Retro Review // Vintage Sony Handycams In 2022!

Cameras In This Video
SONY DCR-TRV510
SONY DCR-TRV260
0:00-1:30 Epic Intro
1:30-2:53 Introducing Handy
2:53-3:43 Specs
3:43-4:33 My First Handycam
4:33-6:51 Worth It In The Modern Day?
6:51-7:54 It Makes You Better
7:54-9:41 Converting Tape To Digital
9:41 Why I Love Handycams
ZACH'S INSTA - / zachariahmayfield
#RetroReview #SonyCamera #Handycam

[@vwestlife]

You'll get *MUCH* better quality by using a FireWire cable (what Sony calls i.Link) to keep the video in its original digital form rather than capturing the camcorder's analog output and converting it back to digital. This can still be done on a modern Mac with a series of adapters (FireWire to Thunderbolt, then Thunderbolt to USB-C), or just get an old Mac that still has a FireWire port and use it as your video transfer machine. And with high-quality de-interlacing techniques, you can get smooth 60fps motion from Digital8 or even analog VHS/Hi8 recordings.

[@BrandonDudley]

Do you have a more detailed tutorial on this?

[@generfeld]

yeah I had a FireWire cable for ours back in the day, the quality was great

[@chrisgullett4332]

Who cares what Sony called it, it was created by Apple and they called it FireWire. So it's FireWire. The only reason other companies had their own name for FireWire is because they could not use the trademarked term FireWire. It happens all the time. Probably the best example is the Walkie Talkie. The creator called it a walkie talkie, but Motorola created their own walkie talkie, and they could not call it a walkie talkie or legal reasons, so called their walkie talkies two way radios. Another great example that happened in the 1870s was Winchester created WCF ammo. Other companies could not use the name, so several companies called their ammo by different names, and most of those names stuck. Till this day Winchester is the only company that calls it WCF. For example 44WCF is known as 44-40, 30WCF is known as 30-30 etc. Most people have no clue 30-30 is actually called 30WCF. Even things like DVDs are not allowed to be used without permission. Sony and Philips own the name DVD, so every time a DVD or player sold, they would get a cut. You had to get permission from them to make DVD players and DVD movies. It is the same with HDMI. Every company that puts an HDMI port on any device, has to get permission and pay a fee. Nonetheless, that is why all the companies sometimes have different names for device ports. The funny thing is while they were all fighting over port names, they were all actually working together. Take MiniDV as an example. There was actually an HD version of MiniDV called HDV, and all the major companies got together and created and agreed on what the standard for it would be. The weird part is most of the companies decided against making 1080 MiniDV, but Sony and Canon did make 1080 MiniDV camcorders. It uses the same exact tape, but records in 720 and 1080.

[@FunctionallyIncompetent]

I literally just picked up one of these at a thrift shop last week- so much fun!

[@connormccaskill]

Heck yeah man, hope you have blast with it!

[@Africanmonkey89]

WHAT YOU FOUND WHAT AT A THRIFT SHOP? BRO I JUST BOUGHT ONE FOR 200 DOLLARS🤬🤬😭

[@tech_808]

Me too!!!

[@matrixxhunter]

This is starting to feel like a trend on KZbin. And I can’t stop watching retro camera reviews

[@JimmyEG1]

Newbie question. I want the best hi8 cam what do you recommend?

[@eIi2008]

@Jimmy Giron sony ccd trv37, tad expensive but extremely nice

[@japroject1]

This was dope. I love learning about older video tech. Keep it up.

[@connormccaskill]

Thank you man! I had a great time making this one

[@indymogul]

those news anchors are hilarious

[@drewfoss8513]

Truely Epic. Can see the amount of work and effort u put into this video Keep it up!

[@Scrumpetsheep]

I just picked up a brand new one of these for $15 at a thrift store. I have about 20 vintage cameras but this one's my favorite.

[@HenryFlores4]

Beautiful review. I love the old Sony Handycam's!

