How to playback 8mm (Video8) tapes?

[guy24s]

Hi,

I have some old unlabaled 8mm (aka Video8) tapes. I don't have the camcorder anymore, but I want to see what is on these tapes. I can't find anyone who still has this kind of camera so I could borrow and check them, and I know it doesn't exist any 8mm tapes to VHS converters...

So my question is, is 8mm tapes (video8) playable on any other kind of videocamera, for example Hi8? Is there any sort of videocamera/device that will playback these tapes, that I could buy in a normal store like Wal-Mart or Best Buy? I don't want to go and buy some old used 8mm camcorder just to preview some tapes.
Any suggestions welcomed.

[edDV]

8mm tapes can be played on 8mm, Hi8 or Digital8* camcorders or standalone players.

Some Digital8 models will directly convert 8mm video to a DV stream over IEEE-1394 (aka firewire or ilink).

*Some low end Digital8 models have discontinued 8mm playback. Check the spec.

[guy24s]

Thanks for the information!