video-magazine-1987-06

TVRO Dish Revival | |.| | 37869 + Bh: JUNE 1987 Camcorder Shootout 9 Field Tests ‘Buying Guide lo 60 More New Hi-Tech r Video Toys Buster Keaton’s Comic Genius Do-It-Yourself Kidvid |06 70989 37869 BERGER-BRAITHWAITE VIDEO TESTS RCA VHS-C Camcorder Pioneer LaserVision Player . Mitsubishi VHS VCR ® Azden Wireless Mics ;

Bans BREAKS THE SOUND BARRIE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM MTTUSRNSTYEORUERO-OSRODNIINCARSYUPETVRSIYNSTTOEMAN Now that the networks—NBC, ABC, CBS and even 1O7-lo)-Usmolcol-loler-tillave keleyd-lat-Kol ae)colele-lii(a) dynamic stereo sound you can change your home TV viewing from dull to dynamic with one of Recoton’s FER.E.D.™ Family of MTS Decoders. Easy to install, each FR.E.D, Decoder thrusts the sound and action beyond your TV screen, delivering theater-like sound that’s purer and cleaner than the best Stereo TV on the market. Leading authority on audio Julian Hirsch commented in STEREO REVIEW Magazine, “ER.E.D....is a dramatic improvement in the quality of TV sound...can justify its addition to a home enter- tainment system.” VIDEO and VIDEO REVIEW Magazines also agree the F R.E.D. family of decoders transforms your ordinary TV into an up-to-date stereo center at a fraction of the cost of a new MTS Stereo TV. And FR.E.D. also synthesizes dynamic stereo sound from non-stereo broadcasts. Available in ampli- fied and non-amplified versions for use with a home audio system or self-powered speakers. Some models with SAP bi-lingual programming capability. So experience the F R.E.D. family—the greatest breakthrough in MTS Stereo technology. RECOTON’ THE PROVEN PERFORMERS Audio/Video Accessory Specialists 46-23 CRANE STREET, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101 1-800-RECOTON. For additional information, circle No. 1 on Reader Service Card.

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KRAMER 4503002 OKLAHOMA! 0054052 _| FLASHDANCE 2018142 BEVERLY HILLS COP 2053102 | A NIGHTMARE ON Sonetee THE FLY CADDYSHACK 6023002 _|ELM STREET 2 a [WITNESS —s—s_——séd~=s«4414052 [| ‘BLADE RUNNER 3104092 | THE RIGHT STUFF 6043062 ; Cs Oe 2021192 ee oe THE FLY (1986) SLEEPING BEAUTY RUTHLESS PEOPLE PURPLE RAIN A GENTLEMAN 5437022 5444032 2019052 3617172 4001272 WEST SIDE STORY 0505342 6049002 | FOOTLOOSE 6084062 | CABARET RE-ANIMATOR 4847092 | THE EMPIRE STRIKES 0910092 | THE KILLING FIELDS BACK PEE WEE'S —s'| COBRA 6201042 | WHITE NIGHTS 7814042 | PALE RIDER 6097012 | JANE FONDA’S 5112042 BIG ADVENTURE 6116082 | NEW WORKOUT 3555032 1527022 | 20,000 LEAGUES 5378032 ST. 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Volume XI, Number 3 Contents June 1987 56 51 68 Features Programming Departments The Great Camcorder News & Views Channel One Shootout of 1987 By Mark Fleischmann.........0....066+. 77 Year of the Camcorder...............006+- 6 Three writers each field test a VHS, a Compact VHS and an Reviews Fast Forward 8mm camcorder to evaluate the Little Shop of Horrors, She’s strengths and weaknesses of Gotta Have It, A Room with a A Format Named ED................ee00e 8 the leading shooting formats. View, Children of a Lesser God, Also, a buying guide to more Ferns Bueller's Day Off, Feedback than 70 additional models. Letters from Readers ............00.6.++ 10 By Steven Forbis, Ty Harrington Peggy Sue Got Married..........0....... 79 The Gazette and Martin Porter..........cccceeeeceeess 43 Directory Chloe Webb, Spike Jones, Where’s Buster? New Releases on Tape & Disc........ 88 Jackie Stewart, Arnold Palmer, Silent star Buster Keaton’s life Videotests Island Pictures was a contrast of comedy and Pioneer LD-S1 Reference Laser Edited by Ira Robbins.................... 12 tragedy. Now his film and tape Vision Player Top 40 legacy is a subject of controversy. By Frank Lovece..ccccccsecsesesescscvesee 51 Mitsubishi HR-422U VHS Hi-Fi VCR Tape & Disc Sales & Rentals ......... 14 New Products The Latest Géarncdcistcr cain 18 The New Video Toy Chest RCA CPR100 Compact VHS Camcorder Fine Tuning If you thought the last high-tech Azden WM-10/20/30 Wireless Video Questions & Answers........... 26 toy was your Erector set, look Microphones 96 TV Den again. VCRs and video By Berger-Braithwaite Labs . Video Life Spans games are reshaping childhood. ee 56 By Roderick Woodcock.......0000.....-+- 30 By LOUS Westen. sche ccs oes The Camcorner Do-It-Yourself Kidvid Shortcuts to Quality Edits Encourage your budding auteur By Roderick Woodcock................... 34 and enjoy a great family activity Video Bookshelf ‘Off Camera’ by making your own movies on tape. By Louis, Restenne esi is.37 By Catherine Cella ........ccccceccecceeee 64 Back from the Brink Audio Input Shape of Gear to Come Scrambling nearly obliterated the home satellite industry, but By [van Berger. ..cc.ccccccccccsccsssccsese 38 not quite. Dishes are bigger (and New Hi-Tech Off the Air smaller) than ever. Video Toys Wiring Mania By BOD Brewis BY Bop ANGUS? Miseehk oe 68 Buster Keaton's Comic Genius Video You Can Feel oi oiestccteteseccape 134 An ears-on look at a unique Do-It-Yourself Kidvid subwoofer that can put the About the Cover. Three camcorder for- mats (top to bottom: VHS, Compact VHS, rock back into rock’n’roll. A 8mm) present a real challenge to the con- sumer. Photography by Jay Brenner. powerhouse audio add-on. By Mark Fleischmann...........000006+. 73 4 Video June 1987

REE$L94 D9E5A°Ls , From small knowing smiles to great big belly a provocative and unforgettable film. laughs these fabulous four have it all! And the hilarious Robin Williams The zaniness of Mel Brooks’ “THE does what we all wish we could, relive our past PRODUCERS’ garnered the 1968 Academy in “THE BEST OF TIMES’ Award® for Best Screenplay. es Ne Oe ee ne eeesetOeurosmaizsor The riotous rip-off of Available May 27, 1987 . tmhaekersock“SmPuIsiNcALindTuAsPtr”y one *Suggested Retail Price. Prices may change without ‘pede apidteyare taie notice. Prices may vary in Canada. Artwork and design © Embassy Home Entertainment. ever made. re} o The Academy Award? is a registered trademark and sAennsiatlli.vsetasratciarset phon sargeanaservicemark of the Academy of Motion Picture make “CARNAL KNOWLEDGE” For additional information, circle No. 2 on Reader Service Card.

Channel One Editor Judith H. Sawyer Year of the Camcorder Managing Editor Stan Pinkwas It’s hard to believe that as recently as January, 1981 VIDEO Magazine described Technical Editor Lancelot Braithwaite “the camera-and-VCR-in-one combination” as the “most wanted unavailable prod- West Coast Editor Roderick Woodcock ct.” It wasn’t until mid-1983, in fact,that Sony came out with the first camcord- Senior Editor Ira Robbins er—the BMC-110 or Betamovie. Yet another year was to pass before models in other formats appeared: JVC’s GR-C1U Compact VHS and Kodak’s Series 2000 Associate Editor Lou Kesten 8mm. (G.E. had announced an 8mm model that January, but Kodak’s hit the market first.) And April 1985 had rolled around before the first full-sized camcorder, the Assistant Editors Adam Philips Panasonic PV100 Omnivision, debuted. Dan Wishnoff Since then, the number of models and brands has taken a quantum leap. Now, Contributing Editors just two short years later, some 80 different models in three formats and one Ivan Berger, Bob Brewin, Steve Daly subformat, by about 30 manufacturers, are available. And more are on the way, Samsung’s 4mm unit among them. To help cut through the confusion, we bring you (Directory), Mark Fleischmann, the “Great Camcorder Shootout of 1987.” Here, in addition to an up-to-the-minute Doug Garr, Frank Lovece, buyer’s guide, three writers field-test nine camcorders in three formats. Their candid comments should help you focus on your own needs, so you will know what Tim Onosko, Murray Slovick ; to look for, and what questions to ask before you buy. Art Director Lonnie Heller There is in addition a further option, introduced only this April at the Internation- al Toy Fair in New York. We think of it as the “kidcorder,” but it’s billed by its Asst. Art Director Patricia Quon manufacturer, Fisher-Price, as Pixelvision, the “camcorder for kids.” The picture quality is nothing to write home about—11 minutes of grainy black & white video on Art Assistant Julie Thurer audio cassettes—but at $150 it may not be a bad deal, even for adults. To find out more about this and a new generation of innovative video toys, from interactive Typesetting Janet M. Holland robots to child-size media dens, turn to “The Video Toy Chest.” Editorial Assistant Lily Schwartzberg With the camcorder-kid connection established, we go a step further with Catherine Cella’s “Do-It-Yourself Kidvid,” an entertaining account of how to shoot REESE home videos with your kids—with the child in the director’s seat. It includes tips on q » COMMUNICATIONS auxiliary equipment, props, story ideas, scenarios, and more, from a family that dared to do it. @ NCORPORATED On the home-viewing front, “Where’s Buster” by Frank Lovece takes an President and Jay Rosenfield aficionado’s look at the long, tumultuous career of Buster Keaton and why, despite Managing Director renewed interest, only a handful of his classic comedies are available on tape. In “Back from the Brink,” long-time industry analyst Bob Angus brings you the latest Publisher Debra Halpert word on home dish systems: the new equipment and features, how good they are, what they cost to own and operate, and the prognosis for the future. Production Manager Linda M. Vallely Finally, we'd like to welcome Wolf Schneider as a contributor to “The Gazette.” Production Assistant Lisa Paisal Schneider, who is on the staff of The Hollywood Reporter, will keep readers up to date on West Coast video developments. Circulation Director Joseph Muccigrosso 6 Video June 1987 Circulation Manager Rena Adler Fulfillment Manager Sue Wirtz Financial Officer Albert Mineo Business Manager Janette Evans Assistant to the Gabrielle Macari President National Editorial 460 West 34 Street & Sales N.Y., N.Y. 10001 (212) 947-6500 National Eric C. Schwartz Advertising Director Promotion Manager Luanne Rao Ad Coordinator Noel Boyle East Coast Sales Beth Cahill Linda DeRogatis Classified Sales Janet Rubin Midwest Sales Milton Gerber, Gerber & Associates, 1309 North Rand Rd., Arlington Heights, Ill. 60004 (312) 253-7500 West Coast Sales Sales Manager: Deborah Kern. Adv. Asst.: Ellyn Rubin, 16661 Ventura Blvd., Encino, Calif. 91436 (818) 905-5303 VIDEO (ISSN 0147-8907) is published monthly by Reese Communications Inc., 460 West 34th Street, New York, N.Y. 10001. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. and additional mailing office. ‘ 1987 by Reese Communications Inc. All rights reserved. ‘ under Universal, International, and Pan American Copyright peat! Reproduction of edito- rial or pictorial c t in any manner is prohibited. Single ?2.00 Sterling in U.K. 12.00; Canada $16.00 S. Address subscription orders, change of add correspondence and inquiries to: VIDEO, P. O. Box Boulder, Colorado 80322- 6293. Change of addre' 60 days to process: send old address label, new address, and zip code. All material listed in this magazine is subject to manufacturer's change without notice, and publisher assumes no responsibility for such change. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send Address changes to VIDEO, P. O. Box 56293, Boulder, Colorado 80322-6293,

MAXELL. THE TAPE THAT LASTS AS LONG AS THE LEGEND. He was inarticulate and eloquent. A generation of adolescent rebellion expressed in surly manners and sensitive speech. He left behind a small but remarkable legacy of work. At Maxell, we help you preserve his films, with tapes that are manufactur- ed up to 60% above industry standards. Tapes that will deliver the same great quality and clarity after 500 plays. So as long as there are rebels without causes there will be the movies of James Dean to reflect their struggles and light their ways. © 1986 Maxell Corporation ot America, 60 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, N.J. 07074. Art by Guy Fery. © 1986 The James Dean Foundation c/o Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis.

Fast Forward Edited By Stan Pinkwas Late-Breaking News A Format have not been an- They're targeting 235 ti- shelves, Zenith hopes it Named ED nounced. tles available as pirated will prompt a new spe- videotapes, some of cies of integrated, satel- In the beginning was The thumbs-up comes which, they claim, were lite-friendly TVs. Beta. And Beta begat from industry guru Jos- on tape here before they VHS, and VHS begat Su- eph Roizen. Roizen, presi- were in theaters in the TV Renters Add perBeta, and SuperBeta dent of Telegen, a broad- Soviet Union. “The situa- Decks and Cams begat HQ, and HQ begat cast consulting firm, told tion is so dangerous to Hi-Band, and Hi-Band be- a recent meeting of the our interests that we TV rental stores, many gat Super VHS. And now International Tape/Disc need the help of Ameri- of which now offer there’s ED (“extended Association that the Su- can lawyers,” said Oleg camcorders, are finding definition”) Beta, Sony’s per VHS system he had Rudnev, chairman of that more consumers are response to JVC’s format- seen in Japan delivered Sovietexportfilm, Russia’s asking for VCRs and oth- boosting innovation. an “almost unbelievable” national film sales er kinds of video equip- improvement in lumi- agency. ment, according to a re- Due in Japan this nance resolution, and port by the Association of fall, with no U.S. date “proadcast-quality pic- Bar Code Progressive Rental Or- yet scheduled, ED Beta re- tures...the likes of which Beachhead ganizations. The study al- portedly delivers 500 one only expects to see so found that the most lines of horizontal reso- on a studio monitor in a VCRs able to read bar ‘popular TV rental is a lution (to Super VH8’s broadcast station or codes may soon appear 19-inch color portable, 430) using a metal parti- post-production house.” here in models by Pan- cle-type tape. Like Super He concluded by calling asonic, Quasar, and Mag- for an average price of VHS, it will cost more, be Super VHS a “giant step” navox. The system, al- $43 per month. only partially compatible in the effort to deliver ready available in Japan, with the present format, high-quality television uses a wireless wand to Hollywood Bound and require TVs with images. scan programming infor- separate luminance and mation printed in bar Despite the feisty inde- chrominance inputs to Cassette code form. The wand pendence of the country’s fully display its prowess. Countdown then transmits the data video rental stores, home Sony’s announcement by infrared signals to the video and broadcast video sets the stage for yet an- Alfredo Leone and Joe VCR. The system has the are still dominated by a other round of format Synder seem to have in- potential to eliminate relatively small group of wars, though at a rarefied vented a video improve- much of the complexity film studios. According to level since it may be ment no one wants. The of programming VCRs. the National Cable Televi- some time before these film producer and engi- However, hardware mak- sion Association, the sev- twin advances signifi- neer have crafted a vid- ers have yet to convince en film companies— cantly erode the posi- eotape cassette that can publishers, including TV Twentieth Century Fox, tions of Beta and VHS as count the number of Guide, to publish pro- Columbia, MGM/UA, we know them now. times it’s played, but they gram listings in bar code Warner Bros., Paramount, have yet to convince a form. The obstacle, say MCA (Universal), and Super TVs film studio or video dis- publishers, is that U.S. Disney—that garnered 62 For Super VHS tributor to try the device. TV listings are too com- percent of 1985’s video- Hurdles include fears of plicated. Of course, that’s cassette receipts also net- Super VHS, meanwhile, upsetting existing busi- partly why timers are ted 73 percent of the box should benefit from some ness relationships, driv- hard to handle. office take, 39 percent of new product announce- ing up tape rental prices, the syndicated TV epi- ments and a ringing en- and angering consumers Zenith’s Dish sodes, and 37 percent of dorsement. The products who like to watch pre- Expectations network television’s li- are four color TVs JVC recorded films or scenes cense fees in 1986. more than once. Zenith, the only compa- will introduce, initially in ny with a console TV able Sixth Sense Russia Challenges to decode teletext trans- Japan, with “S” termin- U.S. Tape Pirates missions, has unveiled a Add Konica to the als for separate lumi- 27-inch “concept” stereo blank tape companies of- nance and chrominance Even as Soviet citizens TV that can receive satel- fering discounts in the lines for Super VHS (and are gaining access under lite transmissions, decode form of free cassettes. presumably ED Beta) the new policy of glas- scrambled stations, posi- Videophiles buying a five- VCRs. The sets, ranging nost, or openness, to tion a backyard dish, and pack of Konica’s SR VHS from 19 to 27 inches, once-banned films, Soviet operate a VCR. Though T-120 tape through July will also include MTS, officials are cracking this particular model can get a sixth cassette surround sound proces- down on Russian films may never see dealer free by sending in distributed in the U.S. proofs of purchase. sors, and horizontal reso- lutions up to 560 lines. US. plans for the TVs 8 Video June 1987



