Panasonic NV-RX1 and NV-RX10 interference and audio issues

[wida02]

So I bought three vhs-c camcorders. One I cannibalized for parts to fix another. Two is now working. NV-RX1B has sighly noisy and externally scratched up head, works fine and the noise does not come into recordings. When playing back the video through camera to tv picture is fine but there was slight extra buzzing noise in footage and tracking adjustment got rid of interference stripe. NV-RX10EG runs quiet, head looks externally brand new but when playing back the recording there loud buzzing noise in footage, tracking adjustment got rid of interference stripe but not noise. I cleaned both cameras head externally when I had them disassembled as I was trying to find problem for buzzing on RX10 and while I also installed working idler gear and casette tray to the RX1.
Both cameras test footage is on same tape which was unused prior. At home I watched recordings connected to tv via analog-digital converter and I also tested with old tv which has scart so withouth converter also. No difference in symptoms. I got a change to watch the tape on vhs player with freshly maintained vhs-c adapter casette. NV-RX1B footage didn't buzz but jumped around quite a lot. RX-10EG footage buzzed loudly but otherwise behaved well. There was an interference stripe on all clips of both cameras. Both cameras recorded SP mode I think. The RX10 does not have switch to change between SP and LP.
I'm not too familiar of vhs principles and all the troubleshooting of these old cameras. My goal is to get my own vhs player if these cameras are worthy so I can enjoy simple filming and videos without spending computer time. Should the vhs player which I used been able to adjust tracking automatically or do they even do such things or should I have adusted something? Are these cameras possible just bad, is the vhs player bad or is it way too confusing to the player to have two different cameras footage on the same tape?

[wida02]

Since my understanding of these machines is quite low, and I had way too much time on hand, I just mindfully swapped main components around between RX1 and RX10 testing where would it lead. Teadious since you pretty much have to assemble the whole camera or run it naked but I don´t fancy on getting electricuted. Both cameras are about identical mechanically eventhough parts are numbered differently. The optics are same. Unit with the viewfinder and power related stuff at the back looks the same but has some differences and not a compatible part as a whole. RX10 had buzzy footage no matter what head and accessories it had on. Ended up parting it and combining the parts with the least visual, mechanical and audible wear into RX1. Not like the individual cogs or gears but parts as whole. The RX1 works fine now.

Handle ribbon cables and connectors always with absolute care. They are very weak on these as in many compact electronic devices. Had to trim one ribbon cable end shorter since there was a break inside it just where the connector clamps it.

[aramkolt]

VHS-C has always been kind of suboptimal compared to other available options (even when they were new) - not very long recording times and fiddly mechanisms. You are much more likely to get better results with something like a Sony Handycam Hi8 deck for modern analog recording as it was basically right at the end of analog recording and you can get a lot more recording time out of the tapes.

I get wanting to fix up what you've got, however, not too many people bother restoring VHS-C camcorders in my experience, so technical responses may be rather limited. Hi8 handycams on the other hand do get fixed up regularly and they have some common issues making it relatively likely that you can get those camcorders going about 70% of the time without additional parts and probably with a lot less effort than you've put into these already. There also isn't really a need to get a separate player if the camcorder works well as you can just play back your tape via S-Video into your capture card from the same camera.

As a bonus, most of the handycams can use new 3rd party batteries which is likely not be the case with the VHS-C camcorders.

[wida02]

Thanks for the response! You brought up very valid points and I´m with you 100%. Had I known more about VHS technology and its kinks in general, before all my research while trying to figure out these cameras, I wouldn´t have bought these ones. Oh well, the more you know. I have one working so that´s something. Before getting these ones I was eyeing the mini-DV cameras but they seemed to be going in pretty bloated prices. How would you say mini-DV compare to Hi8 machines considering how often they are faulty and how easy they are to maintain/fix?