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Build Log: Camcorder Scrap
Introduction
This was a fun little teardown of an old RCA camcorder my wife picked up for a few dollars at a local auction. While the machine itself was in poor shape and would not power on, I figured I could at least scrap it for parts. That turned out to be the right decision, as I managed to pull out some really usable stuff.
Overview
Just look at all this stuff. Bits of wire are always a must-have, and that kind of thing gets expensive fast. I also scored a mini CRT from the viewfinder, a new macro lens for my Kodak camera, and a few microswitches.
Macro lens
This is probably my favorite bit from the haul, the camcorder lens. By a stroke of luck, all it took was a little filing to slip the whole thing over the lens of my Kodak, allowing me to take some really cool macro shots. No doubt this will come in handy while documenting future projects.
Free Wire
These coils were part of the mechanism for reading the magnetic tape. While trying to remove one intact, it began to unwind, so I decided to spool it around a pencil for storage until I need it. Using the chuck of my drill to spin the pencil made short work of the process. I left the rest on the board for easy storage.
Mini-CRT
This is an exciting little gizmo. Inside the viewfinder was this tiny CRT screen. I have seen other makers use these to build small view screens, and one project I came across even used one to play DOOM. This will get put to use eventually, but first I need to learn more about CRT tech to feel confident.
Conclusion
All in all, I think I made out like a bandit here. The macro lens alone would have been worth the teardown.
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