Many people might not have a deep impression of the name Sdrum, but if you’re a fan of the VX1000—even for just a short while—you’ll definitely recognize the green gradient "寶劍" (Baojian) traditional Chinese character sticker. His love for the VX1000 and the golden age of street culture eventually led to the creation of this authentic, vintage-feel homie video and drew him and his friends into the business of modifying and refurbishing camcorders. Many skate filmers in China have "stocked up" on gear from him at one point or another. Today, we sit down with him to talk about these stories.
说 Sdrum 很多人可能没有太深的印象，但如果你热衷于 VX1000——哪怕只有一段时间，你也会对这个绿色渐变的“寶劍”繁体字贴纸有所影响。他对 VX1000 和黄金年代街头文化的喜爱，不仅最终促成了这部复古感纯正的兄弟影片，也将他和朋友代入磁带机的改装改造产业。国内许许多多的滑板摄像师都或多或少从他那“进过货”。今天我们就来和他聊聊这些故事。
🎙️ Let’s start with the usual—could you introduce yourself?
Hi! I’m Baojian! I’m from Dongying, Shandong, and I’m currently based in Guangdong.
🎙️ 老规矩先做个自我介绍吧
Hi！我是宝剑！来自山东东营，目前常驻广东。
🎙️ Let’s talk about your VX1000s first. What’s the story behind how you started using and collecting them?
OK! It was about three years ago when I scored my first VX1000 on Xianyu (Idle Fish). Before that, I was filming with a Canon XM2. I remember the night it arrived—I was unboxing it and geeking out over it in my good friend Fugui's room. We were both so hyped!
After that, I stuck with the VX1000 for filming and gradually picked up a second one, then a third... eventually, I ended up owning four VX1000s, two VX700s, two VX1s, one VX2000, one TRV900, one TRV46E, one PC110, one each of the SC5 and SC7, and one each of the XM1 and XM2.
🎙️ 我们先聊聊你的 VX1000 吧，开始使用到收藏的这些故事是什么？
OK！大概是在 3 年前我在闲鱼上淘到了我的第一台 VX1000，在此之前我拍摄使用的机器是 Canon xm2。 拿到机器的那晚，我们在好兄弟富贵的房间里开箱把玩，我们都很激动！
后来我就一直使用 VX1000 拍摄，陆陆续续买了第 2 台，第 3 台……最后我拥有了 4 台 VX1000、2 台 VX700、2 台 VX1、1 台 VX2000、1 台 trv900、1 台 trv46e、1 台 pc110、sc5/sc7 各 1 台、xm1/xm2 各 1 台……
"Looking back, it was absolutely crazy, but most of those old rigs have been sold to friends or given away now, haha. I only kept the gold VX1000 that my brother Lao Chou customized for me—I really love that one!
现在想想那时真是太疯狂了，不过现在这些老家伙大部分都被我卖给朋友或是送掉了哈哈。我只留了老臭兄弟帮我改色的黄金 VX1000 我真很喜欢这台！
🎙️ You really are a fanatic! What about now? You’ve started doing modifications and parts production—could you briefly explain to us what RC technology is and what its advantages are today?
RC stands for ImmersionRC PowerPlay. It was originally designed as a DVR for capturing video feeds from FPV drones. Before RC, there were other devices used to go tapeless, like Sony’s recording units.
Actually, guys overseas have been using RC to go tapeless for a long time. I noticed that no one in China was really doing anything with it yet, so I decided to take the plunge and be among the first to try it out.
🎙️ 你可能真的是狂热分子！那现在呢，你开始做改装和配件生产，给我们简单解释下什么是 RC 技术吧，他如今的优势是什么？
RC 全名叫 ImmersionRC PowerPlay，最初是设计给穿梭机传输图像用的 DVR。在 RC 之前也有其他设备可以实现 tapeless，像 Sony 的记忆单元那种。
其实很早之前老外们就在用 RC 实现 tapeless 了，最开始我看到国内没人做这方面的内容，于是索性成了第一批吃螃蟹的人。
The biggest advantage of RC is convenience! The operation is very simple, exporting is effortless, and it comes with its own monitoring screen. The image transmission quality is arguably the best, and since it’s compatible with all tape-based camcorders, it has become the most mainstream tapeless device on the market today.
RC 最大的优势就是便捷！操作很便捷，导出也很便捷，自带监视屏幕，图像传输质量也可以说是最好的，而且适配所有的磁带机，是现在最主流的 tapeless 设备了。
🎙️ Who in China are you working with on this, and what camera parts are you currently producing?