Feedback Readers Air Their Views How Super Is It? collection is not “rotting,” discs that that differs from Pioneer's injection mold- ing technique. Steven Stumbris is also We all knew Super VHS would come were bad were replaced by Pioneer right about Sheena and half-right about sooner or later (“Super VHS—A Great without question, and the hardware and Greystoke. The latter disc’s laser rot was Leap Forward?,” Apr. 1987). What software continue to get better. Also, compounded by a poor pressing. we seem to have is a new tape for- with the addition of your “New Video- mat not fully compatible with existing disc Releases” section in the “Directo- Amos n’ Adolf VHS machines, and with a technology ry,” laser video is starting to get the at- that forces tape producers to deal with tention it deserves. Ron Gustafson I found Scott Isler’s critique of “Amos n’ multiple recording methods, two types Cassadaga, N.Y. Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy” (Feb. of VHS tape and three high performance ’87) insulting. Comparing Nazi Germany audio recording/playback approaches. I thought your article on laser rot was with Amos n’ Andy is outlandish. The quite even-handed. I am also pleased Murray Slovick’s optimism is unwarrant- with Pioneer’s long-range commitment show was intended to make us laugh. to guarantee the durability of its soft- Kingfish’s wild schemes are no different ed. It may take five to ten years for Su- ware. However, I do not think it is fair to characterize as “fastidious” consum- per VHS to become accepted. By then, than Ralph Kramden’s, his con games ers who object to continuing problems are like Sgt. Bilko’s, and the exaggerat- we will have high definition and probably with inclusion and speckling. Videodiscs laser-based digital videodisc recorders. manufactured by 3M have no such de- ed black dialect is no more offensive In the end it will be the confused con- fects and imports from Japan have very here than in Sanford and Son and Good little. Pioneer’s Carson, Calif. plant is sumer who loses. Hal Ryman still number three and must try harder. Times. Marc Leichter e Bethesda, Md. Bob Stephens Rockaway, N.Y. Murray Slovick’s Super VHS report San Francisco, Calif. Rear View Review reads like a JVC public relations tract. Where have you guys been? The rear- How can we believe an article where the view video monitors used in Japanese information is “according to JVC,” given buses (“Fast Forward,” Apr. ’87) have the company’s false claim that SuperBeta been in U.S. airports for at least five was incompatible with existing Beta ma- chines? The term Super VHS suggests a Your research for “Laser Rot” seems in- years. At Boston’s Logan International similarity to SuperBeta, but Super VHS complete. The article implies that Dono- recordings cannot be played back on Airport, buses so equipped take you to van Scott had trouble with laser rot on present VHS machines while there are the LaserDisc of Sheena. This was not and from the terminal building and the no compatibility problems with the Be- the case. Sheena suffered from pressing tas. In reality Super VHS is a new for- auto rental area. Barry Jay Schwartz problems that induced color loss. Next, mat, and Slovick’s prediction that pre- Greystoke suffered from crosstalk, not la- Bala-Cynwyd, Penn. recorded Super VHS cassettes are soon ser rot for the most part. TechniDisc’s pressings of Alvin Rides Again, Aveng- Details, Details... to come is a large assumption. ing Angel, Heart of the Stag, and other films suffered from this problem as well Based upon the glowing review of the Thomas E. Hilton as video noise. Third, there are reports Sony CCD-V110 8mm camcorder that laser rot can be seen under a micro- Brooklyn, N.Y. (“Videotests,” Dec. ’87), I added it to scope though results have not been pub- my inventory of three Sony CCD-V8AF/ Laser Rot Talk lished. In the case of TechniDisc, the AFU camcorders. But the review failed Thanks for airing what is known about rot appeared to be fungal growth that to mention that when you use macro to laser rot (“Laser Rot,” Apr. ’87). I was developed from the glue. bitten by the laser bug five years ago transfer prints or 8mm movies, you can’t and find it difficult to accept less. Fortu- The LaserDisc Corporation has asked nately, I’ve never experienced any laser dealers to accept faulty discs from cus- disconnect the built-in microphone to cut deterioration in a collection exceeding tomers that are new purchases, but to out projector noise. Nor did you mention 300 titles. Hats off to Pioneer for its fair direct discs that have become faulty to that once you set the camera down it and generous exchange policy. That’s LDC itself, not the stores. It is unfair to can’t be turned on because the on/off what I call backing your product. If Pio- write about a problem with discs and button is on the hand grip. neer can support its product to this ex- limit the focus to California stores. tent, I can afford to be supportive. James Bartman Steven Stumbris Port Charlotte, Fla. Ernie Gitti San Francisco, Calif. Vice Pres., Budget Video, Inc. Correction Los Angeles, Calif. Thanks for your informative and accu- The price for Instant Replay’s Image rate article, “Laser Rot.” I am an au- Rod Woodcock and Marc Wielage reply: Translator VHS VCR (“New Products,” dio-videophile addicted to the laser video Bob Stephens is right, 3M has not had Mar. ’87) should have read $1,995. format, and my own observations con- problems with laser rot—a fact we should firm those in your article. Although my have emphasized—targely, we believe, be- VIDEO welcomes your comments and questions. cause the company uses a pressing process Please do not enclose self-addressed envelopes with 10 Video June 1987 letters as the volume of mail does not permit personal replies. All letters may be edited for clarity and space. Address correspondence to Feedback, VIDEO Magazine, 460 West 34th Street, New York, N.Y. 10001.

SOMETIHMAESS ATHFEEWMATNHIWNGHSO THOAOS MEAVNEYR.YTHING iiar=\\(s¥o1e)a= ©1010(>)paniianare) ia.) Fisher® VCR, even supervise a Central with more functions- all those components in your system. Sony® Trinitron® TV. Simply placeit model RRC6O0O. PNhistessAicanrenicsiian ele mie aaae| ts time to show your com- head to head with trying to find the rigonhe wthen ponents who's in control, almost any infraredre- you neeitdcan really test your With the GE Control Central self-control. mote,prestshematch- ing buttons,anditlearns remote. That's why General Electric® the operating codes in See your nearest GE dealer dehypolapara seal — o beni sale Lsignd for more information. tcihpaate(d-o4e@)sat.=h3ewoalricelk(=e ot(fgha=rreee). ay = —ey /oefntyioruersyshtaenmdi,nthe palm We bring good thingtsolife. Evief thney‘re not GE's. Andif your system . Bs C See, we're not afraid to | changes, Control Central turn off a few competi- / will change right with it, : eee elanaainenemela anus ion@) gl(anial~ aake)ancce) = / addition. Control Central can powera Pioneer®audio For those with more compo- system, fast forward a “ nents, we present the Control :a Fisher, Sony andTrinitron are sagistered trademat Pioneer, otAmerica, ronpoctivey. : & ‘AREGISTERED TRADEMARK OFGENERAL ELECTAIC COMPANY. elesorlbetar. FonerCort andBoryComoration See For additional information, circle No. 3 on Reader Service Card.

Tin Can sance. Early this year a Alle group of musicians enjoyed a two-month New York club re you ready for the Spike Jones and His City Slickers stand by carefully—but hilari- Spike Jones revival? ously—recreating City Slick- In the 1940s and ear- reissued The Best of Spike five years old,” Clott says, ers arrangements. And last ly ’50s Spike perfected a Jones Vol. 1 video; volume apparently proudly. “The hu- two is imminent, with more mor is very much today, as year saw the publication of a madcap musical style that programs planned after that. much as Monty Python— painstakingly researched, lambasted pop tunes and off-the-wall, very fun- 400-page “bio-discography” classical repertoire with equal Credit Paramount’s Tim ny.” The videotapes, from of the man who brought car abandon. A man for all media, Clott for getting the tape into 1950s TV shows, aren’t the Spike paid as much atten- video stores. “I’ve been a only signs of a Jones renais- horns, train bells, police tion to the visual as the aural Spike Jones fan since I was whistles, and tuned Flit guns aspect of his performances. (not to mention revolvers, a A couple of years ago his stethoscope, and a toilet seat) to the concert hall. son, Spike Jr., assembled a 50-minute videocassette Jones died in 1965, but his proving that Spike Jones and son sees home video as cre- ating a “marketplace for non- His City Slickers were as ‘A’ title material. People’s much fun to watch as to tastes are becoming more hear. Now Paramount has varied.” What would Spike Sr. think of all the newfound attention? “He’d be floored,” Jones Jr. says. “It astounds me.” —Scott Isler Sid’s handle the role? “You get a facts and personalities of the character like Nancy going Nancy and it coats your mind. You Sex Pistols, Webb explains, instinctively do the right The friendly, intelligent thing.” During the 11-week “The story is true to the es- voice on the telephone sounds nothing like the de- shoot, she (and Gary Old- sence of those two-people, ranged screech/whine of Nan- man, who played Sid Vicious) cy Spungen, co-headliner of “didn’t leave character except not the Pistols or the spirit of Alex Cox’s gloomy punk- to sleep.” love-and-drugs story, Sid & punk.” How Sid and Nancy Nancy. Yet both belong to Webb found making the Chloe Webb. Having so little picture “pretty depressing,” saw themselves was “way in common with the tragic re- a physical and emotional al-life figure she portrays, it’s out of line with reality,” she amazing Webb could convinc- drain. “It was mad, very ingly inhabit such an unfamil- wearing. Sid & Nancy was remarks; viewers must “en- iar persona. How did she extremely difficult to make; ter their world and see things everyone had queasy feelings from their point of view.” about it.” Discounting criti- cisms that director Cox With her first starring ap- played fast and loose with the pearance newly released on videocassette, Webb is wast- ing no time. She’s already completed The Belly of an Architect with Brian Dennehy and has other films in the works. —Ira Robbins 12 Video June 1987

Video Cram Course low-budget, sexist (lotsa leg- gy cheesecake), racist, and For graduates of Classics Titles currently available in sometimes even of musical Comics, Cliff Notes has long merit. “We picked the ones the series include A Tale of we thought were the most been the textbook of choice Two Cities, The Scarlet Let- fun,” says Dan O’Donnell, by late, lazy, or impatient stu- ter, Crime and Punishment, co-producer of the videotape. Hamlet, and The Iliad. Each O’Donnell discovered Sound- dents. Best Film and Video 40-minute tape is narrated by ies through Howard Hays, di- has now modernized the con- an actor in costume who rector of commercial services cept with Classic Books on gives a breakdown of the plot at the UCLA Film Archives. Video. The reasoning is sim- and leads into enactments of Hays knew someone with an ple—since many of today’s critical scenes. There are extensive collection of the college students grew up also two breaks in films, which—unlike the mu- with Sesame Street and the which the narrator suggests sic—are in the public domain. like, they're attuned to using questions for viewers to So the choice of clips, admits the TV as a source of knowl- think about in upcoming O'Donnell, “is based on what scenes. The tapes, now we could get clearance on edge. And few would dis- available in campus book- musically.” stores, go for $19.95 apiece. agree that watching TV, That would explain the ab- —Adam Philips sence from Volume 1 of Duke even Masterpiece Theatre, Ellington, Count Basie, and is easier than slogging Fats Waller, among the big through Dostoevski. name artists who made Arnold zzie Nelson and Law- Palmer rence Welk didn’t need their MTV (or Tape should we say VH-1)—they Tour and hundreds of other musical acts had “Soundies.” A World War II-era phenomenon, Soundies. O’Donnell is plan- Soundies were song clips made on 16mm film to be ning future volumes that one shown in a visual jukebox hopes will include such acts. called a Panoram. Long for- gotten by most people, Ac- In the meantime, you can tive Home Video has now check out Spade Cooley’s brought the shorts back to the small screen with an western swing, Larry Clin- hour-long tape compilation. Soundies Volume 1 makes ton’s big band, the Hoosier a good primer for music-clip Hot Shots, and the Harlem archaeologists. The films are Cuties among the 20 clips now in permanent rotation on Soundies Volume 1. —Scott Isler nstructional golf video For Arnie, who has written The Two Percent Solution I has become so prevalent four prior golf instructionals, video is by far the preferred A new industry survey pro- changes in the distribution that it lacks any news teaching tool. But he doesn’t process itself. value, unless the golfer mak- feel his video release will di- jects that sales of videocas- ing the tape is Arnold Palm- minish book sales. “The vid- Amazingly, at least two er. Which is precisely what eos will supplement the settes—that’s sales, not he was doing in February at book, rather than make it ob- rentals—will hit the 100 mil- percent of that 100 million his spectacular new Isleworth solete,” he says. “While al- figure will come from Top Golf & Country Club in Or- most every American is using lion mark this year, rising to Gun, which shipped 1.9 mil- lando, Florida, where joining video now for educational 235 million by decade’s end. lion copies to start. The pre- costs $25,000 and annual purposes or whatever, the The leap results in part vious record holder, Indiana dues run $2,100. Also news- need for reading—as well as from the growing proportion worthy is the co-venture be- viewing—will always be of homes that now have Jones and the Temple of tween Vestron Video, which there. Some people may get Doom, sold 1.4 million. Top will release two cassettes of more value out of one or the VCRs, which is heading to- Gun’s low cost, and its hand- Palmer’s Play Great Golf this wards 50 percent. The re- in-hand ad campaign with month, and Dolphin/Double- other, but I think they’ll ben- port also cited dropping pric- day, which will publish a com- efit the most by combining Pepsi-Cola, helped boost panion book shortly thereafter. the two.” —Jim Bessman es, the larger number of spe- sales into the stratosphere. cial interest tapes sold through specialty stores, and —Adam Philips June 1987 Video 13

