Thank you! I’m glad you liked the video. Yes, it’s definitely possible with the right adapter cable. It’s not too complicated to make, but you do need to know a bit about soldering. In fact, I’m currently working on a tutorial showing how to do it. The video quality is really good, but the audio isn’t great. It doesn’t desynchronize, but the quality is pretty low-kind of like an old radio. So while it could work perfectly for video, I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to preserve the original audio. I’d suggest using this device more for recording directly from the camera to a micro SD if you don’t mind the audio. For example, I use it for making music videos, where the captured audio is just a guide, and I replace it with a song during editing.

Thank you so much! To be honest, I didn’t know the Canon VM-E2N, but I did some research, and it’s a really good-looking camera! I’m glad you enjoyed the video your support means a lot!

Thank you so much! I’m really glad you loved it. I don’t consider myself a technician yet, haha, just a hobbyist. But if all goes well and I can arrange my work schedule, I’ll start studying electronics in February next year. I’m excited to keep working with these lovely cameras and beautiful devices from the past!

Thanks so much! Wow, you have that legendary JVC GR-C1? I love that camera! I had the chance to use one at a friend’s house a couple of years ago, and it’s a beautiful piece of tech. As for the cable, it’s actually not too complicated. I’m currently working on a video review of a Zenith VHS camera that uses the same type of connector. I didn’t want to modify it because it’s in pristine condition, so in that video, I’ll show how to make the cable and how to rebuild the batteries, which are the same ones used in the GR-C1. Stay tuned!

Great observation! You’re absolutely right-visually, it’s identical to the Zenith VM7150. However, nowhere on the camera does it specify that it’s S-VHS, unlike the JVC model. I looked through the manual to see if there was any reference to S-VHS compatibility, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything. From the recordings I’ve made with this camera, it’s clear that it’s standard VHS quality, which I found a bit strange because I have a Zenith VM6200 and a JVC GR-C7, and those are indeed identical both in functions and appearance. This makes me think the Zenith VM7150 is the more budget-friendly version of the JVC GF-S550

To be honest, I don’t have a FireWire capture card to test the exact same video recording, but I’ve seen recordings from a friend who uses an old laptop with that port. In my view, the quality is very similar between the two. There are differences, but I wouldn’t say one is better than the other-it’s more about variations in color and saturation. Regarding the frame rate, the mini DVR unfortunately only supports up to 30 fps. Personally, I don’t notice a significant difference between 30 and 60 fps, unless you’re doing slow-motion work, where 60 fps might have an edge. But outside of that, 30 fps works just fine for me. It really depends on how you plan to use the footage. Just keep in mind, this is the opinion of a hobbyist, not an expert! 😊

@@MaxVegaKunToo bad it doesn’t do 60fps. Thats a dealbreaker for me.

That’s great! At least here in the States, I’ve never had any problems with AliExpress deliveries. It’s cheaper, and even though it takes about a week to arrive, it’s not too long. I hope it works out well for you! Thanks for sharing! 😊

Thanks a lot! I’m really glad the guide was useful for you. It’s interesting to see how much the capture method can impact the final result. I hope this helps you bring those old cameras back to life and get some great footage out of them!

That sounds like an exciting project! I’m glad you found this helpful, and I’m sure using an old camcorder will give your music video that authentic look you’re aiming for. Best of luck with the shoot, I’d love to see how it turns out!

@@MaxVegaKunThanks! Yeah, I had planned to film it with a modern camera and bounce the finished edit to VHS tape for a vintage look, but it’s much better to start with a period-accurate camera. Hopefully I still have a working one around here somewhere…

That sounds like an awesome plan. There’s something about the original equipment that really captures the essence of that era. Hopefully, you’ve got a working one around!

Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I’m already working on a video about how to create the adapter cables, that’s definitely on my list. I don’t have a specific document or diagram at the moment, but it’s a great idea. I’ll see if I can put something together to help with the wiring and modifications. Stay tuned!

Oh, absolutely! I have a friend who owns a Sony HVC-2200, and he’s interested in modding it. If he decides to go for it, I might be able to make a video about that in the future. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thank you so much for your kind words! Wow, I’m really honored! And of course, I know your channel-I absolutely love your collection of cameras. Before I started modding my own, I watched your videos to compare models. What you do is truly amazing! I totally understand the struggle with those old setups. It’s great that you’re considering making your cameras more portable with a digital recording device. Opening up the camera and unsoldering the cables sounds like a smart approach if you want to keep everything reversible. I’m really glad my videos could help inspire your next steps. Keep up the great work, and if all goes well with my work schedule, I hope to start studying electronics soon, so I’ll definitely keep the mods coming! Thanks again!

