[pfgpowell]

Hi. I own a Sony DCR-TRV460 digital 8 camcorder which I bought specifically so that I can also play my analog Hi8 and edit them on my computer. Worked a treat for a while (tho' I didn't do it often because I was busy) but I am now getting a recurring problem: the reading/writing heads get dirty and distort the picture. This can be cured by running a cleaning tape thru the camera, but that only really is an abrasive and in the long run does nothing for the heads. So I am looking out for a SECOND such Sony camcorder tio use when this one gives up the ghost as it seems to be doing rather too rapidly. I know that in the TRV range models 460, 480 and the 340 are capable of also playing analog tapes (the others in the range can't) but there are one or two others which can as well. Anyone care to tell me which so that I can keep an eye out on eBay? Thanks, PP

[glesgaguyav]

Two that I know of are the TRV 110E and TRV 120E

[senu]

My Honest advice would be to transfer them to MiniDV over 2 weekends and have peace of mind.
MiniDV will be around for that much longer.
Considering how rare these D8s now are it wont be long before you wont find them again and Sony wont fix one gone wrong!
For analogue tapes it will be a simple case of getting a h i 8 in the likes of cash converters and recording to DVD via settop DVD recorder ( or analogue capture if you can stomach that) and then onto a PC for archiving

[music]

Hi,

I have the same camera. I recelty had a distortion roblem which I misdiagnosed as dirty heads.

Can you describe exactly what the distortion is playing digital and what the distortion is playing analogue tapes?

Because there a recurring problem on these models with a connector.

Also you may well be able to get this model fixed very reasonablywithout going to Sony.

This camera is like golddust. It is backwards compatible can digitise and has analogue to digital pass through which very few models have.

[pfgpowell]

Just realised I have emailed you but you had previously rpeied to my posting. Well, I outlined the problems, and I am intrigued that I might be able to get the problem fixed without going to Sony and spending big bucks. Where did you get yours fixed? PP

[music]

My problem was that on digital tapes I had horizontal bars going across the screen which were light gray in colour. They were very straight clean bars. On analogue tapes it looke as though they were dirty heads but in fact the picture kept dropping (to a blue screen) or alternatively analogue noise like a very dirty tape..


If you have similar problem, and it's not uncommon apparently then try this:
If you imagine you are holding your camera through it's strap and your index finger is on the zoom button then where your middle finger would rest on top of the plastic casing - i.e. just where there is a flat tray bit in the middle of the top of the camcorder - push down with your finger. There is a v small ribbon connector under there which works it's way loose over time. If you push down on the casing it can be enough to push it back in and hey presto your picture is perfect again.

Never got any email as far as I know?

M

It worked for me. If it doesn't work - PM me and I can give you a couple of phone numbers -including SONY central servicing which charge a fixed price for all camcorder repairs.