on Island’s 1961, when Chris Blackwell, lease ten or eleven films, later the founder of Island producing at least half itself. Cathy Tyson and Bob Hoskins in ‘Mona Lisa.’ The schedule includes a ro- Records (Traffic, Cat Ste- mantic comedy, Sweet Lies, ool. Happening. (also produced for less than with Treat Williams, Joanna C Auteur-oriented yet vens, Bob Marley), became a Pacula, and Julianne Phil- $2 million, it has earned over producer’s assistant on Dr. lips—Mrs. Bruce Springsteen commercial. On a roll. That’s Island Pictures, the $8 million), and the really No. These days, the (“Her screen test was good,” film company behind such off- surprising hit, She’s Gotta beat successes as Kiss of the Have It. Produced for just globe-trotting executive con- assures Beaton); Straight to Spider Woman (made for less $175,000, Spike Lee’s sex tinues to run the label and Hell, a take-off on spaghetti than $2 million, it grossed drops in on his L.A. film Westerns from Sid & Nancy $18 million-plus at the box of- comedy has already made $8 director Alex Cox, starring fice and shipped platinum on million. company one week each Joe Strummer, Grace Jones, videocassette), Mona Lisa Dennis Hopper, and Elvis The genesis of Holly- month to approve projects. wood’s hottest independent While he’s away, president Costello; director Wayne Wang’s Slam Dance, a Hitch- film company dates back to Russell Schwartz and senior cockian thriller with Tom Hulce (Amadeus) and Harry VP of production Jesse Dean Stanton; and Jimmy Beaton mind the shop with a Reardon, in which River free-spirited outlook they in- Phoenix (Stand By Me, The herited from Blackwell. “We want to make films that Mosquito Coast) stars as an would probably not be made 18-year-old coming of age in 1963. All will ultimately be at the studios,” says the 35- released on home video by year-old Beaton. “They’ve CBS/Fox. —Wolf Schneider got to have commercial via- bility, and at the same time be artistically interesting and somewhat daring.” This year Island will re- TOP 40 SALES AND RENTALS ie Aliens (—). 1986. 138m. (R) : 1. Top Gun (—). 1986. 110m. : 1. Sleeping Beauty (—). 1959. : 1. Sleeping Beauty (1). 1959. : 75m. (G) LV $34.95. Disney. $89.98. CBS/Fox. : (R) $26.95. Paramount. : 2. The Karate Kid Part Il (1). : 75m. (G) $29.95. Disney. : 2. Pinocchio (2). 1940. 87m. 2. Back to School (1). 1986. : 2. Jane Fonda’s Low Impact 97m. (PG-13) $79.95. HBO/ : Aerobic Workout (1). 1986. : 1986. 113m. (PG) LV $29.95. : (G) $29.95. Disney. Cannon. 3. Top Gun (—). 1986. 110m. : 50m. $39.95. Karl. :: 3R.C9A/C1o/l2umWbeieak.s (—). 1986. : 8. Dumbo (4). 1941. 64m. : 93. Jane Fonda’s New Workout : $29.95. Disney. (R) $26.95. Paramount. : (2). 1985. 90m. $39.95. Karl. : 116m. (R) LV $34.95. MGM/ : 4. Alice in Wonderland (3). 4. Ruthless People (—). 1986. : 4. Callanetics (4). 1986. 60m. =. UAs : 1951. 75m. (G) $29.95. Dis- 94m. (R) $79.95. Touchstone. 5. The Karate Kid Part Ill (2). : $19.95. MCA. : 4. Labyrinth (2). 1986. 116m. - ney. 1986. 113m. (PG) $79.95. : 5. Aliens (—). 1986. 138m. (R): (PG) LV $34.95. Embassy. ae The Sword in the Stone (6). + 1963. 79m. (G) $79.98. Dis- RCA/Columbia. : $89.98. CBS/Fox. : 5. Running Scared (—). 1986. : ney. 6. Running Scared (—). 1986. : 6. Sleeping Beauty (3). 1959. > 107m. (R) LV $39.95. MGM/ : 6. Robin Hood (5). 1973. 83m. 107m. (R) $79.95. MGM/UA. 7. About Last Night (—). 1986. : 75m. (G) $29.95. Disney. eA : (G) $29.95. Disney. 113m. (R) $79.95. RCA/ : 7. Help! (—). 1965. 90m. (G) : 6. Young Sherlock Holmes (6). : 7. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Columbia. 8. Heartburn (—). 1986. 109m. : $69.95. MPI. : 1986. 109m. (PG-13) LV : Too (8). 1974. 25m. $14.95. : Disney. : 8. Kathy Smith’s Body Basics + $39.95. Paramount. : 8. Teddy Ruxpin: Escape From : (8). 1985. 60m. $29.95. JCI. : 7. Howard the Duck (—). 1986. (R) $79.95. Paramount. : 9. Star Wars (9). 1977. 121m. : 111m. (PG) LV $34.98. MCA. 9. Big Trouble in Little China : (PG) $29.98. CBS/Fox. : 8. Indiana Jones and the Tem- : the Treacherous Mountains (5). 1986. 99m. (PG-13) : 10. The Secrets of the Titanic $79.98. CBS/Fox. : ple of Doom (3). 1984. 118m. : ©). 1986. 35m. $12.95. Hi- 10. Extremities (8). 1986. 89m. : (5). 1986. 60m. $29.95. Ves- > (PG) LV $39.95. Paramount. : Tops. : tron. : 9. Winnie the Pooh and the (R) $79.95. Paramount. : 9. Armed and Dangerous (—). : Blustery Day (—). 1968. 25m. + $14.95. Disney. > 1986. 88m. (PG-13) LV : $29.95. RCA/Columbia. : 10. Back to the Future (8). + 10. Teddy Ruxpin: Guest of the > 1985. 116m. (PG) LV $34.98. Grunges (—). 1986. 35m. : MCA. $12.95. Hi-Tops. Number in parentheses indicates position last month; (—) indicates a new listing. Copyright 1987 by Billboard Publications. Reprinted by permission. 14 Video June 1987

HIT MAN. Here's Bronson at his sure-fire best. IN RELUCTANT RyTHEy WERE REELU, a When terrorists set their sights on the A on HEIR ives ares First Lady, he’s hired to protect her. But here nobody to protect him from the first lady. Starring with his wife, Jill Ireland, Bronson is more Bronson than ever: tough but tender. Everything you want him to be. Here’s the Assassination you won't want to miss. Bronson's back and he's a sure-fire hit. Now available on videocassette. © dikahe CANNON ,, a! hon ENTER MNMIENTa:e ua GGtOLAN-Gn LOpgusr=“even LesAngele NONGROUP INC.,, SSASS INATION .. DBLOSME. Oooow missiClose aeaia ned obthe National Captioning Institute. For additiaonal ix nformation, circle No. 6 on

WEST COAST NOTES By Wolf Schneider Take Your Turn With Jackie Stewart “Wasany 't 9-1/2 : eeks ehind the Wheel with to listen to me.” B Jackie Stewart (Karl) Enough for Him? And why not? As he re- gives video viewers minded us while flooring it Sexy Mickey Rourke (Year “X” rating. Why? It seems the low-down on when to around the track, he didn’t of the Dragon, The Pope of the censors got overly excit- brake (going into the turn— spill a single drop of blood by the time you reach the during his hectic 12-year rac- Greenwich Village, Rumble- ed at a lovemaking scene be- apex you should be acceler- ing career. Since retiring fish) never took off more tween Rourke and Cosby kid ating again), how to corner from racing (“I burned out; than his shirt in 9-1/2 with optimum gravity, and I'd been doing the same thing Weeks, yet that tale of Lisa Bonet. Actually, the how to avoid making people since I was 23”), Stewart has carsick when you're behind become a television sports sexual obsession was consid- scene in question contains no the wheel. Driving around commentator, a Ford (spon- ered so steamy that scenes frontal nudity or explicit sex, the Sears Point International sors of his videocassette) en- Raceway with the three-time gineering consultant, member were edited out for the mov- but rather “artistic innuen- World Formula 1 Champion- of the board of directors for do,” according to director ie’s theatrical run. Rourke’s newest film, Angel Heart, al- Alan Parker. No word yet if so had to be cut to avoid an the IVE video release will re- store the deleted footage. Alan Parker's controversial ‘Angel Heart.’ Tina Turner’s Traffic Jam When Tina Turner headed pass on stunts, but that’s Jackie Stewart flashes a winning smile. out to Indio, Calif. to shoot about all. “She came to work the music video for “What in complete make-up and ship Grand Prix race driver Moet et Chandon cham- You Get Is What You See,” wardrobe at all times and at 115 mph, though, we had pagne and Rolex watches, it made the front page of the was always prompt,” says an little time to contemplate the and owner of the Gleneagles local newspaper and drew on-sight source involved with subtleties of his “formula fi- resort in Scotland. The mul- hundreds of vehicles to the the costly (six-figure) music nesse” technique. Later, ti-millionaire—who has nine roadside market on Highway video clip. “She always gave over lunch, the energetic 48- VCRs in his Geneva home— 86, blocking traffic for miles. a completely energetic per- year old explained why he is says Porsches and Mercedes The crew stayed at the Best formance. Between takes, sharing his techniques on are “probably the best en- Western Date Tree Motel, she would stop for photo- home video. “I saw the op- gineered cars” but that while Turner and her entou- graphs and autographs.” How portunity to improve driving. America now builds cars as rage commuted from the did Turner look in real life, I think people are prepared well as or better than Japan. Palm Springs Hilton. Was the under harsh desert sun? R&B/rock queen a prima “She looks better in per- donna? She prudently took a son, absolutely phenomenal.” 16 Video June 1987

A4 ni@ghtmare of horror so shocking, To Y youllscream grotesque JEANNE CRAIN In The Night God Screamed Produced By ED CARLIN and GIL LASKY Directed By LEE MADDEN Written By GIL LASKY and A. LASKY | guNNIN0GGTIN#E429 5AN son Enter No. 27 on Reader Service Card PREBOOK DATE: MAY 29 STREET DATE: JUNE 11

New Products Edited By Louis Kesten Samsung's VR6600F VHS HQ VCR Samsung Shows Its First Hi-Fi Stereo VCR The new VR6600F VHS HQ VCR is auto still release, auto rewind, picture Hitachi's CT-1365 13-inch TV Samsung’s first to offer hi-fi stereo au- search in SP, LP, and EP, and one- dio recording and playback along with an touch recording. The remote operates di- MTS decoder. The two-head machine rect-access and channel up/down tuning. has 14-day/6-event programming and Price: $650. 110-channel, cable-compatible, frequency For additional information, synthesis tuning. Other features include circle no. 150 on Reader Service Card. Chinon’s Pocket 8 camcorder Hitachi's CT-2066 20-inch TV Chinon Camcorder Shows Selective Autofocus Hitachi Offers New 20- and 13-Inch TVs Chinon’s second U.S. camcorder is an level, white balance, and the focus zone. 8mm model weighing only 3.3 pounds Editing features include an insert edit Hitachi’s CT-2066 20-inch TV features with battery. The C8-C60 Pocket 8 fea- function and automatic fade. The Pocket random access electronic tuning from a tures selective triple-stage autofocusing 8 also features 4-second scene review, wireless remote, onscreen displays for that allows the user to focus on small or dual microphone pickups, and one-touch last channel, channel, and volume, an off moving objects within the focal zone. A autofocus when in manual focus. Acces- timer, a tinted picture tube and jacks for focal zone indicator frame flashes if the sories include a one-hour battery, an AC MTS and audio and video inputs. The subject inside the frame is not in focus. adapter, an A/V connector, a VHF con- model CT-2065 shares the same fea- The Pocket 8’s f/1.2 lens zooms from 9 nector, an earphone, and a shoulder ‘tures except for the jacks. mm to 54 and has macro capability and strap. low light sensitivity down to 7 lux. The CT-1365 13-inch TV features a Price: $1,895. 12-function remote, electronic tuning, The 2/3-inch black & white viewfinder onscreen channel and volume displays, has displays for recording, battery, light For additional information, an off timer and an earphone. circle no. 151 on Reader Service Card. 18 Video June 1987 Prices: CT-2066, $599; CT-2065, $549; CT-1365, $429. For additional information, circle no, 152 on Reader Service Card.

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OMB New Products Authorized Liquidator Samsung’s 20-inch 7C€2023S TV FAMOUS NAME VHS Samsung's STEREO VCR w/REMOTE First Stereo TV Discover New Entertainment Horizons Samsung’s 20-inch TC2023S TV fea- square-cornered tube and comb filter to ss»with this name brand, 2-head VHS tures an MTS/SAP decoder, a stereo reduce picture distortion. Other features Stereo VCR that boasts great sound, plus amplifier, and two front-mounted speak- include onscreen channel and time dis- vivid picture clarity! Due to our special ers. A stereo audio output allows con- plays, a wireless remote with program- arrangement with the manufacturer, this nection to external speakers, and stereo mable skip memory, picture sharpness factory new unit comes to you at a LOW headphones can be connected to a jack control, and two audio/video inputs. liquidation price. We can't printthe famous on the front of the set. The TV has maker’s name. But call Toll-Free, 1-800- 139-channel, cable-compatible frequen- Price: $500. 328-0609 and we can TELL you. cy-synthesis tuning, with a high-contrast For additional information, @ VHS Stereo System with Dolby® B Noise circle no. 153 on Reader Service Card. Reduction for Crisp, Pure Sound. Camcorder Platform @ 16 Position Voltage Synthesized Tuning. From Media Optics @ 15 Function Wireless Remote Control of Media Optics’ Steady Ready Cam is a VCR from Across the Room...Including platform for video cameras and camcord- ers with left-side or rear viewfinders. Still, Frame Advance, Picture Search, The platform wraps around the upper and Slow Motion. arm, providing smooth camera control ® Fully Programmable 7-Day, 4-Event for walking or moving shots. Arm pres- Timer. sure on the bottom of the Steady Ready Cam even allows you to let go of the © 117 Channel Cable-Ready Compatibility. camcorder. The platform weighs only 12 ®@ One-Touch Record. 12-Hour Time ounces and is available from Media Op- tics, Box 3174, Burbank, CA 91504. Display. Price: not available. @ Black Cabinet is 4”H x 17”W x 15\"D. Plugs Into 120V Outlet U.L listed. For additicnal information, circle no. 154 on Reader Service Card. Limited Factory Warranty: One-Year Parts, 90-Days Labor. Mfr. List Price $679.95 Liquidation $3 2 5S Priced At .... Item H-2363-7101-785 S/H: $9.75 ea. Credit card members can order by Media Optics’ Steady Ready Cam phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Onkyo Remote Unifies Audio and Video Toll-Free: 1-800-328-0609 Sales outside the 48 contiguous states are subject to special conditions. Please call or write to inquire. SEND TO: Item H-2363 C.O.M.B. Direct Marketing Corp. Onkyo’s Unifier RC-AV1 universal security systems). programmable remote can take the place Price: $120. 1405 Xenium Lane N/Minneapolis, MN 55441-4494 of a dozen different remotes. According to Onkyo, the Unifier can learn the con- For additional information, Send___Stereo VHS VCR(s) Item H-2363-7101-785 at trol codes from any infrared remote for circle no. 155 on $329 each, plus $9.75 each for ship, handling. (Minnesota any audio or video product from any Reader Service Card. residents add 6% sales tax. Sorry, no C.O.D. orders.) manufacturer. More than 100 functions can be stored in the Unifier’s memory. Onkyo’s Unifier RC-AV1 programmable remote O My check or money order is enclosed. (No delays in processing orders paid by check.) A user can program the infrared codes from any remote into the Unifier by cee OR OCS) og oR pointing the units at each other and pressing matching buttons on the Unifier Acct. No. Peary As and the other remote. The Unifier sig- PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY nals when it has learned the new codes. Name It operates in three modes: audio, video, Address and auxiliary (for IR-controlled items like City equalizers, processors, and home State Phone Sign Here GOODE E00EE300g)

Welcome to the wonderful woric all Wonder videc MEM TC-20 remy L\"est ny | ’ Pum (REM TC+20 Premium Quality rm 1. Compact Video Tape (TC-20) premium-grade tape records 20 minutes or 1 hour. 2. Video Cassette Adapter (VCA100) adapts compact tape cassette for use on standard VHS equipment. 3. RF Adapter (CRF020) enables easy automatic RF switching between VCR and TV sets without audio/video jacks. 4. Battery Connector (BCC020) lightens camcorder weight by transferring battery to the user's belt. 5. Nickel-Cadmium Battery (CBC120) allows up to 2 hrs. operating time; 2 hr. recharge. 6. Nickel-Cadmium Battery (CBC060) provides up to 1 hr. operating time; 1 hr. recharge. 7. Movie Mount (MMC010) adjustable chest brace attaches to and steadies camera. 8. Shoe Adapter (VEC010) mounts character generator, light or external microphone to camcorder. RCA has introduced its new generation of VHS-C video accessories for the handy new RCA Small Wonder camcorder (CPR100). Compact and lightweight, each pro- vides an exciting new dimension to make your home videos even more professional. So get in on the start of something big by visiting your nearest RCA video dealer. Or to learn more, write: RCA Distributor ; and Special Products Division, Deptford, NJ Video Accessories 08096-2088. Attn: Sales Promotion Services. For additional information, circle No. 8 on Reader Service Card.

