Video camera to play both analog and digital video8

[hynckel]

I used to have an old SONY analog Video8 camera, which finally broke down. Then I bought a Sony TRV that could record digital Video8 and play the old analog tapes. Now I've lost the TRV and are stuck with a lot of analog and some digital video8 tapes.

I would like to capture the tapes to my PC and edit the recordings. How should I go about achieving this?
It sems that the cameras these days do not support both analog and digital video8.

[anonjon]

I would also like to know the best way to do this, as I have a couple of Video8 tapes to transfer.

[edDV]

The higher end models of the Sony Digital8 line still support analog playback and analog pass-through capture last time I looked. If not, many used models come up on ebay and other resale sites.

Always carefully read the specs to see if these features are supported.


PS: I checked the Sony sales sites and it seems the only Digital8 model now listed is the CCD-TRV238E which does not support your needed features. Better search for an older model like the TRV480E.
http://dworldshop.com/soccdtr48pal.html

[Zen of Encoding]

post deleted

[tim_k]

Yeah, I had a TRV-350 to be used for both Digital & Analog 8 mm tapes. The wife lost it and now you can't buy a new camcorder that does it. My only suggestion is ebay. I've seen a few there.

[zoobie]

Try renting a digital8 perhaps?

[NightFire]

If you only have a few tapes it's easier and cheaper to just have a company do it for you. Only the older Digital8 camcorders will play Hi8 or you could buy a deck.

[edDV]

If you only have a few tapes it's easier and cheaper to just have a company do it for you. Only the older Digital8 camcorders will play Hi8 or you could buy a deck.

Originally analog 8mm/Hi8 playback was part of all Digital8. Then it was deleted from the cheapest models. Then it was deleted from all but the top models. As of January '07, analog playback seems missing from all models offered.

The other desirable feature is "analog pass through". That was not present in the earliest models but was later introduced into upper range Digital8. Now that seems to be missing as well on current models.

Watch Ebay and Craigslist for bargain used models. Understand which models have the feature combinations you want. Do your homework.

For these purposes, it doesn't matter if the lens is smashed. You only want the processing.