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

in the early 90s i bought a used full sized vhs over the shoulder Panasonic camcorder. it always worked well never played me up. i had to move house and didn't have room to store it in 2017 so i gave it away. i should have kept it but we cant hold on to everything in life.

[@someoneelse95]

Amazing! I need a Sony Digital 8 camera to digitalise my old 8mm tapes in 2024.

[@jolladevices]

This video is LIT! I manually deactivate the ad-block for Kinotika! 😎

[@jonathansoko1085]

Found my fathers old unit, i've been filming underground 90s styled hiphop videos with this thing and its quite good for it too. Very surprised at how decent it can look but it definiutley colors everything and gives it that 90s feel. Im kind of obsessed at the moment

[@lukesanders6941]

Just pulled my fathers old unit out of storage as well, I ordered all the adapters to connect it to my MacBook. I can’t wait to start shooting some retro videos.

[@KardosoMedia]

Funny you posted this. I’ve been wanting to go through some of my old 8mm tapes and see what I still have on there

[@samystarfish5056]

The thrift stores are all closed ...I just can't wait to get one ahhhhh

[@ZachMayfield]

Thank you y’all for watching my silly vids, love ya!

[@connormccaskill]

love you 2

[@Knightmessenger]

You should absolutely use firewire to capture off a Digital8 or MiniDV camcorder. It will ensure a direct copy of the digital data, rather than turning it to analog and then back to digital. For Video8 and Hi8 tapes, use s-video cable.

[@mwashington13]

im using the same converter he's using in the video, but with a S-video out. It won't capture, I'm just getting a very fuzzy image when I try to capture with quicktime. Do you think this is a cable issue? Or should I be trying to capture a diifferent way?

[@Knightmessenger]

@@mwashington13 see if the cable connects to another source like a tv and displays right.

[@nugsovile4333]

There is something about holding a camcorder in you hand, ejecting the tape and putting a new one in, when you look into the EFV it's like going back to the 90s.

[@theovisuals9]

when he was inside the cage thing lol very classic vintage location i could see someone using in a infomercial lol

[@eNeVeFamily]

Handycams were awesome... Wish I had used ours more. lol I used it mostly for zooming into the moon from the roof of our house when I was board and messing around with all the effects specially the night vision.

[@Left-Earth]

Excellent video and channel. 👍✨ I just bought a Handycam (DCR-TRV260) same one as in the video for $12 at Goodwill. Searching for info led me to this video. It's the 6th camera I've gotten there this month. and the tripods...so many tripods! *"I have an addiction."* 🤓📹 📷 🎥

[@DronodelAire]

It is true, with those cameras you learn how to not over shoot or under shoot, and also basic concepts of on-camera edit. Great video. Suscribed!!

[@kippie80]

Hugh? Why not use fire-wire, it is a plug on the front. Get an adapter for the new macs. Go all digital man. Most of that degraded image is from your digital (in camera) to analog (composite plug) to digital (your usb converter). That model has digital out on front, would look much better if you'd used that.

[@rickybobi846]

i just got the same exact one for christmas! i love it!

[@headphonist_4376]

I've got a 1st generation sony Handycam, but struggled with how to converting the movies.. now I know, and besides you made a very attractive review, so thank u! Greetz from germany

[@cohens8613]

I’m getting one very soon in the mail and now I’m even more excited!

[@almightyglo7838]

where u buy it at ?

[@aaronbircher9981]

This film is a peace of art! Thanks so much!

[@michistrike]

Thank you so much for making this video , also im about to buy that specific sony that u have so this so this is great :)

[@MikeMena]

This is gold.

[@AiRbaL2000]

Memories of making videos with siblings is the best part growing up with cameras. I used to make so many with my sister’s 2012 iPad mini, we would make silly videos with our toys. Good times.

[@sopeachygaming2822]

4:10 that’s the exact handycam I have! I bought it at a thrift store a few years ago, and it came with a case, and a power adapter but no tape or battery, we come to today and my only Sony M battery gave up and quit working in my Cyber Shot DSC-F707

[@Nathnluke]

This video is perfect. I ordered a handyman a week ago and then just saw this now. Meant to be? 😂🤙🏻

[@generfeld]

nice review. dealing with physical tapes and Rewind/FF was a pain in the ass, not gonna lie. Also keeping track of tapes and trying to find stuff by manually RWD/FF. But the old style quality and color tones, totally takes me back to 1999-2003

[@lostminds9635]

i just bought one. best purchase ever!!

