Question about 8 mm digital video tapes

[Doug Raflik]

I have an older Sony DCR TRV320 video camera. I used to just let the camera roll on semi severe storms just in case something would happen, so now I have a BUNCH of tapes with nothing exciting on them. Since they are digital, can I record on them again with no loss, or will I be sacrificing quality doing this?

Doug Raflik

 

[Dan Robinson]

There will be no quality loss, but there could be a potential problem with dropouts on older or well-worn tapes. In other words, perfect picture, but dropped frames here and there. Tapes seem to have a shelf life (at least MiniDV does, I'd assume Digital 8 would too) when stored for a long time. I have never re-recorded a tape, but some of my older tapes that have been in storage for years have dropouts when I try to play them back. I don't think I would trust them for mission-critical video.

 

[Daniel Barker]

when available play back on the unit that recorded the tape, use one style of tape-i never follow these rules, if you can do!, maybe it will help

 

[Doug Raflik]

What do you consider "older"? Im talking from 04 to 06, and they pretty much have never been played. I just watched one of my tapes and for the life of me, couldnt even remember being there. lol.

Doug Raflik

 

[Dan Robinson]

I think anything beyond 6 months to a year would be old, but that's just my feeling. I've never tried re-recording an old tape that had dropouts, so it's possible that the dropout developed due to magnetic 'fading' in the tape over time. In other words, the tape itself might be OK, just the information on it faded over years of storage.

For a dashcam or a secondary 'timelapse' or b-roll camera, I think it'd be OK. I wouldn't want a dropout on a nice tornado though.

 

[Jason Foster]

I have been slow to get some old capturing done....doing a hell of a lot of it these days, and that goes back to about 2003 when I purchased my first DV camera which was a Sony TRV-250. I play back and capture using a Sony TRV-260 and there is no problems so far. All my critical tapes are stored in card plastic cases and kept in a box.

On an occasion I have re-recorded over old stuff, but usually within a few months of the original shots. I did this the other day, but with a tape about a year old (shot an apartment fire over old shots of my dogs, which I captured already). No visible problems, drop out or otherwise.

I would say for the cost of a tape, I wouldn't try to re-record over something so old. I do believe like Dan said, tapes have a limited time to them. However, it you are just shooting goofy stuff, or what I call document shots (street signs, highways signs, vehicle odometer, with self commentary for logging purposes for example) no big deal. But when it comes to the "money shots" you have to be kinda strict with your tapes. Once I shot a fantastic scene....a tornado, hurricane conditions, etc. I take that tape and lock it right out of the camera. I make a habit to never unlock a tape. But as mentioned, I did do it a few times.

 

[Doug Raflik]

All right you sold me. Ill just buy new tapes.

Thanks all,
Doug Raflik