Recommended 8mm player

[grockle]

I have x200 precious family footage on both PAL/NTSC 8mm, my old camcorders are not up to the job of playing. Can someone recommend decent but not overly expensive (<$300) hardware to play these tapes which I will capture and store on a decent PC.

[grockle]

After a bit of googling I'm looking at a used Sony EV-C200 Hi8 or Sony EV-C25 but looks like these are either PAL or NTSC but not both.

[danno78]

Most of PAL Hi8 camcorders can play NTSC tapes, but there is one problem. With NTSC tapes the output is PAL60 a mixture between PAL and NTSC standards and not many capture card handle this format.
Some Digital8 camcorders play also analog Video8/Hi8 tapes and convert them in DV through firewire interface. Keep in mind that only PAL models play and convert both NTSC/PAL tapes. The US models D8 camcorders don`t play PAL analog Video8/Hi8 tapes.

[danno78]

Some Sony PAL D8 models with Video8/Hi8 playback
DCR-TRV120E
DCR-TRV230E
DCR-TRV235E
DCR-TRV240E
DCR-TRV241E
DCR-TRV330E
DCR-TRV340E
DCR-TRV341E
DCR-TRV345E
DCR-TRV355E
DCR-TRV356E
DCR-TRV410E
DCR-TRV420E
DCR-TRV430E
DCR-TRV460E
DCR-TRV461E
DCR-TRV480E
DCR-TRV510E
DCR-TRV520E
DCR-TRV530E
DCR-TRV620E
DCR-TRV720E
DCR-TRV725E
DCR-TRV730E
DCR-TRV740E
DCR-TRV820E
Double check the manual before spend the money.

[grockle]

Thanks, does look like the Sony models are either PAL (suffix E I think) or NTSC but not both

[danno78]

Thanks, does look like the Sony models are either PAL (suffix E I think) or NTSC but not both

True, VCR 8 mm deck are either PAL or NTSC. Search PAL D8 with Video8/Hi8 playback on ebay.co.uk. or ebay.de
Hi8 camcorder are chepear but you need a capture card. D8 with Video8/Hi8 playback are more expensive but don`t need a capture card, just one firewire interface and will play all tapes regardless of format. Pay attention that not all D8 play analogue 8mm tapes!