Yet another Samurai?

Thanks Graham, but it's a bit too early to call it 'working'. Without any way to power it and no tape cassette in-hand to load for a proper test, that's a leap of faith I can't make just yet. I've found all the power parts needed, and luckily the tapes are fairly common, so they're easy to find - even new, and still in their shrink wrap. There's rumblings in the back of my head warning me it could be another parts chase, only to find out that I have a very pretty corpse that I'm throwing accessory money at in hopes of a revival. I've had a couple of times where that's worked out fine, but not all of the chases end happily.

Sony had - and still has - a number of "HandyCam" camcorders that had Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lenses attached prior to their launching into the mirrorless market (starting a 'partnership' in 2006). I'm guessing that the Yashica lensed rebrands were a lead up to that, and those early Zeiss lenses might have been supplied by Yashica. Sony seems to be as secretive about optics as Yashica was, and their optics division appears to keep a very low profile, unless they feel like beating their chests, like their onion-ring bokeh correction w/ extreme aspherical elements -or-touting the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2. It's doubtful there will be any hints from them with so little public-facing optical news.

I do find it odd that in the 2006 mention about the Sony/Zeiss partnership (in the linked Lenspire article above) that there's no mention of Yashica as a member.

Hi lumiworx

I've added a few models into your list, annotated in purple. All the Samurai ones added are named Yashica and not Kyocera.  However, there is also a KX-V3 camera though that is a Kyocera Samurai Hi8 model.  Other cameras which could be added are the Yashica KX-95E and Yashica Samurai KX-H1E.

I assume the E designations on various models signal that the video signal is PAL.  If that is the case, one would expect the U designation to mean that it is NTSC/PAL switchable.




EDIT:

Just spotted another one: a Kyocera Samurai KX-LV1...

I'm finding a few models on the list, and a few more that aren't, but now might be a good time to ask one question that came up while searching, that deals with the actual format. All my decades in using video cameras was limited to broadcast quality cameras and recorders that used either 1/2" or 1" reels, or 3/4" cassettes, and not the consumer type models, so this is somewhat new territory for me.

I've run across camera ads that specifically mention 8mm, 8mm compatible, or simply Hi8 and/or 8mm as the only printed designators on camcorders, i.e., Yashica KX-X1 (Hi8), Yashica KD-M770 (8mm), Yashica KD-H150 (8mm), and Yashica KD-H170 (Hi8). With this many additions I have to assume there may be far more in number than first blush, so would the additional Hi8/8mm details be significant to also make that spec a part of this list? If it is, I'll try to verify what I can include with any I find. It also looks like a spreadsheet might be a good idea too, with the number of items steadily growing... so I'll pack these all into a fresh one to post later on.

This article helps to delineate the format differences, for those interested... legacybox.com/blogs/analog/myth-buster-all-digital8-camcorders-are-compatible-with-8mm-tapes

In similar situations in the past biggles3 , I'd think I'd save my pennies for something a little more useful, than to run after the rare ones. Having/owning/presenting some things are great, but life is far too short as it is, so I'd prefer to shoot for a richer experience, than the alternatives of just collecting gear. 'They' always seem to show up when you least expect whatever you're looking for anyway, and at a much more reasonable price than you'd expect.

Forgive the stupid but simple question... but curiosity compels me... do either of the Samurai DG models take portrait oriented images, ala half-frame-ish, like the earlier film versions? Logic leads me to think they'd be standard 4x5 landscape ratio frames, but I'm wondering if the 'family' name and framing tradition took precedence or might have been a capture option.

I'm beginning to think there's less sense in what made it onto this original list as I go through it. I've found a few more, and much broader lists, and it seems they are peppered with both compatible camera models, and compatible battery models, and there's no guide or text on the page to help decipher which is which. They appear to show Yashica and/or Kyocera batteries by model number as brand equivalents to other makers batteries, in the same chart as the cameras, which makes it very confusing. Here's a page that seems to break them down for one single battery model as "Suitable for" and "Compatible with" that makes it easier to relate them together... www.master-instruments.com.au/products/55479/VB6H.html

I've started to compile a spreadsheet, and I think it's simpler to just add in a column for tape/recording format as Video8, vs., Hi8, vs., Digital8 wherever it's known. I can't assume the details will be readily apparent at the outset, and it's a few clicks to put it in place anyway, so why not...?  

I've seen several of them at exorbitant prices too, but then patience and luck can intervene when you least expect it. From one year ago...it may not have the all-black 5cm lens, but I can still be very patient. :)