Are you happy with your SONY TRV900E/Amphibico?

Hi!

I am close to buying this kit

1- Sony TRV 900E

2- Wide angle and Close up for shooting on land

3- Big battery 7-9 hrs

4- Extra charger

5- Extra mike

6- Sony original hardcase

1- Amphibico aluminium house (Navigator)

2- Wet Lens Wide angle objektiv med 80 degrees

3- Electronics Right hands grip (Electronic and Manual specially ordered)

4- Uro pro filter

5 -Gel Blue water filter

6- Close upp filter for extrema close ups

7- Extra set of O rings

8-Extra right hand grip

9-Pelikan hardcase

What do you think about this piece of equipment?

Any opinions most wellcome!

Cheers

Rodge

its a good camera and housing. Wags has it, I have the next generation 950.

HOw much do they want for it? Price could be your deciding factor

The TRV 900 camera and Navigator 900 housing are both classics.

The ribon cable inside the camera on the firewire port may cause problems but can be easly fixed.

I have had mine since 1999 and we still use it to this day. It has never flooded nor never let us down and the cool little flip out screen is wonderfull. It does go through mositure circuit batteries though.

Ours has had a very very hard life indeed and we never wash it, only under the hose or shower at the end of the day if we remember.

It can also be driven in full manual mode which is great if you are after better quality shots once you get the hand of it.

Sometimes the little wheel at the back of the housing may not turn the wheel on the camera to good but thats just an easy adjustment.

I would not pay anymore than $4000 AUS for it as it is Mini DV 4.3.

The TRV 900 camera and Navigator 900 housing are both classics.

The ribon cable inside the camera on the firewire port may cause problems but can be easly fixed.

 

I have had mine since 1999 and we still use it to this day. It has never flooded nor never let us down and the cool little flip out screen is wonderfull. It does go through mositure circuit batteries though.

 

Ours has had a very very hard life indeed and we never wash it, only under the hose or shower at the end of the day if we remember.

 

It can also be driven in full manual mode which is great if you are after better quality shots once you get the hand of it.

 

Sometimes the little wheel at the back of the housing may not turn the wheel on the camera to good but thats just an easy adjustment.

 

I would not pay anymore than $4000 AUS for it as it is Mini DV 4.3.

Hi!

He has asked $4700 AUS for it...

Would it be better to look for a 950?

Or are they very simular?

When did they stop making these?

Any one know if there is a shop that handle second hand cameras/housings in Asia? Singapore perhaps?

What came after this in the same category?

What whould be the next logical step if I would like something newer?

Thanks for your help!

Roger

If I remember rightly the 950 was not as good in low light as the 900, and this is one of the reasons why the 900 has been so sought after for underwater use. Without checking, the figures 4 lux for the 900 and 7 lux for the 950 spring to mind.

There are not many "better" standard definition rigs than the one you're looking at. The Sony DSR-PDX10P is the pro version of the TRV-950 and shoots native widescreen so it might be worth looking for a 2nd hand rig. The Sony VX2000/VX2100/PD150/PD170 all have better specs than the TRV-900 but they are bigger.

Otherwise you're looking at an HDV rig, but there won't be many around yet in the 2nd hand market.

I had a TRV900 & a Gates housing with all the various lenses. It took great video.

IMHO, the system you are considering is great to learn on. The ability to change exposure, set manual white balance, shoot wide, standard and macro will make you a much better videographer than if you bought a bare bones HD system.

Yes the TRV900 / PD100 are better cameras than the 950.

The PDX10 even though it's 16.9, comes with a black and white viewfinder, not much use underwater?

Seems there are many extras there, if it's in very good nic then maybe $4700.

Very similiar price to my TRV950 set-up...With more extra's

And as Ron mentioned great cam to learn the basics on...Hmm ?? I better dig out my old set-up

Dive safe

DeanB

I bought Ron's former TRV 900/Gates housing setup and have been very happy with it. The TRV900 is still considered a very good camcorder, and like others have said I think its a great learner rig. I bought a Raynox 1.54x telephoto lens, and a Sony .7 wide angle. The additional lenses add versatility, especially the telephoto for wildlife which is my main interest. I had some wear-parts replaced in the camcorder and was gratified to find out that parts are still readily available and that it was such a popular camcorder that most decent repair shops stock common parts. Do a seach on "John Beale" and "TRV900" and you'll find a website with a bunch of good articles on using the TRV900. Another factor is that if you decide in a year or two to go HD there are enough fans of the TRV900 out there that your rig will still have some resale value. The same cannot be said for many standard def rigs of lesser quality.

I'm going to have to say that this purchase at this price makes little sense moneywise.

At AU$4700, that's US$3920. While the extras sound great, it is at least 5 years old. It was a nice camera but you don't have any backup (except to buy a 2nd camera in Ebay or something). It's a nice rig but way overpriced even with the extras thrown in. Of course being a PAL rig, it is automatically more expensive but

With another $5-700, you could have a new HDV rig with similar options (except the spare grips etc) and built in LCD. This HDV rig should keep you happy for at least 3 years.

If you are looking to get better lowlight light performance by going with SD, I'd look for the VX2000/PD150. There are brand new VX2100 housings going for firesale prices with full warranties if you search. You can easily find great samples of used VX2k cameras online.

