8mm Camcorders

8mm Camcorders

ES900

UC900CL

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed May 1996
Original Price For export only (no Japanese market price)

Targeting the most competitively priced market, this compact model incorporated a 20x optical zoom lens to expand its shooting range. To make operation easier, the ES900[A] / UC900CL[E] featured customizable keys and FlexiZone AF/AE for automatic focusing and exposing. Moreover, it could be operated by either the right or left hand. It also boasted the world’s first built-in infrared LED, which controls the video recording system, allowing simple connection of only an AV cable.

Video recording system 2 rotary heads, helical scanning system
– Luminance signal: FM azimuth recording
– Chrominance signal: Converted subcarrier phase shift recording
Audio recording system Frequency multiplexing with the video signal by rotary head (Hi-Fi monaural)
Television system NTSC system (ES900) , PAL system (UC900CL)
Tape format 8 videocassette (ES900 : P6 type , UC900CL : P5 type)
Tape speed
(at SP mode)
ES900 : 14.345mm/s , UC900CL : 20.05mm/s
Maximum recording time ES900 150 min. (with a 150-min. cassette)
UC900CL 90 min. (with a 90-min. cassette)
Fast forward/rewind time ES900 6 min. (with a 120-min. cassette)
UC900CL 6 min. (with a 90-min. cassette)
Image sensor 1/4″ CCD (charge-coupled device)
ES900 270,000 pixels (250,000 effective pixels)
UC900CL 320,000 pixels (290,000 effective pixels)
Viewfinder 0.55″ color LCD viewfinder (approx. 113,000 pixels)
Built-in microphone Electret condenser microphone
Lens 3.9-62.4mm focal length, f/1.4-2.7, 6 groups 10 lenses with two aspherical lenses, filter diameter: 46mm, P = 0.75, Minimum shooting distance: 1cm (at wide), 100cm (at midrange), 100cm (at tele)
Focusing system TTL autofocus / manual focusing possible
Color temperature switching Auto-homing
Minimum illumination ES900 : Approx. 3 lx , UC900CL : Approx. 2 lx
Recommended illumination More than 100 lx
Illumination range ES900 Approx. 3 lx-100,000 lx
UC900CL Approx. 2 lx-100,000 lx
Aperture Auto iris servo system
Output terminal (level/impedance) Video/audio output terminal 3.5mm mini jack (audio/video)
Video output terminal 1Vp-p/75 ohms unbalanced synchronized load
Audio output terminal -10dBv (at 47 kohms load) / less than 3 kohms unbalanced
External microphone terminal 3.5mm mini jack
Microphone input:-67dBv (with 600-ohm microphone) / more than 5 kohms
Power supply 6V DC
Power consumption
(when recording and auto-focusing)
Approx. 5.4W
Operating temperature range 32-104°F (0-40°c)
Dimensions 97.5mm x 106.5mm x 199.3mm (excluding tiny projection)
Weight Body: Approx. 700g
When recording: Approx. 900g
(including battery, 8mm videocassette, button-type lithium battery and lens cap)