Is there something about old Video8 cameras that I don't know about? at DVinfo.net

Vaughan Bromfield · February 4th, 2008, 05:23 PM

Hi, new member and new to video...

I've been hanging around eBay (Australia) for the last couple of weeks getting a feel for used camera prices. What I'm noticing is that analogue Video8 and Digital8 equipment seems to be going for stupid money: people are paying more for 5 to 10 year old stuff (low-end and middle-range stuff too) than they are for 2 to 3 year old equipment that would produce a much better picture.

I just don't understand it. Is there something I'm missing? Are rock video producers now hoarding equipment in advance to recreate that turn-of-the-century (1999-2001) look? Or do people figure that a $2500 camera from 1998 has gotta be better than a $400 camera from 2007?

Or are they really better?

Thanks!

Matthew Craggs · February 4th, 2008, 07:07 PM

I'm not sure why, but I can make a guess. Perhaps these folks buying up the Digital8 and Hi8 equipment have old Hi8 tapes and need a deck to play them back. I have a few Hi8 tapes around and the only reason I keep my Digital8 camcorder is because I know the tapes will be useless to me without it.

Then again, I could easily make a MiniDV copy, but in the meantime I hang on to the camera.

Pedanes Bol · February 4th, 2008, 07:46 PM

As those camcorders are not produced anymore and because there is still demand for them, they maintain their value.

Same as the above poster, I still keep my Hi8 camcorder. Because, without it, the footage I recorded on Hi8 tapes for many years would be become useless.

P.

Heiko Saele · February 5th, 2008, 08:34 AM

It's always wise to keep old equipment. There are production companies who make a lot of money with U-matic and 1" tape conversion from old archives because the tv stations/production companies got rid of their old players without thinking about their archives...

Ben Winter · February 5th, 2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaughan Bromfield

...than they are for 2 to 3 year old equipment that would produce a much better picture.

Actually, DV from a typical consumer camera isn't that much better than old analog Hi8. And because it's analog, it's a whole different ballgame, no compression artifacts for instance...

And we all know about build quality. They don't make em like they used to...

February 4th, 2008, 05:23 PM	#1
Vaughan Bromfield Tourist Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4	Is there something about old Video8 cameras that I don't know about? Hi, new member and new to video... I've been hanging around eBay (Australia) for the last couple of weeks getting a feel for used camera prices. What I'm noticing is that analogue Video8 and Digital8 equipment seems to be going for stupid money: people are paying more for 5 to 10 year old stuff (low-end and middle-range stuff too) than they are for 2 to 3 year old equipment that would produce a much better picture. I just don't understand it. Is there something I'm missing? Are rock video producers now hoarding equipment in advance to recreate that turn-of-the-century (1999-2001) look? Or do people figure that a $2500 camera from 1998 has gotta be better than a $400 camera from 2007? Or are they really better? Thanks!

February 4th, 2008, 07:46 PM	#3
Pedanes Bol Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston MA Posts: 167	Supply and Demand As those camcorders are not produced anymore and because there is still demand for them, they maintain their value. Same as the above poster, I still keep my Hi8 camcorder. Because, without it, the footage I recorded on Hi8 tapes for many years would be become useless. P.

February 4th, 2008, 07:07 PM	#2
Matthew Craggs Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Welland, Ontario Posts: 311	I'm not sure why, but I can make a guess. Perhaps these folks buying up the Digital8 and Hi8 equipment have old Hi8 tapes and need a deck to play them back. I have a few Hi8 tapes around and the only reason I keep my Digital8 camcorder is because I know the tapes will be useless to me without it. Then again, I could easily make a MiniDV copy, but in the meantime I hang on to the camera.

February 5th, 2008, 08:34 AM	#4
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	It's always wise to keep old equipment. There are production companies who make a lot of money with U-matic and 1" tape conversion from old archives because the tv stations/production companies got rid of their old players without thinking about their archives...