Wow, that sounds amazing! In fact, I've been looking for a way to do something similar with an old Bolex cinema camera. I've seen some interesting projects out there, and I'm planning to try something like that soon.

Yes indeed! I’ve received that question quite often, so I’ll try to explain it a bit better :) The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!

@@MaxVegaKun Thanks for the response brother., Very insightful and motivating. I bought a JVC GXNU70 and I'm going to start tinkering around with this. Appreciate your dedication to your hobby and fans

Thank you! I’m glad you like the camera and the idea. Camcorders from that era have such a unique picture feeling, it’s just special! I hope you get to mod yours soon! It’s a rewarding experience, for sure 😊

That sounds like an incredible project! Making a full-length movie with those vintage cameras must have been an amazing experience. The idea of capturing video directly now opens up so many new possibilities. I’d love to watch your film, can it be found on KZfaq? I’m really glad you’re enjoying the channel, and I’ll keep the mods coming! 😊

@@MaxVegaKun Hi! No, it's not on youtube. There should be a trailer for it here, but the main trailers are on vimeo. I shot it on mini DV, Hi-8, Betamax, and VHS. I just got a set up so that I can work with the betamax camera directly into a digital capture. I'm setting it all up to be portable too. I love this old camera, because it has a tube and has amazing ghosting and trails. it's really something that can't be duplicated.

Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that-I'm really glad you're enjoying the work. Your support keeps me going! 😊

Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I haven’t shot a music video with this one yet, but next week we’re starting on a project for a friend’s music video. It’ll be his first experience with retro cameras, and we’re really excited about it!

Hahah as you wish my friend is just an option :)

Hi there! The first thing I check is whether the camera is actually turned on. This depends a lot on the camera model, but generally, there’s some kind of LED indicator that shows if there’s power, or if it has a viewfinder, sometimes a light will turn on to confirm it’s working. To test if it’s outputting video, I do it through trial and error-there’s probably a better method, but my knowledge isn’t that advanced yet, haha. So before connecting the cables to the 4-pole connector, I first connect RCA cables (the yellow, white, and red ones for analog video) to a capture device on my PC. Using OBS Studio, I can see if the camera is outputting video and audio correctly. I hope this gives you some direction and doesn’t confuse you more. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! 😊

That’s amazing! It must be incredible to have access to so many classic cameras in Japan. There’s definitely something special about bringing these old gems back to life, there’s so much potential with all those cameras, I'm glad you liked this projects!

I’d love to! The PXL-2000 is such a beautiful classic camera. To be honest, I’ve always wanted one, but since it’s a pretty famous model, it’s quite expensive-at least for me, haha. I’ve been searching on eBay, but since the channel is still small, I couldn’t justify the investment just yet. However, if I find one at a good price in the future, I’d definitely go for it. The mod for that camera is actually pretty straightforward since it already has an RCA video output, but I’ve got some other ideas in mind for that amazing piece of tech! Thank you so much for your comment and for stopping by!

Thank you so much! I grew up with NOFX they're one of my all-time favorites, I’m glad you noticed the sticker!

Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the project. I’d love to provide a detailed diagram with pinouts and the build process, but to be honest, all the information I have is what’s in the video, and since I did the mod a few weeks ago, I don’t remember all the details, haha. To create a diagram, I’d have to redo the mod, but with two full-time jobs and new videos in the works, it would be tough for me to go through the process again right now. However, I’ll share a bit about how I approach these mods, which might be even more useful since it can apply to almost any retro camera: The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support and kind words. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the mod. Thanks again!

Great question! For this particular model, the following link was very helpful to me: bigheadamusements.com/wordpress/?p=3115 But the process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!

That’s awesome! Radio Shack was the go-to place for all kinds of DIY projects back in the day. It’s great that you were able to make your own Wii sensor bar with just a couple of infrared LEDs. Those were the days of real hands-on creativity!

