Posted by Meat Plow on 10/03/07 19:59

On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:50:55 -0700, Scubajam wrote:

> On Oct 2, 11:23 pm, "les" <i...@localnet.com> wrote:
>> Hi...
>> I have an 8 YO Sony DV Camcorder that has been having fits lately.
>> Error codes C:31:42 mostly. I have a service manual, but this being
>> a computer based system, there's specialized service equipment and
>> jigs needed to test and align, as I see in the manual. I'm ready to throw
>> in the towel and ship out for service.
>> I called Sony here, and they don't repair camcorders. They refered to
>> a local service dealer. It turns out he doesn't do it either. I looked at
>> the
>> Sony website, my model doesn't even raise a blip, except they made this
>> cam at one time. An online search also was fruitless............
>> Does anyone have sources for Sony repairs, outside of my attempts?
>> Thanks for any suggestions! (model DCR-TRV103)
>> (this raises the next dilemna of how anyone can store family videos in a
>> constantly evolving format. How do networks archive their footage?
>> How do they know if their media will be retrievable in 20 years?)
>>
>> Les
>
> 1) Whenever you describe your camcorder, make sure you specify it is
> Digital8 format. Just saying DV confuses with miniDV tapes, which are
> smaller.
>
> 2) Digital8 is still very much viable. Most don't know this, but the
> code on the tape is exactly the same (given same resolution and color
> quality) as miniDV, only the size of the tapes is different. Each
> format has many cameras of different resolutions, but codec is same.
>
> 3) I'm sure you can find someplace to service it, but you might also
> consider purchasing a used Digital8 from eBay or such. I've had 4 D8
> cameras, starting with the TRV103. That is about the lowest level,
> storing only about 290K pixels per frame. Better quality record 570K
> per frame, and some even 790K, like the TRV740, which I consider the
> best D8 available. (I may be off by 20K on the numbers, but they're
> in the ballpark.) All Sony Digital8 camcorders will play your
> archive tapes. I have over 200 tapes and keep 2 camcorders around for
> archive purposes. It's not worth the effort to copy to another
> format.
>
> 4) for example, my 740 was giving me some problems, so I bought a
> TRV280 on eBay for under $100. It didn't have a battery, or AC
> charger, or remote, but my 740 batteries are the same, etc. The 280
> works great, and now my 740 has started working again. Since I've
> moved on to HD, these are only to read my archives and whittle down
> the long list of editing projects.
>
> Jim McGauhey
> Washington State

My Sony Mini DV takes much better video than my very disappointing Sony
digital 8mm.

[Back to original message]