bad firewire port on trv900
 

Hi there,

I just got my trv900 off ebay about a week and a half ago and was about to capture a tape I had just finished up with. Hook everything up and ready to go and my powerbook doesnt reconize it at all. Tested it on a friends computer as well, it didnt work there either. In one of the menus when in vtr mode, it says "DV not ready"

Has this happened to anyone before? Is there anywhere I can get more info on this?

Thanks for the help,
-Stephen

my new trv900
 

so I just recieved my trv900, it looks brand new feels super tight picture looks awesome and the sound is great. but when recording or playing back footage it has a slight vibration. not sure if its normal to feel this or there is something wrong with the cam. I'm not seeing any vibration on the screen when playing back and all the audio sounds fine. so I dont think anything is rubbing on the inside or thats just the tape I'm feeling on my palm and its ok. I guess I'm asking user of the trv900 or trv950 if they feel a slight vibration or if supposed to be totally smooth. maybe I'm paranoid

NIck

just to follow up...I changed the tapes and I still feel it. the tapes are a little old, I'm not sure if that could have anything to do with it

Can I capture while TRV900 on AC power?
 

Hi I am new here and I have searched through but could not find any related topics to my query.

I have observed a very strange scenario, I have a PCMCIA firewire card connected to my PC and linked to my Sony TRV900. When TRV900 was battery operated, my PC and editing software was able to regconise the videocam. However, when TRV900 was on AC power, my PC was not able to regconise the videocam.

As I have lots of tapes I would like to sort out and cut into CD, after some editing of course, I would like to work with the videocam on AC power...

My questions:

1. Is it true that I can only capture my video to PC (via firewire) when TRV900 is battery operated?

2. If #1 is false, then what should I do to get it work?



Thanks & regards.

That's an odd one! Unfortunately I don't have a TRV900, and I use Macs. I can say however that my PDX-10 (next generation of the TRV-900) captures fine on both battery and AC power.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any reason why plugging the camera into the AC adaptor would affect firewire. Maybe someone else will have some ideas...

Maybe you have a noisy AC outlet or your wiring is not right. Use an outlet checker to make sure it is all right. If you don't have an out let checker, bring it to a friend's house and try it. I assume you have a laptop because of your PCMCIA reference.

I'm sure Steve's hit it. There should be no difference whatsoever in the way the 900 works, whether it be from batteries or AC mains. Try plugging the AC converter into a different outlet and don't let the black box near your pc.

tom.

Laptops have a UPS built-in, which may be the reason why he isn't noticing anything goofy happening with his laptop. He might buy a UPS for his other things, if the trouble is with line noise.

If none of that helps then the camera has got some screwed up adapter wiring, either in the adapter itself or the camera. I'd try replacing the adapter before servicing the camera.

For that matter, why not just use battery power on the camera when you capture? That's what I do - it's a good way to run the batteries all they way down before recharging.

Not only that, but the batteries are 'pure DC' and there's not the slightest chance of hum creeping in.

I have a trv 900 for more than 6 years, and it works fine with the ac adaptor. you probably have to take the camera to sony repairs department

It was your phrase, "my PC was not able to recognize the videocam" that got my attention...because there are occasions when that happens to me.

Not at all sure related to your situation...but share experience...in case

My system is often glitchy...

So with my system...I usually have to be sure to turn on the camera system first AND turn on all settings so it's ready to export... BEFORE I turn on the computer editing program (PREMIERE) to prepare for capture.

When I try it the other way around...it sometimes works...sometimes doesn't. (that is...the PC sometimes recognizes the videocam...though usually doesn't.)

Also...a common fix for many of my capture problems is to turn everything off (including "restarting" computer) and start all over again (CAMERA ON FIRST (set to export)...PREMIERIE CAPTURE window ON SECOND).

I realize it's probably kind of basic...(though looking through my Premiere reference book...haven't yet found reference to it...believe it's there some where...or might have found info on a forum.)

And it may not apply to your situation...since you've found there is a difference between AC versus battery. But also thinking maybe you took different steps with one versus the other that was not based on type of power.

So in case it helps ...wanted to share experience.

I don't have the said Sony gear (forgive me for posting), but I have run into AC power trouble. Once while capturing from a camera I turned on an appliance in an adjacent room, causing a dropped frame. This sounds like what Steve was talking about.

I'm not sure that hum would be an issue here since the Firewire capture is a digital transfer. Noise on the line can still cause problems, but it will manifest itself as a dropout or other digital artifact and not a hum (as with an analog transfer).

