WTB: Hi8 Video Camera

[Andrew Pritchard]

Hey guys,

Obviously not looking to shoot Hi8 anymore, but I've got a ton of tapes that I need to archive and my Hi8 camera has since crapped out. I'm just looking to pick up a used hi8 camera (that obviously still plays tapes) for the purpose of making dubs onto a better format.

If you've got an old camera that still plays in good quality, let me know. I'm not looking to spend a ton, which is why I'm not just picking up a Hi8 player or something on ebay.

Just curious what's out there, and who might be looking to shed an old piece of equipment that's gathering dust.

 

[Jason Foster]

You saying you need a camera that has Hi8 but converts to DV...right?

 

[Olivier Staiger]

look at the Sony D8 , Digital8, cameras. some of them play back both Hi8 and D8 tapes ( same size, different speeds ), and some of those have miniDV firewire jack, so if you have a computer with firewire jack you can transfer the analog Hi8 tapes directly from D8 camera to computer , then convert to any other format, edit, etc. There's even freeware available, MPEG streamclip from
http://www.squared5.com/ , http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/ or windows live movie maker .

 

[Adam Lucio]

Check your local pawn or thrift store. Last I went in they had a whole bunch in there for roughly 100 bucks. I would assume they work

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

You saying you need a camera that has Hi8 but converts to DV...right?

No, simply looking for an old Hi8 camera that still plays the tapes.

 

[Jason Foster]

No, simply looking for an old Hi8 camera that still plays the tapes.

I may have something then. I'd need to verify it works. I'd Almost send it to you for free (just cover shipping), but I'm leaning toward it not working. At the time it was a $900 Canon Hi8 I got in 1998 from Damark (anyone remember them) as a factory refurbished that I paid ~$750 for. I used it up until 2001 or so. Had a second Hi8 that a friend bought then quickly demolished (kept dropping it getting out the car...right into the gutter when there was tons of water).

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

Alrighty, just let me know.

Doesn't have to be anything special, as I really just need something to play tapes back. And honestly, as long as it plays tapes for a couple months so I can get stuff archived on another format I'll be set. That's really why I don't want to pay a higher price on ebay while someone on here could have a perfectly good Hi8 models just sitting there after they upgraded and forgot about it... to be honest I'd settle for just borrowing one from someone now that I think about it.