Sony Camcorder For Sale

This is the original camcorder used by Stan Romanek to take the historical UFO video and stills shown on http://www.neilslade.com/UFOs.html The camera is like new and comes with the original box and all supplied accessories as retail.

It is a Sony TR416 Video 8XR camera with exceptional low light sensitivity, and 18X optical zoom and 180X digital zoom. When searching for a new camera for Stan to use for any future sightings, to our astonishment, this camera worked FAR better under low light than even the newest and most expensive digital video cameras, including my pro quality Canon GL1 and the Sony VX2000 ($3000). Why? We soon discovered (and we were told this in advance by the video experts at MUFON) looking at the specifications of the new digital video cameras compared with Hi-Band 8 and Regular 8 cameras, that this model Sony camera was TEN times more sensitive to light (.5 lux) as compared to their $2000 TRV900 cameras (5 lux) and even more so than the less expensive cameras. We attribute this to the difference in technology which makes the non-digital cameras more light sensitive than the newer digital chips which require more light. This dos NOT refer to the infrared "nightshot" feature- but to REGULAR VIDEO sensitivity, crucial to night video (of which 3 of 5 of Stan's videos were).

We re-supplied Stan with this years Hi-Band 8 model camera (Sony's least expensive camera as it turns out) rather than any other digital camcorder available to replace this one, the only difference being that the newer camera has digital image stabilization for extreme zoom shots, and this one above does not. Under regular use (shots around the home, cenery, wide angle, etc), the digital image stabilization seems to make little or no difference. The new model sells for about $270 at the discount stores, so this slightly older one will be sold for $165, and I will ship anywhere in the US (about $12).

As far as we can tell (looking at the tape and talking to the camera shop people), the difference between the "Hi-Band 8" cameras and the regular 8mm "Video 8" cameras is nearly insignificant, as they both take the same size tape (you can put regular 8 tapes in Hi-Band cameras and vice versa- though metal tape is not recommended for 8mm cameras regularly as the metal tape is too abrasive for the regular 8 record heads to be used all the time. Metal tape is alledgedly supposed to have less video noise- but we can't tell by looking at it.) Admittedly, for regular daytime video, digital video has noticable finer resolution and detail, but at night under available light- this camera is astonishing. It also has the "nightshot" infrared feature as well (same as all the other Sony cameras) which allows video in complete darkness within a close distance.

This camera does not have the swing out LCD screen (neither does Stan's new camera), as the LCD is useless in bright light, but it does have a gazillion other features like all the Sony products. We have found that the auto-focus system on the Sony cameras is far superior than anyother brands for instantaneous focus of moving far objects. Unlike the new cameras, this one has a built in lens cover (cool) and has threads for attaching additional optical features like filters or other converters. It has a color viewfinder as well, something lacking in the newer Sony 8mm camcorders with LCD screens.

If you are interested in purchase, please email me with the subject "Camera". Since I am a publisher, I can take a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card for payment the same as ordering other materials or books from my site. No checks or cash, sorry. Sold to the first interested party, serious only please. $165 firm.

Thanks
Neil
send email to:
neil@neilslade.com