FREE New Products VIDEO STORAGE CASE TO BEAUTIFY AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE TAPE Your Imprint Mens Soft Samsung’s 13-inch A lines or less Vinyl 7C3323V TV Construction Available With 13-Inch TV Due From Samsung or Without Gold Foil Imprints @ .35¢ Per Line Per \\mprint Case Additional Clear Viv! Min. Order 6 Cases window 10¢ @ .35¢ Price. Less Than 6 Case Min Easy Labeling $2.00 Per Line Video Tape Is Nested Securely Inside Case Made Strong The Suggested |, Samsung’s new 13-inch TC3323V TV indicates the channel. The set is housed to Last Long Retail Price of features a high-contrast picture tube in a simulated woodgrain cabinet. These Deluxe with 62-channel, frequency synthesis Dust and tuning. The wireless remote controls Price: $250. moisture channel and volume, and an LED display wiil destro For additional information, circle no. 156 on Reader Service Card. AOC International Introduces 19-Inch TV Made in U.S.A = % Moisture Tight AOC’s C9192 19-inch TV features a Snaplock Closures Hibricon high-color density picture tube with 105-channel cable-compatible tun- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR FULL REFUND ing. The set has a 64-step audio control NEWEST SUPER DELUXE VIDEO CASES for continuous volume adjustment, along with an LED channel indicator. The re- Made of attractive leather-like 100% soft vinyl. The ultimate in quality, design, workmanship. These mote allows either random access or se- Cases are not to be confused with hard plastic, less quential search tuning. The C9192 is expensive cases on the market today. *Free Case given with every order placed from this magazine. housed in a simulated woodgrain plastic cabinet with rounded corners. CUSTOM MADE FOR VHS OR BETAMAX Price: $259. Color Code Your Titles. Five exciting decorator colors...Brown Leatherette, Light Blue, Red, Black For additional information, AOC’s C9192 19-inch TV... circle no. 157 on Reader Service Card. and White ORDER TODAY! OFFER LIMITED SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR FULL REFUND SAVE © $3.95 Retail Value © SAVE 6 @$1.98EA. © 12@$1.88EA. © 24@$1.78 EA. © 46@$1.73EA. © 96@$1.68EA. 192 @$1.63EA. © 240 @$1.60EA. © 300 @ $1.56 EA. You May Mix Colors Of Deluxe Video Case: OO VHS © BETA # Red 4 Blue #W__ Black #__ Brown #_____ White Place imprint instructions on separate sheet Qty ____Cases @ Each Qty Foil Stamp @ Shipping Charge Only $2.00 Handling Charge C.0.D. $2.00 IL Res. Only add 7% Sales Tax Outside Cont. USA add 20c per/cs. = $ Yamaha's AVC-30U audio/video control amplifier TOTAL $ Yamaha Amplifier Adds Surround Sound DIACO SALESDealer Inquiries Welcome — Very Competitive Prices 1000 OAKTON BOX 19370 Des Plaines, || 60018 Yamaha’s updated audio/video control remote control. amplifier, the AVC-30U, combines a ver- The AVC-30U has a 100-watt-per- oar CALLTOLLFREE =—7 pays satile switcher with three kinds of sur- round sound processing. The amp ties in channel front amplifier and a 20-watt ADay in i (312)966-on4A A Week up to three video inputs with eight audio per-channel rear amplifier. Its three- inputs for any combination in playback mode surround sound processor pro- Please Rush (_] Order [_]More Information and recording. It also serves as the con- vides Dolby Surround, Yamaha Natural trol center for Yamaha’s RS remote sys- Surround, and Simulated Surround. Name tem, allowing the operation of many dif- ferent Yamaha components from a single Price: $429 Address Zip City For additional information, circle no. 158 on Reader Service Card. State Phone Payment Check C.0.D. $2.00 Extra D Mst.Cd./Visa ( Am. Expr. Exp. Dt. Card No. $3.98 VALUE LOW AS $1.56 ' FaicN1RSCooidna0eenr.dfrracdiovld.trieeimcroaentailon,

Volume MP. 4334 $49.95 : i FO ORDER, please send check: money order or Gredit card {no cash) to: Volume MP 4332 Volume 1964 MP 4333 49.95 Promotions Plus Volume 4962 MP 1334 $49.95 6730 North St: - Dept V601 - Tinley Park, IL 60477 Volume 1963 MP 4335 $19.95 Volume 1964 MP 1336 $49.95 PLEASE SPECIFY VHS or BETA: Volume 4965 MP 1337 $49.95 I 4-800-338-7710 Inside lilinois 312-532-2050 Volume 1966 MP 1338 $49.95 Volume 4967 MP 1339 $49.95 Name . Volume =CWA>DOOORN1968 MP 4340 49.95 10 1969 $19.95 Address site City State sie Aj 2 feucstoeouetees CASSETTE NUMBERS st | esc eset bs esis VHS) BETALD Bill my credit card: Visa O Master Charg | Account Number | ‘Expiration Date | Authorization Signature of Cardholder | Video Cassette Total $ Combination Group Pack IlShipping & Handling $ — Sen PP 1144 Save ‘20° Only °479.50 $3.00 first tape, $1.50 each additional tape TOTAL Amount $ aces add798gales tax, Ges) pon ee) SS ee Me Ee) ee

THE COPY KING New Products MOY Abeancen vito Phocesson 6cf \\x iaelfy,af ah eByeePnt MFJ 1452 - $299.95 The Most Advanced Video Processor EXCLUSIVE FEATURES! (only from MFJ) Complete control of CONTRAST Expand or compress whites to Sharp’s 13-inch 13MM67 TV save faded or contrasty films; Increase or decrease Sharp TVs Offer Curves and Colors blackness of films over or Sharp’s new 9- and 13-inch TVs fea- yellow, green, beige, white and black, under exposed. Invert ture rounded corners and soft “decora- and has a color-coordinated random Video converts 110, 120, tor” shades. The 9-inch 9MS37 has a access remote control. It features PLL 35mm, large format, tinted, high-contrast Linytron Plus pic- quartz-synthesized electronic tuning, an X-ray & movie film negs to ture tube and is housed in a black, red LED channel indicator, and auto color. positives for recording or or silver cabinet. Other highlights in- Detachable VHF and UHF antennas are clude 68-channel electronic tuning, included. viewing. Invert Chrominance/Invert onscreen channel display, audio/video in- Luminance Switches for special effects. put jacks, a mini headphone jack and a Prices: 9MS37, $370; 13MM67, not car battery cord. available. Complete The 13-inch 13MM67 comes in pink, For additional information, control of circle no. 159 on Reader Service Card. : eHARTN ESS “ Use the Enhancer and a RCA Introduces white “blob” becomes a face Slim 20-Inch TVs with individual eyelashes! The Spilt Screen feature RCA’s new line of 20-inch TVs fea- gives side-by-side unen- tures slimmer picture tubes, allowing the pap a hanced/enhanced sets to be placed on bookshelves in comparison to let you get the maximum other tight spaces. All three sets feature sharpness you want. ColorTrak auto color, MTS stereo sound, 147-channel cable-compatible tun- Complete ing, and a 31-button remote that con- reso trols both the TV and a VCR. The FPR555 has dual speakers, while the With the MFJ 1452 and FPR560 adds top-of-the-set tuning and a 10-jack monitor panel. The FPR570 has your VCR for dubbing, cor- tuning controls on the bottom, along with dual side-mounted speakers. rect weak colors or color Prices: Not available. 4 shifts. Brighten faded films. For additional information, #7 Brightness Control improves circle no. 161 on Reader Service Card. too dark or too light scenes; RCA’s FPRS60ER 20-inch TV allows fading in or out — Famous (no commercials!) GUARANTEE All MFJ Video Products come with a double Pulsar Video’s VP2020 projection TV guarantee we think is unmatched. Order from MFJ and try any Pulsar Introduces product for 30 days. If it Front and Rear TV doesn't satisfy your needs, return it for a full refund, Pulsar Video’s VPM-2020 projection less shipping. No hassles. If TV can deliver a front- or rear-projec- you keep what you order you tion picture from 4 to 25 feet across on are assured of continued service a flat or curved screen with floor or ceil- with MFJ's One Year Uncondi- ing mounts. The projector weighs only tional Guarantee. 55 pounds, measures 3.2 cubic feet, and mounts on the floor or ceiling. It uses Call toll-free and charge the three liquid-cooled high-brightness tubes products you need to your and two full-range loudspeakers with VISA or MasterCard, or send a power amplifiers and audio inputs. The check or money order, plus $6.00 shipping, projector accepts NTSC or RGB inputs and our shipping department will promptly and adjusts for PAL and SECAM opera- have your order on its way to you. tion. Other options include a wired re- mote control and RGB circuitry. 1-800-647-1800 Price: $4,500. Free Call. Free Catalog. For. additional information, MFU Enterprises, Inc. circle no. 160 on Reader Service Card. 921 Louisville Rd./ Starkville, MS 39759 FaiCcRNS9ooadinoeenrd.fradciov.dltrieeimcroaentailon, 24 Video June 1987

en FRA LISI POPE L,eeae mc REMOTE VHS aes VCR With Dolbyt Noise Redu tio Send for FREE 1987 Radio Shack Catalog _ New Model 32 has features that simplify operatio Mail to: Radio Shack, Depa ment 87-A-277, : Auto-function loads a tape, plays it,rewinds, and shuts off. 300 One Tandy Center, Fort Worth, TX 76102 automatically. You also get one-touch quick-timer record: +»CitiLine revolvi crefrdomCiititbank. Actual pMa,myDeolnbytmai}ydvarnay ydneaaicngil eg ing, 32-preset cable-ready tuner and a 14-day, four-event Gari RaStaStressActual _ timer. $499.95 or as low as $23 per month. For additional information, circle No. 11 on Reader Service Card.

Fine Tuning Your Video Questions Answered Dubbing Dilemma The stereo audio you careful- VCR Run Amok an AC adapter came with ly dubbed is still there, but your unit, it’s probably de- I bought Sony’s CCD- I have aJVC HRS-100 signed for 100 volts, instead you won't be able to hear Q portable VHS VCR. It’s of the 120 volts we use. You M8U Handycam and it unless you have a VCR can use it with the higher EV-C8U recorder/player, then like the EV-S700 (or any worked well for more than a voltages here, but it’s not purchased its CCD-V8AF other stereo 8mm VCR). recommended. You can ob- camcorder. Since none of year, but lately, when playing tain a 120-volt adapter for Index Transfer or recording at either speed, your Kyocera (which is the these machines has an audio the tape suddenly jumps into same as the Minolta CR-8000 dub control, I bought Sony’s I’m considering changing fast forward and won't stop. or the Pentax PV-C800 EV-S700 table-model 8mm This doesn’t happen so often, camcorders) from a dealer deck and spent hours dubbing trom Beta to VHS, but who distributes any of these I’m concerned about the auto but enough that I can’t trust tt brands over here. voices, sound effects, and mu- indexing system used in VHS sic onto tapes of my 8mm machines. I’ve heard that once any more. Shortly before the Static Edits movies. When I played back the tape ts removed from the the tapes on the CCD-V8AF VCR the indexing is lost. If trouble started, I cleaned the I have a J.C. Penney and the EV-C8U, I could on- this is true, will the system heads for the first time. Could 5061 two-head VCR. ly hear the old audio instead change, in the future? that have caused the problem? When I record a black & white movie, I edit out the of the new audio that I dubbed Scott L. Crouse Bal Sankpal commercials with the pause in. Since I prefer to use the Minneapolis, Minn. Rochester Hills, Mich. button. But on playback, the points where I cut the com- camcorder as a player, rather A Despite what you’ve There are a number of mercials have static lines. Sometimes, ifI wind the tape than the table-model, is there a heard VHS indexing isn’t possible causes, includ- back a little bit, then go into solution to this problem, other always lost when that tape is ing a faulty electronic circuit the record mode, there’s less than re-recording the tape? removed from a VCR. Differ- or incorrect tape tension in- distortion. But this doesn’t ent brands from the same side the VCR. It’s even pos- work at all with color movies. John Brennan original manufacturer, such as sible the head cleaning con- They have static lines and dis- New York, N.Y. Panasonic and Quasar (both tributed to the latter prob- tortion regardless of what I made by Matsushita) and JVC lem, since most head clean- do. Paul Retchart A Unfortunately, there is and Zenith (both by JVC), ers (especially the wet varie- no absolute solution. share indexing compatibility. ty) use tapes that are much Three Forks, Mont. There is even some index Both the Handycam and signal compatibility across thicker than actual videotape. When black & white CCD-V8 record only monau- brand-name lines. Hitachi’s movies are telecast, the ral sound combined directly signals, for example, can be Whatever the cause, the ma- TV station doing the broad- detected by the newest chine should be taken in for cast is supposed to turn off with the video signal. This Matsushita machines. the color part of the signal audio remains on the tape repairs. (called the colorburst) imme- forever, as part of the origi- JVC recently announced its diately after the commercials. nal video signal. The only CTL coding method, which NTSC Barriers? Sometimes the station misses | way you can add to or elim- offers sophisticated indexing the mark, resulting in either abilities that go far beyond I bought a Kyocera KD- color tinting of what was sup- inate the original audio simply locating the start of a 2010 8mm camcorder in posed to be a black & white is to record new video as new program. VCRs with Hong Kong. It uses the movie or a colored glitch on well. CTL can transfer or erase in- the tape right after the re- dexing codes from any VHS NTSC format, but the in- turn to the film. When you use the audio tape, enabling selected pro- A second source of static dub feature of an 8mm VCR, grams or scenes to be locat- struction manual is in Japa- is the pause button itself. such as the EV-S700, the ed automatically when the Whenever you start and stop tape is played back. The nese. Is there any difference new audio is placed on a spe- CTL system is expected to between Japanese NTSC and cial “reserve” track that was be available on the next gen- NTSC as used in North left open when the tape was eration of deluxe VHS VCRs. originally made. But to hear America? S. Tran it, you need a VCR that can Yellowknife, Canada read the information and play it back. Neither the EV-C8U There’s no difference be- or the CCD-V8AF can do A tween Japanese NTSC this, which is why all you’re and ours. The frequencies hearing is the original audio. the Japanese use for TV transmission vary, and so does the AC voltage, but the video system is the same. If 26 Video June 1987

iA ( WMayEpghRonIOSs [ty 2500, INCLUDES MUSIC FROM: 2F 'i James Brown Pointer Sisters 95.aACRO* eup pes <%4| Harry Chapin Prince a en Lae} Joe Cocker Lionel Richie Joohhnn Le Lennon’ Kenny Rogers wo. AVVIADIELOACBALESSEWTHTEERSEVER ARE SOLD! alas oY aef le. aa ae an EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY KARL*LORIMAR HOME VIDEO. KANACRAL:i LORIMAR: A Lorimar Telepictures Company = Vaepee ¢ 1986 USA for Africa d/b/a Hands Across America. All Rights Reserved. *KLVTV is a trademark of KarleLorimar Home Video, Inc. Jatcoeo]¢-1)o]a) amRelab amiUIe) For additional information, circle No. 22 on Reader Service Card.

