Just purchased a 740U on eBay and a couple of true S-VHS-C JVC blank cassettes. Most people don't understand why us folks enjoy stuff like this when an iPhone can shoot and share 4k video at the blink of an eye. I bought it to record my yet-to-be-born son and have those memories in a format the my dad would have had when I was born in the late '80s. I also have a capture device to digitize it all as well.
Holding the physical media in your hand provides a certain satisfaction doesn't it? Those S VHS tapes are getting hard to find though. Thanks for watching.
I owned a Philips VR-969 S-VHS video, bought around 98. Never really used it, although it had a lot of features. The swing to digital was rapid and swift, so it went on the side along with my Hi-8 Sony camera for archiving purposes.... It also broke almost immediately due to the ribbon cables on the door. I remember sending it around 2005 in a Philips repair shop for a complete overhaul, but they didn't fix it really and by that time, I lost my interest. It's still in the box....
Yes around 1999 to 2000 everything was going digital so these camcorders were kind of at a dead end. But JVC kept making them and selling them as less expensive alternatives to digital cameras. Not sure if that was profitable or not but I guess it must have been. Thanks for watching.
hello, just to correct one point : S-VHSC wasn't competing against HI8. HI8 was launched in response to S-VHSC. firsts S-VHS(C) camcorders were released in 87, HI8 come in 89. so technically speaking, JVC had a lead during approx 2 years :) and i don't really think S-VHSC was crippled at the beginning, for the simple reason you can use the camcorder as a player. as far i know, nobody owned a HI8 deck outside of the camcorder when it come on the market (and even after...) and 8mm decks never went a thing in customer market.
I've seen it both ways but regardless of who made it to the market first, in the early 90,s the Compact SVHS and Hi8 were competitors. I was cross shopping those 2 formats and despite the fact that I had the rare full sized Super VHS player/recorder I preferred the Hi8 because of the longer run time of the tapes, (2 hours) versus 20 minutes of compact SVHS. Yes, I used the hi8 camera as the player and despite the fact I could have used my full-sized super VHS machine as the player if I had bought a compact SHVS camera, in my mind the compact VHS was a compromised format and Hi8 was designed from the ground up to be a portable format. Maybe it's just me, but that was my thinking 30 years ago and I haven't changed my mind. Given that Hi8 went on to become digital8, it was slightly more successful in my opinion. Neither really won the competition as Mini DV was the most popular portable format for another decade until tapeless formats hit the market. Thanks for your perspective and thanks for watching.😄
@@WaybackRewind yes, i forgot run time. i'm in europe, and was less a concern as we got 45 min for VHSC and 90 for 8mm. still twice, but 45 was already aceptable in many cases.
@@whaka54000 Yes at launch the VHSC tapes in NTSC format were only 20 minutes and they eventually went to 30 minutes. In Japan 40 minute tapes were sold. In Europe they went a bit longer due to the PAL format. I have never seen a 40 minute tape. Don't think they ever made it to North America. All that aside I now have 4 of these VHSC cameras. I was criticized for talking negatively about them, but I was just stating my honest opinion. I bought them so obviously I wanted them.😄. Thanks again for watching.
@@WaybackRewind to be honest, i don't really have particular interest in very last VHSC camcorder, there's nothing really special i enjoy in them so i'd probabely be more negative than you :D but i'm still a bit curious about what JVC did. i'm more in the older ones, such as GR-S707, GF-S1000 and some others of this era that really were beast, in my opinion.
I remember when I was a child, my cousins had a VHS-C JVC camcorder, not that one but a lower end model, and I wanted a camcorder so bad too, so my parents bought a Sony Hi-8 one. I was happy with my new camcorder but I thought that my cousin's one was better because they could play back the tapes directly on their VCR just using the tape adapter, while we have to hook ours up to the TV and play the tape on the camera, but later I discovered that ours had better picture and sound quality and was able to record up to 2 hours per tape, while theirs only could record 30 minutes, and the tapes and camera itself were smaller and lighter, so I was glad that my parents bought a Hi-8 instead of a VHS-C.
I made the same decision in 1991 when I bought a hi-8 camera instead of a VHS-C. The 8mm was designed to be a camcorder format. The VHS-c was kind of a compromise. Thanks for sharing.
Hey man just purchased this camera randomly at a thrift store today. I’m not sure what type of tapes to buy for it any recommendations would be awesome thanks!
