Digital 8 Camcorder recommendations for capturing purposes??

[Sominex24]

Hello everyone


Here is the situation. I transfer lots of video to the computer to burn to DVD. Currently I can only transfer footage from MiniDV camcorders. I have a computer with a fire wire port on it and it works marvelously.




I would like to open up to 8MM camcorder and VHS as well.


So I was looking at getting a USED digital 8MM camcorder with fire wire capabilities, AND that can act as an A/V "bridge" to hook up the VCR to the camcorder (through AV wires) and transfer the signal via firewire.


Any ideads on a camera model?

Or a good place to get one for cheap?

Thanks all!

[sumibas]

Get TRV-320 or TRV 520 or i think there is a TRV-330 selling for around 300 $ new

[syam]

Get Sony TRV120, if you can find one. I've been using mine for 3 years - works like a charm (conversion both ways).

[Sominex24]

Get Sony TRV120, if you can find one. I've been using mine for 3 years - works like a charm (conversion both ways).

Nice. Thanks for the tip!


Does it act as a bridge too? So I can plug in any device with A/V cables into it, and trasnfer the signal vie fire wire cable to the computer?

[lechtin]

Unless you really need the camera functionality, why not get a Canopus ADVC100. It does exactly what you want, which is convert analog to DV, or DV to analog if I understood correctly.

[Tommyknocker]

Get Sony TRV120, if you can find one. I've been using mine for 3 years - works like a charm (conversion both ways).

Nice. Thanks for the tip!


Does it act as a bridge too? So I can plug in any device with A/V cables into it, and trasnfer the signal vie fire wire cable to the computer?

Sure does. I bought one on sale, as it was being discontinued. I sent my VHS tapes to it and transferred them to my computer as DV via fire wire.

[junkmalle]

Get Sony TRV120, if you can find one. I've been using mine for 3 years - works like a charm (conversion both ways).

Nice. Thanks for the tip!


Does it act as a bridge too? So I can plug in any device with A/V cables into it, and trasnfer the signal vie fire wire cable to the computer?

Sure does. I bought one on sale, as it was being discontinued. I sent my VHS tapes to it and transferred them to my computer as DV via fire wire.

Will that work even without a tape in the drive? I'm considering buying one with a dead tape drive...

[Sominex24]

Unless you really need the camera functionality, why not get a Canopus ADVC100. It does exactly what you want, which is convert analog to DV, or DV to analog if I understood correctly.

Originally that WAS the plan, but then I got to thinking - I don't have an 8MM camcorder at the moment. Just the miniDV. So if I went with tha that plan I'd have the converter box, and an 8MM camcorder.


Someone suggested a digital8 camcorder so I could kill 2 birds with one stone


Thanks for the idea though!

[trueg]

I purchased a TRV120 a few days ago on eBay. I haven't received it yet, but it should be in great condition with a bunch of accessories. I only paid $220 shipped. I have a bunch of 8mm and vhs tapes that I want to convert so a Digital8 camcorder made perfect sense. Plus I was able to sell my old 8mm camcorder to make up some of the difference.

[lalkana]

I got the TRV-530 on ebay last year for around $250 for exactly the same purpose. Works great and isn't a bad camcorder in it's own right. My husband and I each took a camcorder on a flying trip where we took separate planes and I can't tell the difference in the captured footage. Saves the step of saving to mini dv tape before capturing.

[Sominex24]

How about a used TRV-520 ?

The one featured here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004WZR6/002-3226537-9645657?v=glance&...oto&vi=reviews


A company on Ebay is offering me a used one for $200 plus shipping. It comes with the cap, strap, battery, charger and most importantly the AV input/output chord (to get VHS analog input to transfer to the PC)

Anyways. Does that sound like a deal to you guys?

I will very rarely EVER use this as a camcorder.. just for transferring 8MM, Hi8 and VHS tape to my computer


Let me know


and thanks for all the input!

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[sumibas]

TRV-520 is good as one of my close friend has it and has been using it for 3 years. i have a trv-320 for about 4 + years now. i do transferees to my PC and work s great.

[Sominex24]

TRV-520 is good as one of my close friend has it and has been using it for 3 years. i have a trv-320 for about 4 + years now. i do transferees to my PC and work s great.

Excellent!

Your friend- he/she can hook up a VHS vcr to the AV input ans transfer it to the PC?


And just put in a regular 8MM tape into the 520 and trasnfer it via fire wire? (even though it's an analog tape?)

Cheers!

[Rell]

ive got a sony DCR-TRV350 digital8 handycam and i was able to put in my old 8MM analog tapes and transferred the video footings to my PC thru firewire. the footages was taken 7 years ago on an old sony analog handycam, but the video still looks good. next try would be hooking up my VHS player to my digita8 handycam to capture my wedding before the VHS becomes unreadable.

[nachomur]

i own a sony DCR-TRV350 Digital( handycam too, and it works very nice capturing from VHS, using this 'bridge' capabilities.

[sumibas]

sumibas wrote:
TRV-520 is good as one of my close friend has it and has been using it for 3 years. i have a trv-320 for about 4 + years now. i do transferees to my PC and work s great.



Excellent!

Your friend- he/she can hook up a VHS vcr to the AV input ans transfer it to the PC?


And just put in a regular 8MM tape into the 520 and trasnfer it via fire wire? (even though it's an analog tape?)

Cheers!

Yes he has done 8mm transfers. we tried doing VCR it worked pretty good but never done any extensive capturing thru VCR. But has converted about 10 8mm tapes in the past months and they are great.

[Sominex24]

Thanks everyone!

Great feedback


I ordered the camera last week, and it is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow.

It's a used one, but it will come with the battery, charger, AND the ever important AV cable (to do VHS bridge transfers) and all for $217.50 shipped

Not too bad at all!

[Quantum]

I bought a Sony DCR-TRV460 Digital8 as a cheap camcorder to use to record my in car footage in my racecars. It works great and transfers perfectly to the PC where I can then use TMPGEnc to convert it and burn it to DVD. I also have a bunch of in car footage from the pre-digital age on 8mm and VHS tapes. I use a SVHS JVC VCR with the Sony camcorder as a bridge to transfer the VHS tapes to DVD. I transfer using S-video between the VCR and the camcorder. The camcorder is connected to the PC via firewire obviously.