8mm Camcorders

8mm Camcorders

ES290

UC9500

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed April 1999
Original Price For export only (no Japanese market price)

The ES290[A] / UC9500[E] was developed to offer outstanding value for money while achieving expanded video shooting capabilities, as well as a more powerful digital editing functions and simple operation. The adoption of a 22x optical zoom lens maximized its focusing distance in telephoto, while a built-in compact flash allowed shooting at close distances at night and indoors under low-light conditions. In addition, the ES290[A] / UC9500[E] incorporated the FlexiZone AF/AE for automatic focusing and exposing even of subjects off the center of the screen, further contributing to easy operation. Furthermore, 10 digital effect modes were added, to make total of 14 modes that meet user demand for creative videography.

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 (ES290) , PAL system (UC9500)
Tape format 8 videocassette (ES290 : P6 type , UC9500 : P5 type)
Tape speed
(at SP mode)
14.345mm/s (ES290) , 20.05mm/s (UC9500)
Maximum recording time ES290 120 min. at SP mode (with a 120-min. cassette)
UC9500 90 min. at SP mode (with a 90-min. cassette)
Fast forward/rewind time ES290 6 min. (with a 120-min. cassette)
UC9500 6 min. (with a 90-min. cassette)
Image sensor 1/4″ CCD (charge-coupled device)
ES290 270,000 pixels (250,000 effective pixels, 200,000 effective pixels with image stabilization)
UC9500 320,000 pixels (290,000 effective pixels, 290,000 effective pixels with image stabilization)
Viewfinder 0.55″ color LCD viewfinder (approx.113,000 pixels)
Built-in microphone Monaural (Electret condenser microphone)
Lens 4.0-88mm focal length, f/1.6-3.8, 22X optical power zoom, 88X digital zoom, 9 groups 11 lenses with an aspherical lens, filter diameter: 46mm, P = 0.75, Minimum shooting distance: 10mm (at wide), 1m (at midrange), 1m (at zoom)
Focusing system TTL autofocus / manual focusing possible
Image stabilizer ES290 Electronic, angular velocity change detection
UC9500 Electronic
Color temperature switching Auto-homing
Minimum illumination indistinct
Recommended illumination More than 100 lx
Illumination range indistinct
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 stereo mini jack
Microphone input ES290: -67dBv (with 600-ohm microphone)/more than 5 kohms
· Video light
Built-in halogen lamp (3W)
Lighting angle: Approx. 73º
optical axis center illumination: 12 lx (2m shooting distance on optical axis)
Power supply 6V DC
Power consumption
(when recording and auto-focusing)
Approx. 4.1W(ES290)   Approx. 4.3W(UC9500)
Operating temperature range 32-104ºF (0-40ºc)
Dimensions 99mm x 106mm x 205mm (excluding tiny projection)
Weight Body: Approx. 720g
When recording: Approx. 945g
(including battery, 8mm videocassette, button-type lithium battery and lens cap)