Where can I find a 8mm camcorder besides ebay?

[Rustysmom]

This isn't really a photography question, but I figured someone here might know.

I have a Sony Handycam 8mm camera that I used to take tons of tapes. I was starting to put them on DVD, but I didn't finish. Yesterday I took it out because it was my DD's birthday and I wanted to see a movie of when she was born, but the camera went nuts and is broken now.

If I don't find another 8mm camcorder, I won't be able to see my tapes, or I'll have to spend a lot to get someone to transfer them to DVD. I can't see doing that since I have a DVD recorder,so I'm looking for an 8mm camcorder, but I can't find one!

I saw a couple on ebay, but I got burned with electronics on there before and I'd rather not. Anyone know where I can buy an 8mm camcorder (not hi8)either B&M or online, or some other device that I can play the 8mm tapes in.

 

[donaldduck1967]

Is this what you're looking for

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony...16667/catOid/-13063/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm not sure. Will a hi8 camcorder play back regular 8mm tapes?

Thank you for finding that for me because I just might buy it and try it out. I can always bring it back I guess.

 

[SharonLowe]

I'm not sure. Will a hi8 camcorder play back regular 8mm tapes?

Thank you for finding that for me because I just might buy it and try it out. I can always bring it back I guess.

Not necessarily - it has to be one designed to play the old 8mm tapes - we ran into the same issue last year and there was only one Sony model that played the old tapes back then. I forget the model but looking at the Sony site, it looks like the one pointed out should work.

 

[Anewman]

I'm not sure. Will a hi8 camcorder play back regular 8mm tapes?

Thank you for finding that for me because I just might buy it and try it out. I can always bring it back I guess.

Well it uses regular 8mm tapes.

But was your camera DIGITAL8?
How were you converting to DVD?

If you plugged your camera straight into your PC via firewire/iLink, it was probably digital8 in which case a Hi8 camcorder will not play back digital recordings.

EDIT=This one will playback Digital tapes but not analog.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...51&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039418

 

[SharonLowe]

Well it uses regular 8mm tapes.

We got one last year, said it used regular tapes but it would not play back 8mm tapes recorded on earlier video recorders; only thse recorded on it.

The model we have is the Sony TRV480, which is no longer made. You might find a refurbished one on the internet though. It can use them plus play back the older 8mm tapes recorded on other recorders. The TRV280 does *not* play back old tapes.

 

[Rustysmom]

I just ordered the one in the first link from Amazon, because they give 30 days to send it back if it doesn't work and Circuit City only gives 14. I was going to wait and look around for it on Saturday, but they said they only had 4 left, so I figured I better hurry up and just order it.

Thank you all SO MUCH because I had no idea that a hi-8 would play back plain old 8mm (well, I hope it does anyway). I'll soon find out I guess.

Oh, and my old camcorder wasn't digital 8. I copy it to DVD by hooking it up to my standalone dvd recorder. I can't use the firewire, but I use the other wire that has the red, yellow, and white cords. I forgot what it's called, but I'm sure you know what I mean. The dvds don't come out as good as when I use the firewire with my new miniDV camcorder, but it's good enough.

 

[donaldduck1967]

You could call Sony Customer Service to see if the tapes would play. This way you would know for sure and not have to open the new one if it won't play them.