Why can't I see anything in the viewfinder of my camcorder?

DN714

I have a Panasonic PV-DV203D, I bought in in 2003 and never used it until now. The lcd screen works but when I look in the viewfinder I don't see anything but a gray screen.

Answer
With the viewfinder, it doesn't activate unless the lcd screen is closed. Also it may have a fuzzy display until the viewfinder is pulled out. My Panasonic has a viewfinder that pulls out about 2cm and does not angle like yours would I believe.

If still nothing but grey screen is showing, then probably the video circuitry inside the camcorder has failed for driving the viewfinder. You should still be able to connect a screen using the AV output jack but it is not as convenient.

Hitachi VM-2600A camcorder, no picture in the viewfinder?

lionheart

So this is an old camcorder, records to VHS. It hasn't been used in years because we couldn't get a picture to show in the viewfinder (thought the battery was the problem, and never got a new battery). I have it plugged into an AC adapter right now and there's still no picture in the viewfinder. It stays black and it won't record anything, I've checked. Doesn't pick up sound either. But when I switch it over to Video mode and plug in headphones I can hear the movie playing (tried it with Small Soldiers).

I also downloaded the owner's manual for this camcorder, and the troubleshooting just says to take the lens cap off (it is) and to make sure it's powered on. So that's no help. It's too old to have a warranty, and too old to take it in for repairs somewhere. I'm trying to revive the thing myself. Google isn't helping much either.

Can anybody here tell me what I could do to fix this? Thanks.

Answer
try the AV output from the camera. if it plays back previously recorded tape to your TV set properly, then you may be in luck. that would mean the viewfinder is the problem. you can work around a broken VF by running the AV out to a small battery operated LCD screen, like on a portable DVD player. this is a really old camera and you should consider an upgrade to digital video at this point.

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Do all camcorders have a viewfinder?

VintageMus

Sounds like a stupid question, but when buying on line a photo is never shown of the back of camcorder. Plus sooo many point and shoots single shot cameras in last 7 or 8 years are not made with a viewfinder. I appreciate your help.

Answer
all camcorders come with a viewing device of some sort. the original Video8 camcorder did not have an electronic viewer, it was optical, like SLR cameras. that also meant it couldn't play back tapes either, you needed a separate VCR for that. that was over 30 years ago. since then all consumer camcorders have an electronic viewer. i think you mean a CRT EVF versus and LCD display. the CRT viewers on consumer camcorders were discontinued about 10 years ago, although they continue to be used on many professional cameras. one reason for their unpopularity was they were not color. only a B/W CRT has sufficient resolution for critical manual focus adjustment. in consumer cameras, especially HD versions, automatic focus eliminated the need for a high resolution display. the only fault with LCD displays currently is they sometimes "washout" in bright sunlight. you can fix that by shading them when needed. a really big plus for LCD is the swing out display can be rotated to the front so you can see yourself when on camera.

as to P&S digital cameras, the live view has many advantages over optical such as preview of lighting conditions and ability to review previous taken shots. and again, since focus is automatic, a high resolution display is not essential, particularly in P&S cameras. some dSLRs offer optical for manual focus purposes which makes sense. But when a dSLR is in video mode, you must use the live view anyway, so advantage lost.

Which SD camcorders have viewfinders?

S

If you know of any SD camcorder with a viewfinder please post them.

Answer
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Pro-Camcorders-Cameras/ci/16763/N/4256818817

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Where can i buy a cheap Professional Camcorder?

best camcorder with viewfinder image

Will

Where can i buy a cheap proffesional camcorder. possibly second, third, or a fourth hand camera. I just need one for some low budget skate videos. I would like it to be under 100 dollars and have quality better that a bottom line consumer camcorder now. Thanks so much.

Answer
Hi will,
You can buy Professional Camcorder on Amazon, here is the link
I recommend Canon DC100 DVD Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom
Digital video camera that records straight to 3-inch DVD-R/RW media
25x optical zoom with built-in image stabilizer; 2.7-inch LCD screen
Canon's DIGIC DV image processor for vivid video and exceptional color quality
Widescreen Button lets you switch from standard 4:3 to 16:9 Widescreen Mode
Level Shot Control provides horizontal gridlines in the viewfinder for more professional framing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ES1RE6?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-post3-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ES1RE6

where can i find stores that sell Kodak Zi8 camcorders in the Philippines?

AJ

please help me. i really really want to buy that particular camcorder and i phoned all the possible stores in manila, but still can't find one that sells zi8. i want to buy online but the problem is i dont have a credit card. what should i do?

