Video 8mm tapes - How to convert?

roxics

roxics

Veteran
So I have a problem. I used to have an old Canon 8mm camcorder that recorded video with stereo sound. Not Hi8, regular 8. Most regular 8 camcorders only recorded mono sound at the time. Not only that, but I think the recording heads got misaligned in the camera, which meant I couldn't play the tapes back in any other camcorder but that one. At least based on what I tried at the time, which might have been only one other camera. I don't remember. It was long ago.

Sadly I lost that camera years ago. I moved to DV in the late 90s and I let a friend borrow that Video8 camera (not caring much about it at the time) and he had it so long I guess he assumed it was his and lent it to a friend of his who then moved to Florida and who knows from there.

Is there anyway I can get the video off these tapes? Is there a Hi8 deck or something that has some crazy tracking capabilities that could read the video and also read the stereo sound off of it?
 
I purchased a used Digital 8 sony camcorder at a swap meet to transfer through firewire. It will read the analog 8 & Hi 8 tapes. Paid about $25 bucks for it. There way more expensive online.
 
Like posted above, if it's just a few tapes you might check with one of the companies that do transfers. Here is a 8mm/Hi8/D-8 deck that will output via firewire (1394) and also S-video/composite to a computer. It used to be about $800 new but now on Amazon the price has gone up.
Might be able to find one cheaper. Or buy another used camera just like your original and use it for a deck.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GVD800-Video-Walkman/dp/B00006JQQ7
I can attest the Sony GVD 800 deck works great. I've used it on all three flavors of 8mm tapes.
 
Thanks everyone. Maybe my best best is a service. I only have two tapes in this condition. The rest are/were readable by a regular Video8 camcorder. Just these two that were recorded with the misaligned heads.
 
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