It uses Compact VHS tapes. Those tapes have long since gone out of production and are becoming scarce. But they are still available on eBay and Amazon. The tapes themselves can be played back on a VHS VCR by using an adapter. New batteries for these cameras are still available. Let me know how it works out. www.amazon.com/Maxell-VHS-C-Camcorder-Videotapes-HGX-Gold/dp/B00EAC8TQQ/ref=asc_df_B00EAC8TQQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198063088238&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4147458132439746610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027845&hvtargid=pla-323411394852&psc=1&mcid=c1cff42f43d538e385f0f248498360ee
Hey I have this camera I got it recently and all of a sudden every time I try to play or forward or rewind the tape gets tangled in the camera and when I eject the tape is all messed up and tangled can I get some help by chance pls
Sounds like clogged or dirty video head or tape path. I would get a head cleaning tape and run it through several times. It it needs more extensive cleaning, I would look for a cleaning video on UA-cam. I haven't made one yet, so I don't have one to recommend. If the cleaning doesn't work, it may need repair. Let me know how it works out.
I was given a JVC super vhs and I cant find a charger for it, it has a rechargeable battery and a card but it’s dead and I’m trying to power it up if you have any suggestions or tips I’d appreciate it if not it’s ok
Charger: www.amazon.com/HQRP-Compatible-GR-SXM540U-GR-SXM540US-GR-SXM730US/dp/B004LXP6KG The card is for low quality pictures only so it's not a big deal. Batteries for this camera are still available new so if battery won't hold a charge you can buy new one. Thanks for watching.
@9:36 I show you how to go to playback mode. There is a rotary switch on the right hand side that selects playback then you just press play. Thanks for watching.
The batteries are definitely rechargeable. If they are old they may fail to accepta charge. New replacements are available. Thanks for watching. www.walmart.com/ip/Kastar-1-Pack-Battery-Replacement-for-JVC-BN-V11U-BN-V12U-BN-V14U-BN-V15U-BN-V18U-BN-V20U-BN-V22U-BN-V24U-BN-V25U-BN-V400U-BN-V60U-BN-V65-Battery/769544035?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101070986&
I'm sorry, I do not know how to fix that. Repair is generally not feasible as there are no longer repair shops that work on these cameras. And even if there were, it's cheaper to just buy another one. Thanks for watching.
Did I mention software for this camera? The video is all analog and doesn't use any software. It does have a crude digital still function and I manqged to get a few stills off of it.
Just picked it up today for $15 at a local swapmeet. Hoping I can find a new battery on Amazon and see how I’ll get the footage out digitally to post online 😊
Modern versions of these batteries are widely available. Look at my playlist for analog to digital conversions. I have multiple methods for getting the video into a computer. Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind Thank you G! I just ordered a backup battery and charger for $41 on Amazon and a capture card for $13. Will let you know if all this works 🙌🏽🙏🏽
hey man! touching base again. Been using this camera! and it’s been working fantastic. I was gonna ask if you could link me a new battery for this specific camera because my current one doesn’t hold long battery life. Thanks!
Good news is that this battery is still manufactured brand new. Kastar High Capacity Camcorder Battery BN-V11U for JVC BN-V10U, BN-V11U, BN-V12U, BN-V14U, BN-V15, BN-V18U, BN-V22U, BN-V24U, BN-V25U Battery a.co/d/2qS6I2H
I like Super VHS-C, the camcorders from the early 90s are actually a lot of fun to use, and they have a good on-the-go weight to them where a full-size VHS would still be okay but a bit cumbersome. Usually a Video 8/Hi-8 camcorder of the same formfactor as The VHS-C is a good choice too but the VHS-C offers the creative limit of a shorter tape, therefore making the use of the tape very specific to a moment in time and particular outing. This is something the more-is-better modern age forgets about "the before times"...people wanted more options and ways to include this new technology into their lives. I use VHS-C for video photography and capturing specific outing. There's a lot of generalizations in this video that I do not believe to be true and have seen much proof to the contrary about the intents and wants and usecases of the time period. Please stick to talking about the technical specifications of the camera and not spreading false guesses about what things were like based upon your 2020s (and not very cheritable, i might add) point of view. From the way you talk about this camera it makes me wonder why you're even making this video, it comes across as that you hate this stuff, and i'd much rather listen to someone who actually likes what they're talking about.
If you'd like to see a camera that I love look at literally any of my other videos. I can't help that I don't care for the VHS-C. I didn't like them in the 90s and I like them even less now. The Canon A1 and L1 Hi-8 are absolutely spectacular cameras from 10 years earlier and better in every way.
@@WaybackRewind yeah the generic ones everyone picks. Word of advice, if you don't like it don't make a video. This was nasty enough to warrant an unsub.