[@DozerMoto]

dug out my trv530 . talk about battery life , accepting a charge after 18 years since last shoot

[@EbolaSquirrel]

Beautiful quality video. Needs more attention. Well done.

[@Kohl_Fast]

this is so dope. I love my Handycam! Keep up the vids like this!!!

[@denson28y]

Super DOPE video... Thanks Zach!!!

[@danielgraychristoffersen9551]

Such creative storytelling, great work!

[@niceupaprika4983]

So this is the camera they used to film Butter: epilogue film🎥

[@Fernsehenpfanger]

In CRT TV it looks very, very good!

[@bigfish_]

these cameras were definitely not my childhood but i think they look really cool

[@WiZardDrift]

Your personal channel doesn’t have decent videos they’re amazing videos!

[@Ace01010]

Just picked up a mint Japanese vz. of the Sony Dcr pc100

[@dancedj2k2]

i still use my digital Sony cam for projects. Sometimes, I will film something in the digital 8 format, before I film it in 4k. Why? Because you can't hide bad framing in a 360 or 480 line camera.

[@stephanieperry1119]

VHS or Digital 8 instead of what my dad used while I was growing late 1981 - 2000 super 8 or 16mm film movie camera.

[@norbkowa]

I still really like using mini dv format and HDV on mini dv

[@gokhan9395]

Great energy! Liked and subscribed brother

[@BorisRainesh]

8:47 - OMG!!! Thanks, I have my PC and Windows!

[@charlieandytv]

Great content Zack :D keep the good work!

[@connormccaskill]

Thank you Charly!

[@larryhaley3]

new sub here, found you through camera conspiracies this video made me stay........nice work and refreshing content sir! keep thinking out of the box, its original.....

[@ssspit]

i remember wanting one of these as a kid

[@Lexmouth]

great review! Sick quality!

[@Shibes770]

Could you review a dcr trv 260?

[@davyrockxx1563]

"USB hole" 😂😂😂😂

[@swainlach4587]

I used Firewire, that I believe was a Sony owned format. Older PC's often had the Firewire or IEEE1394. Using analogue jacks like the kid is doing, is just wrong! You get reduced quality!

[@lyricsmith5581]

Great review! Question, you listed two different handcams in your description, which one did you use for this video?

[@RetroToonsOfficial]

Your Content Are Awesome i Mean I like It

[@riccardo_tisci17]

Beautiful video, only wish you’d recorded in 4:3

[@dino_nuggies875]

What external microphone do you use for the camera?

[@qr.youtry1153]

This video is so cool bro !

[@FernandoMagaldiCachoeiro]

Excelente! Parabéns e obrigado!

[@otherway2k]

can i be mad on this video? i think because of showing these, prices of this cameras raised EXTREMALLY HIGH. like bro i could buy great TRV for a 30$ and now i couldnt find a good one under 180$ i am kidding, im glad that somebody is showing this diamond (tape cameras )4everyone but i live in poland and pepole are trying to artificially rock the prices up… i dont know how about other countries like usa or rest of the europe, lmk what do you all think

[@nathanisdank]

I’m currently looking some to buy off of eBay but I don’t know if it’s a scam, where do you recommend to buy cameras like these from?

[@allentuckermedia]

This was so dope and helpful. What tapes do I need if I’m buying the DCR-TRV260?

[@alejandroiuuuu]

this video is so gooooood

[@sbcinema]

Incidentally, I also uploaded a video about a Sony Handycam a few days ago, you can watch it if you like (but it's in German)

[@zebare726]

Old camcorder really give some oldschool youtube 2005 wibes.