Answer
I think you should go with Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
*Record High Definition video (1080p at 30 fps with 16:9 aspect ratio)
*Easily upload recorded footage to YouTube with built-in USB and software
*Expandable SD/SDHC card slot up to 32 GB; Rechargeable batteries and charger included
*Vibrant 2.5-inch viewfinder; Watch footage on HDTV with included cables
*Edit and share videos with included software

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Can I use my digital camcorder to get high resolution video on my pc?

best camcorder with viewfinder image

chips2481

I have a Sony Digital Camcorder Model DCR-TRV340. If I save video on the memory stick you can only have 300 by 200 resolution. Is there anyway to record video with the regular tape and then transfer it to a pc with higher resolution?

Answer
Yes, if your computer has a firewire port or an available expansion slot so you can add one.

The Sony DCR-TRV340 is a Digital8 camcorder and has a DV port. DV, i.LINK, IEEE1394 and firewire are all the same thing. The DV format video is high quality, standard definition, video. USB won't work and USB to firewire cable/converter things won't work. USB is used for transferring stills from the memory stick.

Link to the camcorder's manual:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=DCRTRV340
Download the operating instructions. See page 191 for details on i.LINK. See page 206 for the location of the "DV in/out" port (next to the USB port under the flap on the left side of the camcorder).

Cool camcorder... AV-in (most camcorders no longer have this), LANC (for a wire remote - keeps shake to a minimum when using a tripod - or if you mount the camera to a crane and you can zoom or focus or even take a still without touching the camera - and better than the wireless remote because you do not have to be in front of the camcorder to use the LANC), mic input, NightShot (infrared emitter built-in for zero light video capture), viewfinder and LCD panel, headphone jack for monitoring audio being recorded, a focus ring for manual focus control, interval recording for time lapse stills...

When the camcorder is correctly connected to the computer with a firewire cable, and the camcorder is in "Play/Edit" mode (on the power switch), Launch MovieMaker and "Capture" the video. Sometimes MovieMaker throws up for some reason - try WinDV (free download and use - no watermarks) for the transfer, then drag the transferred file to the Capture Area in MovieMaker... then drag to the timeline and edit...

Why would anyone buy a camcorder over a high zoom point and shoot camera?

Baja_Sessi

I am in the market for a camera that does good video. I guess I am trying to figure out why anyone would purchase a camcorder when for about the same price they could purchase a high zoom point and shoot camera (that does video and takes great still shots). Just wondering if I am missing something. . . I mean if they both shoot 1080p video and both have a 30x optical zoom wouldn't they be the same from a video standpoint?

Answer
It's a good question, and the answer lies partly in the handling and partly in the quality of the results.
Under handling the PS camera lacks the very useful adjustable angle viewfinder, and also generally lacks control over the sound recording - sometimes it is only mono sound. The noise of the zoom motor may be picked up by the microphone. Another feature is that video shooting may be very hard on battery life. Camcorder batteries are generally rather bigger than PS camera batteries.
Under quality there is the issue of the codecs used for compressing the vast amounts of data that video shooting entails. One may find non-standard frame rates or other awkwardnesses to edit.

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Can I fool a camcorder into thinking a tape is loaded?

best camcorder with viewfinder image

Madame W

The camcorder has a value to me. The deck won't open on a full size VHS camcorder. I thought if i could cover some sensor into thinking a tape was loaded, I could use the camera for a live feed.
The camcorder is an old Hitachi VM-2100A with a full size VHS.

Answer
video cameras of that vintage should make a picture in the viewfinder and the AV output without a tape loaded. the fact that the door doesn't open either indicates a major power problem. the battery is dead or the AC adaptor has failed.

What is the cheapest yet best for the price camcorder that is compatible with a Mac, for our son?

Shree P

Our 12 year old wants a camcorder but we dont want to pay a crazy price in case he loses it. But we also dont want to give him crap. It has to be compatible with a mac and would like a mic with it.

Thankx a bunch.!
WITH a viewfinder.

Answer
Which Mac?

Define "crazy price". This means different things to different people.

Not many with viewfinders in the consumer space. Most are only LCD panel.

All consumer cams have a mic built-in. Better camcorders add a mic jack (in addition to the built-in mics) to connect an external mic. Even better, the higher-end camcorders have audio control (and mic jack - and the internal mics) that can be manually adjusted to deal with too loud or too soft audio.

$150 - $250 "Pocket cameras". Flip, Xacti, Zi8
$300 - $500 entry level consumer. Canon FS series; ZR960. Standard definition.
$600 - $800 mid trange consumer. Canon HF series; a few Panasonics.
$900 - $1,300 high end consumer. Canon HF S series, HV40; Sony HDR-HC9
$1,500 - $3,000 prosumer. Sony HDR-FX7; HDR-FX1000

Notice how the lenses and imaging chips start small and get larger as the $ go up. Bigger lenses and imaging chips = better low light behavior. Also not very few manual controls (especially on the out side of the camcorder) at the low end - and more as the $ go up so the manual controls are no longer buried in a menu.

And yes, I have known 12-year-olds who would be responsible with the upper end gear - as well as 12-year-olds I would not trust with anything - so it depends on the child, too...

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