Hitachi VM-2600A camcorder, no picture in the viewfinder?

Question by lionheart: Hitachi VM-2600A camcorder, no picture in the viewfinder?
So this is an old camcorder, records to VHS. It hasn’t been used in years because we couldn’t get a picture to show in the viewfinder (thought the battery was the problem, and never got a new battery). I have it plugged into an AC adapter right now and there’s still no picture in the viewfinder. It stays black and it won’t record anything, I’ve checked. Doesn’t pick up sound either. But when I switch it over to Video mode and plug in headphones I can hear the movie playing (tried it with Small Soldiers).

I also downloaded the owner’s manual for this camcorder, and the troubleshooting just says to take the lens cap off (it is) and to make sure it’s powered on. So that’s no help. It’s too old to have a warranty, and too old to take it in for repairs somewhere. I’m trying to revive the thing myself. Google isn’t helping much either.

Can anybody here tell me what I could do to fix this? Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by lare
try the AV output from the camera. if it plays back previously recorded tape to your TV set properly, then you may be in luck. that would mean the viewfinder is the problem. you can work around a broken VF by running the AV out to a small battery operated LCD screen, like on a portable DVD player. this is a really old camera and you should consider an upgrade to digital video at this point.

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