Sony CCD-TR728E Hi8 camera

Sony CCD-TR728E Hi8 Handycam – PAL – 20× Optical / 560× Digital Zoom – Personal Provenance from Photographer Bill Zygmant

A particularly interesting Sony CCD-TR728E Video Hi8 Handycam, a PAL-format analogue camcorder with direct personal provenance from British press and entertainment photographer Bill Zygmant

Personal Provenance

This camera was personally given to me by Bill Zygmant from his own collection of photographic and video equipment.

Bill Zygmant is a British press and entertainment photographer whose long career included photographing some of the biggest names in music and popular culture. His archive contains more than 60 photographs of The Beatles, together with photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Elton John, The Bee Gees, The Who, Queen and many other internationally known musicians and entertainers.

I can also provide photographs of myself with Bill Zygmant as supporting evidence of this personal provenance.

The provenance relates specifically to Bill’s personal equipment. No claim is made that this particular camcorder was used for any specific photograph, concert or assignment.

The Camera

Sony CCD-TR728E Handycam
Video Hi8 / Standard 8 compatible
PAL / CCIR system
20× optical zoom
560× digital zoom
Sony 3.6–72mm f/1.4 power zoom lens
NightShot infrared function
Electronic monochrome viewfinder
Manual focus and exposure functions
Date/time and titling functions
Sony InfoLITHIUM battery system
Shoulder strap
Accessories shown in the photographs

The CCD-TR728E is a genuine Sony PAL Hi8 camcorder from the early 2000s. Sony’s own documentation for this exact model was released in 2001.

Condition

The camera is in good vintage cosmetic condition, with normal signs of previous use and storage.

It is offered UNTESTED.

There is no battery or charger included, so the camera has not been powered up and its operation could not be checked.

The recording and playback functions, tape transport, zoom, focus, NightShot, viewfinder, electronics and other functions have therefore not been tested.

No guarantee is made regarding operational performance.

Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

A Fascinating Collector’s Piece

The CCD-TR728E represents an interesting period in the development of Sony’s analogue Handycam technology, combining Hi8 recording with features such as NightShot and an impressive 20× optical / 560× digital zoom.

What makes this particular example especially interesting, however, is its direct personal provenance to Bill Zygmant.

For collectors of vintage video equipment, photography, press photography, music memorabilia and photographic history, this offers the opportunity to acquire an original piece of equipment from the personal collection of a photographer whose career documented generations of internationally famous musicians and entertainers.

Included

Sony CCD-TR728E Hi8 Handycam
Shoulder strap
Accessories shown in the photographs

No battery or charger is included.