The VX1000 came out in 1995, the year DV launched, and it was the first camcorder to pair MiniDV tape with three CCDs. Wikipedia also credits it as the first consumer camcorder that could send video over FireWire to an ordinary Windows or Mac computer. It's a big camera, about 1.4 kg before the battery, with a focus ring on the lens, an iris dial running F1.6 to F11, a built-in ND filter and zebra stripes. Skaters made it famous. It's iconic in late-90s and early-2000s skate videos, and Lars von Trier shot The Idiots on it, as Spike Lee did Bamboozled. Sony replaced it with the VX2000 in 2000. There's no flip-out screen, only a color viewfinder.
Tape check
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
The 1995 manual has no error-code table. If nothing works except eject, Sony says that's condensation and to leave it at least an hour. It won't take an NP-F750 or read InfoLithium packs, so check the battery in the listing.
New to old camcorders? How to check a used camcorder covers the tape transport, heads, screens and power, and getting footage off a camcorder explains FireWire and analog capture.
Buying guide
We'd buy the VX1000 titled serviced from a 100% Japan dealer at $680 delivered, under the $700 to $1,075 band most ask, with a battery, an adapter, A/V cables and a remote in the photo. There are at least 32 for sale, mostly Japan dealers in the middle of the band (Japan is NTSC, so they play US tapes), while US-located units titled near mint or tested ask $975 to $1,895 delivered. There's no flip-out screen, so ask for a short video of a MiniDV tape playing back in the viewfinder, and check the battery is an NP-F730 or NP-720, since Sony says an NP-F750 can't be used. Skip the two Tested listings that share one photo across sellers, the 94.7% seller whose title and photo also appear on another account, and the $2,231 fisheye kit unless you want that lens.
$460.16est. delivered
The lowest-priced VX1000 on a used card, an auction from a US seller at $460 delivered with no bids yet, so it will climb. The title makes no test claim and names no battery or charger, so ask for a video of a tape playing in the viewfinder.
Sony DCR-VX1000 Mini DV Digital Video Camera 3CCD Camcorder + Lenz
$679.99est. delivered
Titled serviced, and the photo shows a battery, an adapter, A/V cables and a remote. At $680 delivered it's under the $700 to $1,075 band, from a 100% seller.
Serviced【 MINT 】 Sony Handycam DCR-VX1000 Digital Camcorder Video Camera JAPAN
$839.98est. delivered
Titled tested, and the photo shows the whole kit, with batteries, chargers, a remote, cables, a bag and the manual. At $840 delivered it sits just under the $862 median with everything you'd otherwise hunt for.
Sony DCR-VX1000 MiniDV Digital Video Camera 3CCD Carl Zeiss Tested w/ Accessorie
$679.99est. delivered
On a camera from the mid 90s, a seller's service claim is the one to have, and this kit has what you need to power it and hook it to a TV. Ask what the service covered, the heads and tape path especially.
Serviced【 MINT 】 Sony Handycam DCR-VX1000 Digital Camcorder Video Camera JAPAN
$427.50delivered
Sold as is from a 99.1% Japan dealer at $428 with free shipping, about $430 under the median. Nothing says it records or plays, so price it as a camera that may need work on the tape side.
Sony Handycam DCR-VX1000 Digital Camcorder Video Camera Used As Is Japan
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$460.16est. delivered
$449.00 + $11.16 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 1d 12h
Good buy
Titled + Lenz, and the photo shows an add-on lens on the front. No test claim. Auction, no bids yet, so it will climb.
Seller: dafin-15
100% positive
Serviced$679.99est. delivered
$579.99 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$579.99
Good buy
Titled serviced. Photo shows a battery, adapter, A/V cables, remote and hood.
Seller: ykond91-camera-japan
100% positive
Used$839.98est. delivered
$699.99 + $139.99 shipping
Buy It Now$699.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested. Batteries, chargers, remote, cables, bag and manual in the photo.
Seller: cool_japan_123
100% positive
For parts$427.50delivered
$427.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$427.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Sold as is, untested. Camera only in the photo.
Seller: ms_japan_7
99.1% positive
Used$518.50est. delivered
$388.50 + $130.00 shipping
Buy It Now$388.50
Check the seller
Titled tested and working, but the photo matches another seller's listing here. Ask for photos of this camera.
Seller: higoshop42
100% positive
Used$698.48est. delivered
$643.48 + $55.00 shipping
Buy It Now$643.48
Check the seller
Another account lists the same title and photo, and this seller is at 94.7%.
Seller: japan-studio31
94.7% positive
Used$896.49delivered
$896.49 · free shipping
Buy It Now$896.49
Check the seller
Titled tested, but the photo matches another seller's listing here. Read the description.
Seller: rectanglejp
98.9% positive
Used$2,231.20est. delivered
$2,200.00 + $31.20 shipping
Buy It Now$2,200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled working with English menus, plus a Century MK1 fisheye and extras. About 2.6 times the median.
Seller: happysellingslove
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchSony
MiniDV$875–$1,025 typical ask
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MiniDV$220–$290 typical ask