[Lily]

Hello again

As my Sony video8 camera is no longer working I have been researching the best way to proceed to transfer my films onto dvd. I would appreciate help in sorting out my options as I have been researching this and feel a bit (a lot) confused!!

The three options I have found are 1) to use an analogue/dv converter 2) to buy a 2nd hand digital 8 camera which is backwards compatible and the 3rd one is a device called a a Sony GV-S50E Video 8 VCR Video8 Hi8 Edit Player/Recorder.

Following previous advice I looked on ebay and found some 2nd hand digital 8 cameras. Then checking back through old threads I think I have identified which of them are backwards compatible with video8. These are DCR-TRV120E, 320E, 325E and 340E. But, am I right in thinking that connecting one of these to a PC or Mac via firewire will allow me to transfer my standard 8mm films and edit them in Movie Maker or iMovie and then burn them onto DVD?

I confess I don't really understand the other two options but wonder if they or something else would give better results. Any advice or guidance awould be appreciated.


Many thanks.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Lily

Hello again

As my Sony video8 camera is no longer working I have been researching the best way to proceed to transfer my films onto dvd. I would appreciate help in sorting out my options as I have been researching this and feel a bit (a lot) confused!!

The three options I have found are 1) to use an analogue/dv converter 2) to buy a 2nd hand digital 8 camera which is backwards compatible and the 3rd one is a device called a a Sony GV-S50E Video 8 VCR Video8 Hi8 Edit Player/Recorder.

Following previous advice I looked on ebay and found some 2nd hand digital 8 cameras. Then checking back through old threads I think I have identified which of them are backwards compatible with video8. These are DCR-TRV120E, 320E, 325E and 340E. But, am I right in thinking that connecting one of these to a PC or Mac via firewire will allow me to transfer my standard 8mm films and edit them in Movie Maker or iMovie and then burn them onto DVD?

I confess I don't really understand the other two options but wonder if they or something else would give better results. Any advice or guidance awould be appreciated.


Many thanks.

You are thinking along the right lines

The Analogue to digital converters can be so so so quality or very good ( but a little costly) some of the best are made by Canonpus THIS range

I dont know the last option and Im not sure it can help you without additional hardware

The other option is to record from Hi 8 tape to a settop DVD recorder to DVD video
This digitises the footage and you can still use the footage on these discs on the PC

[Mr Taylor]

Do you have a computer ?

Does it have a dvd burner on it?

[Lily]

Hi again - yes I have a PC and just checked with my son it does have a dvd burner. I also have access to an Apple computer.

[Tenex]

Not familiar with video8 but try connecting to the Mac via firewire then open iMovie and see if it will import. If it does you'll have the opportunity to edit (even if its no more than cutting out the bits where you're pointing at the ground ) before burning to DVD.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Tenex

Not familiar with video8 but try connecting to the Mac via firewire then open iMovie and see if it will import.

It wont.
Video 8 is an analogue format whose camcorders will not normally have firewire
The man issue here is getting the footage in digitised form to the computer, whether a mac or PC
Once on it Editing should be the same as if the original material were digital

[Lily]

Whichever route I take I will have to invest in another camcorder anyway so I am wondering which would be the best one to go for...another video8 like my old one, or a Hi8 or a digital8. A digital8 with a firewire wire could link to my computer but is this reliable? I checked the manuals on the Sony site of cameras advertised on ebay and it sounds a bit hit and miss.

I am quite taken by the idea of the analogue to digital converter. It sounds like a more reliable method with better results...am I right Senu? - but a big outlay if it doesn't work! I couldn't get the Canopus link to work but found the ADVC-55 and ADVC-110 on Amazon. Is this the sort of thing you meant?

Amazon.co.uk: advc110

The other option is to record from Hi 8 tape to a set top DVD recorder to DVD video
This digitises the footage and you can still use the footage on these discs on the PC -

I didn't understand this but a long time ago I transferred some footage from the video8 tapes to vhs by connecting the camera to the TV and setting the connected VHS player to record. Even managed to do a bit of editing out in this way. Could I do something similar onto DVD and would this digitise the footage to enable me to edit on computer?

Thanks for all your ideas...I have learnt so much over the last few days.

[Mr Taylor]

Yes, that is another way.

all camcorders have "RCA" type plugs ...so that you can watch the footage you just took (on a big TV screen).

So what you did last time was plug the camcorder into the VCR using the red white yellow RCA plugs and wires.

If you want to do the same again, you will need a VCR that also burns DVD's .

Which is cool, because you can get those for a good low price these days.

Here in New Zealand transonic make a low cost VCR and DVD unit. Good for recording tv shows on tape or DVD...good for making your old tapes into DVD's and good for what you want to do with your old camera footage.

Ps never get rid of the old camera tapes after you have put them on to dvd. Put them away in a snaptight container with a miosture sucking gell bag.

You never know when you will need them again.

[jwramsay]

I have this camcorder : DCR-TRV120E, it can indeed convert 8mm tapes in real time and they flow out as DV through the firewire connector.

So this camcorder is doing the analogue to digital bit for you in real time and you just edit the output as though it were from a DV camcorder.

Given a few friends a loan of it so that they can do the same.

[senu]

I also have the TRV 620 which can output from video 8 or Hi8 to DV and also has " pass through"