Can anyone identify this?
 

Hope I put this in the right category. This thread has comments about the Hitachi beam index CRT.

Just acquired an RCA CKC021 Color video camera with the Hitachi beam index CRT viewfinder. A video break out box came with it, enabling me to power up the camera and verify operation.

Can anyone identify the right camera connector? The left connector allows me to connect the camera to the box.

Would it be possible to adapt or change out the right connector so that I could input a video source to it?

On this break out box are A/V ouputs in the back.[IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...reakOutBox.jpg[/IMG]

The goal would be to use the box to input video directly to the Hitachi CRT.

The input on the right is a Sony input. I checked one of my portable Betamax units and it is identical. I have one of the Sony cameras, it is all manual and can be hard to use when you get used to an automatic type.

Thanks. What is the model number of your Betamax?

If that box only has one set of audio/video outputs on the back, and no switch to choose between the two camera inputs, then it is only intended to be used with one camera at a time, of either type.

You could just install your own switch (a DPDT would be fine) and a set of RCA jacks to make a second input.

So, just ignore the right camera connector, and drill a couple of holes in the front panel, install the two RCA jacks and a DPDT switch to select the camera or the new a/v input.

That sounds easier then starting from scratch because I already have the power supply and female camera connector on the box. I'm lousy at wiring stuff. Thanks.

The RCA CKC021 is not a camcorder. It was made in 84 and designed to connect to an external video recorder and power. Without the break out box, I would not have been able to power it up. The little 1 1/2 inch Hitachi color viewfinder is interesting. It uses beam index technology. I read in another thread here, how several members made their own boxes to power the CRT up, so I want to try it.

One more question: the other members used a 12 volt 2 amp power supply. This break out Box has an external 20 volt 1.25 amp power supply with a fuse on the box. It powers up the camera and viewfinder okay. There is the same video socket on the camera as on the break out box to receive the 8 pin plug from the viewfinder. If I made the mod to the box and just plugged in the viewfinders 8 pin connector to the left connector on the box will I blow it up? Or is there some sort of step down circuits in the box?

My portable Beta's are a Sony SL2000 and a Sony built Zenith VR9800. Very sophistcated for their time and very hard to work on. I send mine off to "MrBetamax" when the have a problem. I would have to do some crawling in the storage closet to find the camera.