how can i get old hi-8 tapes onto pc/dvd?

[maday]

I borrowed a hi-8 camcorder for a family holiday a couple of years ago and i would like to get the footage put onto my pc or burnt to a dvd. i no longer have the borrowed hi-8 camcorder. What is the easiest way to do this?

[redsox_mark]

You need 2 things:

1. A device to play the tapes
2. A device to convert to a digital format

For (1), you need a Hi8 camcorder, a Hi8 tape deck (rare), or a Digital8 camcorder which reads Hi8 tapes (not all do).

For (2): If the device is a compatible Digital8 camcorder/deck, then all you need is the camcorder, a firewire cable, and a PC with a Firewire port. Plus software for editing and DVD creation.

Or - you can use a "set top" DVD recorder. In this case you can connect an analogue Hi8 camcorder/deck to the recorder via S-video. Or in the case of a Digital8 camcorder, you could connect via Firewire (if the DVD recorder also supports it).

Mark

[MarkE19]

Assuming you don't intend to use the camcorder in the future then you could just try to borrow a mates Hi8 cam, if you can find one. Another option is a cheap s/h Hi8 cam from a local shop/eBay etc. As stated this is analogue and you will need some method of getting the video into a digital format the PC can accept.
A set top DVD recorder is a great way if you don't want to do any/much editing. If you do want to edit then there are loads of options, but they are not that cheap:
You could buy a new miniDV cam with AV-in (not all have this feature so cheack closely before you buy). This has the advantage of getting a new small cam to use.
Buy a Canopus ADVC converter. These start from around £75 but will be of little use in the future unless you continue to use the Hi8 cam.
Get a Digital8 cam. These cams are big & bulky compared to a miniDV cam, but you will have a nice shiny cam to use. Be careful as last time I checked only the top of the range D8 cam could play analogue tapes. More of the oplder models could, but definately not all so check carefully.

Mark.

[senu]

At the risk of re stating the essential points by the 2 Marks above:
If all you want is a DVD disc with the Hi-8 footage
Loan the Hi-8 camera ( with its leads) and find someone with a settop recorder:

The advantages
1)Simple real time transfer with no special need to get suitable Digital 8 camcorder, and no need to get an external Analogue to capture digital device ( esp for one off use) .Note that If you can get a suitable Digital 8 camcorder it can be used an a "normal" Hi- 8 playback device or even better via DV if the settop recorder has one.
2)The other advantage ( unless you are itching to show what your PC can do, is not really needing to involve it in the capture process in any way

Once you have your DVD if you then wish to "Edit" its contents on a PC .
Im sure advice abounds here and out there about how you can go about that