90's cameras and camcorders designs are intimidating, especially the semi pro ones like this one.

such a neat camera, using EF lenses for video in 91 wow.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

The interchange lens system with the EF lens mount adapter made the L1 so versatile. Just an amazing camera…when it worked 30 plus years ago.

another neat episode dave :)

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Dr. Smart. And thank you for the capacitor pics.

awesome video dave

@davesretrovideolab2709

3 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

Hell yeah sweet find Dave! I’ve wanted to find a working one of these myself for a long time as well. But just like the Sony vx3 the L1 is very prone to having bad capacitors. I also had a cool idea but not sure how likely it would be to make it happen. It would be cool to start some kind of a retro camcorder convention. Or just a retro tech convention in general.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

I’ve been toying around with some sort of retro tech convention idea. Video cameras are very niche, but broadening the idea to stretch into other consumer electronics categories such as home stereos, TVs, laser discs, etc might appeal to a wider audience. I didn’t include computers, because the Vintage Computer Festivals have a lock on the category. Though our consumer tech festival would include home computers too I suppose. Hmmm, something to think about.

Such an awesome and bizarre camera! I got my L1 working last year, but had to use the EF adapter because the lens no longer works.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

It’s a fascinating camera but quirky. Though the modern day Canon cinema cameras share their DNA with the L1.

cant wait to see more ;)

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Wait until the holiday show! Santa stops by the lab again.

What a great channel I just found!

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Glad we found you as well. Thanks for watching!

Difficult to find one still working. I have a working L2 which is a tiny bit newer. Nice video.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

I have a Canon LX200 which is like an L2, but wrapped in black. It too still works though I can see some issues starting to crop up.

This was my middle school crush in the early 90s. Most 13 yr old boys are dreaming of other things. Me… it was an L1. I now have an L1 and L2 ❤

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Brian, I totally understand. Sony’s CCD-V8 was my “crush”. Way back when, I worked all summer flipping burgers to buy a new ‘V8 (yes, I’m that old). I was a rising junior in High School at the time.

What are you using for your audio recording? Really good quality

@davesretrovideolab2709

4 ай бұрын

Hey Bradley, I put a lot of care into the audio for my channel. I’m glad you noticed. The lab is a very noisy environment. I use a Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun mic, which is fed into a Sound devices 633 field mixer/recorder. Sound Devices audio equipment is legendary for having unbeatable limiters btw. The audio does not get recorded by the 633, however. The 633 mixer output is recorded into a computer. I use a MOTU M2 (usb-c mic input box) to feed the mixer audio into my media server which is driven by VMiX. When I edit the show, I drag and drop the media onto my Adobe Premier timeline. My voice track is always on track 1 of my project’s sequence. Track 1 already has a compressor applied. There’s no noise reduction unless there’s extra noise which was recorded on my voice track during the recording of the show. My channel has been up and running for four years now and over that time, I’ve gotten my audio workflow to where I truly set it and forget. I seldom have to adjust my voice track in the edit which saves me so much time. The whole process is truly plug and play.

is there a decent scan of that "A Guide to Video Camcorder Techniques" booklet online anywhere? I can't seem to find anything other than a couple physical copies on eBay in pretty poor condition.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

If I have time, I will try to scan mine. Maybe I can make retrievable through my KZread channel. I’ll keep you updated.

@GreaseBrain

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 Oh wow thanks, that'd be awesome, from the couple of low res pics on ebay it looks like there's a lotta cute art in there so it'd be cool to see

Love your videos, Dave, but that background electronic music loop in this one is very irritating, at least to me. Otherwise, no complaints and please keep up the great work!

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Craig! Admittedly, I’m not happy with the music either and will dump it after this video. I’ve been searching for better music, but so far I haven’t found a cut of music I like. Thanks for the input.

This camera was in a few movies from the 90s. The guy in the submarine on Titanic used one.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Yep it sure was. Though I think it may have been an L2 possibly?

Is that the same camera that was used in the submersible scenes by Bill Paxton's character in Titanic ?

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

It’s either a Canon L1 or an L2. I’m going to go with the L2 since that was sold closer to when the movie was filmed.

My L1 powers on but all I see is black. Any idea what could be the issue?

@davesretrovideolab2709

4 ай бұрын

Two words…bad caps. (Capacitors)

I have a love hate relationship with this camera. I bought 2, the one never turned on and the other one started smoking.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

I’ve purchased several L1s over the years, hoping just one might work. Well that didn’t happen. I will get my new/old L1 repaired however. In the long run it will be well worth it.

Dang!

Is it just me or, you review almost every camera I know. Anyways I’ve asked Saint Nick for a Sony dsr-250, and a Panasonic Omnimovie.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Rubin, I promise I’ll review a camera you don’t know. Btw, here’s a secret. We’re planning on recording an entire episode of DRVL with a VHS camcorder. The whole episode start to finish. 😬 That should be easy! Not!!!!

@DelCampoProductions.

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 Alright cool! Hope it goes well

Hm, I guess the inflated price sort of lines up with something like a full retail MSRP R5C. The more things change the more they stay the same.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

I typically find old camera prices on newspapers.com. I see what camcorders sold for back in the day by searching their model numbers and seeing when they were sold and for how much by viewing old newspapers ads for local stores and big box retailers.

this camera is featured in "Better Call Saul".

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

Oh I will have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.

@alexss3

6 ай бұрын

I think that's the XL1

Couldn't help but notice the JVC GY-HD100 on your shelf. Will you do a video about this more or less horrible camera and its less horrible younger brother, the GY-HD200/250?

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

The list of cameras to cover is quite extensive. 😅 When I can get around to it, I would like to check out the HD100.

@twoexem6548

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 Alright, I look forward to your future videos. By the way, do you have the Sony CCD-SP7/9 on your radar? They're quite bizarre camcorders, and definitely have a timeless design, but I haven't seen any tech channel talk about them. Another wish of mine would also be the Sony CCD-V6000E.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

The Sportscams are not on my radar, but certainly worth checking out just for the yellow color alone.

@twoexem6548

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 That's cool! I got the SP5, the European model, and it's a very interesting camera, but sadly all of them have crapcaps by now that need replacement. They're also essentially just the CCD-F340 in a big yellow shell with a different EVF.

Junk sorry boss

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

What’s one man’s “junk” is another man’s treasure.

@retropalooza

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 if it was only true

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

The camera is ultimately repairable so no need to right it off just yet.

@retropalooza

6 ай бұрын

@@davesretrovideolab2709 we joked in the industry when they broke down saying the unit was on Hi8US, then betacam SP came along and particalized the format

I watch you on 2x and it’s still too slow.

@davesretrovideolab2709

6 ай бұрын

And I’m thinking I’m going too fast. 😆