Here it is!!
A Panasonic PV-320D built in June 1987. That's what, 35⁷⁄₁₂ years old at the time of this chost? Regardless, it works! The same cannot be said for the original lead-acid battery. Cooked beyond saving. You can buy replacements. Hooray!
So I bought a replacement battery. But then another issue! The AC Adapter decided to stop working.
Here is where this "project" (if you can call it one) came to an immediate halt. The AC Adapter is quite important! It charges the battery and can input and output video signals to and from the camcorder. They don't sell replacements for these anymore, so I did the rational choice: I bought two more camcorders with the adapter included!
Now with a working AC Adapter and another purchase (this time a Composite Video to USB converter) I was on my way to having standard definition webcam that can't focus on anything closer than 4 feet away. Just connect the AC Adapter to the camcorder, then the AC Adapter to a computer with the converter, and yippee! This thing kinda sucks in the present day!
Resolution: not great
Colors: not great
Brightness: not great
Sound: mono (not great)
All things considered, this is not very practical. Nor is it economical. I do give it extra points for looking cool though.
BONUS
Literature!
One of the camcorders came with the owner's manual, which has seen better days.
I also found a service manual online, which includes circuit diagrams of the camcorder and AC adapter.
Also included with another camcorder: The LA Dodgers game schedule for 1993!
Thank you, Unocal 76. I would love some unleaded baseball.
