>>3759881Ive bought many tape cameras. Primarily if the viewfinder image is scrambled, stay away from it. Basically irrepairable to the average person.
Apart from that, do a functions check with it plugged into the wall with a blank cassette, record onto it, play it back and check fast forward and rewind. Batteries will always be dead, you can get lucky and buy new repacked units for cheap but in most cases you will either have to repack your own batteries or use an external power source (ie, lug around an external lead acid battery powering it)
Belts are usually very slacked or perished, so the mechanism drawer and takeup spools wont usually operate, requiring new belts if all else looks alright. Solenoids suffer around beaches in my experience and make sure you get everything with the camera as it will make life easier (AV cords, microphone sponge, power brick, spare dead batteries, case, charging dock etc)
