Thanks!

Yes any HI8 deck has backwards compatibility with Video8 therefore any Digital8 deck that can playback HI8 will also playback Video8.

@@ScottGravlee Thank you for clarifying! I wasn't quite sure but this cleared up the confusion :)

Glad this helped.

@@ScottGravlee update: I got myself a super hi-tech (for the time) 'digital hi8' camcorder and my four tapes work beautifully!! thankyou for making this video and saving me from throwing precious memories in the bin in a fit of enraged frustration!!

@@chemicaltrails4468 Glad I could help

MP60, MP90, MP120 that refers to the length of the tape metal tapes are stronger and were better for editing where you would be consistently going from tape to tape. If I'm not mistaken metal tapes also record in a higher quality. Video8 tapes are thiner and while they are compatible with all the other formats as mentioned above the other tapes were stronger and a little less prone to snapping.

Yes as far as I know if it doesn't fall under the models in the link in the description. Very important that you capture over firewire.

@@ScottGravlee thank you!

Are you sure they are Analog HI8 recordings and not digital?

Yes they are interchangeable in that way just the recordings are not.

@@ScottGravleethanks got a cheap lot of Hi8 tapes for my video8 cams

Digital8 it will only play and record those recordings nothing else you can use any blank tape 8mm video tape in the camera and technically can mix formats (analog and digital) but that's a pain to deal with.

You need to make sure it’s the right format just because it’s labeled one it could be the other.

8mm refers to the tape type as it's the same size as 8mm film not the tape recording as mentioned in the video you could have one of three recordings. How do you know these are Video 8 recordings? Better to get a device that can play all. Importantly you need to make sure you are timebase correcting your video signal before capture if it is not a Digital 8. Also your player needs to have stereo and s-video to get the best quality if you aren't capturing over Firewire. I don't think this camera has that.

yes all analog tapes are backwards compatible you'll loose quality doing it so it's not advised.

Yes it will play back both but make sure the camera has S-VIDEO that will give you the highest quality. Also steer clear of any clear click devices the capture quality isn't that great and one model had firmware issue where it would corrupt the files. If any of the tapes are moldy you will need to take them apart and manually spool them until they are unstuck and you see no mold on the top of the tape door.

@@ScottGravlee thank you. I've checked the tapes again, and I have, hi8, 8mm and video 8 tapes. Will I be safe betting that the hi8 camcorder will play all of the three formats?

@@Antonio81911 No you will need a Digital-8 camera and you need to check the article I posted to confirm what you buy will playback all three. (As mentioned 8mm is video8 with just a less confusing name) Video8 Hi8 and Digital-8 the three "8mm" tape formats all use the same tape.

Sony GV-D800 I also have a similar Sony GV-D1000 for Mini DV (Also a wide assortment of camcorders and MiniDV decks) Most people shooting MIni DV back in the day used cameras to transfer their tapes over firewire. Having dedicated decks is nice but sometimes stubborn tapes only playback in cameras. Good practice to not be reliant on one device and to have a wide range of decks. But for a handful of tapes a standard DV camcorder should do fine just make sure you are connecting it over firewire and NOTHING else (unless you convert DV to SDI) as you will not get the full quality of the tape and are just converting Digital to Analog which people do and is very dumb.

@@ScottGravlee Thanks. I don't have firewire on my laptops. I have a composite/S video converter for USB but I seen a USB device made by Pinnacle that will accept firewire. Maybe that will hold some of the DV quality

@@SOUTHERNLIFETIMES I doubt it what is the model? I would look for an old Mac used 2012 Mac Minis are cheap.

Also Digital-8 has to be transferred over firewire to maintain its quality. Other non digital formats need to passed through a time base corrector. i have a video on my page about TBC.

@@ScottGravlee ok. Thank you sir

You can but I would advise against it because you’re overwriting your master tape if you’re unhappy with your transfer at later point good luck.

@@ScottGravlee So I need to buy new tapes?

What is the model of camera?

A few things... Videotapes degrade in quality by 10% each year(a 10-year-old tape is unplayable) The play heads of the camcorder may be coated in dust from the tapes so you will need a play head cleaner kit.

I've got one in my studio that will playback any 8mm tape and while later Digital8 tapes are better you can use any 8mm tape.

@@ScottGravlee so would you recommend getting digital 8. And can you watch the footage on the camcorder with digital 8?. Thanks

@@ryank2555 All tapes work but digital8 tapes are newer and less susceptible to issues from old some tapes. I would at least avoid Video8 tapes because they are the oldest.

Yes its 20 per tape (depending on ow many tapes you have) plus 15 for storage to a flash drive. This would obviously not include shipping to and from assuming you aren't close to me.

I'll add more next time thanks for the feedback!

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.