Chuck Silverman
September 13th, 2008, 10:02 AM
hi
I live in Los Angeles, CA. I'm looking for a Hi8 camcorder with a Firewire interface to transfrer Hi8 tapes to digital. Recording video is not a priority at all.
Does anyone know a reputable dealer whom I can contact or does anyone know where I can purchase said camcorder. I do prefer Sony.
Thanks
Chuck S
Los Angeles, CA
Robert M Wright
September 13th, 2008, 12:08 PM
I don't think Sony is making Digi8 cameras anymore. You could certainly buy one used on eBay (be careful) or you might take a look at this:
GV-D200 | GV-D200 Digital8<sup>®</sup> Video Walkman<sup>™</sup> VCR | Sony | SonyStyle USA (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&productId=11028832&langId=-1)
Richard Alvarez
September 13th, 2008, 01:03 PM
Did Hi8 utilize firewire??? I don't think it did. It's an analogue format, not digital. Digital 8 cameras did, and some were also backwards compatible I think. But if you can find an old Hi8 camera, you'll need to transpose the tapes to digital through a trancoder/deck.
Bill Pryor
September 13th, 2008, 01:15 PM
Even though your tapes are Hi-8, you'll need a Digital 8 camcorder to transfer them via firewire. The digi8 will play both, but a Hi-8 won't play a digi8. EBay is probably your best bet to try to find a used one.
B&H still sells the old Video Walkman, which is a Digital 8 deck with firewire, and it will play your Hi-8 tapes.
(Google is your friend)
Digital 8 & DV VCRs | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/5245/VCRs_Digital_8_DV_VCRs.html)
Personally, I would look for a cheap Digital 8 camera. But the format died almost before it came out, so there aren't all that many of them around.
Chris Hurd
September 14th, 2008, 03:43 PM
I'm looking for a Hi8 camcorder with a Firewire interface ...
Did Hi8 utilize firewire? I don't think it did.
There's no such thing as a Hi8 camcorder with FireWire.
However most (not all, but most) Sony Digital8 camcorders have FireWire, and they can play back Hi8 tapes. The Sony GV-D200 Digital8 deck is probably the best way to go, if you can find one.
Boyd Ostroff
September 14th, 2008, 04:21 PM
I have a lot of old Hi-8 archive tapes of our performances, and fortunately our ancient Sony camera still works. I have been gradually converting them to DVD, using an s-video connection to a DVD recorder. If you don't need to edit the footage then you might consider this approach. Afterwards I just rip the DVD's and store the images on a firewire drive for future use.
If you can't find a digital 8 camera, then this box is a cheap way to go from analog to firewire with a Hi-8 camera: ADS Technologies | Pyro A/V Link Bidirectional | API-558-EFS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/462758-REG/ADS_Technologies_API_558_EFS_Pyro_A_V_Link_Bidirectional.html)