Olympus VHS Camcorder Review (1985)

Here is another (recently discovered) NightLife Show from my cable series that ran during the 1980s. It was taped at Frank's Photo in Orlando, FL and featured the then-amazing one piece DX-402 VHS camcorder made by Olympus Camera. I'll take you through all the features of this pioneering camcorder.
This 24 year old video is in excellant condition and made from its original 3/4" U-Matic Master.
Enjoy this electronic review from nearly a quarter century ago!

Air Date: December 6, 1985

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Kerry
• Decker
• NightLife
• Show
• Orlando
• FL
• Florida
• Frank's
• Photo
• Olympus
• camcorder
• VHS
• portable
• electronic
• 1985
• demo
• DX-402

[BipolarPics]

What did you use to shoot this program? and what was Nightlife shot on?

[KKD1247]

When I started in 1980, I used a Sony camera & an SL-2000 Beta portable recorder. In the mid-80s, I switched to a Panasonic camera & a VHS portable recorder. All these tapes were edited & dubbed to a Panasonic 3/4" U-Matic (as thats the only format cablevision used). My last analog camera was a Panasonic S-VHS camcorder. Somewhere around 2000, I went to digital video with a Canon GL-1 and an iMac for editing.

[BipolarPics]

I had that same GL-1 in 2000. about a year after I bought it, it started dropping pixels. Now it's worthless. I remember tape to tape editing. It actually takes me longer to edit now because there are too many options.

[KKD1247]

I still have the GL-1 and its been perfect...I love it. It does take longer, in a way, to edit now but it is SO much better. I can edit frame-by-frame and inbetween someone's words. I'm able to clean up small editing glitches in these old tapes too.

[poolboyinla]

very cool

[Lachlant1984]

OK, I know Olympus have always had a high reputation for their 35 MM film and more recently digital still cameras, but i had no idea they made dedicated VHS camcorders in the 80's, did they make dedicated camcorders based on VHS-C, Video8 or MiniDV tape standards? I don't believe Olympus make camcorders that use Mini DVD's for flash memory, I believe their digital still cameras can record video, but I'm talking about proper video camcorders here.

[barrybob32]

@johnreagannumber1 true, true. but it actually came with an unopened pack of film from 1977 also it came with a mid 70s pack of flashbulbs im guessing it had definately been used before.

if youre looking for a good old style super 8 you might get lucky enough to find a bell & howell one in the box as i did, but wont be stupid as i was in not buying it.

[johnreagannumber1]

Quite a find there. Are you having trouble finding film for it on Ebay for instance or is it easy?

I'd do anything for well kept Super 8 camera. I bought a Minolta XL from about 1980 in great condition. Have shot some reels and I'm getting quite creative with it, but at this time in the economy I find the development costs to DVD at $50 a roll prohibitively expensive.

[barrybob32]

@johnreagannumber1 oh i loved super8, i nearly bought one recently, in the original box, BUT i opted to get the 1967 polaroid land camera 300, shoulda gotten both in original box, they were 10$ each

[johnreagannumber1]

@barrybob32 Here's to hoping that fuse is not difficult to find inside of the case. This is the best of internet coming to life: The collaboration and assistance that you've given here. Believe me, I'm saving these comments as 'vintage' video is a true passion for me. You should use your Omnivision to video and upload to YouTube. People love it when I do that. The by-gone colors of another era are actually becoming cool these days. That, and Super8 film :)

[barrybob32]

@johnreagannumber1 actually you dont even really need a soldering iron, simply stripping wires and using tape works, but you WILL need a voltemeter or at least a battery tester for it just to make sure when you plug it in the camcorder does not recieve a reversed polarity, i was unlucky enough to have this happen to mine, but thankfully the interior fuse blew out and i was able to replace it thus it still works.

[johnreagannumber1]

@barrybob32 I'm not very good with a soldering iron so that's much, much appreciated! Honestly, I'll do my best. This just may be the trick I was looking for.

[barrybob32]

@johnreagannumber1 Oh thats great, any help you need ill be here to offer. its a pleasure getting these things in portable condition again.

[johnreagannumber1]

@barrybob32 This is highly ingenious! You have no idea how valuable this information is to me as I have a plethora of 80's camcorders. I want to start playing with this knowledge as soon as I can. Thank you!