Sandra, my system (Premiere and Canon cam) is very picky about startup and shutdown. Turning the camera on or especially off while Premiere is running will cause a crash the next time it is turned on. I just make sure that the camera is on before Premiere starts and that I close the software before I turn it off.

To echo, I'd suggest trying a UPS or just a different outlet (or a different building entirely) to see if it is the incoming line voltage.

Thanks Jeremy for the tip "I close the software before I turn it [camera] off." Probably shoulda known that...but didn't.

I edited my entry above...to hopefully be a little clearer. As noted above...I was considering the times my PC would not recognize the camera...and shared experience...in case it applies. You just never know.

Still think it's GREAT the way people jump in to help with problems/challenges!

Thanks for the helps...
 

You guys are really fantastic.. I was away for few days and I had so much responses from you guys... thanks..

To update my situation. As I mentioned I was using the PCMCIA firewire card which was giving me the odd problem when using AC. After much testing, I decided to use another notebook PC with the built-in firewire port to give it a final test and it WORKS!

However, I actually bought a new firewire cable (4pin-4pin) and used it in the test (caused the built-in port is 4pin)... so can't really conclude it was the PCMCIA firewire card issue!

FYI, the cable I used with PCMCIA firewire card was a 6pin-4pin type.

Just want to close the case and my millions thanks to all you guys. :-)

Dirt BEHIND Lens of a TRV900
 

Hello,

Got an old TRV900 which is pretty useless with the dirt behind the lens.

The dirt accumulated as an effect of repeatedly water-condensations in the tropics, especially when leaving/using airconroom cooled cam-body outside in the humid air.

I am able to still use it, but only by increasing shutter speed, or simply by putting it in the 'sport preset' program.

Do you guy's have any idea how to get rid of this problem. Is there an easy way to do it myself, or do I have to send it Sony. I am afraid, it won't be worth a high repair cost.


Thanks in advance

Reinhold

Trv900
 

The lens unit in the trv900 are very difficult to clean but it can be done.Takes about 1 1/2 hours to take apart and 1 hour to put back together.You have to find a shop that can do this and has done alot of lens diassembly.Just make sure you take it to a shop that has done this kind of work.As long as the glass hasn't been pitted it should come out ok.Most will just tell you to replace whole lens unit but that's not economical.If you figure $50 to $100 an hour. You do the math
Tim

Seems an oddity this. Dirt behind the lens? you mean behind the front element, or can you see it deep within the lens when you look down with the aid of a peoweful Maglight?

And I fail to see how raising the shutter speed helps alleviate the problem. Unless the higher shutter speed means forcing maximum aperture, where the lens nasties are thrown more out of focus.

Sounds like the end of the line to me. Buying another second hand 900 may well be a better and cheaper option.

tom.

TRV900 Were to Buy
 

Hello All

I am looking for a TRV900 to go with my VX2000. Does anyone know a good place to look for one other than ebay. Also if anyone is lookig to get ride of one let me know.

Thanks

Look in the Private Classified section for the PD100a.

I do not have acces to that part of the forum yet. Is their one available. I would like to know more about it if their is. I am very interested in having a back-up to my vx2000.

Thanks

I have sent you a private email.

thanks

I just cant trust ebay some times and would like to buy equipment from people who really take care of their stuff

Thanks

I sent you a PM. If you did not get it here is a link to my PD100a in the classifieds.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73748

dave

TRV900 + Letus 35mm Adapter Stills!
 

Go to my Flickr page to see some stills from an outdoor sequence I shot for a music video. I used my TRV900 w/ Letus 35 adapter. Canon 50mm lens and 72-105mm zoom. I'm editing now. Let me know what ya think!

http://www.flickr.com/gp/65712140@N00/S23LOZ

wow those pics look great, theres a nice depth of field in all those pictures. Color grading is also well down looks more like 35mm then digital. Is that with the Canon FD lens or your own?

Just seeing those on a trv900 it would be amazing to see them on my pd100

Yes, it's using the Canon FD lenses (50mm and a zoom). Color grading was done in AE w/ Film Magic Pro. I highly recommend that. It's also deinterlaced. The combo of 35mm adapter and color grading in post is all you need to get your camera into this realm, as I discovered. Thanks for the feedback!

TRV900 eject bypass
 

The eject button on my old workhorse of a camera, the TRV900, recently stopped working. The camera's high hours and non-working LCD mean that its value to me as a 'C-camera' is greater than any resale value, and not worth the $285 minimum to send it away for repair.

Does anyone know of any other way to eject the tape? I'm willing to take the cover off and do it manually if needed.