Converting 8mm tapes

[Jazzy88]

About a year ago I sold my analog Sony camcorder to get a nice new digital. Well, stupid me never copied my Hi8 tapes to any other medium, nor to the computer. So now without the camcorder I have no way of accessing these videos.

Is there any type of converter that would allow me to play these tapes in a VCR? I know I've seen something like that in the store where the smaller tape slides into a unit that looks like a VHS tape and the whole thing goes in the VCR.

Or do you have any other suggestions for transferring these videos to my computer or VHS?

Thanks!

[GeorgeW]

What kind of Sony camcorder did you get? The Sony Digital-8 camcorders can play 8mm tapes (if that's the kind of camcorder you happened to get)

[Jazzy88]

Unfortunately I ended up getting the Sharp VL-Z3. I say unfortunately because it won't play the Hi8 tapes but I actually love the camera.

[tmh]

I think those small tape to VCR converters are for a different type of camcorder tape. Could be wrong though.

Anyways, go to eBay and buy an old, used camcorder that plays the tapes. They're cheap - especially if you can find one that no longer functions properly as a camcorder but plays tapes fine. I bought on a while ago just to have a second one that is always hooked up to the TV (saves the hassle of hooking it up each time). Cheap - $20 or something.

[OmegaSupreme]

There is no adaptor that will play an 8mm tape in a VHS VCR. The adaptor you saw is only for VHS-C tapes. You need an 8mm/Digital 8 camcorder or player.

[pbhalerao]

Unfortunately to play your old Hi-8 cassette you will need a Hi-8 VCR (very costly) or a Hi-8/Digital8 Camcorder. If you sold your old Hi-8 Cam to someone you know, then it might be possible for you to borrow it for some time.

But otherwise you have the following options:

- if the number of your Hi-8 cassettes is not very high, you could get them converted to DVD via some professional services
- you could buy a second hand Hi-8 Camcorder on eBay, do you job and then possibly sell off the unit again

Both are not very pretty options, but I am afraid that these are the only ones I can suggest. All the best.

[fmctm1sw]

Unfortunately to play your old Hi-8 cassette you will need a Hi-8 VCR (very costly) or a Hi-8/Digital8 Camcorder.

Here's a Hi8 VCR. I bought the exact one here this weekend. You sure don't see many of them...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3875340608&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

*edit* Wow, just noticed it's still at $26...

[pbhalerao]

A steal at that price ($26 + $15 shipping)...

[GeorgeW]

If possible, I would recommend a Sony Digital-8 camcorder that has the conversion with pass-through feature, and the ability to play 8mm tapes...

[Nelson9937955]

Get one from rentacenter or a place like that, rent to own. Get one for like a week which should only cost you about 5-8 bucks or so, get the movies on your hardrive and then turn the camcorder back in. Brilliant!!

[MpegEncoder]

Get one from rentacenter or a place like that, rent to own. Get one for like a week which should only cost you about 5-8 bucks or so, get the movies on your hardrive and then turn the camcorder back in. Brilliant!!

If you have a ton of disk space!

[fmctm1sw]

A steal at that price ($26 + $15 shipping)...

Wow, it blew up over the last day or so. Damn, I may sell mine...