[@MSMImage]

Awesome video. So I chose 16:9 which looks great on the camcorder itself. However when transferring it to the computer following your steps it seems to still be in a 4:3 format 🤔 I see yours shows the same as well at time stamp 9:04

[@travis8993]

Where did you get that external microphone and condenser?

[@dino_nuggies875]

Did you ever find out?

[@AriieMills]

How do I play this on my tv? It's hooked up but not playing on the tv

[@andrespanaderia]

Quick question, do I have to change the film everytime I would shoot s film or would it just film over the previous tape?? Thank you! I hope you'd answer 😭😭

[@nikoniko1965]

My camera records on mini dv and has a 16:9 setting but I can’t tell the difference between that and 4:3. When I go to capture the footage, I can’t change it to 16:9, and it doesn’t look any different than 4:3 footage in premiere pro or windows movie maker. Any ideas how to capture the 16:9 footage that the camera says it can do?

[@TreyEversman]

Really great video!

[@SuperSy99]

Try watch it in CRT tv,its sharp and crisp.because its not design for lcd screen

[@CharlesBakke]

Respects

[@lifesblood100]

how about hdd handycams? is there a big difference from the retro hi8 cameras in the sense of the visuality do you think?

[@GrantMFletcher]

I laughed SO hard

[@modepush]

im here after seeing joji’s “yeah right” music video

[@erickvaldez1597]

Hey Zach o was looking into buying a handyman in order to film my friends and I this summer and make a vintage looking documentary/series/movie and was wondering which one you think will work for me best?

[@RIOTModerato]

good video and underated

[@DronieUp]

Love it!

[@DerekBuonasaro]

2:08 😂😂😂😂

[@Pyroja]

Oh man, I miss my old Digital8 HandyCam. I spent so much money on one when I was in high school and I took it everywhere. I should try to find a working one to rip the old footage I might still have. On that note, a question: Why not capture the footage over FireWire? Is it impossible these days?

[@connormccaskill]

You gotta get your hands on one man! I bet you can still use firewire, this USB converter is just so easy

[@johnsparovec]

@@connormccaskill Quality using FireWire should be much better, since it's a digital signal.

[@Pasi123]

@@connormccaskill Like JOHN already said, you would get much, much better quality with FireWire. With FireWire you get an exact copy of the digital data on the tape while with those USB capture devices it will be converted from digital to analog and then back to digital. And in the video you used composite video (the yellow plug) which can't display all of the detail of Digital8/DV footage

[@emiliobosco6866]

fire video g

[@HonestFred]

Do not use composite cables, jeeze...use the firewire cable

[@joshperry1325]

So where did you get that battery

[@The_Guth]

but does it overheat?

[@Left-Earth]

A fair question. The answer is no. Watch this excellent video by Markus Pix, he puts some of his camera collection to the ultimate heat test. Including camcorders. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGXFlYyJpLira80

[@calvinschulte9313]

What kind of adapter did you use on that sony handy cam for the mic because I can't find one

[@s4ntyp711]

do u have any more night shot footage ? im thinking about buying a cam but need help

[@420m3]

do you know how to make it record? i always end up with a blue or black screen :(

[@luisgarcia1096]

how can i transfer my gallery (sony trv 510) to a windows pc?

[@MarieStephensArt]

can you still buy batteries for these?

[@mrn0871]

Where can I buy the Sony DCR-TRV510????

[@marinarillo1]

❤️

[@vlcheish]

If your going to use it don't crop it to 16:9 - Use the original aspect ratio or it looks terrible.

[@goatmen7996]

I have a Sony dcr pc110 from the year2000

[@goatmen7996]

And I also have a Sony dcr trv315 from 1999

[@oetproductions8101]

You didn't talk about the cool prices these go for. Might be a deal breaker for some.

[@JohanJ2000]

Nooo. You can’t Film VHS/ 8mm on 16:9. It’s an unwritten rule! :D

[@Pasi123]

For Digital8 it was common to record in 16:9

[@marcosmiguelruizpena6618]

donde puedo comprara una camara que grabe asi?

[@r.ikbarqatrunnada6101]

What type the battery on this camera?