Miniature CRT Camcorder Viewfinder Teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2014, 10:29:57 pm
content: First teardown video from me. I probably need to source a new video camera for stuff like this but it seemed to work ok. Would appreciate comments.I had an old CRT based viewfinder from a camcorder, i had previously hacked it so it could feed a composite video source. This was done many years ago but never did anything more with it so decided it would tear it down.The tube is so small, it's impressive it works as well as it does and this was consumer tech from more than a decade ago.http://youtu.be/6FcmrXFPD6Q

author: BillyD
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2014, 10:55:56 pm
content: Nice job on the video. The crt is certainly a fine piece of engineering. There's no missing the Eevblog ruler there - and it looks like you're also a customer of kjds.Only suggestion I'd make is that it was a bit dark at times, especially when the camera was pointed at the dark worktop.Keep them coming.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2014, 11:34:54 pm
content: thanks, will bear your comments in mind for future videosthe tube is pretty cool, i nice little ornament now. I might have been tempted to break it and remove the gun assembly but it's not as complex as a full sized crt

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 12:07:52 am
content: Several years ago I made a small "Pong" game using an 8 pin PIC (not my own code) and a camcorder CRT.The screen area is a whopping 8mm x 12mm ! I should post a picture of it in action.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 12:21:35 am
content: yes, please post, would be great to see!

author: Anks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 01:35:30 pm
content: Make the worlds smallest crt scope.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 08:43:11 pm
content: one thing i did notice... in the video i briefly showed another camcorder. the viewfinder is exactly the same as the one i took apart.if you took the viewfinders out of two cameras you could quite easily make some kind of 3D binocular display, not only could you do 3D video with a bit of playing but you could combine them with some kind of vector drive like you would for an oscilloscope conversion... combine that in 3D would be very cool

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 10:28:27 pm
content: Quote from: dexters_lab on February 21, 2014, 12:21:35 amI'm having trouble getting a clear photo. Camera just doesn't want to focus on it.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 11:01:17 pm
content: for an atariphile like me that is awesome

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2014, 11:50:57 pm
content: I've been meaning to do a web page for that project for a long time, sohereit is. Hope you don't mind the slight hijack.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 11:23:08 am
content: brilliant, thanks for the page & links... tempted to find another viewfinder just to make one now!