I'm sorry to hear that. I've been thinking about your comment all day. My channel is small enough that I read and reply to every comment. If serious enough, I will make a follow-up video. I intend to make a follow-up video and provide a more nuanced opinion with some context. I started this channel because I love video, and I have been shooting motion pictures since before, there were video cameras. I bought a film camera in 1977, my first video camera in 1981 and my first camcorder in 1987. My opinions are based on having lived through every phase as these cameras were being released, not in hindsight, as you suggest. I like them all, but some I like more than others. My criticism is not of compact VHS in general, but in 1999, I was in the market for a camera, and I went with digital 8. Most consumers did. JVC was the only company making compact super VHS it was a small niche. I bought it recently just to have a working example. I don't hate it, but it's not my favorite either. Sorry if that offended you, but I have to be honest. I have a JVC GR C1u that I love. It was groundbreaking, and I would have given a kidney for it back in 1984 when I was still shooting with my 2 piece vcr and camera combo. The 20-30 minute tape is not a huge issue. you are correct about that. But my criticism is that in 1999, JVC had no upgrade path because digital VHS never caught on. Everyone went to DV and never looked back. In the context of the day, the S-VHS was obsolete at that point. I had several s-VHS machines I bought in the 90s, but by 2000, they were finished. Using them today for nostalgia is fine. I like obsolete gear as much as the next person. I see reviews where people hate on my beloved Canon L1, and I don't take it personally. We all have different tastes.
![[Review] JVC GR-SXM250 Camcorder From 2003](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PwOskp20DiE/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Review] JVC GR-SXM250 Camcorder From 2003](/img/tr.png)
Just purchased a 740U on eBay and a couple of true S-VHS-C JVC blank cassettes. Most people don't understand why us folks enjoy stuff like this when an iPhone can shoot and share 4k video at the blink of an eye. I bought it to record my yet-to-be-born son and have those memories in a format the my dad would have had when I was born in the late '80s. I also have a capture device to digitize it all as well.
Holding the physical media in your hand provides a certain satisfaction doesn't it? Those S VHS tapes are getting hard to find though.
Thanks for watching.
I owned a Philips VR-969 S-VHS video, bought around 98. Never really used it, although it had a lot of features. The swing to digital was rapid and swift, so it went on the side along with my Hi-8 Sony camera for archiving purposes.... It also broke almost immediately due to the ribbon cables on the door. I remember sending it around 2005 in a Philips repair shop for a complete overhaul, but they didn't fix it really and by that time, I lost my interest. It's still in the box....
Yes around 1999 to 2000 everything was going digital so these camcorders were kind of at a dead end. But JVC kept making them and selling them as less expensive alternatives to digital cameras. Not sure if that was profitable or not but I guess it must have been. Thanks for watching.
У меня этот филипс 969 работает отлично и сейчас.зделан в германии.
❤
hello,
just to correct one point : S-VHSC wasn't competing against HI8.
HI8 was launched in response to S-VHSC. firsts S-VHS(C) camcorders were released in 87, HI8 come in 89.
so technically speaking, JVC had a lead during approx 2 years :)
and i don't really think S-VHSC was crippled at the beginning, for the simple reason you can use the camcorder as a player.
as far i know, nobody owned a HI8 deck outside of the camcorder when it come on the market (and even after...) and 8mm decks never went a thing in customer market.
I've seen it both ways but regardless of who made it to the market first, in the early 90,s the Compact SVHS and Hi8 were competitors. I was cross shopping those 2 formats and despite the fact that I had the rare full sized Super VHS player/recorder I preferred the Hi8 because of the longer run time of the tapes, (2 hours) versus 20 minutes of compact SVHS.
Yes, I used the hi8 camera as the player and despite the fact I could have used my full-sized super VHS machine as the player if I had bought a compact SHVS camera, in my mind the compact VHS was a compromised format and Hi8 was designed from the ground up to be a portable format.
Maybe it's just me, but that was my thinking 30 years ago and I haven't changed my mind. Given that Hi8 went on to become digital8, it was slightly more successful in my opinion.
Neither really won the competition as Mini DV was the most popular portable format for another decade until tapeless formats hit the market.
Thanks for your perspective and thanks for watching.😄
@@WaybackRewind
yes, i forgot run time.
i'm in europe, and was less a concern as we got 45 min for VHSC and 90 for 8mm.
still twice, but 45 was already aceptable in many cases.
@@whaka54000 Yes at launch the VHSC tapes in NTSC format were only 20 minutes and they eventually went to 30 minutes. In Japan 40 minute tapes were sold. In Europe they went a bit longer due to the PAL format. I have never seen a 40 minute tape. Don't think they ever made it to North America.
All that aside I now have 4 of these VHSC cameras. I was criticized for talking negatively about them, but I was just stating my honest opinion. I bought them so obviously I wanted them.😄. Thanks again for watching.
