I have one of these cameras and it took a little bit to learn how to use it but this guy follows how to use it really well. I use this camera along with about seven others to set up for my paranormal investigations and research.

Interesting piece of tech history - I wonder what kind of boldness that camera witnessed over the years....

Wow, a modified TRV87! Pretty Cool, I have one of those which I still own. This Camcorder is a 1999 model and I bought it at BestBuy on sale at $799.99 and the regular price was at 900.00. Very nice model, you are also right these are one of the few analogue models that record at very low light and uses the "XR" system.

@CPQ5360 Un-modding it would require taking it apart and rewiring the buttons and switches. Possible, but not easy. The spotlight does use a lot of power, but the battery is rated for almost 5 hours of recording time on a full charge.

Have this exact one. Repaired it today. Made my day. Time to go draw and videotape. :) ^_^ It's amazingly compatible amongst my X Ray TRV-65 :D I swear VWestlife I must've bought this off you off eBay lol. Either way this channel is relaxing, awesome and I watched this back in 2014/2015 and it's one of my favourite birthday gifts I own! Still love this! :D

@Jallge You can pry out the battery with a little screwdriver, or maybe even a toothpick. The battery is a CR2025. I actually put in a CR2032 since I had a new one on hand. It is thicker but still fits into the socket.

@CPQ5360 "Lines of resolution" refers to horizontally across the screen. All standard definition NTSC video is 480 effective lines vertically, but the horizontal resolution ranges anywhere from 240 lines for standard VHS tape, up to 540 lines for the best quality digital camcorders and commercially produced DVDs. (This is an analog measurement of the video signal and has nothing to do with the number of pixels horizontally, either.)

Pretty funny i have one of the remanded TRV 89E's (had the ability to see through thin clothes in daylight)

Very interesting video. I do have a Video 8 XR CCD-TRV57E This is a great video camera for night shooting. With a converted 180 lumin torch to infra red, the camera in nightshot I can see clear to 50 yards. You can see rabbits eyes up to 80 yards. How wonder how many of these cameras model are left! :) Collector item now I guess!

@GanEdenAustralia The TRV67 is Hi8 XR as well, but only has mono sound, and is missing some features compared to the TRV87.

I have a Sony TR3200E Hi8XR camcorder from 1998 which may possibly be the best equipped Hi8 consumer cam Sony made. It doesn't have Nightshot, an LCD screen, or halogen lamp, but you do get full manual iris/shutter/white balance and gain control, as well as a lens mounted focus ring. I guess the best model depends on your point of view, between this, the TR3200, or the TRV98. Anybody feel like starting a Hi8 Appreciation Society?

@jmhz71 I explained it in the video, but in case you didn't watch, the answer is yes.

@bamdadkhan I already used it to record the first half of my previous video about the broken Zenith camcorder... but I have more footage coming up, including a test of Super Nightshot.

@bakonfreek It took me a lot of research and experimentation to figure out all the features and modifications of the "police" camcorder. Even this video itself was recorded on 3 separate days and then spliced together. So, I like to do my homework before posting a video like this.

Very very nice camcorder!!! Very similar to my CCD-TRV77E. The modifications are very interesting. But I think they are very annoying in daily use... Did they also disabled the two editsearch buttons? They can be used to erase a recording of course.

I've got this set up on a TRV98. I wanted to restore it to normal function. After watching this video that might not be happening. 😕

I want one of these! (without the police box)

All my sony Digital8s have title functions

@bradjp33 You can use a USB video capture device. On DealExtreme you can get one called "EasyCap" for $9.00, but I have no idea how well it works.

I would actually find one of these quite useful - it could be used to lock a Hi8 tape that contains confidential information inside, unable to be viewed without the key.

@Jallge i know, i have both battery types and they are made by sony. and thanks, i thought that if i did that then the little plastic clip would break. but if you did it, i guess i can try as well.

@1997FordProbeGT I can't tell you, because thankfully I haven't been in a police car lately!

@jmhz71 All models with NightShot.

I have to ask, where did you get this?

I have the exact same camcorder (without modification of course)

@giammyzanna Look next to the model number on the camera itself ;-)

'' THANKS..............!

How much difference do you think there is between a camera with the "manual" slow shutter adjust (1-4) and "super nightshot"?

Those cameras are probably how Cops and pretty much any other police shows get filmed.

Ah, I see. Yeah, I was wondering about that, since it didn't make sense to me that an analog video signal would be made up of individual pixels. Thanks.

Oh! Now I get the pun behind the name of your last video (... has the right to remain silent), because you recorded part of it with this camcorder! lol! 440 lines of resolution? I thought all SD camcorders recorded with 480 lines?

My miniDV camcorders work this way too. When the LCD is turned 180° it turns on the view finder. At least my vl-z5 sharp viewcamZ does. My dcr-hc28 might do the same but i need a new battery and charger to use it.

@vwestlife ok thanks and sorry, could you tell me which cameras have IR sitem which models? I try to buy some for night recordings TANCKS

Wow, i've never seen such a nice Hi8 camcorder! Too bad it's been so modded for police use. Would it be hard to un-mod it? And that 3 watt halogen light must drain the battery like crazy lol! My JVC GR-D244 doesn't keep the date and time on the video if you transfer it via FireWire, but it will keep it on the video of you transfer it through the analog outputs.

how do you change the backup battery? i have a sony ccr-trv26e and i can't figure ow to get the battery out of that little compartment. any help would be appriciated.

hellow , this camera got infrared ??

I am curious how you clean these used stuff. Some stuff stinks and some stuff is like ugly and some used stuff is fine looking but you know someone else used it. How do you clean 'em? I used to use bleach containing wipes, I forgot their names do a thru clean as much as I can...

i have one of these but Its too old to upload because its just 3 av cables, is there any way to upload the videos with some sort of cord or somthing?

tancks four all

@vwestlife oh...NTSC, I didn't notice that :) Well how much was that camera?

I own this model. Nice vintage model.

@vwestlife wow..pretty cheap for a great analog camera like that!

i did a dashcam video with this camera once this month

Question-i bought obe without the key-can i work it still and also how do i charge it up?

Where did you get that?

Where did you buy it

NTSC or PAL?

tancks

@weasel2htm From a surplus dealer on eBay.

@giammyzanna $125 on eBay with free shipping.

I have this camera

+

"Soddered into place"? The 'l' in solder is NOT silent! It is meant to be pronounced, thus: SOL-DER.