All the camera and RC accessories for Sdrum are designed by Huagangyan (Granite). I come up with the ideas, and he helps me bring them to life.
As for other merchandise, it's designed by A-ken, Fugui, and me. We've released a VX1000 keychain and some griptape, but they’re already sold out, haha.
🎙️ 国内你是和谁一起做的这些事，现在都生产哪些相机零部件？
Sdrum 关于相机和 RC 配件都是花岗岩设计的，我给出一些点子，然后他来帮我实现。
其他周边则是由阿ken、富贵和我，我们三个来设计 我们出过一款 VX1000 的钥匙扣，还有砂纸。不过已经售空了哈哈。
What we are mainly producing now are RC mounting bases, top handles for small DV cams, lens caps for fisheyes and cameras, quick-release adapters for fisheyes, lens hoods, and P2 card cases. We also have new products currently under development.
现在主要生产的是 RC 的固定底座、小型 dv机的手提支架、鱼眼和相机的镜头盖、鱼眼的快拆转接环、相机的遮光罩、P2 卡卡盒。还有新品正在开发中。
In terms of the domestic scene, Aze has bought quite a lot from us—massive thanks to him for the support! Joe also supported our products through his friend Ceylon; I remember it was an RC base! Huacai and Fengshan have also supported us. There are so many other friends out there filming with DVs—thanks to everyone who has supported us!
国内的话，阿泽买了我们不少东西，非常感谢阿泽的支持！Joe 通过朋友锡兰也支持过我们的产品，我记得是一个 RC 底座！还有花菜和风扇，都支持过我们的产品！还有很多玩 dv 的朋友们，感谢支持过我们的所有朋友！
🎙️ Are there any practical accessories you’d like to share with everyone?
Besides the RC base, I think the most practical item is the fisheye lens cap. It works with any domestic fisheye lens once the petal hood is removed. Oh, and we also make lens caps for all the mainstream camera models, which provide great protection when you don't want to carry a lens hood.
🎙️ 有什么实用配件给大家分享一下？
除了 RC 底座，我觉得最实用就是鱼眼镜头盖，国产鱼眼镜拆掉遮光片后都可以使用。哦对了，各个主流机型的镜头盖我们也有做，当你不想带遮光罩时也可以很好的保护镜头。
dangycam 就是我们直接介绍的外国 VX1000 几复古 DV 设备的改装和翻新厂商，最近新出了摄像师兵人系列玩具和项链。
🎙️ Last time you mentioned that you are in contact with Dangycam abroad. Tell us more about that—what have you guys been working on?
Actually, I don’t have direct contact with Dangycam. Inviz handles our overseas operations, and Dangycam frequently collaborates with Inviz. Their collaborative products are actually made by the friend I mentioned earlier—Lao Chou. Inviz also provides us with product concepts and helps us expand our reach internationally.
So, Sdrum hasn't directly collaborated with Dangycam on any specific projects; we just happen to know more about the behind-the-scenes details! Everything goes through Inviz—huge thanks to him!
🎙️ 上次你告诉我，你们和外国的 dangycam 也有联系，再说说这个故事吧，你们都做了哪些事？
其实我并不和 dangycam 直接联系。inviz 在帮我们运营海外业务，而 dangycam 经常与 inviz 合作，他们的合作产品又是出自上面的提到朋友——老臭。inviz 也给我们提供产品思路，帮我们拓展海外。
所以 Sdrum 并没有直接和 dangycam 做过哪些事，我们只是知道更多幕后的细节而已！一切都是通过 inviz，感谢他！
🎙️ Back to this film—it has a very authentic, old-school vibe. In an era of high-definition and meticulous color grading, what do you think this raw, gritty texture brings to the table?
Honestly, it’s about nostalgia and differentiation. There will always be people like us who love the original flavor and the soul of the "Golden Era." Even though I use P2 cameras to film now, I still use them as if they were a VX. The old becomes new, and the new turns back into the old; both vintage and HD styles are just different ways of meeting the needs of skaters today.
🎙️ 说回这个片，是很纯正的古早味。你觉得这种粗糙质感，在如今高清画质和精心调色下带来的是什么？
其实就是情怀、差异化。总有人像我们一样喜欢黄金年代原始味道和东西。虽然我也在用 P2 拍东西，但还是会把他当作 vx 来用，老的会变成新的，新的又回变成老的，复古和高清都在满足当今滑手的需求。
🎙️ These skaters aren't necessarily big names. Why did you choose to film them?