@@WaybackRewind
to be honest, i don't really have particular interest in very last VHSC camcorder, there's nothing really special i enjoy in them so i'd probabely be more negative than you :D
but i'm still a bit curious about what JVC did.
i'm more in the older ones, such as GR-S707, GF-S1000 and some others of this era that really were beast, in my opinion.
@@whaka54000 Well if you like old ones stay tuned. I am working on a long form video for my GR-C7U.
I remember when I was a child, my cousins had a VHS-C JVC camcorder, not that one but a lower end model, and I wanted a camcorder so bad too, so my parents bought a Sony Hi-8 one. I was happy with my new camcorder but I thought that my cousin's one was better because they could play back the tapes directly on their VCR just using the tape adapter, while we have to hook ours up to the TV and play the tape on the camera, but later I discovered that ours had better picture and sound quality and was able to record up to 2 hours per tape, while theirs only could record 30 minutes, and the tapes and camera itself were smaller and lighter, so I was glad that my parents bought a Hi-8 instead of a VHS-C.
I made the same decision in 1991 when I bought a hi-8 camera instead of a VHS-C. The 8mm was designed to be a camcorder format. The VHS-c was kind of a compromise.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey man just purchased this camera randomly at a thrift store today. I’m not sure what type of tapes to buy for it any recommendations would be awesome thanks!
It uses Compact VHS tapes. Those tapes have long since gone out of production and are becoming scarce. But they are still available on eBay and Amazon. The tapes themselves can be played back on a VHS VCR by using an adapter. New batteries for these cameras are still available. Let me know how it works out.
www.amazon.com/Maxell-VHS-C-Camcorder-Videotapes-HGX-Gold/dp/B00EAC8TQQ/ref=asc_df_B00EAC8TQQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198063088238&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4147458132439746610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027845&hvtargid=pla-323411394852&psc=1&mcid=c1cff42f43d538e385f0f248498360ee
@@WaybackRewind
thanks so much brother! I’m very new into the VHS world. Appreciate you🙏
Will this play normal VHS C tapes, that aren't Super ?
@@FinalFlameProductions yes it will.
Hey I have this camera I got it recently and all of a sudden every time I try to play or forward or rewind the tape gets tangled in the camera and when I eject the tape is all messed up and tangled can I get some help by chance pls
I'm having this problem as we speak. Help!
Sounds like clogged or dirty video head or tape path. I would get a head cleaning tape and run it through several times. It it needs more extensive cleaning, I would look for a cleaning video on UA-cam. I haven't made one yet, so I don't have one to recommend. If the cleaning doesn't work, it may need repair. Let me know how it works out.
I was given a JVC super vhs and I cant find a charger for it, it has a rechargeable battery and a card but it’s dead and I’m trying to power it up if you have any suggestions or tips I’d appreciate it if not it’s ok
Charger: www.amazon.com/HQRP-Compatible-GR-SXM540U-GR-SXM540US-GR-SXM730US/dp/B004LXP6KG
The card is for low quality pictures only so it's not a big deal.
Batteries for this camera are still available new so if battery won't hold a charge you can buy new one.
Thanks for watching.
Hello, I can’t figure out how to play back what I recorded. Any help would be appreciated 👍🏼
@9:36 I show you how to go to playback mode. There is a rotary switch on the right hand side that selects playback then you just press play.
Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind thank you I must have missed that
No problem. Thanks again for watching.
Hey I just bought one from the swapmeet and I’m curious does it need a battery replacement or are the batteries rechargeable???
The batteries are definitely rechargeable. If they are old they may fail to accepta charge. New replacements are available. Thanks for watching.
www.walmart.com/ip/Kastar-1-Pack-Battery-Replacement-for-JVC-BN-V11U-BN-V12U-BN-V14U-BN-V15U-BN-V18U-BN-V20U-BN-V22U-BN-V24U-BN-V25U-BN-V400U-BN-V60U-BN-V65-Battery/769544035?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101070986&
I have a similar JVC camcorder but the screen is black and shows “lens error”. Do you know how to fix it?
I'm sorry, I do not know how to fix that. Repair is generally not feasible as there are no longer repair shops that work on these cameras. And even if there were, it's cheaper to just buy another one.
Thanks for watching.
How did you get the software for it?
Did I mention software for this camera? The video is all analog and doesn't use any software.
It does have a crude digital still function and I manqged to get a few stills off of it.
Just picked it up today for $15 at a local swapmeet. Hoping I can find a new battery on Amazon and see how I’ll get the footage out digitally to post online 😊
Modern versions of these batteries are widely available.