DUPING CABLES AND ENHANCER ALL-IN-ONE Fine Tuning NOW! Make Dupes so Close the tape, some form of video distortion to the Original You Can Hardly results. The amount depends on the Tell Them Apart! equipment you're using. The flying-erase heads on some recent VCRs give per- fect edits when you stop and start the tape. Both problems can be eliminated with the right equipment. A processing amplifier can get rid of stray colorbursts on black & white movies in case the TV station forgets. As for perfect edits, you'll have to get yourself a more ad- vanced machine. Double Hook-Up Is it possible to hook up two VCRs to one TV? I have a Magnavox VHS and a Sanyo Beta. Melvin L. Williams Chicago, Til. 8mm and Audio Si A Go to any large video store or Ra- dio Shack and buy an A/B switch. It Tape- Trans : ake dupeta and sound so close to th has three threaded sockets, either in a Boosts and Enhances - origin—aolrdser your “Super t-shaped pattern or in a row. Connect Duper” today! the middle socket to the back of your To make professional _ TV (you'll need some short lengths of quality tape-to-tape copies, = Separate video and audio you need more than just controls coaxial cable, which Radio Shack also cables, you need “Super carries) and the other two to the VHF Duper’!...duping cables and = AC power supply included output of each VCR. When you want to enhancer all-in-one. = All gold connectors for watch a tape from the VHS deck, flip the switch to the A side, and when you “Super Duper” regains optimum conductivity want to watch the Beta, flip to the B signal loss by boosting and = Measures only 3%\" x 244” side. For convenience, mount the switch enhancing video signal a = Perfect for duping movies with two-sided tape near the front of powerful 3 dB...audio signal your VCR shelf. The switch, cables, and a booming 20 dB! and music videos tape should not cost more than about $10. You can’t make a dupe tape C1A-L8L00O-RTD2EOR3L1TLO-DA0Y F0R3E1E O7=Ae that’s exactly like the original, Slow Motion but— with “Super Duper”— your dupes are so close to the I use PD Magnetics tapes from West original, you can hardly tell the difference. Germany because they can get 6-1/2 hours of programming at the EP speed. The only problem is they take twenty min- utes to rewind, compared to about five for regular T-120s. Now, I’m afraid to use them anymore for fear of burning out the motor in my VCR. Is there something wrong with my VCR or is itfaulty tape design? M.T. James Torrain, Ohio A Although the length of VHS cas- settes sold in Europe is slightly dif- TOMORROW TODAY, INC. V-6-87 ferent from U.S. versions (Europe’s E- 50 Maple Street, Norwood, NJ 07648-0427 10 DAY 180, for example, delivers about 130 HOME TRIAL Please send me (qty.) I understand that if I am not completely minutes compared to our T-120), there We are so eure that satisfied, | may return the Super Duper Enhancer(s) for a full refund are no physical differences in the con- you will be delighted with this product, we (exclusive of shipping) within 10 days. struction of the shells. Normally, the re- make this guarantee: Ie f LJ Super Duper only $49.95 plus $2 shipping (Total: $51.95). wind time of a cassette is determined by LJ Stereo Super Duper only $69.95 plus $2 shipping (Total: $71.95). the design of the VCR or a rewinder. Send check or money order (no C.O.D.s) payable to: Tomorrow Today, Inc. Since you don’t report problems with do a ea ae soe or Charge it: DO visa ©) MasterCard O Amex other cassette brands, the problem may unit is all we say it is, Acct. # Exp. Date. be with this particular brand. 2 you may return it for NJ residents please add appropriate sales tax. VIDEO welcomes your questions. Please do not enclose self-addressed envelopes as the volume a full esant oa Nanve of mail does not allow personal replies. Questions may be edited for clarity and space. Address SIVEe =O! Shipping, ef letters to Fine Tuning, VIDEO Magazine, within 10 days—no | ‘Address Apt. # 460 West 34th St., New York, N.Y. 10001. questions asked. So, City State Zip. order yours today! C1 Enclose $1.00 for Video Accessories Catalog. Dealer inquiries invited. Write on your letterhead for information. FiacN7RSCooidno6eaenrdf.raciodvldtr.ieeimcoraentailon, June 1987 28 Video

EE VIDEO! Geta AMEN ES AI, BMI: SIE I. star-studded, » full-length feature ¢ FREE... No club, No commitment, No kidding! e’ve got an unbeatable Top Gun with Tom Cruise & Kelly McGillis. The Sound Of Music starring Julie Andrews way to introduce our and Christopher Plummer. Star Quality Film Li- Prizzi’s Honor with Jack Nicholson & Kath- Raiders Of The Lost Ark starring Harrison brary to you. leen Turner. Ford & Karen Allen. Star Wars with Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford. We’ve got Tom Cruise to Cary The Verdict with Paul Newman & James Grant... Eddie Murphy to Harrison Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom Ford .. . Sigourney Weaver to Kath- with Harrison Ford & Kate Capshaw. Mason. leen Turner...and films like those to Teen Wolf with Michael J. Fox & James Hamp- Jane Fonda’s New Workout with Jane Fonda. the right. Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart & ton. Ingrid Bergman. We’ll send you films from the list Elvis Memories. A Salute to “The King.” Making Michael Jackson’s ‘‘Thriller” star- of hits to the right, FREE! Pay noth- Of Human Bondage starring Bette Davis & ring Michael Jackson. ing. Absolutely nothing (except p,h & Leslie Howard. Playgirl Morning Workout with ‘‘Playgirl”’ ins.) All you have to do is tell us Beverly Hills Cop with Eddie Murphy & man of the year Steve Rally. Judge Reinhold. West Side Story starring Natalie Wood & Rita whether you want one, two, three or From Russia with Love starring Sean Con- four FREE video features in the boxes nery & Robert Shaw. Moreno. provided in the coupon. It’s our Mad Max with Mel Gibson in the title role. Psycho starring Tony Perkins & Janet Leigh. choice based on availability, but Return of The Pink Panther with Peter Selt- Trading Places with Eddie Murphy & Dan we'll try to include titles from the Ackroyd. categories you check in the coupon. ers & Christopher Plummer. Midnight Cowboy with Dustin Hoffman & Jon And, we guarantee that every hit fea- The Gold Rush starring Charlie Chaplin & ture will come from the list to the Voight. right, so how can you go wrong? Max Swain. Live And Let Die with Roger Moore & Jane Alien with Sigourney Weaver & John Hurt. Why are we giving away FREE Star Trek-The Motion Picture with William Seymour. VIDEO features with no club, com- Shatner & Leonard Nimoy. The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bo- mitments or other gimmicks? It’s Witness with Harrison Ford & Kelly McGillis. simple. We sell quality videos Gone With The Wind with Clark Gable & gart & Peter Lorre. cheaper, faster and better than just Vivian Leigh. Norma Rae with Sally Fields & Rob Liebman. about anybody. And we want you to Rocky with Sylvester Stallone & Talia Shire. Kelly’s Heros with Clint Eastwood & Donald get to know us better. What’s more, Sutherland. we want you to know that when we The Man Who Knew Too Much directed by say we’re the best we mean it. And a Alfred Hitchcock. Swimwear Illustrated On Location brings FREE no obligation video is the best Dr. Zhivago with Omar Sharif & Julie Christie. way we could think of to prove our- The. Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman the summer swimwear pages to life. with award winner Cicely Tyson. Carrie starring Sissy Spacek & John Travolta. selves to you! Patton with George C. Scott & Karl Malden. The Birds with Rod Taylor & Tippi Hedren. Secrets Of The Titanic from National Geo- Decameron Nights with Joan Collins & Louis With your FREE full length fea- tures, we’ll send you a complete list graphic. Jourdan. of our videos and prices which, we His Girl Friday starring Cary Grant & Rosalind Last Time | Saw Paris starring Elizabeth Tay- admit, are ordinarily a little more Russell. lor & Roger Moore. than FREE, but far less than you Gulliver’s Travels, a full-length animated fea- might usually pay. ture. We urge you to take advantage of this unusual offer. Avoid disappoint- Star Quality Film Library, Dept. PQG721, 3650 Milwaukee St., P.O. Box 8924, Madison, WI 53708 ment by sending your order now and not later than July 15, 1987. So check C] Yes, send me FREE full-length video Please send me: |] VHS Beta the box of your choice. Tell us how hits. paIyaambleinctloudtii“nSgtara Qcuhaelcikt: yor Fim:lomsn”e’y>, or- many FREE video features you want. | der for (#sro21) __] 1 FREE=F vviividddeeoeoo ffeeezaattuurrees ;fofrfoor$r3$.67$.6.5995 5 p,h&ins. And send in the coupon today. = °F?) 2 FREE pv,.h&&iinnss. | postage, handling and insurance covering Imagine. Getting videos FREE. the number of FREE video featuresIamor- __(#sF923) _] 3 FREE video features for $9.75 p,h&ins. This is one price that’s too good to one Snover my video sotares os \\#sr924) _] 4 FREE video features for $12.00 p,h&ins. miss. Act NOW!! , any defective tapes may be returne: | for prompt exchange. I am interested in Mr. Ms. | films in the following categories: (Please Miss, Mrs. check as many boxes as you like) Address | tL] Top Hits cL JClassics s{_] Sci Fi/Horror City Zip | aL] Romance mL] Adult »L) Self Im- State provement and Exercise For additional information, circle No. 19 on Reader Service Card.

TV Den Techniques and Technology Video How long can a video col- mum storage temperature for rect. Tapes that play back Life Spans lection last? Ten years, 20 videotape is 68 to 70 degrees poorly on other machines are years, 50? Will those recent Fahrenheit, with a relative said to have poor in- tapes of the baby’s first steps humidity of about 50 percent. terchangeability, a problem still be viewable when baby The first rule of thumb is to compounded by slow tape by Roderick reaches retirement age? Or avoid extremes of hot and speeds with narrow video will the growing collection of cold. But prolonged exposure track widths. Woodcock video family albums end up to heat will cause more dam- The other half of the tape like old snapshots in a musty age to the recorded signals preservation equation is photo album—yellowed and than extreme cold. cleanliness. If you smoke in creased with age? No one re- A tape that’s been left in a ally knows how long vid- the room where you use hot car for several hours can and store your VCR and eotape can last, or how many congeal into gunk. High tapes, you'll severly limit playbacks it can endure. But temperatures have even been the life span of the tape col- there are a few known to alter the molecular lection. Store your tapes in simple steps : \\ you can take composition of the binding air-tight plastic boxes (the chemical, causing it to flake kind most rental stores use). to make off the tape in chunks. The cardboard slipcases that your A chilled tape can be re- come with most tapes some- y= ~~videotape covered through slow warm- times shed bits of paper [Y collection last ing and drying. Never try to ‘7 longer. Most play a tape that isn’t com- which cling to the tapes’ shells. Tapes should be filed merely require pletely thawed or insert a vertically in drawers or on 4 applying a healthy warm tape into a cold VCR. ‘shelves with the empty reel 7 dose of common This will almost certainly de- on top. This prevents tape ‘/ sense. stroy the tape and damage sag and lowers the center of Regardless of the the VCR’s heads. gravity of the cassette, re- format you prefer, it pays The very pliability of vid- ducing its chance of falling VFaientage Tapes | to take care of your eotape can create problems. over. tapes. Videotape, after Horizontal tape storage is KIBREYLNULGUSTRATION If a tape shrinks or expands all is a fragile medium. between the time it is re- okay for a short time. Even- It’s really nothing more than corded and the time it’s tually, though, gravity will a ribbon of polyester painted played back, the difference in move the tape pack toward with metal oxide (pure metal angle of the magnetic tracks the bottom reel flange, in- particles in the case of 8mm). on its surface make it difficult creasing the risk of edge An adhesive called a binder for the playback VCR to lock damage. When placed in a holds the coating in place. onto the signal. Newer TVs VCR, such a tape may not The thickness of the tape often correct for minor differ- thread properly or line up ranges from about 20 mi- ences. But older TVs don’t with the VCR’s internal crons for L-500 and T-120 fare as well, and some vid- guides. Damage to the lower tapes down to a scant 10 mi- eotapes play back pictures edge of the tape is especially crons for the new P6-120 that wave or bend at the top harmful, since that’s where 8mm tape. of the screen. A picture that the control track (the elec- With such dimensions, it’s hooks to the right indicates tronic synchronizing pulses easy to see why videotape that the tape may have needed by the VCR to en- can easily be crushed, wrin- shrunk slightly, shortening sure proper playback) is kled, ripped, torn, stretched the tracks on the tape. A or melted. The plastic shell located. of the videocassette is de- bend to the left is a sign of signed to protect the tape in- For long-term storage, slight lengthening. side. Still, you should be Old or worn VCRs can keep tapes wound to the end aware of the basics of careful rather than at the beginning. cause similar problems when Rewinding a tape before viewing repacks it on its the tension applied to the cassette storage and handling. tape by the machines’ inter- reels so it will feed through Experts agree that opti- nal guides is no longer cor- the VCR properly. It’s also a SSSSSS SSS 30 Video June 1987

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LEARN AUDIO & VIDEO TECHNIQUES TV Den AS DEMONSTRATED BY PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD good idea to “exercise” a tape every six ¢ Basic camera set-up ¢ White balance « Camera placement months or so, whether you view it or e Lighting tips * Audio tips not, by winding and rewinding it. Just be ¢ Applications include: Birthdays, Holidays, Babies, Sports, Weddings & More. sure the tape rewinder you use can be No more playing back a tape only to find blurs, shadows, and other technical trusted. mistakes. Take the wonder out of using your CAMCORDER ... We'll show you how to achieve the look you’re aiming for. REWIND HAVOC DEALER INQUIRIES & PURCHASING INFORMATION: Automatic rewinders are convenient, Network Marketing Group International Inc but some cheap ones can be a hazard to 72 County Road, Suite #3, Tenafly, NJ 07670 @ 201/567-6622 videotape life. They can rewind too fast, breaking the leaders off the reel when Enclosed is $39.95 (+$2.00 shipping & handling) GA. res. add tax. rewinding suddenly stops at the end of Visa..MasterCard..Card #....... Exp Atos ¢Signatures eet taoes the tape, or pack the tape too tightly. INif) Mei any ee Rory omen SD hue Nauta fased MEM RRR (Eeeietsc A a hai 7 ET Some of these rewinders were origi- NE1RSCono0eant.1rarevdriecre nally designed for regions where the current is 100 volts, rather than the 120V used in the U.S. These rewind faster than they were designed to. On other models, the reel tables aren’t aligned as precisely as they are in a VCR, and rotate so unevenly that the tape pack they produce fills with ridges and valleys called “scatterwind.” Unless you can afford a good rewin- der, use your VCR. Since that’s the ma- chine that will play back the tape, it will apply the proper winding torque. When rewinding, do so in a continuous, unin- terrupted pass. Tapes should never be stored wound halfway. Nor should you leave a cassette inside a VCR too long, since this leaves tape exposed to airborn dust. It’s best to fast-forward or rewind the tape completely from one reel or the other, then wind or rewind it again in one complete pass before putting it into long-term storage. TAPE QUALITY If you want your video library to last, use the highest quality tape you can af- ford. There’s little reason to use cheap non-brand name tape now that regular grade brand name tape can be bought for about $5 per cassette. Off-brand tape is a bad investment, since it’s usually packaged in poorly made shells and often sheds oxide particles inside your VCR. The particles can prevent the video heads from making full contact with the tape, causing picture dropouts. A bad tape can even carry oils and other contaminants into the normally pristine VCR. These can spread from the VCR to the next clean tape you hap- pen to use. Rental tapes are especially suspect since there’s no way of knowing the condition in which previous renters left the tapes. Every time a videotape is played some of the magnetism that holds the signal on the tape is lost. Tapes that are recorded once and just played back thereafter tend to wear out faster than tapes that are recorded over and over. Videotape is a medium that can be preserved for long periods of time. All it takes is a reasonable amount of cleanli- ness, care and common sense. 32 Video June 1987