The core of Sdrum from the very beginning was about wearing DC Shoes and using tape-based cameras. A-ken, Fugui, and Liuzi were the skaters who best fit that mold and stuck with that old-school vibe back then. Later on, we just started skating and filming together. Then it became friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends—we all gradually got to know each other and just skated and filmed as a crew. I feel like "everyday" skaters deserve to be documented too, haha!
🎙️ 这些滑手也都不是什么出名的人，为什么会选择拍他们？
Sdrum 最初的核心就是穿 DC SHOES，玩磁带相机，阿ken、富贵、6子是当时最符合并且坚持这种老味道的滑手。后来大家就一起滑，一起拍片，再后面朋友的朋友，朋友朋友的朋友，慢慢都认识了就一起滑一起拍东西，我觉得普通滑手也是值得被记录的嘛哈哈哈！
🎙️ What kind of problems did you run into during filming? You mentioned that at one point, your work-life balance wasn't in a great place?
That’s actually how the film Eject got its name, haha. "Eject" corresponds to the button on a tape camera—every "Eject" is both an end and a beginning! Days spent skating are just like tapes; each one represents a different stage of life.
I was trying to find a balance between skating and work through this film, but it started strong and then tapered off as I got completely bogged down by work in the middle. During the toughest period, I had zero energy for anything else. It wasn't until I pulled myself out of that rut that I was able to continue and finish the film.
I’ve imagined that if I ever stop skating in the future, Eject would mark the end of Sdrum—everything about Sdrum would be "ejected" like a fully recorded tape.
🎙️ 拍摄中间遇到过哪些问题？你说有一度工作生活状态都不太好？
这就是《Eject》这部片子的由来了哈哈。“Eject”就对应着磁带机上带仓弹射按键，每次 Eject 即是结束也是开始！滑板的日子也像磁带一样，一盘一盘对应着不同的阶段。
我试着通过拍这部片子来寻找滑板和工作之间的平衡，结果高开低走，中间完全陷进了工作。最麻烦的一段时间完全没有精力去做其他事，走出来后才继续完成了这部片子 。
我设想过如果后面不再滑板了，那《Eject》就意味着 Sdrum 的结束，Sdrum 的一切像满录的磁带一样 eject 了。
🎙️ After all that, how would you define Sdrum as a collective?
The name Sdrum actually comes from a component inside tape cameras called the "drum." The drum is essentially the heart of a camcorder; it’s responsible for reading and writing the signals. In English, that part is just called a "drum."
Sdrum represents a group of us using vintage cameras and old machines as our core elements. You could call us a crew or a brand. Our main goal is to better serve the community of skate filmers.
I feel like skate filmers in China still don't get enough attention. We want to support this group, making it easier and more convenient for more filmers to get out there and start shooting. That’s what it’s all about.
🎙️ 说了这么多，Sdrum 到底是什么样一个群体呢？
Sdrum 的意思其实是，磁带摄像机里面有一个部件叫磁鼓，磁鼓就相当于是磁带机的心脏一样，它负责信号读写。然后磁鼓的话，在英文里面，它就是 drum 嘛。
Sdrum 就是代表我们一群，以摄像机，老机器为元素去做的一个东西，可以说我们是团队或者说是品牌。主要就是希望能更好服务滑板摄影师这个群体吧。
因为我感觉滑板摄影师的话，感觉在国内还是太少关注度了。我们就是更好去服务这群人，去让更多摄影师，更方便地拍起来，这样子。
🎙️ Is there anything else you’d like to share with skaters and filmers? I hope skateboarding doesn't become too limited. I feel like the skating in China can be a bit restricted sometimes; we need more creativity. And, mmm, that goes for filmers too, really. Most importantly—just keep filming! I hope filmers from every region, whether you're famous or just starting out, stay active and keep capturing clips!
🎙️ For anyone who wants to connect with you, buy accessories, or needs gear repairs, where can they find you? You can find us on Douyin or Xiaohongshu by searching for Sdrum. If you’re interested in items from Dangycam or Inviz, you can also contact us. If you are overseas, you can purchase directly through the Inviz website: https://invizworldwide.com/
🎙️ 有什么想和滑手，摄像师们分享的东西？
希望滑板不要太局限性了，感觉国内大家滑得太局限了，要多点创意。然后，emmmm，包括摄影师也是其实，更多的还是都拍起来吧，希望各个地区的摄影师，出名的也好，没出名的也好，大家都积极拍起来！🎙️ 想和你交流，或有配件购买，设备维修的朋友，可以去哪里找到你们？
可以在抖音/小红书找到我们 Sdrum，如果对 dangycam 和 inviz 的单品感兴趣也可以联系我们。
如果你在海外，可以通过 inviz 的网站直接购买：https://invizworldwide.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
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