Look at my playlist for analog to digital conversions. I have multiple methods for getting the video into a computer.
Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind Thank you G! I just ordered a backup battery and charger for $41 on Amazon and a capture card for $13. Will let you know if all this works 🙌🏽🙏🏽
Which battery did you order? I need one for mine and don’t know what type battery it is. Help pls :)
@@ihatemakayla1692
Kastar 1-Pack Battery and Smart USB Charger Replacement for Energizer CCM2460 CCM-4060M CCM5260M CM2560-C ER-C5160 ERC5160, Lenmar NMP41, Polaroid PR632H, Saft CH630 CH631 RC6031 Camcorder
It was $43 on Amazon 😊
I have a link in the descriptions for the battery.
hey man! touching base again. Been using this camera! and it’s been working fantastic. I was gonna ask if you could link me a new battery for this specific camera because my current one doesn’t hold long battery life. Thanks!
Good news is that this battery is still manufactured brand new.
Kastar High Capacity Camcorder Battery BN-V11U for JVC BN-V10U, BN-V11U, BN-V12U, BN-V14U, BN-V15, BN-V18U, BN-V22U, BN-V24U, BN-V25U Battery a.co/d/2qS6I2H
@@WaybackRewind
thank you brother!! Appreciate you.
@@lukemessinger1925 You're welcome😄
I like Super VHS-C, the camcorders from the early 90s are actually a lot of fun to use, and they have a good on-the-go weight to them where a full-size VHS would still be okay but a bit cumbersome. Usually a Video 8/Hi-8 camcorder of the same formfactor as The VHS-C is a good choice too but the VHS-C offers the creative limit of a shorter tape, therefore making the use of the tape very specific to a moment in time and particular outing. This is something the more-is-better modern age forgets about "the before times"...people wanted more options and ways to include this new technology into their lives. I use VHS-C for video photography and capturing specific outing.
There's a lot of generalizations in this video that I do not believe to be true and have seen much proof to the contrary about the intents and wants and usecases of the time period. Please stick to talking about the technical specifications of the camera and not spreading false guesses about what things were like based upon your 2020s (and not very cheritable, i might add) point of view. From the way you talk about this camera it makes me wonder why you're even making this video, it comes across as that you hate this stuff, and i'd much rather listen to someone who actually likes what they're talking about.
If you'd like to see a camera that I love look at literally any of my other videos. I can't help that I don't care for the VHS-C. I didn't like them in the 90s and I like them even less now. The Canon A1 and L1 Hi-8 are absolutely spectacular cameras from 10 years earlier and better in every way.
@@WaybackRewind yeah the generic ones everyone picks. Word of advice, if you don't like it don't make a video. This was nasty enough to warrant an unsub.
I'm sorry to hear that. I've been thinking about your comment all day. My channel is small enough that I read and reply to every comment. If serious enough, I will make a follow-up video. I intend to make a follow-up video and provide a more nuanced opinion with some context.
I started this channel because I love video, and I have been shooting motion pictures since before, there were video cameras. I bought a film camera in 1977, my first video camera in 1981 and my first camcorder in 1987. My opinions are based on having lived through every phase as these cameras were being released, not in hindsight, as you suggest. I like them all, but some I like more than others. My criticism is not of compact VHS in general, but in 1999, I was in the market for a camera, and I went with digital 8. Most consumers did. JVC was the only company making compact super VHS it was a small niche. I bought it recently just to have a working example. I don't hate it, but it's not my favorite either. Sorry if that offended you, but I have to be honest.
I have a JVC GR C1u that I love. It was groundbreaking, and I would have given a kidney for it back in 1984 when I was still shooting with my 2 piece vcr and camera combo. The 20-30 minute tape is not a huge issue. you are correct about that. But my criticism is that in 1999, JVC had no upgrade path because digital VHS never caught on. Everyone went to DV and never looked back. In the context of the day, the S-VHS was obsolete at that point. I had several s-VHS machines I bought in the 90s, but by 2000, they were finished.
Using them today for nostalgia is fine. I like obsolete gear as much as the next person. I see reviews where people hate on my beloved Canon L1, and I don't take it personally. We all have different tastes.
I just bought a GR-SXM 930 with the color viewfinder. As far as I know this is the only one with a color viewfinder and a screen. Hopefully it works.
@@WaybackRewindDon’t listen to the haters. Thank you for doing this in 2023 as it’s extremely hard to find. New sub incoming 🤘🏽
Tengo una igual quisiera venderla
Alguien sabe el precio?
Estas cámaras se venden por unos 70 dólares estadounidenses.
Gracias por ver la película.