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The Camcorner New Equipment & Shooting Tips Shortcuts to Shooting home movies has time to copy and edit them. player to the recorder—as changed a lot since the ’60s. If it’s worth taping with a part of the editing process. Quality Edits One thing remains the same: camcorder, it’s worth taping Use dual cables: Con- by Roderick at the fastest speed. nect the player and the re- whether you use 8mm vid- corder with audio and video Woodcock eotape or Super 8 film, much Edit from the camcord- er: Try to use the camcorder patch cords—twin cables that of the footage you shoot carry the sound and picture probably isn’t worth keeping. that did the recording to signals separately. Avoid us- play back the tape you're ed- ing the single wire RF output Unlike film, however, you iting. Playback capability is a provided with most camcord- can’t manually cut videotape ers. This hook-up is fine for and splice it back together. standard feature with almost casual tape viewing, but not Editing video tape must be all newer machines. Use it for quality dubbing. By using the: audio-video patch cord done electronically by whenever possible. Stresses method, you'll leave the RF connector free for connecting reassembling ! placed on the tape during re- to a TV. Ideally, you should have two sets: one for the the best scenes into a clearer cording may appear later if player and one for the re- corder. This enables you to and more concise version, the tape is played back on a locate and watch the exact different VCR. scenes you want to dub from then copying that onto an- your master tapes, as well as To make camcorders as screen the completed footage other tape. as it comes together on the compact as possible, manu- recorder. No matter which video for- facturers have miniaturized tape transports. Unfortu- Best edits: A good indica- mat you're copying, the pro- nately, this has introduced tor of the quality of your some vertical picture camcorder’s edits is the cess takes its toll on second distortion, especially when the amount of distortion at the tape is played back on a dif- point where you start and generation footage, which ferent deck. stop the tape between shots. won't be as sharp as the Special circuits back up the There’s one unavoidable tape slightly to overlap the original. But, if you observe exception. You'll have to end of the last shot with the switch to a VCR to exploit beginning of the next one, a few rules, home tapes still minimizing any picture distor- the special-effect capabilities can be very good. Here are of table-top machines. Many tion and glitches that sepa- some pointers to help you rate the two scenes. keep the zip in your edits: A new technology that eliminates such distortion is Only the best: Use the the rotary or “flying” erase head. The head is mounted highest quality tape, shot at on the rotating video drum so it can erase the old video sig- the fastest speed your cam- nal with frame-by-frame pre- cision. So far it’s only availa- corder offers. Don’t sacrifice of the newer digital-effect ble on a few 8mm camcord- video quality for tape econo- VCRs can accomplish these ers, Sony’s SL-HF1000 Beta my by recording at a slower tricks cleanly and add such VCR, and Panasonic’s AG- speed. EP tapes deliver enhancements as mosaic, 1950 VHS VCR. poorer quality audio, and solarization, and multiple im- don’t always track as well as In their absence, try to as- faster speed tapes when it’s ages. All these effects can be semble your shot sequences as quickly as possible, keep- copied—generated from the ing your recorder in the re- lls 34 Video June 1987

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The Camcorner cord/pause mode while you locate and cue up the next segment you intend to copy. This may be difficult, since most VCRs automatically release the re- cord/pause mode after five to eight min- utes. But five minutes should be plenty if you've organized your editing plan ahead of time by drawing a small story board of the shots, and their sequence and location on the master tape. Never stop the tape on the recorder and then go back into record to resume editing. As soon as the tape unthreads, you’ve lost the accuracy of the backspace edit- ing circuitry and you'll end up with a rag- ged looking edit. Another source of ragged edits occurs OF 0 FF TOLL F REE TODAY! when you add a new segment that over- | 8500 “3y) 7 I 3 5 5 ro laps with the tail aadof theold ns alae a co a This small section of old, unerased video is covered by the new video because it ° VIDEO RECORDERS takes a little while for the VCR’s full- ¢ VIDEO CAMERAS ¢ CAMCORDERS erase head to take effect. It is some- ¢ MONITORS times called a crash edit and results in an ugly glitch, filled with rainbow-colored stains and video moire. |. : Stick to assemble edits: Make all : latch laa of your edits using the so-called “assem- ble” technique, with the beginning of ¢ VIDEO LIGHTS each segment tacked on to the tail of the ¢ VIDEO TAPES preceding segment, one right after the ¢ VIDEO ENHANCERS other. What happens if you discover later that you've left out a scene, or if you want to go back and change one seg- ment for another? Now you're talking about “insert” edits, which is a different, more complicated ball game. Unless you @® HITACHI SANYO SEIKO snHarp have machines equipped with flying ALLSOP &TDK Zen i erase heads, or a VCR that has a video tdhuibs korindvidoefofixi.nsWerhtilemodtehe, try to avoid eS beginning of Woicieratke AMBICO your edit may look tolerable (though marred by rainbow-colored moire), SAVINGS ¢ SELECTION « SATISFACTION there’s no easy way to cover up the ugly ALL MAJOR BRANDS ¢ VIDEO EXPERTS blast of video noise a conventional VCR THOUSANDS OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS creates at the end of any new recorded OPEN MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 9 AM-6 PM EASTERN TIME segment. :j OPEN SATURDAY 9 AM-1 PM EASTERN TIME Some VCRs that don’t have flying - (Puatelepie gd eg Ae cer pees ey a ay erase heads have a feature called “video dub” that enables them to achieve | gUYER Plye frame-accurate edits by turning off the ay ess full-erase head and recording a higher than normal video signal in the insert mode. The effectiveness of this tech- nique varies from model to model. On Hitachi's VT-89A and RCA’s VKT-700, B gcTION ADDRESS for example, you can’t video dub over ZPP® ae cITY the same segment more than once. Ayan STATE, ZIP You can begin to edit tapes with a minimum of one camcorder and one |ENCLOSE $2 FOR SHIPPING AND MAIL TO: VCR or two VCRs, a set of patch cords, and two TVs. Take the time to locate, NATIONWIDE VIDEO log, time, and index the various scenes vVIeSn~A 2 freal’ noice || cenaN.WalyatesiT. from your master tapes and decide the order you want them to appear in your DIASNCDOUMNOTNSEYFORORCDHEERCSKS | finished versions. The best editing IN McIaAtM:I 592-5667 equipment is still your own organiza- Fia5NcRSCoodni6ena,rdfrarciovldtrieeimcoarentailon, tional skill. : : Vi 36 Video June 1987

Video Bookshelf by Louis Off Camera speculating about how to im- there’ll be something worth prove it. “Their concerns are watching on TV every night. Kesten by Richard Levinson and Wil- immediate and parochial: meeting air dates; selling a Made in Japan liam Link series; coping with malevo- Plume, N.Y., $8.95. lent weather on location by Akio Morita with Edwin sites; grappling with escalat- M. Reingold and Mitsuko Those of us fascinated by ing costs; and—al- Shimomura ways—coming up with ideas. Dutton, N.Y., $18.95. television often have to an- In an environment that is far from ideal, excellence is rare- The hottest trend in book swer those who re- ly a priority.” publishing today has count- less business bigwigs pontifi- gard the medium as a Most of the interviewees cating on how their compa- dwell on the difficulty of pro- nies are more inspired and “vast wasteland.” ducing consistent, quality innovative than the competi- programming in a rigid sys- tion. This book by Akio CAMERA Even hardcore fans tem scattered with road- Morita, the big sushi behind who never miss an blocks—Nielsen ratings, cen- Sony, is cut from the same episode of Dynasty or sors, advertisers, network mold, but offers absorbing Knots Landing, dis- interference and, most of all, cultural detail that should in- time. Director David Greene terest even those who don’t miss TV in general as (Rich Man, Poor Man, know the difference between Roots) points out that work- a CEO and a COO. Best of CONVERSATIONS bad. But, of course, ing on a miniseries is like all are Morita’s discussion of WITH THE MAKERS there is such a thing making six feature films in how Japan’s history of adver- OF PRIME-TIME as quality television, the time it usually takes to sity led to its technological TELEVISION and we would like to make one. Karen Arthur triumphs, and an intriguing see more of it. Why (Cagney and Lacey) directs discussion of wonders we aren't there more one episode while editing and may see in the future from scoring the previous one, and Sony. If you loved 8mm, get RICHARD LEVINSON shows like Cheers or planning and casting the next. ready for “high-resolution WILLIAM LINK The Equalizer? Yet if “But all the skill in the plasma displays.” we feel guilty about world,” Arthur admits, “isn’t much good if you never allow Crackpot TELEVISION WRITERS, watching TV, imagine yourself to stop, get off the AIDRNICRTETEOCRVHTSOREEATS,NHOAIDEWPLNRARGOEDNUTCSWBEOUSRIDRNSE.SSS, the soul-searching the treadmill, and take a breath.” by John Waters people responsible for Macmillan, N.Y., $14.95. some of this stuff Despite the obstacles, Off Camera’s subjects have good The second book by trash must undertake. reasons for continuing to auteur John Waters (Pink work in this demanding pro- Flamingos) is a collection of Richard Levinson and Wil- fession. There’s money, of essays, mainly on dubious course, but they’re all also cultural icons like Pia Zadora, liam Link, who created such convinced that they can over- Godard’s Hail Mary, and La- come the obstacles and iner- na Turner’s hairdresser. series as Columbo and Mur- tia that threaten their muse. Many of Waters’ obsessions They may confess to fre- are too slight to merit such der, She Wrote and have writ- quent hackwork, but they’re lavish attention, but his droll justifiably proud of projects, humor helps communicate his ten dozens of TV movies, such as The Day After and enthusiasm. The heart of Fatal Vision, that demand Crackpot is a report of Wa- wonder about this too. In more commitment and have ters’ stint teaching a film greater impact. If everyone course to murderers and rap- 1981 they wrote Stay Tuned, from network presidents to ists in a Maryland prison. writer’s agents can hold on to Their response to Waters’ enlightening memoir of their even a small glimmer of ide- “celluloid atrocities” leads to alism, maybe someday a thought-provoking analysis careers in television. Off of the true functions of sex and violence in movies. Camera: Conversations With June 1987 Video 37 the Makers of Prime Time Television is a kind of sequel. In Off Camera, Levinson and Link interview 14 men and women who produce, direct, and otherwise shape network series, miniseries, and mov- ies. Only a few of the names are familiar—Angela Lans- bury, Aaron Spelling, Bran- don Tartikoff—but they all create work that’s seen each week by more people than saw Rambo. Television, say the au- thors, lacks the glamour of movies because its creators don’t have the luxury of

Audio Input The Sound Side of Video Shape of In recent months we’ve eo inputs and remote con- ries. Kenwood’s KR-V55R seen a truckload of interest- trols have appeared, including and KR-V45 A/V receivers Gear to Come ing new audio products aimed Pioneer’s C-90, Sansui’s C- have 12-station memories at videophiles and video 1000, and Kenwood’s KC- (24-station, if you don’t use by Ivan products aimed at audio- 105. The Pioneer is oriented the call-letter feature), five- Berger philes. This month we'll look more toward audio purists, band audio equalizers, and at some of the amplifiers, re- with such features as a mo- synthesized stereo for mono The Bose AM-5 satellite/ ceivers, stereo decoders, and tor-driven volume control in- videotapes or TV programs. subwoofer speaker system other audio equipment now stead of an electronic one. available to enhance the The Sansui also has a motor- Pioneer’s VSX-5000 A/V ized volume control, as well receiver has a 20-station pleasures of video. as a delay-line video enhan- memory, Dolby Surround cer. The Kenwood incorpo- sound, and simulated stereo, Pioneer is producing more rates a seven-band equalizer, as well as four video inputs, digital-sound LaserDiscs as but requires a separate sys- separate antenna inputs for well as a new LaserVision tem remote-controller (Model off-the-air and cable FM, a player, the LD-83D, that of- RC-95). All these preamps video enhancer with a split- fers digital sound at a moder- also require either a power ate ($550) price. The audio amplifier or self-powered screen function, and a sleep section uses a digital filter speakers. timer. Pioneer’s VSX-4000 is that samples at twice the similar, but with 60 watts in- normal rate for cleaner Luxman’s new LV-109 A/V stead of 100 per channel, a sound. The remote control integrated amplifier, for matrix surround system, and can select digital or analog $1,500, has video inputs and only three video inputs. sound, and switch the analog outputs, but the LE-109 pho- section’s CX noise reduction no preamp costs an extra Nikko, however, calls such on and off, as well as handle $500. The LV-109’s main dis- A/V receivers “little more all the video functions. tinction is its digital-to-analog than audio receivers with vid- converter, which can accept eo plugs added.” To prove AMPLIFIERS digital signals directly from its point, Nikko has brought CD players, DAT recorders, out the AVR-65, with a As video sound improves, and satellite receivers with 139-channel cable-ready TV audiophiles are integrating direct digital outputs. (Ken- tuner, an MTS/SAP decoder, their audio and video equip- wood has a similar amp, with and AM and FM tuning sec- ment. Preamplifiers with vid- fiber-optic digital inputs, but tions. Connected to any TV it has no video features.) or composite video monitor, Nikko’s NA-1050 amp, for the AVR-65 gives you an in- $399, has a mixer for both tegrated stereo A/V system, audio and video. cable-ready and stereo equipped, all operable by re- A/V RECEIVERS mote control. Kenwood and Pioneer have MTS AND SAP also announced new audio/ video receivers whose dis- If MTS (multichannel tele- plays can be programmed to vision sound) and SAP (sec- show the call letters, instead ond audio program) are all of just the frequencies, of the you need to update your TV, FM and AM stations stored several companies are offer- in the tuners’ preset memo- ing solutions. Recoton’s line of F.R.E.D. decoders now includes three models, all 38 Video June 1987

