Micro MV Tapes

[DarrylReid]

I have several Micro MV tapes but no camera. The video contains precious vision. Is it possible that there is some way that I can Capture the footage from these tapes please? Perhaps there is a carrier similar to the one used to play VHS/C tapes.
Thanks for any help.

[johns0]

Nope,you need either a camera or reader,no way around that.

[DarrylReid]

Thanks johnso, as I expected but can you explain what the "reader" is please. Thanks

[Cornucopia]

@OP, johns0 was referring to some software or hardware that can read the tape. However, Sony was the only manufacturer and they only made camcorders, never readers. If your footage hasn't even been captured yet (and so are still only on the tape and not in file format), you are screwed unless you get a MicroMV camera (your ONLY option). Start scouring ebay, etc. Too bad, because once in file format, the encoding is MPEG2 (in, IIRC, TS streams @ 12Mbps), which could be fairly easily edited, etc. with modern softs.

Scott

[DarrylReid]

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

[johns0]

There were readers made for the 8mm but wasn't sure of other camcorders.By reader i mean a tape playing device similar to a vcr.

[Cornucopia]

I figured. I know of reader/editor decks for: the VHS family, the 8mm family, the Beta family, the DV family. There was NOT one made for MicroMV. It was, by all accounts, a total loss for Sony.

Scott

[lordsmurf]

We have a camera for converting tapes for clients. We get maybe 1 project per year, for this. It's a REAL nuisance format to work with. Just send something like this to a service. The DIY method isn't ideal here, especially since most cameras are in such poor shape. It's nothing like VHS-C, and closer to 8mm with ever more quirks.

[johns0]

I would recommend lordsmurfs service.

[Cornucopia]

Me too.

[lordsmurf]

I'm not sure that we can. The camera is NTSC. This person is in Australia (PAL). I don't remember if the cams can play NTSC and PAL, or only one format. I don't have a tape to test.

A good and complete cameras runs around $300. Sure, there are cheaper ones at eBay ($150-200), but good luck with that. It reminds me of Hi8 cams and Panasonic S-VHS VCRs, in this way.

Paying a service should be half that. Hence the advice. Few people have more than 10 MicroMV tapes.