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoy the mods. Your support means a lot to me, and I’ll definitely keep working! 😊

Thanks for the tip! I’ve been experimenting with different setups, and I’ll definitely look into using an AV to HDMI converter with a USB capture card. I’ve tried USB Camera Pro before, and it’s a solid app for recording. I appreciate the suggestion!

Thank you so much for watching all my videos and for your thoughtful question! Yes, I’ve been using this mini DVR for several reasons: 1) It’s very portable and has a rechargeable battery, so I can have a versatile setup, 2) It has a video output, allowing me to connect a monitor if I want, and 3) It’s quite affordable compared to specialized devices for capturing VHS or professional video scalers. In my opinion, the quality is pretty good if you set the DVR to HD, as the video bitrate is 28 Mbps. To be honest, I’ve never used any specialized devices or professional scalers because my budget doesn’t allow it, haha. What I have done is watch a lot of reviews of those types of gadgets, and to be honest, I don’t see much of a quality difference between the mini DVR and those much more expensive devices. I believe these types of cameras have a built-in quality limit, even with more "modern" mini DV tape cameras, where the maximum resolution is 640x480 at a bitrate of 25 Mbps. I think it really depends on what you want to use the footage for. For most people, I think the DVR would be more than sufficient. However, I have tried different video capture devices on PC and Android with the USB video app, and the quality is pretty bad, which is why, for my purposes, I’m happy with the mini DVR. It has its downsides, for example, the video comes out in 16:9 format, and the audio is terrible, but this is where I say it depends on what you need the footage for. For me, it’s not a problem because I use these cameras to make music videos, so I don’t need the audio, and converting the video back to 4:3 format is very easy in video editing software. Plus, you need to make a custom cable to work correctly with the standard 3.5mm video plug. It’s simple, but you need to know a little soldering. In fact, I’m currently working on a video where I compare the video capture devices I have with the mini DVR and discuss what I see as their pros and cons. However, this is just my opinion and based on my experience-I’m not a professional, it’s just a hobby I enjoy a lot. I really appreciate your comment, and if you have any suggestions, they’re more than welcome!

@@MaxVegaKun Thank you for your response! A comparison video would be great, I can't wait to see it. The other alternative (but only available on the second hand market) would be the ImmersionRC PowerPlay, this thing doesn't seem bad at all.

@@ArtwoXYZ I bought a GXN70 myself. I would need to cut the 13 pin cable but don't have the balls to do so. have you started?

Thank you for your interest! I’m actually working on a full review of the mini DVR right now, where I’ll go over its features, pros and cons, and how it compares to other video capture methods that I have used. Stay tuned-it’s coming soon! 😊

Thanks for your enthusiasm! It’s great to hear that you’d be interested in buying a camera like this. I’m actually considering the option of selling them once I reach the KZfaq requirements to offer merchandise through the platform :)

Thanks a ton! It makes me really happy to know you’re enjoying the videos. I appreciate your support more than you know!

Thank you so much! There’s something so rewarding about giving new life to vintage equipment. That Hi8 camera sounds like a perfect candidate for a mod! I’d love to see what you come up with. Thanks for the support!

@@MaxVegaKun I'll have to make a video of the process for my channel if I do it. I'll be sure to give you a shout out as my inspiration! I just went out to the storage room and found an old VHS camera as well that I've been keeping around for about 30 years and it was used when I got it.

That sounds awesome! I’d love to see the video if you decide to go through with it. And thank you so much for the shout out-it means a lot! That old VHS camera sounds like a real treasure, especially after all these years. I’m excited to see what you do with it! 😊

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support and encouragement! I’m the opposite, sometimes a bit of English slips out when I try to speak... English, haha. I still struggle with holding long conversations, and actually, making this channel 100% in English was a way to force myself to practice. Thanks again! 😊

Great question! The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!

Thank you! Tube cameras have such a unique charm, don’t they? It’s always exciting to bring these old-school beauties back to life. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing it!

Of course! I’d love to share them. Here’s the link to three covers I’ve filmed using these types of cameras: 1) Blink 182 Dance With Me: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qrybhZqE1arMomg.html 2) Goo Goo Dolls Iris: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n8iFl6Wdvr_RaX0.html 3) Less Than Jake The Science of selling yourself short: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z6p9nbyF3dWcc2g.html I’m currently working on filming music videos for a full album of original music, which I’ll be sharing soon. Stay tuned! 😊 And thank you so much for your interest!

@@MaxVegaKun looks great!