Audio Input The first VCR that can World Turns” with MTS, stereo synthesizers, and probes that pick up the sound from un- thalt. modified TVs. F.R.E.D.s I and II have dynamic noise reduction, II and III have Introducing the Toshiba DX-7. The world's first digital VCR. It does SAP bilingual tracks and Channel 3/4 ca- ble decoding, and F.R.E.D. III has a everything a VCR is supposed to do (only better). And has a still frame stereo amplifier. Gemini now has an MTS/SAP decoder, the ST8000, and capability so precise—it can actually freeze broadcast television. Theres also MultiVision’s 3.1 and 2.1 picture-in-pic- crystal-clear slow-motion. Superb stereo high-fi sound. Four heads. ture adapters include MTS decoders, too. TOSHIBAAnd four home computers’ worth of SURROUND SOUND memory built in. The Toshiba DX-7 digital VCR. In Touch with Tomorrow Surround sound is now showing up in both A/V and audio-only rack systems Once you've seen it, you'll stop looking. Toshiba America, Inc., 82 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 J4‘a“ZUaJ0EjUOpTad42UONlpIuOeNleNde9aIUpysUPOpJeU! from Yamaha, Pioneer, and others. NEC has introduced the AV-250, a $299 Dol- “Wireless VCRs and a cordless headset by surround sound processor with re- Wonders” model for the ultimate in mote control and an amplifier. Aphex, WIRE-FREE convenience. Fosgate, and Synergex also have new Video Magazine Sept. 1986 surround systems; Synergex’s $675 For additional information Model ESP-7R requires six amplifier Convenience and Quality... or the name of your nearest channels and six speakers. And Yamaha Now you can listen to music or WIRE-FREE dealer, call now has a six-channel master volume 1-800-367-0366. control, the $149 MVS-1 for use with its watch TV without disturbing Audiophile quality. Sensibly DSP-1 and similar surround sound units. others and still be free of restrict- priced...from $59.95. Luxman’s F-105 combines Dolby sur- ing cords — with WIRE-FREE round with an input selector, time delay, Cordless Audio Systems. As Cordless Audio Systems and other goodies, all remote controlla- each user can adjust individual ble. volume level, it is the perfect way Berkey Marketing Companies ‘ABERKEY COMPANY to provide quality audio for the 75 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830 Meanwhile, Peter Scheiber, the inven- hearing impaired. tor of matrix surround, has signed a li- Tel. * 203-622-5000 censing agreement with Dolby Labs for Advanced Infrared Technology... logic-type decoding systems, and is With WIRE-FREE you get high working on an improved Dolby-compati- ble system that will have independent quality personal sound from your left and right-rear channels. TV, VCR, CD, Stereo — any audio source — without wires! SPEAKERS WIRE-FREE Systems transmit hi- fidelity signals over a 50-foot More and more speaker makers are line-of-sight range. And they con- coming out with “video-oriented” mod- nect in seconds — without tools. els, though the degree of orientation varies. For example, DCM’s TimeFrame A Selection of Systems... { speakers are billed as audio/video mod- The WIRE-FREE line includes els because good surround sound re- quires accurate spatial imaging, some- an economical monaural model thing DCM has long been known for. perfect for standard TVs and Fried Products’ Beta speakers are un- shielded, but are still among the best moderately priced ($315 per pair) speak- ers around. The new Pro III mini-speakers from JBL are shielded and self-powered (or “active”), like the AR Powered Partners and Bose RoomMates (“Audio Input,” May ’87). They, too, can be mounted in several ways, and they seel for $240 per pair. Other new active minis include the D-Box B-55A, Recoton’s V632 and V633, and Koss’s M-60 Plus and M-100 Plus. AR and Bose also have some new models. The Powered Partners are now available in a weatherproof version for outdoor or boat use. And Bose has a radical new speaker system that’s per- fect for people who think audio should be heard but not seen. The AM-5 © 1987, Berkey, Inc. EJU“2‘BJ4/aPOTue0IIuNpO4E4eeAIU/daOJ9SYNeyIUPUPOeJU

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Audio Input Acoustimass system is a twist on an old idea: saving space by using small satel- lite speakers for middle and high fre- quencies, and a larger, easily hidden, subwoofer for the lows. The satellites are two four-inch cubes. The top cube rotates to adjust the stereo sound. The subwoofer (a spin-off from the Acoustic Wave system used in the Zenith/Bose TV) is also unusually small, about the size of a typewriter. Price of the system will be $699. WOOFERS If you need a subwoofer for small speakers you already have, consider Tri- ad’s BassBase. In a cabinet sized to serve as a TV base, it holds a shielded subwoofer and a 70-watt amplifier/cross- 2 Amplifiers, Simnulated picture speakers, and receivers can Expand your horizons. enhance the video experience. just Toshiba's 30” FST® Magnum TV. It's a sizeable improvement. And not because of its size. It has the first 6-lens focusing system. So you get a picture that's 15% clearer. Our flat, square picture tube also gives you a wider distortion. So get In Touch with Tomorrow Tvoisehwiibnag's area and virtually no You won't just see “7 hatER A 30” FST Magnum. more, you'll see better. Toshiba America, Inc., 82 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 CS8RNciFaoaeoi5enodr.rrfadcvo.idlirteecmireaotniaoln, over. A compartment can hold two more Get prints or slides components (such as.a VCR and an LV or BOTH from the player or an A/V receiver). The same same roll of 35mm cloth that covers the speakers covers COLOR film! the components, and it’s transparent enough to pass infrared remote-control Now you can use Kodak’s Hollywood film in your 35mm camera! Also ideal for use in the new beams and let you read the components’ displays. The system costs $260, and its auto-focus cameras. woofer is rated as covering frequencies from 120 Hertz to 38 Hz. Its especially fine grain and extreme color accuracy give you beautiful reproduction results. For everyday memories and special effects in bright or low light situations (up to 1200 ASA). The To go down deeper takes a bigger same film movie producers use, it can handle a wide range of exposures . . . so there's less risk woofer and more money, power, and of your pictures coming out under- or over-exposed. And you can choose prints, or slides, or space. For example, Velodyne’s ULD-12 goes down almost an octave further, to BOTH from one roll of film! 20 Hz. But it costs $699, has a 250-watt amplifier, and is about twice the size of r Send for two FREE rolls of this incredible new film today! the BassBase’s woofer (though only about two-third the size of the entire BassBase). The Velodyne also requires more expensive satellites with good re- sponse down to the woofer’s top fre- quency of 85 Hz, not just the 120 Hz the BassBase requires. HEADPHONES FREE COLOR FILM OFFER 1409 Wire-Free has added a stereo cord- I CYES, please rush me my two 20-exposure rolls of special 35mm film | less headset and a stereo transmitter/re- (5247® and 5294®). I’ve enclosed $1.99 for shipping and handling. | ceiver (for use with headsets of your I Name own) to its mono transmitter/receiver | | (see “Audio Input,” Sept. ’86). Koss, I Address | Nady, and Ambico have also introduced I City foarte se a nee transmitter/receivers. ‘VW] Ivan Berger is technical editor of Audio Mail to: Signature Color, 5311 Fleming Court, Austin, TX 78744 Magazine. Kodak, 5247 and'5294 are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Co. Signature Color is wholly separate from the manufacturer. Process ECN-II. June 1987 Video 41

HAVE BRIGHTER, SHARPER KIDS. OSE tal -Mallelal=t1melr-(e(-\\-fe) aBmD) Wife[=e er-T--1-1h(-\\-w a melUl mer-lis tere)ces) a VHS-C Our E-HG cassette has a high resolution formulation that delivers an extra measure of performance for brighter, shar- per pictures and crisper, clearer sound. And for your most demanding in-camera record- ing requirements, theres TDK HD-X PRO. It provides the ultimate in color, picture and sound detail, making it ideal for mastering, so you can make transfers which are identi- (orUCaom tal-mel gle] ar=\\5 8mm For unmatched 8mm performance, THE ART OF PERFORMANCE. © there's no finer cassette than TDK MP Our exclusive Super Finavinx metal particle for- mulation makes superior 8mm recording a reality with the most dramatic and enjoyable fore()0)@o)[oi Ulc-\\-mlant-le/[arele)(=% For brighter, sharper kids, make the smart- est choice in VHS-C and 8mm video cas- sleatsttsesa: lTiDfKet.imeW.e deliver performance that © 1987 TDK Electronics Corp. Simulated TV Picture. TDK is the world’s leading manufacturer of audio & video cassettes and floppy disk products. For additional information, circle No. 81 on Reader Service Card.

Three Writers Field-Test Nine Camcorders aving toyed long By Steven Forbis, Ty Harrington and play back three tapes to enough with the idea of and Martin Porter buying a camcord- test each camcorder’s ability to er—its cost is no long- handle indoor and outdoor en- er terrifying—you visit a deal- vironments, low-light situa- er who carries machines in the tions, and moving and station- major formats. Suddenly ary objects. Here’s what they you're confused. The VHS found. camcorder’s heavy, the picture from the light 8mm model jig- TAKE ONE gles when you play it back, while the Compact VHS tape VHS: Panasonic PV-300 only runs for 20 minutes at the Compact VHS: Zenith fast speed. The exotic features you dreamed about now look VM-6200 frighteningly complicat- 8mm: Sony CCD-V110 ed—and the prices are all over the lot. Perhaps you should One sure-fire way to test a think this over a little more... camcorder is to leave it around Or perhaps read this article. the house and see if anyone uses it. Never mind the fancy Because buying a camcorder features; does the machine it- can be even trickier than using self inspire frequent taping? one, VIDEO asked three writ- Recently I had an opportunity ers to compare nine camcord- to explore this premise with camcorders using all the lead- ers and report back. ing tape formats. Though all We armed each contributor have their strong points, the VHS machine delivered steadi- with camcorders representing er images and the 8mm stood out technically. But the cam- each of the major home shoot- corder I found myself using the ing formats: one VHS, one most was the Zenith, the small- Compact VHS, and one 8mm est in the group and the easiest machine. They included the to carry around. The experi- following models: in VHS, ence confirmed what I had long Hitachi’s VM5000A, Pan- suspected: miniaturization is asonic’s PV-300, and Zenith’s the camcorder’s crowning glo- VM7100; in Compact VHS, ry. Magnavox’s VR8297, RCA’s CPR100, and Zenith’s The picture from the Sony CCD-V110 looked the best. VM6200; and in 8mm, Canon’s Neither of the VHS versions VM-E2, Minolta’s CR8000AF, approached the richness and and Sony’s CCD-V110. faithfulness ofits colors, its line definition or its low-light char- The above nine comprise a acteristics. The Compact Ze- representative cross-section nith yielded natural skin tones of the types and variety of and realistic reds that looked impressive in SP mode. But camcorders local dealers are the picture quality turned likely to carry. Of the more grainy and objectionable in EP. than five dozen additional mod- The Panasonic, in turn, was in- consistent, with its brilliant els you may encounter (see red, for example, frequently accompanying charts) virtually shifting to orange. A test witha all are variations on the sam- ples in our shootout. All con- June 1987 Video 43 BJPARHYEONTtNOrEGRiRbAuPHtSo:rs were asked to shoot

SOO candle in a dark room gave the Sony a also have date/time character generators shooting with a box pressed to my face. I chance to show off its superior ability to and complete tape playback capabilities. handle low illumination. The Sony deck carries the most editing prefer the breathing room afforded by side- features—including switches for edits, in- The viewfinders proved a useful point of sert edits, and frame advance—and the view models. The Zenith’s viewfinder was comparison. Although each model pro- most manual overrides, an approach ap- vides instant replay and on-screen indica- preciated by those who take video shooting constantly nudging aside, and never tors, the Sony had the clearest, most con- seriously. All the machines have a fade-out sistent viewfinder confirmations. The on- effect; the Sony adds a wipe. The Panason- seemed to be in position when I needed it. screen tape counter, also on the Panason- ic is the only one with audio dub. ic, was especially welcome since it helped Also, since it takes more practice than you keep me aware of the length of the scenes I Backlight compensation is standard, was shooting—and helped me keep them though none compensated as much as I| might expect to maintain steady images short. The Zenith’s viewfinder also has on- would have liked. The Zenith and the Pan- screen displays, but not enough, and its asonic have color temperature switches with a light camera, you really need two eyepiece kept slipping off. that differentiate natural from artificial light, while Sony’s outdoor/indoor transi- hands to use the Zenith properly. The controls on the three are similar. tion was automatic, conveniently eliminat- Each has autofocus, auto iris, and auto ing a frequent oversight during shooting. Despite these qualms, I found myself white balance. The Sony and the Panasonic Each machine had its own feel. The Pan- reaching most often for the Zenith. The Panasonic’s sturdy, steady asonic, with its sturdy shoulder rest, felt PV-300 VHS allows audio dubbing. the most secure, and permitted the most Sony makes more sense for a videophile consistent scene composition and the Zenith’s light, easy-to-carry steadiest images. It was also the easiest to interested in having everything, not just VM-6200 VHS-C yields natural colors. figure out, with functional, evenly-spaced controls. It was disconcerting to find the light weight, while the Panasonic is packed record button atop the hand grip, but only at first. The PV-300’s only drawback is its with features but makes a heavy load for weight, which can cause shoulder pain af- ter videotaping excursions. Sony’s 8mm on-the-go shooting. The Zenith, though provided equally steady shots, thanks to its shoulder rest. weaker than the others on certain fea- The Zenith handled the least fluidly. The tures, had one undeniable advantage...it topside viewfinder made me feel I was got used. —M.P. Sony’s CCD-V110 8mm boasts superior low light performance. TAKE TWO VHS: Hitachi VM-5000A Compact VHS: RCA CPR 100 8mm: Minolta CR8000AF All three camcorders performed amaz- ingly well. They have numerous useful fea- tures and were so easy to operate that my 90-year-old grandfather could handle them all the first time he picked them up. Those who practice will find that such features as review and memory have an edit- as-you-go potential that can produce nearly professional results. The Hitachi was the largest and heavi- est, weighing about two pounds more. than the others, which weigh three to four pounds. The Hitachi's size per- mits it to incorporate a padded contour in the base that rests squarely on the opera- tor’s right shoulder. This adds stability while lessening camera movement. The more compact RCA and Minolta un- its are easier to carry and are far less obtrusive. However, they’re less stable and, without the shoulder rest, more likely to be tiring when used for long periods. The Minolta holds the tape cassette verti- cally in a slim, well-balanced housing. A right-hand grip provides camera support Featured Camcorders Compared Brand rice_| tp|[s8ailmuxnxion[|awtes.gn|[oiemexnseirone |[rSPapsspente vasoo0a |vis__| $1,605|2armos |7x [6.aibs. [7.5x65x141 [S SP Magnavox 6.25 x 5.25 x 10..25 |SP/EP Panasonic |Pv-300 |vas | 2,000 |va\"cco |7x [d[i6b.9s1bs.__|[68.72x154x.496xx4866. [sper | j-cenioo |vus-c [1,399 |2a\"mos |tolux 5.8Is. 1/ , 1. With battery. 2. Height/width/length in inches. NA: Not available. 3. Approximately. 4. Weight without battery. 44 Video June 1987

