8mm camcorder tape playback suggestions?

[Bix]

My grandmother no longer has a working camcorder (I'm guessing it was Video8 and not Hi8 but I'm not 100% sure) but has a lot of old tapes with no way to play them. What would be the best old camcorder for me to buy relatively inexpensively to use to play them back for DVD conversion?

Thanks!

[edDV]

Options

1. Buy used Video8 or Hi8 camcorder off Craig's List or ebay.

2. Buy used Digital8 camcorder (make sure the model supports analog Video8/Hi8 playback).

3. Borrow a Video8 or Hi8 camcorder.

4. Use a dub service.

[Bix]

Options

1. Buy used Video8 or Hi8 camcorder off Craig's List or ebay.

2. Buy used Digital8 camcorder (make sure the model supports analog Video8/Hi8 playback).

3. Borrow a Video8 or Hi8 camcorder.

4. Use a dub service.

What would be the best old camcorder for me to buy relatively inexpensively?

I thought I was clear enough that I know what to do functionally but would like specific model suggestions, but I guess that I was not...

[Brainiac]

My Sony TRV-350 has never failed me. It plays Digital8, Hi8 and 8mm tapes. Perhaps you can find one on ebay.

Brainiac

[edDV]

I thought I was clear enough that I know what to do functionally but would like specific model suggestions, but I guess that I was not...

That is where you need to do your homework for Digital8. "In the beginning," circa 1998 all Digital8 models played Video8 and Hi8. As time passed lower end models lost the analog circuitry to cut costs. Upper end models continued Video8/Hi8 support. In later years 2005-2007 only the highest end models supported analog tape playback.

All Video8 models play Video8*.

All Hi8 models play Video8*.

You have the basics. When you see a model on Craig's List or ebay, use Google to find the spec sheet for that model, or contact the seller.


* Video8 or Hi8 camcorder models will need to be captured with an analog to digital capture card or a standalone DVD recorder. Digital8 models convert Video8 to DV format in the camcorder allowing capture over Firewire (IEEE-1394).

[Bix]

Are you deliberately being obtuse? I already got everything that you're saying. It's not about finding a camera that plays the proper format. It's about finding a camera that comes recommended and plays the proper format. This shouldn't take so many posts.

[Des]

Sony Handycam DCR TRV350

If this has what you are looking for then it will work for you.

--dES

[edDV]

Are you deliberately being obtuse?

You have given me nothing to narrow the choice. I've given you the minimum features to search.

There are probably dozens of Video8 and Hi8 camcorders that will work. There are probably about 15 NTSC Sony Digital8 models that will work and probaly another dozen that won't play analog tape. Digital8 camcorders were made from 1998-2007

If budget is no problem and you already have a quality S-Video capture device (e.g. Canopus ADVC) then I'd recommend a used prosumer or pro Hi8 model with internal TBC for top quality. For Video8/Hi8 I've found my Sony CCD-V5000 (internal TBC) and Canopus ADVC-100 work well together. This is a seventeen year old model. There are probably 20+ prosumer or pro Hi8 camcorders with similar or better performance. This is probably overkill if the original camcorder was a low end Video8.

Good hunting.

PS: Here's an example of an early (~2001) upper end Digital8 model. Most likely it will play analog tapes but you should research that or confirm with the seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-HANDYCAM-DCR-TRV730-DIGITAL8-DIGITAL-8-HI8-EXTRA_W0QQitemZ260...QQcmdZViewItem

[edDV]

It does play analog tapes to DV.
http://www.videomaker.com/article/8624/