates the Razzle Dazzle dance number. Thank you.

[@dlprod11]

Great episode. I just picked one of these up for $25

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

I’m so glad you liked the episode. The 456 is a great camera. Congrats on your find!

[@soundacresstudio]

Essentially the same as the Panasonic M40 which had only mono audio.

[@DomenicoIorfino6470]

I’m not sure you Italian Consultant on set caught this, but “tempus fugit” is not Italian. 😜

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Hey Dom, I just said tempus fugit to motivate Marie and her glam squad to move just a little bit faster.

[@Radio-Sweden]

Guys, you made a cool video. I wish you creative success!❤

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thank you!

[@retropalooza]

The 1997 wedding photographer intro level cam

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

In my estimation, the 456 is not built to be thrown around, but the image quality was surprisingly good.

[@retropalooza]

@@davesretrovideolab2709 very true, is it hyper had?

[@forcedadventure]

GREAT VIDEO. GREAT CAMCORDER.

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thank you!

[@FADHLEABBAS]

you most close the VTR door to activate camera record section

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks for the tip. Seems like everyone knew about this, but me. :)

[@posaprel]

Awesome!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks!

[@TheSalazarNetwork]

This is great!!!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Who thought you couldn’t mix Broadway music and retro video gear into a show. What the heck were we thinking!?!!

[@kennybrogan266]

Excelent video!!! I like it!!

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Thanks Kenny!

[@greekartvlog8712]

I hate those VHS cameras because 99% will have broken or nearly decopsosited belt

[@drmacvetsounds419]

Sweet……and low. LOL

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

One of my favorite lines in the whole show. Maybe just after Marie says “tempus fugit ‘my ass.”

[@kennyloish4682]

I have a panasonic camcorder from the 1987 it work good. its a really cool camera.🎥

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Surprisingly enough, Panasonic’s camcorders are the more reliable of the camcorders from that era.

[@goooglepomidorkin8083]

сколько их не видел все они одинаковые, только M3000 самая кастрированная была

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

Basically all the models are the same. Even though they are plastic pigs, they still put out a good image and are mostly reliable.

[@hifiandrew]

$400?! LOL I just bought a semi pro JVC 4k camcorder for $600 off ebay

[@davesretrovideolab2709]

It’s a collector thing. That was the eBay completed auction price value at the time when I recorded the episode. It’s like a buying a vintage car. Some vintage cars cost more than their modern day counterparts. Now, I’m not saying the Panasonic was worth the $400 at the time. It was what buyers were willing to spend for the camera.