and easy access, for medium to large- Ee y did not affect operation, but it indicates a sized hands, to the trigger and the somewhat fragile construction. zoom lens _control. RCA’s CPR 100 VHS-C produces bright color reproduction. The Minolta and the RCA have more The Compact RCA houses the cassette conveniently arranged controls than those horizontally in a shorter unit with a slightly Hitachi’s VM-5000A VHS uses a larger on the larger Hitachi. Two exceptions are less-well contoured hand grip near the mic for superior audio. the Hitachi’s manual iris and manual white back, a site that exaggerates the effect of balance controls. The manual iris control hand movement and makes it harder to camcorders is that, to keep weight down, allows for quick compensation for adverse steady the lens while operating the con- they are encased in light plastic without light situations and iris-controlled special trols. Carrying handles with the Minolta enough reinforcement to assure durability. effects such as lens flares and fade outs. and the Hitachi provide grips for steadying During routine use, the eyepiece on the The manual iris controls on the Minolta and the units with the left hand. Minolta brushed against a padded carrying the RCA did not operate smoothly while case: one of the two tiny pegs that hold it in shooting, nor did the less important manual The microphones are at the front right of place broke off. The Hitachi is designed to white balance on the Minolta. The RCA each unit with jacks for an earphone and an stand upright and was stable that way—un- does not have a manual white balance. external microphone. The Minolta also has til I removed the battery for recharging. a jack for an external microphone. All the That left a higher center of gravity, espe- All the units have rapid on/off triggers microphones produced clearly audible cially with a light attached. As a result, it and smooth zoom lenses with a specified sound and the automatic features worked rolled onto its side and a hairline crack range of 11.5 to 69 mm. However, the well, except that both the Minolta and the appeared in the autofocus cover. The crack wide angle on the Hitachi is actually several RCA were occasionally confused by abrupt degrees wider, and thus more useful. All loud sounds followed by returns to lower have a review feature, which automatically average volumes; for example, the intru- rewinds the tape a short distance and re- sion of a bass drum beat in a live band’s performance. The Hitachi’s microphone is plays the most recent segment. Both the 50 percent larger than the others and pro- RCA and the Hitachi displayed long enough duced unquestionably superior sound. It segments to facilitate editing. The shorter even compensated well for loud intrusive rewind on the Minolta is less useful. The noises. Tape hiss and extraneous noise switch to activate the review is most useful pickup were minimal with all three. when it can be operated without taking the eye from the eyepiece. This was possible However, the large-format Hitachi pro- on both the RCA and the Minolta, but not vided the clearest recording of the opera- on the Hitachi. tor’s voice because its left-mounted view- finder permits an unobstructed path from All three camcorders have infrared auto mouth to microphone. The RCA also has focus with manual override. They focused an adjustable viewfinder that permits enough airspace in front of the mouth for well automatically when zoomed from wide the voice to carry clearly to the micro- angle to telephoto, and even better from phone. The Minolta’s eyepiece, however, close-up telephoto to wide angle. The is fixed at the rear of the camera, forcing Hitachi’s autofocus is slightly less stable the face to press uncomfortably against the than the others and has a tendency to make unit, distorting the operator’s voice unless near-continuous adjustments, causing extra care is taken to speak clearly. greater reliance on manual focusing. However, the larger Hitachi made stable The RCA viewfinder was the most ad- manual focusing much easier. justable. Its ability to rotate at a right angle to the unit tailored it to tripod use. The The tapes I used were Maxell’s HGX- Hitachi’s viewfinder and eyepiece are also the largest, making them the easiest to use 160 for VHS, RCA’s TC-20 for Compact in bright daylight. VHS and TDK’s MP P6-120 for 8mm. All the VCR components worked smoothly. A problem common to virtually all The Hitachi and the Minolta VCR controls have indicator LEDs which the RCA lacks, making its VCR controls somewhat confus- Max. Record Speed | Ratio Special Features auto/man. focus, iris, white balance, fader; EVF; macro Time 120 min. auto: focus, iris; auto/man. white balance; EVF; HQ 160 min. auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF, focal zone indicator, HQ 60 min. 120 min. auto focus, iris, white balance w/manual override; date generator; EVF 160 min. auto focus, white balance, iris; HQ; macro 60 min. 120 min. auto focus w/manual; auto white balance, iris, fader; EVF; HQ; macro 60 min. {1.4 661:1 | auto focus, white balance, iris; macro; EVF; titler, fade/wipe, date/time; insert edit 8 hrs. {/1.6 R6a:1 e auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; HQ; macro £/1.6 1 auto focus, iris, white balance; audio dub; backlight; EVF; HQ; hi-fi; stereo mic June 1987 Video 45

Shootout 1987 Camcorder . |Chinon —_| Cv-T60G 895 IGE ——SC*d 99-9606 ~~ $1,500 |Newvicon |7ux _—'| 5.6Ibs.| [GE ——Csiéd 93-9608 ~~ $1,599 |Newvicon |7lux _| 5.6 ibs. (GE. StI StS ceo vik TS eis. |Goldstar | cvm-7oar_$_1,|69|5 |ccD Di|@pepne =opmIaA |Hitachi| VM2100A Saticon Ins tant Replay | 92173 | $1,895 | Newvicon uo an Instant Rep la $1, CD 6 Ibs. ewvicon I la 5 Ibs. ewvicoM: a 2\\|=m oS = 6.9 Ibs. 5.6 Ibs. |Mag_n_|avr8v293aov_|x$1,899 | CD ing. Picture resolution for all was very |Mag_n_|avr82v94__o_—|x$1,79999| =jeiwQvicon good, though the Minolta’s looked superi- or. Magnavox _s|VR8294AV——s | Each format and unit has advantages and |Minolta _—| CHRS--110U2R00S.A$2FA,_08|5 |MOS 5.5 Ibs. disadvantages. The Hitachi scored highly Saticon because of its superior audio performance | -20U 695 eee SET and shoulder stability. The RCA and the CCD 6 Ibs.oNonnTO Minolta, however, are more portable and |vXxx-404_ oo [NA CCD let you feel less conspicuous without sacri- cco ix 6 iseIbs. ficing video quality. In fact the Minolta 5.3 oo ibs. demonstrated the best resolution of the three while the RCA displayed the best and PVMa-20e0 , 00 Newvicon of.6 oaIibsa.n brightest colors. $ , 00 Newvicon 6 Ibs. The inability of 8mm tape to be played in a VHS VCR is mitigated by the Minolta’s $1 L 799 | MOS 5 ibs. high resolution (of course, it is easily 6 Ibs. viewed using the camcorder’s VCR and a a$1,,74 Newvicon cable). Though the RCA has no counter 7 Ibs. memory or LEDs, it has the most adjusta- $1,U65 Newvicon ble viewfinder. Tbs. | coAAeSeSe:csl=l)e:om}o|;C~]eO Unless you plan to own several camcorders, first select the format that y i] Saticon .5 Ibs. suits you, then select the unit with the fea- tures tailored to your needs. As you can |CMR300___| $1,49 |MOSe|=<ii2c=Ei(f)frel) 5 Ibs.|a=Da=>SIzmnnanmAID see, each format has its strengths.- |VC-C1_|0U$1—s,A900 | Newvicon_ Tbs. 3 Ibs. —T.H. $1,800 OQOo 6 Ibs.faalian nja{ta 1=ce)wvicon TAKE THREE vCC152 | $1{,899 _ =ewvicon NA VHS: Zenith VM7100 Aoss Compact VHS: Magnavox VR8297 Video Escort rSi1loa8ll1aoSl||=S6li/oSololo| 8mm: Canon VM-E2 [[SSyhiavrapnia ||vvoo-oorssosua|[sis,ie,e0009[|ccoooof[i7 sVM-50AC Loi-onmm a My three camcorders proved to be fan- J|faoe2nmooIM[[AD|1J1+IwM1——|— lmloj-|= tastic machines, color television studios you can tote with one hand. But they also wn have touchy, sometimes baffling controls, too much bulk, and pictures that can still be [Zenith |vwsa00[s1 500[ooo [15 | 229111ss.(feoef)!eqnPls improved. 1. With battery. 2. Height/width/length in inches. NA: Not available. These machines use complementary CCD imagers, which means the signal starts out as a color negative that is re- versed electronically. This gives them greater low light sensitivity, but at the ex- pense of really accurate color. Non- existent colors often bloomed on bright 46 Video June 1987

a aBuyer’stf Gui@de Ra Special Features Di sions? | Tape Speeds |Record Time} Speed WEE a vy, in a as ey z ne aan 1ae Ce ae af : eG Cae i ae Bi ee sv 160 min. f/1.2 auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; HQ; macro auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; HQ; macro auto: focus, iris, white balance: backlight; EVF; HQ; macro; titler auto: focus, iris, white balance: backlight; EVF; HQ; macro auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; HQ; macro viz auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; HQ; macro A. NA f auto: focus, iris, white balance: backlight; EVF; HQ; macro; titler auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; HQ; macro auto: focus, iris, white balance: EVF; HQ; macro S oo ~x< [op)~x< par>t MAIMIN|IMN|W 1 fmsa=seoe)em 1 1 wo|<;<}no y|<x<o—j_sanion MIuvMIM!|W 1 co ~< ~ < ak,> 1 1 . Wate taco Visas peas ae 1 supra 1 féx5x10 | SPP | 60min. —_—i it. 1 s, white balan SP/LP ff. 1 |— 60 min. . SriLE auto: fociuriss, ,white balance: backlight; EVF; HQ SP/EP 60 min. Sea 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; HQ; macro 47 June 1987 Video

Shootout 1987 Camcorder et aaa ‘eOM e Chinon Eastman Koda x $1, Eastman Koda x |Mvs-5460___N[ewsvi2co,n 0[100 10_0| 4.8 Ibs. J_Ec‘Ré|si.860_[c[77co_| 2.5ibs. |as-ar___[jccsoi,ei19a95_ 5 Ibs. 1 4.5 Ibs. Zenith’s VM-7100 VHS features Kyocera N 3.8 Ibs. a hi-fi stereo microphone. Kyocera |K0-2010U___|S1,795 t7 ees 3.5 Ibs. Magnavox’s VR8297 VHS-C E7e ae) 5 1 0s. uses a high-speed shutter. NECKyocera B7eers |3 lbs. Canon’s VM-E2 8mm boasts Olympus R7EESE 2.8 Ibs. a sensitive autofocus. R7 ate 3.2 Ibs. surfaces. Even so, the images were pleas- [R250 —iist.a95_ [cco [9 |38b. ing. | e19 ee 4.5 lbs. Tapes I made of the same scene in New Sanyo York City’s Central Park looked brightest Sony E1N1S als 3 Ibs. and most colorful on the Magnavox. The M10 c Canon rendered a darker, slightly noisier Sony 2.1 Ibs. picture that was probably the most accu- Sony |oco-meu wa fcco, [2a5 5 2.4 Ibs. rate if not the most gratifying. The Zenith Sony B1l5eecuae 3.1 Ibs. yielded a flatter, somewhat steely image. BiaseSony Losses at the SP speed were minimal as 16 3.8 Ibs. was the loss suffered by the Canon 8mm jcop-vear ste |cco [i1a9 tape when played on my Sony VCR, which, Sony 5.1 Ibs. like all 8mm equipment, automatically ad- justs tracking. Both the Magnavox and the SUPERBETA 5.5 Ibs. Zenith lost a little quality in terms of noise and edge sharpness at the EP speed. The 1. With battery. 2. Height/width/length in inches. NA: Not available. 5.7 \\bs. real toll came when I played back the EP VHS and Compact VHS tapes on my Zenith home deck: the tracking adjustment could ratios. Canon’s widest angle is about 10 48 Video June 1987 not eliminate noise and sharpness losses. percent greater than the Magnavox’s. The Zenith falls in between. The power zoom The Zenith had the best low-light image. took seven seconds on the Magnavox, It stayed light and airy when the other two eight on the other two. Since I like to set showed heavy grain. The Canon has a gain my own pace, I only used the power zoom switch that lets you trade the roughness when I needed to shoot with one hand. for a picture that looks too dark. Canon perversely places the zoom controls off the hand grip; its manual zoom, The Zenith is a hi-fi stereo machine and however, was the easiest to use. All sounded, as expected, the most like FM three lenses can shift into a macro close-up stereo radio. I taped the last half of a live mode, although the Zenith has an odd prob- orchestral accompaniment with impressive results. EP results were equally good until lem with close-ups: its brightly flashing I checked its compatibility on my hi-fi home tally light makes objects pulsate in red. deck, where mistracking caused noticeable roughness. In autofocus, Canon scored the best. Its system worked in low light reliably and The Magnavox was poorest in audio per- quickly. The Zenith was slightly less sensi- formance, ranging from AM radio quality at tive and more tentative: it always paused a the SP speed down to telephone quality at second before acting. The Magnavox EP. The Canon was well-served by the seemed to have trouble locking onto sub- standard 8mm mono hi-fi system that gave jects the others targeted easily. FM radio quality. It was boosted by a good microphone with clear, sharp highs. The auto white balance mechanisms all fared well, though the Canon requires an All the machines have six-to-one zoom

Buyer’s Guide | Dimensions ‘| Tape Speeds|Record Time| Speed__Ra|tio _| Special Features _ rsx5x8 | ep an | [120min. Scr oemi \"| auto: iris, wwhhitebbaallaannccee;; backlighhtt:; EEVVFFrremoete mote 1.4 auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; macro 7X5%10 8x5x15 Pi\" S|Pizomin | ee auto: focus, iris, white balance ; backlight; EVF; macro 5x6x12 SP/LP auto: iris, white balance backlight; EVF; macro 5x6x 12 6x5x10 PPP | 240min.| 11.2 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro; PCM audio SX EX IS eSsPas Ea 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; macro 8x5x14 eSP eShiebmin | Lie 6:1 auto: focus, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro 6x7x10 }SSPp/rEePP | 240min. | 1.4 6:1 auto: iris, white balance; EVF 5x6xX13 [SP s|p60min. | 1.2 2.5:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro |SPeP | 240min.| 11.2 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro => [cence ECU 6:1 [auto:focus,iris,whitebalance; EVF;macro 5X5x6 11.2 ae ee 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro 6x5x11 ee EES as Psp|L2p40mi_n. __—|1.6 [auto:focus,iris,whitebalance; EVF;macro 5x5x12 [auto:focus,iris,whitebalance; EVF;macro 6x5x4 90 min. 1/1.4 7x4x138 wla|m auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro 5x 7x8 |20min.| 11.6 4x4x9 |20min. __| NA |auto:focus,iris,whitebalance; backlight;EVF 4x4x9 [120 min. _| f/1.6 [auto:iris,whitebalance; backlight 6x5x11 [auto:focus,iris,whitebalance 6x5x9 120 min. 1/1.6 Pau we, wile TXaKAG 120 min. |NIMIMINMIMIM £/1.6 [autoiris, whitebalance; splashproof 90min. /1.4 S)vUUGT;1iroet!rgo 2251 auto: focus, iris, white balance; backlight; EVF; macro 6:1 auto: focus, iris, white balance; EVF; macro ie : auto: focus, iris, white balance; macro ae : auto: iris, white balance; macro; EVF l7x6x15 ‘ pee Gea SW Band7xOxK15 Information provided by manufacturers. indoor/outdoor setting even on full auto, The weak link in the recording chain is Aiwa, and JVC, even though they lack the which undercuts the concept. Manual ad- the start-stop button on each hand grip. automatic features that weigh down these. justment of the Zenith is fussy because the The Zenith button often stuck, while the only setting indicator is inside the viewfin- Magnavox button was touchy: barely If these were the only units on the mar- der. Both the Zenith and the Canon have brushing it would start and stop the record- ket, which would I choose? If I wanted sluggish manual overrides for the lens ap- ing inadvertently. Yet pressing it firmly mostly to record live music performances, erture, while the Magnavox has a helpful sometimes didn’t work. Canon’s button it would be the Zenith. But for everyday backlight button. worked well. However, combining start use it’s too large: I felt conspicuous and and stop on the same button virtually guar- intimidating carrying it. As for the Magna- Even more intriguing was the high- antees you will accidently leave the camera vox, the Compact VHS concept leaves me speed shutter switch on the Magnavox. In running from time to time. cool. While the picture is good at SP, the strong light, it shortens the exposure time sound is only fair, and I’d hate to have to for each video frame, virtually eliminating For my tastes, all these machines are stop every 20 minutes to insert a new $6 blurs. In normal playback the shutter im- too big and heavy. At four pounds, the tape. At EP speed, moreover, the sound parted a stroboscopic feeling, though it Magnavox weighs as much as a half gallon really falls off. was impossible to view still frames because of milk and takes up even more space. The of the Magnavox’s video-head configura- Canon is a quarter-pound heavier but con- The Canon yields two hours on a $10 tion: SP freeze frames were marred by siderably larger. The Zenith displaces at 8mm tape, hi-fi sound and reasonable pic- noise bands. least two half-gallons’ worth and weighs tures. Its flying erase head makes in-cam- just about as much. Taking either of the era editing practical, and it’s about as light The microphone on the Magnavox can’t two smaller machines on an outing is a as any machine with equivalent features. be switched out, so there is a risk of howl- project, never a whim, while taking the While not the smallest, at least its length ing feedback every time playback is halt- Zenith is a production. I prefer the smaller, and the forward placement of its viewfinder quart-sized machines available from Sony, allow it to be steadied against one’s shoul- ed. All three can be set to power up di- der and head. Color me Canon. —S.F. rectly into the record pause mode. June 1987 Video 49

BRAD DAVIS in PRICE $69.95 #10150 TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT (U.S.A.) For additional information, circle No. 105 on Reader Service Card. RUNNING TIME 98 MIN. For direct P.O.P. send postcard to: 6464 Sunset Bivd., Penthouse Suite, Hollywood, CA 90028