What Drew said is so on the money. The Camera was great in its day - a day that is nearly past. A new HDV rig ( camera and housing can be had for similar money.

HDV its day is nearly up...

Save it for the HDCAM onslaught

Dive safe

DeanB

I'm going to have to say that this purchase at this price makes little sense moneywise.

 

At AU$4700, that's US$3920. While the extras sound great, it is at least 5 years old. It was a nice camera but you don't have any backup (except to buy a 2nd camera in Ebay or something). It's a nice rig but way overpriced even with the extras thrown in. Of course being a PAL rig, it is automatically more expensive but

.....

US $3920 ? Drew is right. That is either way overpriced or I sold my system to Hawkfish for way too little money. Dare I say it, I'm talking less than half that price in US $.

Glad you like the system Hawk. It served me very well.

Opps did I just killed the TRV900 resale price?

Dean, HDCAM is already dead... it's now HDCAM SR.

For smaller formats, I believe AVC Intra and HDV35/50 will be the format of the next 4 years.

Opps did I just killed the TRV900 resale price?

 

Dean, HDCAM is already dead... it's now HDCAM SR.

For smaller formats, I believe AVC Intra and HDV35/50 will be the format of the next 4 years.

Thanks guys!

The first of you guys had me convinced and the last 3 got me thinking again.....

The thing is that I dont want a single chip CMOS HD camera but would have to go for something like 3CMOS HD and then housings with lenses and stuff go skyhigh.....I might even have to get a new computer to handle all the info when recording in HD.

I can spend about 8400 AUD or 7200 USD and that have to cover everything from camera,housing, wideangle, and filters. (maybe even videolights ;-)

I could try to find something good second hand or new maybe.

One important issue is that I live in Asia (but could get stuff shipped to Sweden) and its the matter with transport costs,tax and customs...quite a expensive affair in itself.

Now you have all my parameters....

Please keep coming with advice...very valuable info for me.

Cheers

Rodge

what do you want to do with the footage?

It is a nice camera as well as small and compact. To get an HDV with the same controls you are looking at the FX1 or the 7, neither one small or easy to travel with.

The PD170 would also be a good way to go as stated earlier.

I think for the money they are asking it is too much for that setup.

If you can get the PD170 at that price, then i would go for that..

what do you want to do with the footage?

 

It is a nice camera as well as small and compact. To get an HDV with the same controls you are looking at the FX1 or the 7, neither one small or easy to travel with.

 

The PD170 would also be a good way to go as stated earlier.

 

I think for the money they are asking it is too much for that setup.

If you can get the PD170 at that price, then i would go for that..

 

I was offered a almost new PD 170 for 4700 AUD or 4030 USD but with out housing, just the camera.(from the same guy).....he has a Gates housing with stuff (dont know what) and he wants 11900 AUD or 10 000 USD just for the housing that fit his PD170...about 17 000 AUD or 14 400 USD for all of it....Im sure its worth the money but its way over my budget.

It would be nice to get hold of some gear from a videographer that is taking the step to HD.

Damn this is hard

Rodge

Something isn't right with this pricing. At least compared to what we pay here in the US.

PD170 for $4,030 ?

Gates housing for $10,000 ?

Those prices are more than the list price for new, plus the products are used and discontinued.

If you are willing and have the budget for those prices, I'd go directly to HD.

I think he is dreaming in asking that much for his GATES housing. Anyone with that type of money will just buy a 3CCD HDV setup.

So you are stuck between a mini 3 CCD DV 4.3 setup that will allow you to have full manual control or a single CMOS HDV setup with just basic controls Remember if you go HDV you still can edit like normal DV as you can downcovert in the camera as you suck it into the computer as DV.

If the DV setup, you need to see how much work the camera has done, they are a very tuff camera though.

If the single CMOS setup, you need to look at the Gates, Amphibico and Light&Motion to see what they offer.

There is Ikelite and other brands as well but it's best to get a aluminum one if you are going to do lots of work with it.

I think he is dreaming in asking that much for his GATES housing. Anyone with that type of money will just buy a 3CCD HDV setup.

 

So you are stuck between a mini 3 CCD DV 4.3 setup that will allow you to have full manual control or a single CMOS HDV setup with just basic controls Remember if you go HDV you still can edit like normal DV as you can downcovert in the camera as you suck it into the computer as DV.

 

If the DV setup, you need to see how much work the camera has done, they are a very tuff camera though.

 

If the single CMOS setup, you need to look at the Gates, Amphibico and Light&Motion to see what they offer.

There is Ikelite and other brands as well but it's best to get a aluminum one if you are going to do lots of work with it.

My first plan was to get something like this http://www.gateshousings.com/HC7.html and then get a nice couple of lenses....

I have heard from quite a few that the single CMOS can not keep up with a 3CCD like the TRV 900 even though it is getting old.......have not seen this myself though. I work in diving and will take my equipment with me on every dive...I do somewhere around 250-400 dives a year. I will also travel (with a rebreather) so size matter

Yes, when it comes to buying electronics I wish I lived in the States....

Singapore seems to be cheep I have heard....must check that out....

Rodge