Recovering Video 8 at DVinfo.net

Mike Tesh · May 13th, 2005, 09:18 PM

Hello.
I have a few tapes that were shot on a video 8 camera about 5 or 6 years ago. The camera was a canon with a color viewfinder and stereo sound. Though I don't remember the model number I remember it had stereo sound which was rare for a plain video 8 camera (not Hi8).

Anyway I sold this camera to a buddy of mine years ago when I got my TRV900. He then sold it to a friend of his who took it down to keywest. The problem is that the heads on the camera were misaligned and I recorded these tapes with them. So far as I know it's the only camera that can play them back.

Is there any way I can recover them without spending a fortune? I'd like to transfer them into a digital format. The footage wasn't all that important, just myself and my girlfriend at the time tooling around Chicago on our rollerblades and some various other street video type stuff. So if I lose it forever it's not a huge deal. But if possible I'd like to do what I can to get the footage back.

Thank you

J. Stephen McDonald · May 15th, 2005, 01:50 AM

Your best bet is to find a video duplication business that offers tape restoration services. Some of them could readajust the heads on a player to allow these recordings to be played properly. They could then re-record them on a tape or disk that would work on a normal machine. Any such business might be able to refer you to the right place, if they can't do it themselves.

Alessandro Machi · May 20th, 2005, 11:10 PM

the best bet is too find a camera shot that sells used video cameras. First test any camera you are about to put your tape in within another tape of less importance to make sure it loads and ejects properly.

After passing that test, put your tape in and see if it plays. Eventually you will find a camera that is just as misaligned as yours. Although I find the stereo aspect surprising, I thought all 8mm video was mono.

I own four 8mm machines, it's possible one of mine might play it.

Alessandro Machi · May 20th, 2005, 11:11 PM

One more thing. Digital 8 camcorders are supposed to play back 8mm tapes and they even have built in time base correctors.

May 13th, 2005, 09:18 PM	#1
Mike Tesh Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Detroit MI Posts: 253	Recovering Video 8 Hello. I have a few tapes that were shot on a video 8 camera about 5 or 6 years ago. The camera was a canon with a color viewfinder and stereo sound. Though I don't remember the model number I remember it had stereo sound which was rare for a plain video 8 camera (not Hi8). Anyway I sold this camera to a buddy of mine years ago when I got my TRV900. He then sold it to a friend of his who took it down to keywest. The problem is that the heads on the camera were misaligned and I recorded these tapes with them. So far as I know it's the only camera that can play them back. Is there any way I can recover them without spending a fortune? I'd like to transfer them into a digital format. The footage wasn't all that important, just myself and my girlfriend at the time tooling around Chicago on our rollerblades and some various other street video type stuff. So if I lose it forever it's not a huge deal. But if possible I'd like to do what I can to get the footage back. Thank you __________________ ScapeFilms.com \| My Photography \| IMDB Profile

May 15th, 2005, 01:50 AM	#2
J. Stephen McDonald Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 909	Your best bet is to find a video duplication business that offers tape restoration services. Some of them could readajust the heads on a player to allow these recordings to be played properly. They could then re-record them on a tape or disk that would work on a normal machine. Any such business might be able to refer you to the right place, if they can't do it themselves. __________________ Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos

May 20th, 2005, 11:10 PM	#3
Alessandro Machi Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA Posts: 553	the best bet is too find a camera shot that sells used video cameras. First test any camera you are about to put your tape in within another tape of less importance to make sure it loads and ejects properly. After passing that test, put your tape in and see if it plays. Eventually you will find a camera that is just as misaligned as yours. Although I find the stereo aspect surprising, I thought all 8mm video was mono. I own four 8mm machines, it's possible one of mine might play it. __________________ https://alexlogic.blogspot.com/ Los Angeles Emmy Winner (yes, used a video edit controller and loved doing so.)

May 20th, 2005, 11:11 PM	#4
Alessandro Machi Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA Posts: 553	One more thing. Digital 8 camcorders are supposed to play back 8mm tapes and they even have built in time base correctors. __________________ https://alexlogic.blogspot.com/ Los Angeles Emmy Winner (yes, used a video edit controller and loved doing so.)