Busted JVC KY-17FIT Pro ENG Camcorder from 1990

[fabio2oo3]

i have the same camera with similar problem. in the viewnder the image are similar to negative image with flickering, in tv out are blacck and white image, with the vhs recorder absolutely no image, nothing in the viewfinder and nothing in the video out, some help to me?

[rhyskallen]

i want this its amazing

[fagout100]

google it

[RetroPCDOS]

It's bad capacitors, it a common problem with older camcorder, not to hard to replace if you know how to solder. You can order them thur digikey. As far as the goo lacquer thinner works great for removing it.

[benherrerajr]

save the lens, whatever you do.

sell it or use it with another device. might be worth more than the camera itself. ben.

[msylvain59]

Such a device for free is just a dream. Original retail price was probably a 5 digit price. If you can make a disassembly / internals view video of this camera, it should be so great !

[RSBSTEADICAM]

Once you get a proper power supply you will notice that the cameras main power supply has several settings as does the deck, You need to make sure that you have these in the proper positions as both devices (camera/deck) may operate individually even when attached. There is a stand alone back for the camera that replaces the deck (see eBay) and would allow you to continue using it. The connectors on it will interface with much of the current equipment though you will still be at a 3:4 frame.

[RSBSTEADICAM]

The "FIT" stands for Frame Interline Transfer and is a type of CCD that helps the speed of information flow. VHS was invented by Matsushita under licence form RCA and in fact the name JVC stands for Japan Victor Company. That is Victor as in RCA Victor. The bad buttons are just rubber as many I see have told you. The flashing red indicates that your power supply does not have enough wattage for the whole system.

[CameramanLink]

@RSBSTEADICAM No, the flashing red light indicates LOW LIGHT. Once I pointed the cam at a brighter scene, this light went off. Doing the math, the 5-amp PS has enough wattage to power this cam easily.

[RSBSTEADICAM]

The rubber melt is caused (to one degree or another) by Ozone. This is made worse by those who have air "cleaners" that emit varying levels of Ozone.

[rick601a]

Bad caps before the encode board, you got bars and ee video from deck so encoder seams to be ok. I would trace video back going to the encoder board. likeley a bad cap. U can use a hirdrier to heat them up a bit and see if the video level comes up. that is A trick we use around the shop fixing many of thease from the 90's all had cap issues. Not hard at all just time consumeing.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

WOW that is amazing! I see someone thought bad caps, that is a good idea. It would be interesting to open it up. If it has connectors between boards, I would try cleaning them. Hope you can get it working!!!!!

[oldmac6]

3 Things : First, the battery light is ON, so it's might mean that the camacorder didn't have enought current to run, might need up to 3 Amps on 12V DC, don't know if you're power supply is abte to deliver it

2 The thing with the numbers on it is an ND filter

3 I think the camera had bad CMS capacitor (pretty sure) common on early 90's camcorder, all died from that, if it the case, replace them immediatly and hope that they don't leak on the board !

YOU NEED TO REPAIR IT !

[CameramanLink]

@oldmac6 The power supply is rated at 5 amps constant, so I think it's OK. I measured the voltage to be about 12-13V. When I open it, which board am I looking at with the bad caps? will it be the CCD board? I'll also try a higher-current power supply for now.

[oldmac6]

@CameramanLink 5Amps, i think its enought too, check with an amperemeter (multimeter), for the caps replace every cms caps in the camera module if you don't want to have further problem

[old64goat]

Hi Bryan,

I think it is bad caps, I know a guy who is an expert on fixing these, it will not be a cheap fix but I think that camera is worth it.

He has a business in Niantic, Ct.

If you are interested PM me on YT and I will give you the info.

[CameramanLink]

@old64goat It's always the caps with stuff! Tube and solid state. I'll get back to you about the guy who could repair it.

[DrCassette]

Seems like this was a more complicated problem. Being from the early 90s it could have bad capacitors inside.

The easiest solution would probably be looking for a new similar camera part on Ebay. I think I have seen some over time in the industrial broadcast section.

[CameramanLink]

@DrCassette About how much do you think they would go for on eBay? I'll check it out pretty soon and see if there are any matches. You've replaced a lot of caps in solid-state stuff including camcorders. What's the best approach to make sure that I DON'T break it? I've only changed caps on tube stuff.

[DrCassette]

@CameramanLink

I don't think it would be a huge amount of money as there are not too many people who are still interested in this stuff and people want to have complete setups rather than the single pieces.

The problem I always have when taking things apart is to remember how to put them back together. Another important thing is the right soldering equipment.

[CameramanLink]

@DrCassette Yes, how they go back together can be quite tricky with camcorders :)

My soldering iron is not one of those fine point kinds, so working on small components would be hard. Knowing my luck with working on solid-state stuff, it will burn up and smoke when I'm done with it.

[GanEdenAustralia]

Wow it looks a beast. Is there enough power getting to it? These need around 14volts don't they?

The rolling image seems like bad capacitors though. Hmmm My Panasonic Supercam SVHS camera despite being brand new when I bought it off ebay had to have the caps replaced. My older JVC tube cameras had the same problem with the 'melted' rubber buttons lol. I replaced them.

Yes SVHS was commonly used in the 80s and 90s for ENG work.

[CameramanLink]

@GanEdenAustralia The power supply is rated for 13.5V which should be enough. The power jack says 12VDC on it. Cap replacement is scary to me on something this expensive, having no experience working on this equipment. How do you replace the melted buttons? This is what made me think there is no hope for this camera.

[GanEdenAustralia]

@CameramanLink You'd have to take it in to a JVC repairer to get the caps replaces on the circuitboard. As for the rubber buttons, I just bought a dirt cheap lens or other ENG camera that didnt work and took them from it.

[3KidPlay]

@CameramanLink You can sell the camera on ebay for like 300 to 400 dollars