HISTORY OF THIS DV HANDYCAM
My professional and private background is all about electronics, audio and 'The Arts' but NOT really video, film or photography! My photographs on this website will atest to that!
Over the years, I seem to have gathered together a bunch of strange camera's (some are odd looking) and instead of sitting in a plastic box under the house (which had the lid on! although I know this is not the ideal environment for a camera!) I am seeking someone who may find a use for this DV Handycam (display, spare parts or heaven's forbid, if it is actually working - use it!)
I am not a domestic video or photography enthusiast so this DV Handycam is offered as-is (described to the best of my abilities)
Actually I have a number of camera's and accessories I am sorting out and testing (if I am able to) ... look for more camera's HERE on my website.
I offer the description below as best I can but this Handycam MAY have a fault(s) or the lens system could be dirty (I am not prepared for or knowledgeable enough to evaluate the optics)
I am not even sure anyone is interested in old video camera's but I am very 'big' on sustainability and if this fits into someone's museum of antiquated video equipment or even as a spare parts 'farm' for other SONY Handycam's this would please me greatly.
PLEASE read the description completely and decide if this Handycam may be of interest to you.
There are no returns or refunds offered, this equipment is second hand and offered 'as-is"
SONY VIDEO CAMERA - Handycam
Technology: Digital electronics using Mini DV tape for storage
Model: DCR PC3E
Made in Japan (stamped onto the manufacturers label underneath)
Release to the domestic market around 1999 according to the User manual (Yes, it is 'stone age' in the world of video technology)
I can see lots of specifications & information (including Service Manuals) for these camera's online - I will not repeat the basic technical specifications here
NO carry case could be found
Battery is supplied (Type: NP-FS31 3.6V 12.3Wh capacity) ***
*** I am not 100% this is the correct battery but it fits! Same connections and locks into place nicely (and the voltage is correct) but it is quite large/fat. I think this is one of the 'long life' higher current batteries that I know SONY offers with some of their cameras, we used long life batteries with our HVR-V1P a long time ago - nothing worse than running out of 'juice' part way through an interview!
NO Mini DV tape is supplied
NO AC Adapter/Charger is supplied
Nice comfortable fit in the hand (man's hand anyway) and I believe this would have been a popular choice of video camera way back at the turn of this century!
Weight: 500g (without battery or tape)
Dimensions: 58mm wide x 98mm front to back and 120mm high
COSMETIC CONDITION:
CLEAN
NO camera body damage at all, however there are a few small marks here and there from normal use in some places e.g top of the LCD swing out screen shows some marks/scratches.
NO issues noticed with the 'user controls' such as opening the tape door and accessing the side LCD screen (65mm diagonal)
LCD screen has no scratches or cracks, looks good!
The viewfinder eyepiece appears to be clean, not scratching seen.
Battery contacts (3) at the rear look to be clean and shiny.
Lens cover has always been fitted when stored in the plastic storage box and is supplied
I looked through the viewfinder, I can see no image through the front lens (cap off of course) so I am guessing this video camera needs to be 'powered up' to see through the front lens.
Examined the viewfinder and front lens optics to the best of my abilities and cannot see 'mould spotting' or cloudiness. The optics look to be fine.
Opened the DV tape door no problems (EJECT)
Memory stick holder looks to be fine (I have no memory sticks though) and the eject mechanism seems to be working fine.
This little handycam has push buttons all over it! Some I had to hunt around to find, pushed these buttons and the 'tactile feel' was fine. A couple of rotary knobs (REC etc) also seem to be operating fine.
I look under the various port covers around the camera and all ports looked to be clean and ready to 'talk' to the outside world
TESTING:
I really would have liked to have had this handycam up and running for testing but alas, it is not possible.
I have no CHARGED battery that suits (Li-ION) and I also do not have an AC adapter or Battery charger that will suit (3.6V according to the underneath label, current requirements are not specified)
Finally I have no Mini DV tape so I cannot even run up a tape and check the transport even if I did have power to the Handycam.
So in every meaning of the word, this SONY DV Handcam is untested - it is offered completely AS-IS
Since checking out this handycam I have now sealed it in plastic, to at least keep it in it's present condition safely protected from dust/dirt and airborne contaminants and it is our spare room, which has a controlled temperature environment so the overall condition should not deteriorate.
